Is Groupthink good for Flower Mound?

Can you remember the last time you experienced an awakening? One that was so compelling you found yourself moving in a direction you never thought you would take? I find myself on that journey as I campaign for Flower Mound Town Council, Place 1.

In recent months, many of my fellow neighbors have been standing up and exercising their right to speak into the school rezone process. Those who have done their homework realize this is much more than just a school district issue. It is the first symptom of a system in disregard for safeguarding that which we hold most dear – our quality of life.

In this process, I have felt an awakening within our town. With each new piece of information I’ve learned, I have felt a sense of frustration with certain decisions others have made for us. The school rezoning fiasco, the dismantling of our SMARTGrowth criteria with regards to schools, and the amendment to our Master Plan, (which now allows for up to 70 percent residential in our premier spot for economic development), did not have to happen. We are only beginning to feel the consequences of the pendulum swung too far in favor of developers...all at the expense of our children. Where’s the balance?

I am not alone in my frustration. Many of you have shared your distress with me and have asked the question, “How did we get here?” Sadly, many of us haven’t paid close attention to town actions until the consequences showed up on our very own doorsteps. That needs to stop. We can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand and assume decisions will always be made in our best interest.

Our town needs an independent thinker. This current council votes unanimously on most issues. The pervasive trend of labeling anyone with a different perspective as dramatic or a troublemaker is indicative of a “groupthink” culture. Groupthink is when consensus is valued far too heavily over healthy debate. Groupthink settles for good over great, one perspective at the sacrifice of another, and ostracizes anyone with a different viewpoint. It’s a dangerous mindset and one that deserves our attention.

When you are frustrated with the decisions of others, the best solution is to engage in the decision making process. One can only stand on the sidelines for so long. At the end of the day, if we are serious about leaving our beautiful town in a better place for generations to come, we have to get in the game.

Those of you who are already familiar with me know I have an open mind, ears to listen, a studious approach and the resolve to think in terms of the best public interest. I represent a balanced approach to our growing town and feel strongly that we need to pursue true economic development to help maintain our unique character and quality of life.

While we need to promote Flower Mound as a great place to do business, growth needs to be balanced and we should never forget the existing members of our community who have invested here. There’s a difference between purging unnecessary red tape and changing the way by which we manage our growth. One helps, the other hurts.

The choices we make today will be our legacy. I have no long-term political aspirations or any special interest groups bending my ear. I want to protect our Conservation Districts, uphold our SMARTGrowth criteria, and safe guard our Master Plan. If we don’t follow a clear road map, our town will end up on a road to nowhere.

I have put my name on the ballot out of a sincere desire to serve and represent our community. We need a truly independent voice on council … one that will promote collaboration to offset the negative effects of a groupthink mindset. With your help, we can do just that.

Please visit www.ElectJoyBowen.com to learn more and get involved. Together, we can make a difference for generations to come.

Joy and her family have been blessed to call Flower Mound home for almost ten years. She has worked on leadership teams at Irving Bible Church, Bent Tree and currently helps develop hundreds of leaders who dedicate their lives to Family Ministry through her work as a consultant with Orange; a non-profit, parachurch organization. She serves her community through volunteer work with CCA, her sons’ schools and as a worship leader for Valley Creek Church.

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