Former councilmember, entrepreneur and North Oakwood resident seeks Bryan City Council, Single Member District 1
BRYAN, Texas — Chris Scotti announced his campaign Monday for Bryan City Councilmember, Single Member District 1, pledging to bring independent, informed leadership to City Hall as Bryan enters a significant period of growth and investment.
Scotti is a North Oakwood resident, entrepreneur, former city councilmember and Director of Strategic Partnerships for Texas A&M Innovation within the Texas A&M University System. In that role, he works with businesses, economic development organizations, community leaders and other partners across Texas to connect industry with the resources and capabilities of the A&M System. The work gives him regular exposure to how communities across the state are approaching economic development, innovation, infrastructure and growth, and to ideas that could be adapted to Bryan's unique opportunities and challenges.
Scotti said encouragement from neighbors, business owners, and current and former community leaders helped drive his decision to seek office.
"Bryan has tremendous opportunities ahead, and I want to help make sure we get the next chapter right. I'll approach issues independently, do the research, look at best practices from communities across Texas, and make decisions based on what is best for Bryan's residents and businesses. Growth can create good jobs, strengthen our tax base and help ease the burden on existing taxpayers and utility customers. But poorly planned growth can threaten the neighborhoods, businesses and quality of life that make Bryan special. We need leadership that listens, asks hard questions and is willing to make informed, decisive choices."
Scotti said his priorities will include responsible growth, fiscal discipline, neighborhood infrastructure and core city services, support for local businesses, and ensuring Bryan benefits from major regional investments including SpaceX's TeraFab and continued development at Texas A&M-RELLIS.
Those issues are particularly visible in SMD1, which includes Downtown Bryan and established neighborhoods such as North Oakwood. From 2010 to 2016, Scotti led the Northgate District Association during a period of major growth and redevelopment, rebuilding the business organization and representing its members with the city, Texas A&M and TxDOT. He said that experience provides a useful perspective as Downtown Bryan navigates development, infrastructure, transportation access and the needs of surrounding neighborhoods.
Scotti has been part of the Bryan-College Station community since coming to Texas A&M in 1995. He moved to College Station and served three years on the College Station City Council, where at 26 he became the youngest person ever elected to the council at that time. His council service focused heavily on economic development, growth, neighborhoods and transportation. He also served on the board of the Greater Brazos Partnership.
While attending Texas A&M, Scotti founded AgniTEK, which grew into a regional technology company employing local professionals and earning multiple Aggie 100 and Newman 10 awards before Scotti successfully sold his interest. His subsequent career has included leading a business incubator, an angel investor network and other entrepreneurship and economic-development initiatives.
The campaign is continuing to build its endorsement coalition. Early confirmed supporters include Commissioner Fred Brown and Jane Brown, Commissioner Chuck Konderla and Lori Konderla, Arnold and Casey Castro, Kyle and Beth Davis, Chris and Debbie Peterson, Craig and Lindsay Greening, John and Julie Crawford, Kenny and Lina Lawson, and Austin Bryan. Additional endorsements will be announced as the campaign progresses.
Scotti and his wife, Jennifer, live in North Oakwood. Jennifer is a Texas A&M graduate and longtime Texas A&M University employee. His son, Thomas, is a rising high school senior nearing completion of his Eagle Scout recognition, an achievement Scotti says he is particularly proud of as both a father and Scout leader.
More information is available at ChrisScotti.com.