Politics and Positions

I simply wanted to post a sincere thank you for all who have volunteered for and contributed to my campaign. I am humbled by the support I have received throughout the community and believe that regardless of the outcome, we have made a difference by spreading awareness.

I have consistently maintained the position that focusing on the issues would provide the voters a clear choice this election cycle. I am somewhat puzzled by my opponent’s reluctance to take any position on any issues. This strategy is usually utilized by those who are already in office.

As a simple reminder, here are the issues that I feel are important to our community and what my position is with respect to those issues:

Term Limits – As a long time administrator, I realize that people who remain unchallenged become complacent in their positions. I believe that complacency begets neglect. When public office holders remain in a position for extended periods of time, they tend to represent their financial backers more than their constituents. We see this at every level of government and it is hurting our society. To that end, I feel that elected officials should be limited in their time that they “serve” the community. Political office is a term of service. It should not become a way of life.

City Ordinances – I agree with James Madison and Thomas Jefferson that government is instituted to protect and defend the rights and property of the citizens within its jurisdiction. We should never allow our government to become a threat to the very things it was created to protect. That is why I wish to repeal municipal code 46-4. This ordinance clearly threatens the rights and property of every property owner within the city. Providing such power, which may be selectively enforced, will ultimately lead to abuse. History had proven this time and time again.

Taxes – Lets face it: Our taxes are too high to become an attractive destination for home buyers and business owners. This is a result of run-away spending that has reduced the city’s bank balance from $25 million three years ago, to $10 million today. In economics, this is called deficit spending. At current spending levels, the city will be broke within two years. I do not consider this to be fiscally responsible. Let’s reduce spending, pay down our debts and lower our taxes. This will give Missouri City a positive image. Then, we can get rid of the fancy and unnecessary Public Relations firm that this Council hired with YOUR money to change the “negative image” of Missouri City.

Governmental Integrity – Recently, I uncovered a dereliction of duty with respect to the city’s obligation to file reports to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Logic dictates three possible reasons for the omission.

• The Council was “uninformed” of their statutory obligation. However, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Most especially since it went into effect over 9 years ago.
• The Council is incompetent with respect to their statutory obligation. Again, ignorance and incompetence cannot be an excuse.
• The Council wished to hide the financial activities involved in these districts.

Regardless of the reason, failure to file these reports casts a negative perception on the integrity of these districts. I believe we can and must do better.

Government should be limited, open and fiscally responsible. I believe that the current Council fails in all of these categories. We can do better.

Landfill – It is inappropriate for the city to accept gratuities from a corporation which is embroiled in a controversy with our neighboring communities. Recently, this Council refused to take a position with respect to enlarging the “footprint” of the landfill. They claim that it was due to contractual obligations. If so, then who brokered such a contract? One need only look at campaign finance reports to understand the connection.

I oppose increasing the footprint of the landfill. It is obviously a threat to public safety with respect to blocking Doppler radar capabilities for our whole region. I find it troubling that this Council would ignore the better interests of the citizens of our city due to their acceptance of “gratuities.” The Council is supposed to represent the city, not their financial interests.

Golf Course – I will reiterate my position so that it cannot be misrepresented. I will never vote to change the current CF (Community Facility) status of the country club or associated facilities. Allowing the status to be changed would allow the land to be sold off and developed into more housing, which would reduce the value of all surrounding property. As far as I know, I am the only candidate who has pledged to vote in such a fashion. I believe it is important to retain the country club land as a recreational land, and not allow developers to take it over.

Politics in Missouri City is fraught with innuendo and obfuscation of truth. Special interests profit at the expense of the public. This is accomplished by providing favors to certain financial interests who in turn finance certain campaigns. Often, elected officials misquote, misrepresent and outright lie about the positions of their opponents in the hope that a lie told often enough, will be perceived as reality. Some officials will also utilize city employees to subvert the campaign efforts of their opposition. Though this is illegal, some people do not believe that the law applies to them. As evidence, simply look at the picture below. Notice the two public service announcement signs placed in front of my campaign sign?

Choose to reject the derisive politics of the past. Call your friends and neighbors and urge them to vote. Help usher in a new era of clean politics in Missouri City. We can do better. With your vote and support, we will.