Robert Pratt
Many municipalities have elections upon them and when the press does its job some of these contests can become entertaining. Take the race for mayor in the Marlin for example.
KWTX reports: “A man running for mayor of Marlin, a city struggling through budget issues and more, has a checkered past. KWTX investigated allegations against Demetrius Beachum, 39, and learned the mayoral candidate and pastor has been arrested at least six times for writing hot checks and not paying traffic tickets in McLennan and Hill counties, according to multiple law enforcement documents and sources.”
Before his “ministry” the man worked for two different school districts; Chilton ISD and Hearne ISD.
What’s wrong with the guy’s resume? He has experience in two school bureaucracies; he’s got a record for trying to spend other people’s money, and; he seems to think himself above the law. In many towns this guy is a civic cheerleader’s dream candidate!
Residents of Abilene have a big city election ahead. I’ve been reading the debates and interviews on these races and it seems clear that many of the candidates want to have their cake and eat it too.
If a city can’t already take care of streets and adequately fund basic services, how can it responsibly take on other expenses?
With the exception of conservative Ryan Marrs[1], most talk about needing to take care of basics such as fixing streets and, at the same time, want to fund after-school programs and do things such as have taxpayers subsidize a hotel to compete against other non-subsidized hotels in town.
If a city can’t already take care of streets and adequately fund basic services, how can it responsibly take on other expenses?
Either candidates want to raise your taxes later; are incompetent at basic economics, or; are not truly planning to address such boring issues as street maintenance once in office.
As far as Abilene is concerned Robert ; you are spot on. It is somewhat exciting to see younger folks wanting to make the Key City their home , equally disturbing is that most of that segment of population is under the impression this economy is going to continue to grow so it is “full steam ahead “, caution and restraint as far as spending be damned , again as the Civic cheerleading continues.