After almost two hours in closed session, the Liberty County Commissioners Court, named Ricky Brown, 57 of Dayton as the interim Liberty County Tax Assessor/Collector. Brown will serve in that position until December 31, 2012 and longer if he is elected in the November 2012 elections.
Commissioner Melvin Hunt opened nominations by pushing current Tax Assessor/Collector Chief Deputy Doris Jones. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Todd Fontenot. As Liberty Dispatch predicted, both of these two long time Democrat politicians supported the retiring tax collector, Mark McClelland’s handpicked choice for replacing himself.
Just as Liberty Dispatch hoped, the first two votes against Doris Jones were from Republican Commissioners Charlotte Warner and Norman Brown. Liberty County Judge Craig McNair, also a Republican, broke the tie with his “no” vote.
Next, Commissioner Norman Brown nominated Ricky Brown and Charlotte Warner seconded that motion. Commissioners Fontenot and Commissioner Hunt voted against that motion, and again Judge McNair broke the tie with his “yes” vote. Ricky Brown, the retired president of Capital Farm Credit, and current Dayton City Council member, was sworn into office at the conclusion of the commissioner’s court meeting.
Immediately following the meeting, Chief Deputy Doris Jones filed her retirement papers, effective July 31st, seventeen months before she was thought to be planning her retirement. With all due respect to Jones, her actions after the meeting should help to confirm that Brown was the best choice. Rather than stay on and help the transition and serve the people of Liberty County, Jones is refusing to serve the same seventeen months in the same job she had planned to serve before McClelland’s unexpected retirement. Jones instead has opted to use her immediate, on the spot retirement, to show her contempt for the selection, or perhaps the whole process. This sudden decision by Jones is a regretful move for someone who has day in and day out done her job in the tax collector’s office.
But the voters should be shaking their heads “yes” to the selection of Ricky Brown. As one person wrote in the LD comments: “Honest and fair, excellent supervisory skills, no connections to the courthouse, has an excellent background in business/finance and can be trusted to do the right thing... I'll take Rick Brown any day!!!”
While some may see the above abbreviated analysis of this selection indicates something overly partisan, they must consider the goals of many in casting their votes in the last election included getting away from the good ole boy system. Many, who wanted to end the good ole boy system immediately, bristled at the idea of a public servant like McClelland trying to force his replacement to be chosen. Many voters want a fresh start. Besides, few voters ever want someone so close to retirement appointed, much less one that gained an appointment by the influence of someone connected to a political machine that is clearly on its way out.
McClelland, a diehard Democrat, may have retired prematurely because he had very little chance of carrying his Democratic credentials to victory in November 2012. Who knows? When major shifts happen in politics, it may be common for politicians to want to have someone friendly towards them to come after them. When that happens it lessens criticisms and revelations that could occur after they leave. The nominations and the vote today were predicted by Liberty Dispatch. The result is a good one. The next tax collector has no ties to the last one. For those who suspect some good ole boy wheeling and dealing was going on, it is time for celebration. For others, you will soon find that Ricky Brown will make an excellent tax collector.
28 comments:
Fontenot and Hunt, two Mike Little wanna be democraps.
Hunt and Fontenot are worthless as a hind tit on a boar hog.
Fontenot and Hunt had a good "wink and a nod" relationship with Lee Groce and Phil Fitzgerald and Tookie Kirkham. They are still suffering from shock at the idea of good ole boys being questioned about anything. When McClelland's suggested replacement was balked at, they were shocked all over again. IF they run for re-election, we can only hope voters will shock them all over again. Nobody but family and yellow dog democrats should want these men to continue in their offices.
There are two or three people in McClelland's office that my wife is almost scared of. Older women should be courteous and professional when working for the public, not so mean that some people almost want to say trick or treat when they come to the window.
It appears to me that Mrs. Jones is mad at three people who wanted Brown. She should be mad at herself. It is well known among some of us who have to go in that office several times a year that Mrs. Jones did not endear hereslf to the patrons visiting this part of the courthouse.
Hey Ricky, CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to look across the hallway and see what Donna Brown did to make that side of the courthouse a kinder, gentler work area. A coat of the right color of paint is priceless if applied correctly!
Now we see why they chose someone other than Doris Jones for this job. Her showing her contempt for their decision was a show of her ignorance. She was to retire next tear,so why not keep her job until then. Good ridance and by the way, don't ever think you can not be replaced. Ther is always someone waiting to take your place. (HAWK)
The four or five people who are insisting Doris Brown should have been made the next tax collector/assessor have a real deficiency in logic. According to their logic every time a new tax collector is elected, it should be someone from within the tax office. These “Doris fans” seem to think Doris was the only legitimate choice, but I can find no where that a person who has worked in that office has EVER been promoted by the voters to the top job. Mark McClelland came straight from teaching at Liberty High school. I don’t recall if someone threw a fit and resigned when McClelland got that job.
The fact that two people are writing in to the little liberal food distributor site and cheerleading for the lady that did not stay and help the county is no surprise.
When I heard one of those sour puss women in the tax office wanted Mac's job, I knew we were going to see a juvenile hissy fit if she didn't get it. How about this to Jones and her gal friends. TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME,NOT JUST WHEN YOU WANT A PROMOTION!
If the people working in the tax assessor office love this county they will help the new guy.If they don't, then they need to quit
Excuse me but if anyone reads the resumes of the applicants they can not POSSIBLY argue that Ricky Brown will not be the most qualified candidate six months after taking office. I quite frankly am shocked he took the job. What a feather in the county's cap!
Some people when they reach 60 years old think they can say and do whatever they want to. Dotty may not know to be embarassed by her behavior but any friends she has left in that building better know she should be. We have elected officials to make these decisions and just because you have seniority doesn't mean you have your way.
Oh oh no no please tell me it is not so so, the newly elected Republicans didn't do what the old guard said they wanted them to do.
Waa waa waa! The way things have been done in the past has caused the new officials to have to come in and take drastic measures to keep the county afloat. Why wouldn't we bring in talented and tested leadership to improve the way things will be done in the future?
If Todd Fontenot and Melvin Hunt are the only two who voted for me I would be ticked. They are the two who want to keep Connie in the Basement on the payroll while hard working county employees may have to be laid off.
I am from Liberty and do not know ths new county judge but he is doing what is good for the county regardless of the politics. How often do any of us witness that?
Public SERVANT not spoiled bitter old woman.
Can we all just get along? Naturally Younglood wants to see a cat fight, but to most of us we just wanted to see a good leader in the tax office. Who can argue we have anything less than a good leader?
Mr.Brown you should consider doing what they did at my office. The new guy came in and within a month 90% of the staff loved him and would do whatever they could to help him. The other 10% were asked to turn in their resignations.
Sounds like a few cookie makers thought they owned the factory.
Remember when Delia Sellers got the appointment from the Democrats when they were the majority? We are just now beginning to hear some of the things she did while in office. Occassional new blood keeps the system clean.
You nod your head yes, you shake your head no.
Too bad Hunt and Fontenot didn't quit too.
A lot of people wondered what kind of job the new County judge and a new Commissioner would do, now you know. I think it is a breath of fresh air. Todd and Melvin need to follow suit with Doris Jones. Yall get out while you can and stay out.
Hope Brown checks out the crooked dealings at the Appraisil Office.
That appraisal office is next for an inspection into their dealings with the old Commissioners regime and then on to the crooked Liberty County Hospital District. (HAWK)
i hope so why is my sometimes under water 3.8 acres and 25 year old 20x40 unimproved woodframed home taxed at 1,200 per year and house valued at 35,000 and land at 35,000 i get no county services there ... private road..no patrols . no county mowing or road upkeep
frozen fish salesman, is taking orders from his drunk buddies, at happy hour on COS street, to go after McNair and Brown. when is frozen fish salesman and archers going to realize, there are no more dems, in liberty county. nancy,john and frozen fish salesman all voted for morrison, who dyed his hair, same as nancy's hair.
i see
i dine out is mud slinging Brown and Judge McNair.Pissed because Jones wasn't picked.
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