After hearing Liberty County’s Commissioners and the County Judge were having a budget workshop Tuesday, I decided to try and visit with our new County Judge the next day. County Judge Craig McNair has an open door policy and my impromptu visit with him was as refreshing as an ice cold drink of water on a hot summer day. As I walked down the steps of the courthouse after our conversation and headed toward my truck, I couldn’t help but think we are finally in the next stage after the “help is on the way” stage. We are now in the “help has arrived” stage.
After years and years of hearing local politicians brag about what they are going to do on this project or that project and cleverly laying out how they will get the money to do all of the things they want to do, we finally heard from a conservative County Judge. Judge McNair’s down to earth, realistic approach to the county’s economic plight was far from that of a braggart; and taking credit for future plans or blaming someone for past mistakes seemed to be the furthest thing from his mind.
Judge McNair talked in terms of what “we” have to do to get this county on good solid financial ground. There was no finger pointing. He was not interested in naming names of the Commissioners or department heads who were still trying to increase their budget or get money for special projects. He was focused on letting me know that our leaders are well aware of the fact we are in tough times and that in this kind of environment tough, sometimes unpopular decisions, would be the key to our success and maybe even our economic survival.
It is probably not the most fun time to be a county judge in Texas, but the 25% across the board cuts Judge McNair and the Commissioners will be aiming for could make their decisions some of the most important decisions made in Liberty County’s history. If Judge McNair has a majority and the county can actually pull back the reigns this far on the spending, it will have an immediate and positive effect on the county and the threat of raising taxes will immediately vanish.
Great leaders adjust to the circumstances and do what is best for the community. If our leaders can work together and get this done, we can hope that this same team will see a big turn around and somewhere in the future when circumstances change we can set priorities and again start working on those things that improve Liberty County.
In the meantime, it is comforting to know help has arrived. Finally!
Richard Pegues
9 comments:
""There's politicians, and there's damned LYING politicians (but I repeat myself)""!
Mark Twain
That was, first and foremost, "a politician, with his lips moving"- was it not? (Take a whole bag, "a grain of salt" won't do)!!
Nice rhetoric (I'm reminded of decades of political campaigns, and empty 'promises'.) We'll reserve judgment, and wait to see...
I made sure to say "if he has a majority". We need to encourage our commissioners to run a tight ship until we get through these tough times. They will need our support because this will mean some cutbacks that we would normally not like to see. I can tell you Judge McNair is not politicking by saying these things, he is risking h.is political life by doing the right thing and hoping we will support him
Hate to jump the subject, but I just sent this message to "I-whineout", and I bet a dime against a doughnut hole that it won't be published on their "Feedback" report.
OK Mr. Youngblood. You want to be taken seriously as a "news" man, and you make great efforts to keep the people informed about every Republican scandal. Where is your story about Democrat Congressman Anthony Weiner's sex scandal. Democrat Congressman Weiner has admitted he "sexted" several pictures of himself to women other than his pregant wife. Why am I not seeing this story on your news website? How hypocritical . . .
I sure hope you're right.
Are we sure the FBI is not more involved int he cover-up in chambers and liberty county tx.
that would all depend on how much payola, graft, and money is in it.
Great reporting Richard Pegues!
This is what has been missing in our County, positive news reports about the direction of our Local Government.
The people of this County have been living with a negative political outlook for too long.
I look forward to the 2012 elections in anticipation of more conservative leaders being elected and the positive outcome that will accompany a Conservative Republican Majority in Liberty County Texas.
to heck with 'positive' reports. LD is even better (they tell the TRUTH)!
Don't sanitize it. Give it to us straight. We're grown-ups. We can take it.
It's a refreshing change from corruption, conspiracies, and cover ups.
Of course the county chairman for the Republicans likes a positive report on people in his party, but there are others who like a little "positive" mixed in with some of the revelations we read on here. Especially if the "positive" is true. I voted for McNair because there was really no ther choice, but I am glad to hear some of the more analytical and critical Republicans seems to like what he is doing.
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