At the Spur Meet the Candidates Forum last Tuesday—an event that’s become a tradition co-hosted by The Texas Spur and the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce—nine hopefuls introduced themselves, fielded questions and enjoyed refreshments at the Spur Community Center.
Questions were submitted to moderator Kay Ellington on cards, though lively discussion often followed questions and observations from the floor, where retiring justice of the peace Nancy Stone helped voters and candidates alike understand the challenges of what she described as a “24/7/365 job.”
Justice of the Peace: death calls and ““Where is the cow out?”
In Dickens County, where at one time there was a JP for each of the four precincts, budget considerations have whittled down the position to two, and eventually to a single person to handle calls for the entire county.
Among the statutory duties of that office, which is considered a full-time position although the irregular hours make it possible to hold alongside another paying job, are arraignments, magistrations (including minors and mental health), determination of need for autopsy in natural, accidental or crime-related deaths, and these days, ruling in credit card lawsuits.
The typical all-hours phone call, Stone said wryly, might involve responding, “Where is the cow out?”
Stone said the position “entails a functional knowledge of traffic law but also the ability to work a dead body.” Candidates Arlene Abernathy and Matt McArthur each pointed to their previous experience in law enforcement and related work, qualifying them for the job. (Candidate Patti Hagar was not able to attend.)
Abernathy said that although she had never considered a career in public service, she “was hooked” after going to work in the county jail and became interested in serving. “Once you have been an essential worker and figure out how to make that work, you are equipped to do the job,” she said.
Asked why he decided to run for JP, McArthur responded, “When I ask myself what is the best thing I can do for my county, I have the background, training and experience for it. I want to chose the office where I can best do that.”
Clerk and treasurer each appointed, running unopposed
For county clerk, Danay Carnes, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of retiring clerk Beck Hill, had the chance to introduce herself without sweating any competition.
Though not born in Spur, Carnes said, she now calls Spur home. She’s particularly interested in ensuring accurate elections, in light of the new equipment recently installed, and on which she’s been receiving training.
County treasurer candidate Brandi Abbott is also the sole name on the ballot for that position, having been appointed after Darla Thomason announced she would not sek reelection. Abbott pointed to her previous experience in the courthouse, as administrator in the AgriLife office, and expected that Thomason would be an excellent mentor in the new post.
Her top priority if elected, she said, would be to have an open-door policy with commissioners, “because ultimately they make the decisions about how the money is spent.”
Clerk and treasurer each appointed, running unopposed
Four candidates for county commissioner participated, David Baxter and incumbent Mike Smith for Precinct 2 and Greg Arnold and incumbent Jerry Alexander for precinct 4.
Each was asked why they decided to run. Some said they were always interested in local politics; others were approached and asked to run for public office.
Smith said that the biggest challenge facing Dickens County was building the tax base, “especially with the efforts that have started, and a couple of other things coming down the pike.” He also cited his record as a conservative financial manager and would be “looking to hold the tax rate as low as we can while providing the services we need.”
Smith explained the challenges in budgeting, dividing up revenues up among the various county agencies. “You have to make the dollars you have to work with stretch,” he said. “The last few years have been pretty tight.”
Incumbents and challengers alike, however, are aware of the potential windfall coming from new industries like Argo Blockchain and the Broad Reach power project. Some respondents seemed unsure how much latitude judge and commissioners would have in raising or lowering the tax rate in light of changes in revenue, though Smith was quick to point out that a multi-million-dollar increase in tax revenues would automatically lower the effective tax rate, which might then fluctuate upwards again in future years.
Audience member Sheldon Parsons, himself a retired county commissioner, said that Argo should be a pretty big windfall, “maybe double our ad valorem base, est. $200 million” and asked candidates, “Would you be for lowering taxes immediately or see how it played out?”
Questions from the audience ensued about revenue that could be projected from the Argo project—and whether commissioners themselves were ready to embrace cryptocurrency themselves, or.
Arnold replied, “I don’t know a whole lot about it but am sure willing to learn,” Smith said, “Absolutely! Anything that could help us!”
Baxter added, “I couldn’t tell you much either, but it’s going to bring a lot of people” and posed yet another question in return: “Where is Argo going to find 25 people to work?” (To this, new Argo employee—one of at least two people in the room to have secured fulltime employment with the company recently—responded that Argo’s labor force commitment, of an estimated 25 jobs, “has been pretty much accomplished with Dickens County residents.”
Alexander, who said he was “ready to embrace” crypto, had perhaps the best zinger of the night. “With Argo the county has nothing to lose,” he said. “If that thing flops next year, somebody’s going to have a nice barn out there.”
Summing up
In closing, challengers for the commissioners’ jobs were asked what new ideas they could bring to the table, Arnold and Baxter both demurred, citing a need to wait until elected. “New commissioners need to have training regarding new rules and regulations,” Arnold reminded listeners.
Regarding top accomplishments while in office, incumbent Smith answered unequivocally, “Building our tax base, primarily due to green energy in northern Dickens County.”
“Others are looking at coming into the county are for similar reasons,” said Smith. “It’s taken a long time to bring to fruition; there was a big solar project a few years back that never materialzed. With Argo, we know it’s happening.”
Alexander, echoing Smith’s response, also pointed to another success — “though no oone wants to think about this” — in handling Covid pandemic, with all the emergency preparations that had to be done.”
Keeping jobs filled and taxes low appeared to be on everyone’s to-do list.
For a rural county with a dwindling population according to the latest Census, those are tall orders—but eminently doable with the range of talent, expertise and commitment shown at this evening’s event.
Greg Arnold offered a closing sentiment that likely also spoke for all, thanking The Texas Spur and the chamber for putting the session together. “I’m not a politician but I promise to do the best thing for Dickens County,” he said. “May the best man win.”
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
