Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley reportedly is fuming over the fact that County Judge Liz Sumter is holding back on signing the check precisely because the grant includes no accountability for or from San MarcosSend your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
The political tea kettle
is warming up fast
Commissioners Court is conducting a public hearing today (around 1:30 pm) followed by a final vote on the County's 2011 budget, tax rate and salary raises for elected officials. We expect another demonstration will take place on the courthouse lawn. Taxpayers are riled up and not liking what they see in the proposed budget, tax rate increase and a slap in the face pay raise while ordinary citizens are not fairing well in this down economy.
We recommend that taxpayers take a close look at one particularly irksome item in which commissioners want to hand over a $150,000 grant – no strings attached – to the City of San Marcos Economic Development Corporation. Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley reportedly is fuming over the fact that County Judge Liz Sumter, so far, has held back on signing the check precisely because the grant has no real accountability for or from San Marcos. We smell a special interest payoff here that is not in the best interests of county taxpayers. Conley, by the way, sits on the board of the San Marcos EDC as vice chair. Inserting conditions for the grant will be discussed in today's commissioners court session, after which the grant may be released. In the end, we expect Conley will once again resort to grandstanding, and will vote NO on the final budget and tax rate hike package, even though he's a sponsor of many expenditures in the budget, along with the proposed giveaway to San Marcos.
In the state rep race, Republican challenger Jason Isaac (Dripping Springs) is firing back at incumbent Patrick Rose's latest tv ad campaign.
Here's what Isaac is telling voters in a recent e-mail: "Patrick Rose is desperate because he knows he is about to lose his job, so he is resorting to what he knows best: lies. Why else would he spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of Austin special interest money to air a TV commercial attacking me in September?
"Below are the facts that my campaign sent to the media when they questioned the ad. This morning's Austin American-Statesman said of the ad: "Way to raise the tone of the campaign, Patrick. Hey, see if your ad guys can make it look like Isaac was at the grassy knoll."
"Let me be clear: I will never vote to raise your taxes. In fact, I am the only candidate in this race who has signed the Taxpayer's Protection Pledge. You can see the pledge here on my website. This pledge will hang in my office as a reminder of my commitment to you.
"Here is a link to Rose's TV ad . . . decide for yourself."
We are informed that the Austin American-Statesman is holding interviews this week with candidates for Hays County Judge, Jeff Barton (D-Buda/Kyle) and Dr. Bert Cobb (R-San Marcos). Some members of the Stateman's Editorial Board go back a long way with the Barton gang, and so we expect – beyond all good sense and reasoning – that the Statesman will endorse Barton. From our own perspective, Barton carries too many negatives (his employment with an engineering firm, a huge conflict of interest, being among the worst) that are too big to be ignored by the Statesman. Ethics and character are the central issues for voters in this race and they should be the central questions on which the Statesman bases its endorsement. More than ever, Hays County is in need of an honest County Judge free of ties to developers and special interests and an office that is open to all.
Note: Yesterday it was announced that the local Fraternal Order of Police, Number 23 (which has been endorsing local candidates for a number of years following a candidates forum they sponsor), is sidestepping endorsements in this year's election cycle for the offices of Hays County Sheriff and County Judge. They did issue endorsements for Mark Jones (R) for County Commissioner, Precinct 2; Ray Whisenant (R) for County Commissioner, Precinct 4; Anna Martinez Boling (D) for County Court at Law, Place 1; and Bill Henry (R) for 48th District Court Judge.
14 comments:
If the citizens of this county vote for Rose or Barton, I will be surprised. Those two are so clearly sold-out that one wonders if they will get any votes. It will take me at least ten minutes to vote in this election. I will split my ballot just to reject these two crooks.
Why would Rose spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a $10,000/year job? How can Barton be on the payroll of a firm that does business with the county and claim to be honest?
Shameless crooks! Both of them.
I encourage all voters of all stripes to contact Dr. Bert Cobb. Go to his website, give him a call, send him an email, attend a function where he is scheduled and meet him. Your vote counts. Don't be bashful. He will tell you straight to your face he has no agenda but to represent the citizens of Hays County honestly to his best ability. The voters can trust this man to represent them honestly and fairly. I hope he wins the election. I hope he wins big!
This Internet "rag" and many people in Karen Ford's district still support her, but voters should ask themselves "What exactly did Comm. Ford do for this county?"
Karen Ford is a very nice person who should NOT be in politics. She does not stand-up for the community, as she is too afraid to create any waves for fear of reprisal.
It is time to give someone else a chance at the wheel. My family, friends and family go along with the police suppost of Ray W and will vote for him.
Jeff Barton should NOT become Hays County Judge and not merely because he may have "conflict of interests" being a lobbyist and engineer, but because he is NOT the right person for the job.
The road bond package Barton pushed for along with Comm. Will Conley is too high a cost for the county in this difficult economc time period. County roads do need improvement. There is no question of that; however, improvement could be made without such a high price tag. Where are the fiscal conservatives when we need them?
Voters, please consider voting for Ray Whisenant and Dr. Bert Cobb. It's time for a positive change in our leadership.
Finally, it is time for Republicans to take back seats in this county. There are many more of them in Hays than Democrats, so, if they get out and vote the Republican candidates will win.
Rose will win, Barton will win, Ford will win and so will Perry. Get used to it.
If commissioners court and its members, especially Will Conley, are handling our money like they are that grant to the San Marcos EDC, none of them deserve to be representing the taxpayers. Kudos to Ms. Sumter for withholding the check. She should not sign it even with conditions built in it. Who will the grant serve but special interests in Conley's pockets. Forget it. And forget Barton and Ford if they vote for it.
Most of those who comment here on this Blog are the “New LBJ Liberals” and are in no way a cross section of the Voters in Hays County or America. They are desperate and it shows in their extreme comments such as Anonymous one. These is still a Republican County and with the increase in interest by the national Conservatives, the Tea Party and Republicans, you can expect a Republican sweep. Mr. Obama and his destructive programs have been the best friends of the GOP.
Jeff Barton, you have dug a big hole for yourself and the HC Democratic Party.
Vacating your commissioner seat in precinct 2 to run for county judge has left your seat exposed and is likely to be captured by Republican Jones, a respectable fellow I'm told. Good on Jones.
You will have a hard time overcoming a high Republican turnout in November and will likely lose to Cobb. That will be two seats on the court captured by Republicans. Way to go Jeff! Way to leave your beloved party, which you have always used only to serve your own purposes, exposed to defeat and a takeover by the Repubs.
You and your cabal of thieves and has-been politicians will have a lot of explaining to do to the party regulars after your humiliating defeat. At least you will have your cush job with that engineering company selling vacuum cleaners or whatever you do. Democrats will be left empty handed which I imagine they will deserve.
Don't talk to me in your campaign about party loyalty when you seem not to give a rat's arse about it yourself. Don't talk to me about building bridges when the only bridge you build are to your paid special interests and big money contributors who don't reside in Hays County but have a lot of county business at stake.
And certainly don't talk to me about honesty when you repeatedly misrepresent your college education and profession. You never received a degree and your claims to be an engineer and urban planner are false claims. You are nothing more than a professional politician.
In all those categories, Dr. Cobb has you beat by a mile. I love what my party stands for. You do not represent those values. I will cast my vote for Dr. Cobb.
To the commenter who is dissing Karen Ford in Precinct 4. What has her opponent Ray Whisenant got to offer, other than being the best water well driller the county will ever have on the court?
I guess I'm another angry Democrat 'cause I'm really looking Isaac. This will be the first time in my life that I have ever voted for a Republican. I'm starting to think of this as a truly liberating experience. I'll vote for White, and I'll vote for Doggett. But like I said, I'll also vote for Cobb and Isaac. Dare I say that behavior like that is probably what Barton and Rose fear the most. Here's a call to all the angry Democrats ---- join the liberation movement ---- head to the polls and throw in a couple of Republican votes. Talk about sending a message.
To "Richard"
Please define what the hell a “New LBJ Liberals” is/are. That has to be one of the dumbest comments I have ever heard.
What we DO need are middle grounded Republicans AND Democrats.
What we have too many of are extremists of both parties, greedy, self-centered, special interest prodded power bureaucratic hippocrits.
Johnson, much like Reagan, is dead and buried and so are his politics.
Richard, you need to see what is in front of your face and NOT what you imagine things are.
Barton's a crook and a liar. Ford has no clue unless a tree, rainwater or a golden cheek wobler is attached. FOP is spineless for not endorsing a Judge or Sheriff candidate. Conley is full of himself. Any Questions?
I'd rather have a driller on the commission than a woman who doesn't create waves when needed or who won't stand up for what is right.
Out with Ford, in with Whisenant!
You forgot that Debbie Ingalsbe is the consumate fence sitter and swaying vote. She needs to go as well.
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