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I came to La Porte in 1994 as a teacher and coach and have remained here ever since. I've also spent the last 16 seasons behind the microphone at every Bulldog varsity football home game (and a few playoff games as well) as the "Voice of the Bulldogs". I'm very proud of my community and school district here in La Porte and it has been an honor to work here all these years. My son will be a senior at LPHS this year and I look forward to that with excitement and trepidation as well... ha ha. Over the past 16 years, I have taught literally thousands of students in La Porte and have gotten to know many of them and their families personally. This is truly a very close knit community with great people and it would be an honor to represent the citizens of this city as their mayor.

The last 7 or 8 years I've been teaching economics, government, and law at LPHS. As my students will attest, I believe strongly in citizens getting involved in the community and government and to be passionate about what you believe in. I made it a requirement that my students attend city council and school board meetings and write about what they learned. We would often discuss topics in class such as new city parks, bond issues, Sylvan Beach restoration, Main Street restoration, etc. I even gave them project points if they could show that they voted or kept the receipt of someone in their family that they encouraged to vote. It is this type of participation that makes our system truly a democracy. My hope in this election is that we will have the highest voter turnout ever. Even if you don't vote for me, please go vote and participate in the process. If you don't vote, then don't complain when things don't go your way.

I've already received numerous emails and phone calls asking me, "are you a Republican or a Democrat?". Well, there are no political parties in city elections, but for the record, I am an independent. I don't believe that either party is 100% right and I like to make up my own mind about things on a case by case basis, so I guess that makes me a middle of the road guy. To me, our decisions should be about what is right or wrong, ethical or unethical, fair or unfair, and those choices aren't always black and white. That is why I consider the circumstances and the outcomes in each situation when I make my decisions. I've heard there are some blogs with people commenting on what I and the other mayoral candidates believe in or why we are running for office. My only comment to that is .... if you want to know something about me, ask me. 

So what makes me think I'm qualified to be Mayor of La Porte? Well, like I said, I've been here for the past 16 years and served on many boards and commissions (listed at the top of this page). I have strong ties to LPISD, the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, and I know many of the city employees as well. As a government teacher, I understand the city government process and how things work, particularly here at the local level. As an economics teacher at La Porte High School, I am continuously researching job growth, unemployment, and new businesses in our area and often advise students in my class about saving and investing, career paths, and the importance of continued education and its value to their future income.

As a successful licensed real estate broker for the past 11 years in La Porte, I'm also well aware of the zoning issues and land/home values in our city. Like everyone else, I want to see my home appreciate in value. I'm very proud of the fact that while many real estate agencies have been struggling and losing agents, our brokerage has grown and flourished and our reputation is outstanding. I've been used as an expert source twice by the Houston Chronicle in real estate articles, the last article ran in June of 2010. I also teach real estate classes at San Jacinto College.

I have been involved in many community activities in La Porte such as sponsoring the Sylvan Beach Festival and pageant contestants, sponsoring little league and high school teams, helping build a Habitat for Humanity house in La Porte, and other activities. I think those things qualify me, or anyone else, to be Mayor, but most of al,l I have the desire and commitment to be your next Mayor. This isn't a game to me and I take this obligation seriously. 

Some of you have asked me if I will resign my teaching position at LPHS should I win the election and the answer is NO! The mayor's position is a part time position and almost every mayor in the past has had a full time job as well. My full time job is as a teacher at LPHS with my day ending there at 3:00pm. We have many holidays as well. The time devoted to my job as a real estate broker is under my total control and on the rare occasion I need help, I refer my leads out to the agents who work under my license as the broker of record. I have plenty of qualified professionals on my team of professional Realtors. As for my job as a professor at San Jac College, that too is part time and I can teach classes as I choose.

For the record, none of us running for mayor or council is doing it for the money. According to the city charter, council members receive $100 a month and the mayor $200 a month as compensation for their service. Like my job as a teacher, I am not doing this for the money, I'm doing it because I think I can help and have something to offer. If you agree, then vote for me and let's do this. Get the word out and let's keep moving La Porte forward with Dave Turnquist as Mayor. Please forward a link to this web site to anyone you know who lives in La Porte.

Here are a few fun facts: I love Houston Cougars Football and have season tickets and I'm a corporate sponsor. I could eat crawfish almost every day of the week. I once worked for a radio station in Savannah, GA (where I grew up) and I was the Z102 Zebra (yes I wore the costume, ha). I climbed both Chichen Itza and Masada. I own an adopted greyhound (she's my 3rd greyhound, all adopted). I love taking our boat out in Taylor Lake and tubing with my son and his friends. I still like to run and slide down the slip n slide even at 48 years old (so much fun). I have an Xbox and play NCAA Football and every once in a while will hook up the microphone for some karaoke as well (when no one is around). I ran in the Project Graduation 5K race a few months ago.... ok, so I walked part of the way but I finished in like 35 minutes. If you want to know more fun but useless facts about me just ask.

Thanks,
Dave Turnquist
Email me at Dave@SanJacRealEstate.com

INFORMATION FROM DAVE

It has come to my attention that derogatory remarks about another candidate in the La Porte mayoral race have been attributed to me by a citizen of the community.  I would like to make it perfectly clear that I did not make these remarks or any like them about either of the other candidates. If you see or hear anything unusual about any of the candidates running for office, please contact us directly to confirm or deny the information. Louis, Jason, and I will be happy to answer your questions.

Thank you,
David Turnquist