David Baskett, currently Mayor Pro Tem for Stephenville City Council, is seeking to become Mayor in the special called Nov. 4 election.
Here are his responses from The Dublin Citizen candidate questionnaire.
Citizen: What is your background, education and family information.
Baskett: I’m a sixthgeneration resident of Erath County with deep roots in our community. I attended Stephenville schools and graduated from Lipan High School, later continuing my education at Tarleton State University and the American School of Banking. My wife, Nicole Baskett, originally from Killeen, moved to Stephenville to attend Tarleton, and like so many others, fell in love with this town and chose to make it home.
We’re raising our two children here in Stephenville. Our daughter Piper, 17, is a varsity cheerleader, and our son Gavin, 13, is a dedicated 7th-grade football p l a y e r . Both attend Stephenville schools, and like any parent, I want to help create a strong future for them and for all families in our community.
Citizen: What is your occupation? Are there skills involved in the work that will help in serving a mayor?
Baskett: Professionally, I work as a mortgage loan officer and own three local businesses: Baskett Mortgage Services, Cruising Care, and Bussin Rides. Each of these ventures connects me directly to the needs and challenges of everyday Stephenville residents, whether it’s helping families buy homes, providing transportation services for seniors with medical needs, or improving mobility across the community.
Through my mortgage work, I regularly analyze housing trends across the state and nation. One thing is clear: Stephenville is in desperate need of more singlefamily homes. We must plan carefully and act decisively to meet this demand and keep housing attainable for local families.
Through Cruising Care, I see firsthand the urgent need for improved senior medical services in rural Texas. Our community must come together to support our aging population with better infrastructure and more accessible care.
Citizen: What made you decide to run for mayor after serving on council?
Baskett: For the past two years, I’ve had the honor of serving as Mayor Pro Tem, a role I was appointed to by my fellow council members. During that time, I was called on several occasions to step in for Mayor Doug Svien due to ongoing health issues. After his resignation, I was officially named Interim Mayor.
Mayor Svien was not only a strong leader, but also a mentor. Before his health declined, he took the time to teach me the inner workings of city leadership and introduced me to key contacts in Austin, people who have since become valuable allies for Stephenville’s growth and future success.
Serving as Mayor Pro Tem and Interim Mayor gave me a firsthand understanding of the responsibility, the pressure, and the potential of the role. It became clear to me that I needed to step up once again, this time by filing to run for the open Mayor seat.
Citizen: What is something you are most proud to have accomplished while on council? What needs improvement?
Baskett: Since joining the Stephenville City Council in May 2022, I’ve worked hard to bring practical, forward-thinking solutions to the table. Two projects I’m especially proud of: Stephenville Airport Runway Expansion: For nearly two decades, our city struggled to acquire the land needed to extend the airport runway, a key factor in attracting business and driving local economic growth. I worked closely with the city manager and a member of the airport board to help secure the land purchase and move the project forward.
First Responder Pay Increases: In the past year, I’ve been in active conversation with both our fire and police associations. I, along with other council members, pushed for solutions that led to approved pay increases in the 2025–2026 budget.
Citizen: What are some of your goals for Stephenville if elected as mayor?
Baskett: Supporting our public safety officers must remain a top priority. This means more than just ensuring competitive pay, it requires ongoing, open dialogue to make sure their operational needs are also being met. Our fire and police departments are the backbone of community safety, and we must continue to invest in both their resources and readiness.
Equally important is the need to address our infrastructure challenges head-on if we want to grow in a sustainable, smart way. I was honored to be invited to serve on the TxDOT Steering Committee for the Fort Worth District — a role that allows me to directly advocate for Stephenville’s transportation needs.
With six TxDOT highways running through our city, maintaining a strong, productive relationship with the agency is essential. Whether it’s improving road conditions, planning future upgrades, or ensuring safety, we need to stay proactive and collaborative to keep Stephenville moving forward.
Citizen: How long have you served on council and what other capacities have you served as far as boards, commissions and nonprofits?
Baskett: For over 15 years, I’ve proudly served on many boards and local initiatives, including: ■ President, Erath County Habitat for Humanity (2011–2014
■ Stephenville Chamber of Commerce Ambassador;
■ Member, Evening Lion’s Club
■ Treasurer, Erath County Builder’s Board
■ Graduate, Leadership Stephenville Class of 2012
■ STEDCO Board Member (3 years), Vice President (2 years), President
■ Member, Stephenville Board of Adjustments
■ Member, Stephenville Future Land Use Committee
■ Member, Stephenville Annexation Committee
■ CASA for the Cross Timbers Area, Vice President (3 years)
■ Board Member, Texan Club Citizen: What is your favorite thing to do outside
of city government?
Baskett: Outside of public service, my greatest joy is spending time with my family. Whether we’re traveling on Fridays to support Piper cheering on the Yellow Jackets or spending weekends watching Gavin play baseball, my family is my driving force and my “why” behind everything I do.