Thursday, February 4, 2010
Former WimDem chair endorses Sumter for County Judge
Sumter’s leadership . . . resulted in the commissioners’ decision to set minimum lot sizes of six acres for future developments using well water
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Note: Perry and Susan Raybuck are Wimberley residents. Mrs. Raybuck formerly served as chair of the local WimDems. See Sumter's campaign web site here: http://judgesumter.com/
To the editor:
County Judge Liz Sumter has had a remarkably effective first term.
She pushed to improve the county government’s transparency and accessibility. The Commissioners Court now posts agendas, the budget, and even the bills the county owes online. She initiated regular public forums in each community to allow the court to get input on a variety of county issues.
In our 24 years in Hays County, we cannot recall another county judge who has shown a similar commitment to listening and responding to local concerns.
After more than 30 homeowners in northern Hays County had their wells dry up in the drought of 2006, near dense new developments using water wells, many area residents became active in efforts to ensure our natural resources were managed sustainably. Sumter’s leadership and those community forums resulted in the commissioners’ decision to set minimum lot sizes of six acres for future developments using well water.
Given political realities at the state and local level, that could not have been an easy decision to secure.
Since county governments have little authority to manage growth, Judge Sumter initiated an effort with elected officials in 14 other Texas Hill Country counties to propose legislation to give them the authority they needed. The counties secured legislative sponsors for a bill to grant them the authority to recoup their costs for building infrastructure to new developments, set lot sizes for future developments that consider water availability, and require setbacks so land users with incompatible usages would have a buffer to minimize conflict with other neighbors. Though that bill did not pass, the fifteen counties continue to work together on the issue.
Then there is Seton Hospital and two health clinics she and the court were able to bring to the county.
We enthusiastically support Judge Liz Sumter for re-election.
Perry and Susan Raybuck
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10 comments:
In Sumter’s never ending quest to make every voter happy, she actually reduced the minimum lot size to six acres from the HTGCD’s scientifically recommended minimum. She will likely regain her judgeship but let’s not give her sainthood; she’s really not any better than the rest of them.
I disagree with the previous comment. I think Sumter is the best of the bunch of current commissioners.
Jeff Barton
Will Conley
Both of these guys are on the political ladder for power and money.
Both play the system to get what they want without regard for the community good.
Debbie Ingalsbe
Laid-back fence-sitter who likes to be the final vote on many issues.
Karen Ford
Always wants to be "the good girl". Doesn't like to create any waves even if she should and is concerned what people think. Won't make the right decisions if those wealthy, powerful people may frown on it.
Liz Sumter
Tries to do the best with the officials she must work with. However, she frequently opts to increase taxes and likes toll roads.
In any case, good luck Hays County in the upcoming 4 years!
Community Good sounds out a fair and realistic analysis of the commissioners. I hope the voters look past the stupid and vacuous political party thing and votes on who is the most likely to enhance the lives of the larger community. From my perspective, Sumter is the best of the lot given that objective.
I understand the commissioners can't do much about it but those hideous storage facilities being put up north of Wimberley on RR 12 will make our community look "white trash" to people driving in from the north and leaving town from the south.
I don't know who put those things up but he or she is a cancer on the community. The blatant lack of aesthetics on those buildings is almost criminal. Does anyone know who the developer is? And any one of the commissioners who received money from that joker should either be voted out of office or impeached for helping to destroy the beauty of the Hill County.
And anyone who defends those buildings in the name of free markets is an idiot. Those buildings have reduced all our property values and is a perfect example of eco-terrorism profiteering.
And what about the equally "disgusting" billboards that are flourishing on residential roadways, e.g., FM 1826?
These devalue the properties around them and are eyesores in the otherwise lovely serene Hill Country.
Several commissioners were contacted re: this issue but since the signs actually are not illegal, they do little to work with the community and state legislators to change the laws.
Just because it is legal to post billboards on residential roadways does not mean it is a good thing to do.
Whatever happened to standing-up and working to do the right thing?
I'll second the endorsement.
Sumter's opponent in the March 2nd primary, "Bullcorn" Barton, will bulldoze our western hills together with his developer and road builder buddy Will Conley – in the process looting our groundwater and forcing expensive imported water for Aqua Texas to monopolize.
All voters please pay close attention to this election. If you care about preserving your property, your water and your property rights, say NO to Barton!
Remember: Whiskey's for drinkin...water's for fightin!
I love how Barton can keep his position as Commissioner while campaigning and running for Judge. If the people don't want him as Judge he can remain Commissioner.
Republicans complain about Hutchison running against Perry in this manner, without stepping down from her Senatorial position.
Looking at the Hypocrats ... A little Democrat history lesson; This type of thing started way back when LBJ got the Texas state legislature to pass a law permitting himself to run for reelection to the US Senate at the same time that he ran for Vice President with JFK. The politics of today pale in comparison to the many transgressions by LBJ.
So what if LBJ was a crook as well. All the Jim Crow bigots were once Democrats too until they switched over to the Republican Party after LBJ got the Civil Rights Act passed. Does that make all Republicans bigots? Oops, sorry, bad question.
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