Municipal and School District early voting begins today…..you can vote at Keller Town Hall or any other Tarrant County Polling place.
I have not written much about the local election, because frankly I’ve been too busy with other things and my time spent on politics has been spent helping out Conservative Republicans running in the primary race.
I have met both candidates running for City Council, but I have purposely not endorsed in this race. I have my reasons, for one, I endorsed John Hoffmann because he was my friend and I knew him personally from serving on P&Z with him for years. Second, I know neither of the candidates well enough to use the blog to get the word out. But if you follow politics close enough in this town and how certain people are involved in this race that were involved in the last race in town, you should be able to connect the dots on how I may vote when I go into the privacy of the voting booth.
I’m also tickled hearing the things being said around town about how I’ve recurited a certain candidate or that I’m involved in a pitched fight against the Mayor in every election cycle. If I were involved in a pitched battle, I’d surely use the best medium I have for that, which is this blog.
Here are my questions for any candidate running for any office right now….who do you support in the race for HD98? It is a question I will keep asking after Gio is elected….
I’m voting for the lesser-of-evils, McCrary.
Both candidates violate what I consider to be bedrock conservative principles:
1) Taxes should be paid by those who get to decide how the tax money is spent. Both candidates embrace the shallow, selfish, liberal notion that economic development raises tax revenues. The strongly implied, and often outright stated, assumption behind this is “let’s get someone else to pay our taxes for us.”
2) Strong property rights is a bedrock conservative principle, yes? And one of the most important property rights is a clear sense of what I can and cannot do with the property I own. I have a clear sense of how I am allowed to use my residential property. But owners of commercial property have little to no idea what their options are, because the rules are often made up by the council as they go along. Both candidates endorse the activist, bureaucratic idea of economic development: “Bring us your plans, and we’ll then decide if we like them.” Proper, conservative, limited government says, “Build anything you like within these well-thought, reasonable rules.”
Jim I think you raise some valid points.. My concerns are different. I see a huge conflict of interest of a developer/realtor who has done business with the City making decisions for the taxpayer in these situations. We don’t need this issue popping up everytime a new zoning/development comes before the council
.Secondly I don’t believe Mr. Dodge has addressed the issue if the fireman’s union is supporting him. I think he should address this to the citizen so we can make the right decision.
If you don’t think economic development would ease the burden of taxes on home owners than you are truly mistaken. It is shocking to hear a former council member state that it is a “notion ” that economic development raises tax revenues. Why shouldn’t home owners expect a balanced distribution between what they pay in taxes and those who do business here? Home owners should not be the only ones paying their share of taxes (all of them!) What rock did you crawl out from?
Mr. Leake, fire fighters have not publicly endorsed a candidate. What proof do you have besides your own opinion that fire fighters support Bill Dodge?The same as the Tea Party has not publicly endorsed a candidate. We do not claim all Tea Party members support McCrary. We do not know that to be a fact and it would not be truthful to say otherwise. Fire fighters are free to choose whom they support based on their own findings. Thanks for being a self appointed spokesperson for fire fighters views , but once again you are wrong.
Fire Fighters for McCrary!
Um, Stan, you contradicted yourself.
Perhaps you meant to say Firefighter for McCrary!?
It is not a contradiction! Some fire fighters may support McCrary. I honestly do not know. I don’t speak for all of them.
I was pointing out the ridiculous by making a ridiculous statement.
Lighten up. Fire Fighters for Dodge too! LOL
L
Stan your Dodge sign in your yard is crooked. Go straighten it up.
Thanks, I will. As a citizen of this community I have the right to support who I wish. Here are my reasons: Bill Dodge has been very involved in our city for years. He is not a Marcus come lately who wants to lead a community he has minimally been involved with over the years. Bill has an intricate knowledge of the business community. You would have people believe this disqualifies him to make decisions as a council member. I believe this knowledge makes him a stronger candidate in this race. Maybe your mindset is part of the reason Southlake, Roanoke and Watauga are kicking our collective asses in economic development! Not to mention Bill has already served this community on many board appointments and was a public servant as a state and federal police officer for over 30 years. Knowledge, integrity and service. Let’s compare council candidate resumes.
It does kind of creep me out that you have been driving by my house!
Don’t be scared about me coming by your house. I hadn’t. I just assumed you had a sign out for him. I don’t know Marcus that well. My concern is the conflicts of being a developer and trying to serve all the citizens.
Said the serial killer! So a person with a career in local business is disqualified from serving as a council member? Candidates can’t represent citizen views if they have local business ties? Poor logic.
Council members should be open about their ties to business when dealing with issues that effect them financially but not be barred from serving. The city attorney can decide if they are not able to vote on certain issues.
A majority of the Republican party would not be allowed to serve if you applied your logic to a state and Federal level.