. . . the fact that Judge Sumter does NOT respond to the finger-pointing, badgering and allegations of Commissioner Barton shows the class she brings to the position of County Judge
Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Stern at pstern@austin.rr.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
Editor's Note: We concur with Mr. Stern's observations, and would add that Mr. Barton's attacks on Judge Sumter for supporting a pay raise is a straw man. Barton, we all recall, made headlines back in September '08 when he announced on the commissioners court dais that he would refuse to accept a pay raise, only to slip a note to the personnel office later when the lights had dimmed saying he would take the raise after all. We are also well aware of his disrespect for the state's Public Information Act. Last night at the eleventh hour, Barton announced he will challenge Sumter, a fellow Democrat, in the March primary, for no really good reasons. We suspect he has been cajoled to run by special interest associates who stand to gain substantially with a compadre in the county judge's office. Barton is a fool me once, fool me twice kind of politician. He should not be given the opportunity to fool the taxpaying public any longer.
By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary
Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Sumter just may be one of the more intelligent officials Hays County residents depend on. While we do not always agree on all issues and decisions, I have the utmost respect for her.In contrast, Commissioner Jeff Barton should cause concern to Hays County voters in considering him for this important position. During his tenure as a commissioner, his allegiances at best have been questionable, as to whether he wants what is best for the county or for his wealthy campaign contributing special interests.
Barton is fond of pointing his finger at Sumter re: voting for Commissioner pay raises, but he himself did little to push aside that proposal.
In addition, Barton has made it quite clear that he has little respect for Sumter and it is interesting that 2 supposed Democrats can NOT get along. It makes one wonder if perhaps Barton has joined the Democratic Party not so much as a real Democrat, but as a means for expediently rising up the political ranks?
In addition, Barton continually overburdens home owners with increasing property taxes, e.g., as when he and Commissioner Will Conley last year pushed heavily for the bond package to build extravagant and questionable road projects that could only positively affect specific sections of Hays County, while billing the entire county for this massive expenditure.
As a prospective future judge, it may be that Barton would like to position himself as a more controlling entity in Hays County on behalf of his wealthy road and development special interests.
Judge Sumter should be re-elected by Hays County residents as she has proven herself to be the best choice for the position after replacing the borderline corrupt and often ineffective rule of former county Judge Powers. She is an intelligent, responsive and fair individual. She is a strong supporter of open government.
In addition, the fact that Judge Sumter does NOT respond to the finger-pointing, badgering and allegations of Commissioner Barton shows the class she brings to the position of County Judge.
Both Sumter and Barton have public records of service, which should be reviewed by the voters before making a major decision that will affect the county's direction and growth for the next several years.
The people would be wise to re-elect Judge Sumter, the best and most proven candidate for the position of Hays County Judge.
Peter Stern, a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Driftwood, TX.
30 comments:
Wow from the lack of comments it appears the citizens of Hays County are pretty much resigned to a few more years of politics as usual.
The lack of comments is likely due to the lack of good candidates in the Democrat Party here in Hays County. You might have to look to the Republican Party for real change. This endorsement of “Liz” is no surprise on this somewhat liberal blog. She has been on both sides of most of the issues and seems to have finally settled in on the left.
The republicans are a bunch of dyed in the wool clowns. Nothing new there. Just can't take them serious any more or even talk to them about real change. The only change they would bring is to take us all back to the days when the land barons, businessmen and bankers ruled, conducting business in back rooms. We also certainly don't need any more judges and commissioners like republican Powers who made part time work for full time pay a new art form. I think there's a republican doctor candidate who could take that to an even more ridiculous level. I'll be looking for the trustworthy candidates who earn their pay and will represent my interests in slowing down development and traffic in the western part of the county, protecting our natural resources and air quality, promoting green, reducing waste, and putting a lid on tax increases.
I agree with anonymous 2. What is Good or Bad about the "Republican Dr".
Blue Heeler said: “The only change they would bring is to take us all back to the days when the land barons, businessmen and bankers ruled, conducting business in back rooms.”
Bedsides being ridiculous, this sounds more like the Obama administration in their present assault on healthcare. Sometimes, no change is needed and that is the part the Democrats can’t seem to get through their thick heads.
Don't confuse Sumter being intelligent and pragmatic with being "left", although I can see why you would.
I think the old saying goes: "Left is right; right is wrong." What matter if Sumter is left or right? Anyone voting on the basis of right or left needs a reality check. If Sumter's working for the average citizens interests and priorities and not the special interests, that's good enough for me.
FYI, Peggy Jones is another candidate for Hays County Judge. She is a Republican with ties to construction and real estate industries.
I am sure she is an intelligent and capable person, but it is very hard to trust people with such ties to wealthy special interests.
That being said, these days it is hard to find anyone with little or no ties to wealthy special interests.
I will vote to reelect the Judge, as the author of this piece states.
The left vs right debate in this blog just goes to show that Texans are basically stupid. No one but moderates or republicans get elected in Texas. If you think Sumter or Rose are lefties, you need to have that plate in your head replaced.
Anon # 9 - Go to hell. Your arrogance is b.s. If you don't like it here get the hell back to where you come from Yankee.
We didn't ask your for idiotic input, and if you don't like Texas politics take your California know-it-all attitude back with you. We have been doing government in Texas just fine without you, and we know how to fight amongst ourselves just fine without you.
I don't care how you did it where you came from - and as that goes I would vote for my Texas liberal any day ahead of your liberal (from whatever state your hail from). This is a family thing - Texans fight amongst themselves all the time, it's part of the game. If you don't like it here or the way we do it please pack up your crap and move out.
Why is someone bad because they are wealthy and have special interests? I have special interest in the enviroment and happen to be considered wealthy by many. Does this this make me a person avoid. Point is we all have our special interests but we all may have differing opinions on how to achieve many of the same goals. Lets be so qick to discriminate.
#10, If you are an example of the electorate in Texas, we are in bigger trouble than I thought. You are an ignorant hick if you think I’m part of your dysfunctional family. A very large part of the demographic of Texas hasn’t a clue why they vote a certain way, it’s just that they always have and so did their Daddies and Grand Daddies. You know the ones I mean. Yup, Texas is different.
Anonomous # 10's idea of a car alarm is chaining two pit bulls on to the hood. They should raise the drinking limit in Texas to 32 -- to cut down on alcohol consumption in high school.
Wow, Al-Anon 10 is one angry dude. And somewhat justifiably so. But the love it or leave it thing is so Republican. And Anon 9 does have a point. Texas politics are really quite sleazy. But then, so is politics everywhere. I like Stern's take on Sumter's ability to stay above the ugly attacks. A good reason to vote for her.
And for you Obama haters, is it really his liberal bias or his skin color? Because he has done nothing liberal since he came to office. He has shown he is just another corporate lackey, especially this health care folly. It must be his skin color. Just admit it and you can move on to repentence.
I am glad to see the "juices" flowing on this blog, even though a lot of it is misplaced anger and arrogance.
Being wealthy with special interests is one thing, using that wealth and power continuously against the best interests and majority of people is the problem and that's exactly what Patrick Rose has done and is doing.
But don't take my word for it, look at his political history for the past 8 years. It's part of the public record.
He has been a staunch supporter of Governor Rick Perry and former House Speaker Tom Craddick during most of those years.
That effort is NOT a Democrat voting history, it is a GOP motivation.
Rose is a lying sack of manure to the people of this county, his so-called neighbors.
I am a Republican; however, I have always distrusted and disliked this sort of political maneuvering --- belonging to a party that you really are not part of. It occurs too frequently with Democrats and Republicans. On the national level, it is like Senator Joe Lieberman, another parasite out for his own good.
Commissioner Jeff Barton is the same. He professes to be a Democrat and runs under that party umbrella, but his voting history and actions show he is NOT a Democrat. His leanings are as a Texas Republican.
It the deception of these people and how they do so little for the community good that will have me voting for their opponents. I will vote for the opposing candidates of Rick Perry, Patrick Rose, Jeff Barton and others like them.
They are like sharks in a feeding frenzy. They are natural in their habitat, but you don't want to be in their vicinity when they are feeding and doing what comes naturally to them.
They continue to do what they do because we permit it.
I also heard that former Representative Rick Green is running for some office again. Here's the guy who tried to physically fight Patrick Rose. He should be in jail, but he's out running for political power again.
"Birds of a feather flock together."
So much for "the lack of comments". LOL
It looks like this thread has little to do with Judge Liz. Democrat running against Democrat just messes with your head. It is fun to watch them chew each other up, though.
If "Tired of the same ol" is really a Republican, the party has hope. Like myself, I am a Democrat in a party I really don't know if I belong in anymore. I'm a fiscal conservative. But I’m not a Wall Street "corporate-corrupted" fiscal conservative; nor am I an ignorant neo-Republican "cowboy free markets" fiscal conservative. However, I am a sensible pro-small business, decentralized economy fiscal conservative.
At the same time, I am a true social "conservative", meaning I believe in the Constitution --where government should not be telling me or anyone how to live (unlike the Christian right, who are really the social "liberals" wanting to change the Constitution to repress and condemn those they don't like). Confused? It seems we all are these days.
In fact, I would even consider the Republican Party if being a Republican didn’t mean thinking Sarah Palin is a leader and Russ Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are the true voices of America. Sadly, such insanity does not bode well for the direction of the new Republicans.
Wow.. racist, white, xenophobes left the Democrat party, infiltrated the Republican side, and that is where we stand today. I like to consider myself a student of history, and I would love to hear your version backed up by some facts. Names, dates, and governmental positions held by these persons would be helpful for further research. Thanks in advance for the help with this one. IMHO, racism would be long dead today if it weren't being used as a political bomb by ignorant citizens (and non-citizens for that matter).
Dear Anon # 20 -
Did you just totally skip out of the universe in your warped analogy of who we were talking about? Harry Reid - PRESENTLY Majority Leader, Joe Biden, PRESENTLY Vice-President of the United States, Robert Byrd, senior serving Senator of the United States from West Virginia (if he's still breathing) - all Democrats, they obviously haven't become Republicans. I would bet ya a Bill Clinton dollar bill (that's a $3 bill in case you haven't looked); and you would find that old Robert Byrd was one of those dyed in the wool Democrats who voted against the Civil Rights Act, and yet he is still in power, and the libs lick his boots. Me, confused? Nay, my dear fellow, it is indeed you who can't see the forest for the trees. Do some Democrats become Republicans, only the ones with any sense.
Where did the topic go?
Yea!!! Vote for Liz Sumter! Yea!!!
I didn't say I was a Republican, nor that I was conservative. You seem to be very comfortable sterotyping people who disagree with you. And by the way, racism is a form of sterotyping, pigeon-holing, etc. Ergo, you, as a self-proclaimed liberal, seem to have more in common with racists than I. Furthermore, I fully believe that I am in control of my own life, and as such, I have no blame for anyone for anything that may not go my way.
"In the Know" is obviously NOT in the know. First of all, if he would take the white hood off his head for a second, he may be able to see a reality he is too bigoted to admit: Of the 95 African American Reps in the House of Representatives since 1935, only 3 were Republican. Gee, I wonder if that means the Republcan Party doesn't appeal to African Americans? I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with the blatant display of racist attitudes with the likes of the Tea Party clowns who have Republican Party support. Or when Barbara Bush said that the New Orleans refugees after Katrina were "better off" in the Astrodome than their own destroyed neighborhoods. Or how Dubya Bush was willing to spend billions of your tax dollars to destroy and rebuild Iraq -- but let the black majority town of New Orleans drown. Sadly, "in the Know" and his ilk are too afraid to see the real anger and racism in the Republican South, especially with Obama as President. This is the latest in the most egregious racism of the Republican South. Guys, your worst enemy is the future, and you can look forward to being the white minority in just a few years. Board up your house and protect the white women.
This thread has strayed way off topic to the point that liberal racists are slamming conservative racists and vice versa. What’s the point? How about closing this useless thread?
Couldn't agree more, thank you. Whadaya say we put our best points forward, and on topic, in this and future posts.
The thread of the national racism debate so ingloriously displayed in the preceding comments is not about "liberal racists slamming conservative racists." If one reads the comments clearly, it seems to be about the latter getting confronted by past and present reality - through a writer who is mostly accurate but without much diplomacy. If your responders can't see the difference between Harry Reid's foolishly phrased statement about a black Obama overcoming race to become President and Trent Lott's endorsement of a man who promoted segregation, it should be addressed. But then, it is always counterproductive to bait people who don't have a clue about reality. It never works, and only makes the confronted dig in further to fight for their own biased perception. This Blog does deserve better.
The problem that I think is avoided and what leads to much of the rankle is that there is at the least an apparent double-standard for what Republicans are held accountable for and what Democrats are held accountable for. Sexual innuendos are one example that when Republicans "sin" against their wives, or run afoul of the high moral standards of Democrats they are badgered and accused of public malfeasance and abuse of the public's trust. A Democrat does the same thing, and its just boys being boys. A tax scandal is exposed - the Republican is a criminal worthy of jail, and a Democrat is someone who just happened to overlook a slight discretion in reporting income, etc. Racism? All the worst in politics is exposed at this point -a Republican is a racist by mere association, a Democrat made a "poor choice of words".
Trent Lott, for example, was at a friend's 100th birthday. He made what could also be construed as a poor choice of words. Did he mean what Democrats accused him of meaning? I fail to think that he meant what he was accused of saying. Secondly, though, did Harry Reid actually make a racist remark? Depends. I think personally it was a poorly chosen set of words to use. However, if he had been a Republican, the Congressional Black Caucus would have been all over him to denounce him as racist. Yet, as a Democrat, they choose words that were "unfortunate", and others of similar nature.
I agree with some that there are racists on both sides of the political spectrum. I think too though that there are fewer "racists" in the tradition of the old school than most people like to think. It is more likely political opportism on both sides that occurs whenever someone has a verbal gaffe than pure and simple racism. That card has become way to easy to throw down on someone when they are of a different political stripe, and instead of having a productive discussion and dialogue, we have screaming matches, and an seemingly unfair accountability standard for one party over another. I don't care if you are liberal or conservative, if you say something stupid, fess up, apologize and move on. If you are the one offended, here is a great lesson from the President that we can all take away, admit to accepting the apology, and move on. If someone truly is racist in the classic sense, you are the bigger person for accepting the apology, and moving on, then they are because they have to live with their guilt, anger, and small-mindedness. If it is not your classic case of racism, then it is just a stumble verbally, and it should be recognized as such, especially when an apology is forthcoming in short order with no coercion, for which the apology should be accepted and we have a laugh at the person's ill fortune to have been caught in act of stupidity. This person who acted stupidly, or foolishly, can then hopefully learn and grow from their mistake, and laugh out loud with the rest of us at himself. It goes down for what it was.
At any rate, Harry Reid's gaffe was most likely stupid. The response from the Democrat Party was appropriate in the sense that if they were to respond to Republicans the same way (which they typically don't). Republicans have acted out of political payback and opportunism. Shame on them. Understandable as human nature, sure. Should they have been bigger people about it? Yes. Just that simple.
I am a Libertarian (former Republican) that would love to see the State Republican Party come up with viable candidates for all of the major offices. As long as the National and State Republicans want to play “gotcha” (ref. Harry Reid’s stupid statement) and push the Religious Right agenda, we will have to look for conservative Democrats for our chosen ones. Reading some of the statements here from the liberal lunatic fringe Democrats makes you want to be very careful though. Neither Liz Sumter nor Jeff Barton will help much with any issues that face our County. Jeff is, well…Jeff and Liz is weak and undecided.
You know what gets me? talking about who is a Democrat- 1) one of the two people running wanted to cut library funding 2) one of the people running only works "half-days" on Fridays 3) one of these "Democrats" wouldn't let out commissioners court early for Obama's inauguration
just saying
and one of the two has voted in quite a few Republican primaries . . .
just sayin
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