Pct. 1 commissioner candidates: Where they stand on the issues
Chuck Colvin, Phillis Leatherwood and Terry Williams are running for the Republican Party nomination for the Pct. 1 Scurry County Commissioners’ Court on March 1.
Early voting begins Tuesday.
The candidates responded to questions from the Snyder Daily News.
Q. — Why are you running for this office and what makes you the candidate voters should elect?
Colvin — I am running for the office to affect changes within the court indicated by the concerns of the taxpayers and citizens of Scurry County. Based on my experience with the local economy, I have and have had a sense of living within my means and a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
Leatherwood — I decided to run for commissioner to bring a different outlook and change to our county. I don’t want to be a politician who makes promises then not keep them, so I won’t make promises. I would like to be your elected employee and work for you in Precinct 1. I’m a very conservative person. I don’t mind working to achieve what I want and taking care of or improving it after I get it. I will be able to be in the office or in the precinct daily. Only outside activities I have are my grandkids’ activities.
Williams — I enjoy serving the people of Precinct 1. And I understand budgeting with many years of experience on the farm, 34 years in business and 11 years in the county. I am a licensed LPG plumber, inspector and understand HVAC systems. I have used these skills to oversee projects in the county, saving thousands of dollars for taxpayers. I have helped many offices in the county by installing and troubleshooting computer systems. As a road commissioner, I used eBay to sell used equipment for thousands of dollars more than the original cost. I understand county road maintenance and operations.
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Q. — The road and bridge department has been the subject of a lot of conversation, inside and outside the courthouse. Are comments in favor of returning to the precinct system justified? If so, what would you do about it, and if not, how do you change the tone of that conversation?
Colvin — Possibly, if the savings incurred by the county don’t justify the present system or is not efficient, I would be in favor of the return to the precinct system. I do however feel it has saved the county taxpayers money and can be more efficient in the future.
Leatherwood — Yes it is justified. That’s what the commissioners are paid for is it take care of their precinct. In the business world, if you have an employee that’s not doing their job, you give them a warning. If they don’t change and they are bringing your business down, you get rid of them. The tone is not going to change until the road and bridge department is changed or gotten rid of all together.
Williams — Contrary to popular belief, state statute does not allow individual commissioners to direct a road superintendent, even in the commissioner’s own precinct. This fact makes the county judge the appointed official’s supervisor. I believe the full responsibility for county roads should lie on the shoulders of each commissioner elected by the people in their precinct. I will continue to work with the commissioners’ court and the community to show the inefficiencies of the “unitized system.” One has to look much deeper than past budget totals to know which system is the most efficient. Questions? Please call 207-1172.
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Editor’s Note: The next question was submitted to candidates before the commissioners’ court changed its policy and resumed allowing public comments at some meetings.
Q. — The commissioners’ court has stopped allowing public comments at its meetings. Do you favor this policy? If so why, and if not, what would you do to change the policy?
Colvin — No. I feel, as a taxpayer, my comments are important and within time limits, should he heard. As a commissioner, I would vote to return to allowing public comments, but not filibusters that would waste the court’s time.
Leatherwood — No, I don’t agree. The public are taxpayers. They have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent and where it is being spent. There needs to be a new policy that you are allowed to speak, but if you get out of control, you are to be removed and never allowed back in the courtroom again. Nobody is perfect and the commissioners can’t please everyone. People can get more done if they are not rude or hateful.
Williams — A. This was never an agenda item, so it was not a commissioners’ court policy. B. No. Those who came and spoke prior to “Public Comments” being deleted from the agenda were orderly and respectful to the court members. It was actually during a different agenda item some disgust was shown by the gallery. C. The “Public Comments” agenda item has been placed back on the agenda.
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Q.— The county has spent more than it has brought in the past several years. Should the county continue to dip into reserves to cover expenses or should spending plans be altered during the year and eliminate deficit spending?
Colvin — Even if this is so, the county is required to meet and pay its debts and operating expenses, but as I stated in the first question, we should all live within our means which would allow for a balanced budget and eliminate deficit spending.
Leatherwood — All spending, salaries and everyone else should be frozen. Budgets redone. One or two people should not be allowed to spend money without the vote of all the commissioners. The ceiling on daily spending should be lowered. Everything spent needs to be accounted for. Commissioners need to figure out a way to bring money in without raising taxes or property values.
Williams — I believe dipping into reserves rather than taxing for the renovation of several facilities that were in disrepair was the right thing to do. Some of the updating included HVAC systems, lighting systems and electrical systems that have saved thousands of dollars every year since by reducing electricity costs through much greater efficiency. A portion of the cost to update the systems was paid for by a federal energy efficiency grant and grants obtained from Oncor. For 2016 the commissioners’ court reduced the budget by 17.65 percent or just under $2 million compared to the 2015 budget.
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Q. — In the coming legislative session, it is expected that the Association of Counties will lobby state lawmakers for a change in the law that would allow public notices to be posted on governmental websites instead of newspapers. Will you publicly support the current laws requiring public notices remaining in the newspaper and why?
Colvin — I see no reason both posting on the government website and the newspaper cannot serve the public. Some are more comfortable with a hard copy, i.e. a newspaper, than a website. I would publicly support the current law.
Leatherwood — Yes I will support the current laws requiring public notices remaining in newspapers. Most people will read the newspaper before going to a website. We should have a choice to read it in the newspaper or on a website.
Williams — I will make my decision to publicly support the Texas Association of Counties efforts or the current laws based on the conversations I will have with all my friends and neighbors whom I represent in Precinct 1.
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Q. — What steps would you take to strengthen the relationship between the county and other governing bodies?
Colvin — Fostering a better working relationship would be a goal all officials should strive to achieve and maintain. Being open minded, civil and professional can achieve this goal.
Leatherwood — First thing is to listen and communicate with each other. Sit down and work together for the good of the county and other governing bodies. We all live here, we need to work together for the good of our future.
Williams — As road commissioner, I had fire guards bladed for WTC’s technology property and at the request of WTC administration I voted to transfer the responsibility of The Coliseum over to WTC. This action removed more than $500,000 annually off of the backs of taxpayers since WTC by statute cannot use taxpayers’ money for ancillary facilities such as The Coliseum. I voted to provide chip sealing services to the City of Snyder. I partnered with TDCJ, BCEC, Blattner Energy and my Precinct 1 crew to build a 14-bay equipment shed to protect county equipment from the sun and weather.