Louise Jones (Incumbent)
Spur resident
Mayor, City of Spur
Hometown Spur, Texas
Education Some college
Occupation Retired
Family One daughter and one son; five grandchildren; four brothers (one deceased) and four sisters
Interests My church, my family, the City of Spur, supporting the students of Spur ISD
Key message 1 To continue finding funds to improve our water system and streets by working with experts.
Key message 2 Work to keep our police department.
Key message 3 To get our City office up to date technology-wise.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most Some areas of public policy that matter to me are our economic conditions, budget and taxes—finding ways to cut back on what we can in order to do what we need done.
One issue of importance is to review and update some of our city ordinances. I will listen to the citizens on what they would like or dislike in their neighborhoods.
David Crawford
Spur resident
Hometown and education I finished high school in Spur in 1966. The following September I started classes at Lubbock Christian College. In 1967 I married Toni Baird and continued my education at LCC, then transferred to Texas Tech.
Occupation After graduation from Tech I was employed at Fort Griffin State Park, where I was the state herdsman for the state longhorn herd. In 1969 I moved back to Spur, where I purchased Bob Blackshire’s beef processing company and operated it.
In 1975 I was employed by Texas A&M as the assistant livestock manager for one of the research stations. After 10 years with A&M I moved back to West Texas and joined the management team of Excel Meats as the training director and safety manager.
Later in life I was employed by TDC-J until retirement. After my retirement I started running my wife’s family ranches in Dickens County.
Interests My hobbies are woodworking, hunting, and trout fishing in Colorado.
My motto: Everyone has three choices in life. Mine are, Never give up, Never give in, and Give it all you got.
SPUR CITY COUNCIL, WARD 1
Fronye Morris (Incumbent)
Spur resident
Hometown, education and occupation My hometown is Spur, Texas. I graduated from Spur High School in 1969 and have two years of college. I retired from South Plains Electric Coop. as supervisor of customer service in 2013. My family has been in public service in Dickens County starting as great-grandfather as tax collector, grandfather as sheriff, my husband Charlie as county Commissioner and myself as city council person for Ward 1 for five years.
Interests I am dedicated to the betterment of the city of Spur and its citizens. I am a Christian by faith and attend the First Baptist Church. I currently serve as president of the Spur/Dickens Museum board since 2014. It is necessary we preserve the history of our county, and I am dedicated to enhance our future.
Key message 1 Police Department
Key message 2 Infrastructure of streets and water lines
Key message 3 Renewal or Removal of old buildings and houses
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most It is essential we have a strong police department in our community. In our public meeting, sponsored by the council 18 months ago, it was imperative the citizens wanted a separate and effective police force in Spur. Although the Sheriff’s Department has come to our rescues several times, we must maintain our own police department. Other items reflected by the citizens include deterioration of infrastructure. These items remain as current concerns as I visit with constituents in Ward 1. I desire to peruse all options in replacing water and sewer lines and repairing our city streets. I will continue to search for grants from all sources and explore the option of bonds. I believe these efforts are our main avenues in procuring funding for infrastructure operations and maintenance.
We have experienced some population growth over the past decade, and our decline has at least temporarily halted. We must continue on this path with growth from the Tiny House movement and others who have ridden the wave to our community for security, freedom, and independence of burdensome bureaucracy and over-taxation. To maintain this growth, I will strive to aid in this growth through action to remove abandoned and dilapidated housing that increases our tax base by revitalization of housing and building by supporting effort through Texas Communities Group LLC.
Steve Bridges
Spur resident
Independent. City of Residence Spur
Hometown Greenville, Texas
Education University of Oregon, Journalism
Occupation Merchandiser
Family Wife, Janet, and three fur babies, Charlie the Yorkie, Toby the Schnauzer, and Adie, the Pom Interests Traveling, fishing
Key message 1 Police Department
Key message 2 Make animal shelter no-kill.
Key message 3 Clean up downtown.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most The major problem with the current city council is the secrecy in which they operate. They only allow common citizens to speak for 5 minutes before the meeting begins; oftentimes the person does not have all the facts. And they take no action on what someone has brought up. When discussion is being done on agenda items, no one from the gallery is allowed to speak or ask a question. Leaving us the citizens of Spur in the dark about what just took place. I will work to correct that.
SPUR CITY COUNCIL, WARD 2
Don Wright (Incumbent)
Spur resident
Hometown Spur, Texas
Education North Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Texas Technological College
Occupation Retired educator
Family Myself
Interests Music, art, stained glass, gardening
Key message 1 I will strongly support reasonable and feasible improvements in Spur.
Key message 2 I will attempt to look after the welfare and care of Spur citizens.
Key message 3 I will keep an open mind, be a willing listener and strong advocate of anyone concerned in the welfare of Spur.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most Infrastructure is of utmost importance at this time. I am concerned for the well-being of Spurites and know any reasonable means should be investigated to improve and maintain a strong, healthy system. Financial resources are always primary concerns for any endeavor and require full attention before any action taken to assure the best service, benefits and burdens for taxpayers.
Connie Rainbolt
Spur Resident
Background I was born in Abilene, Texas. My dad and mom relocated to Lubbock, where in 1955 we finally made our home in Spur.
Education I was a 1966 graduate of Spur High School, where I had a multitude of family and friends. Leaving Spur in 1986, I attended Aladdin Beauty College. I was a 1992 graduate and worked in the DFW area. Spur kept calling me home. I moved back and forth for a few times, finally making my home where I was raised, permanently.
Occupation I am retired, sadly. I worked over the years at some very interesting places, learning so many things meeting so many people. I worked as a stylist, a manager of Taco Bell, a assistant to a Lab Technician at Quest Diagnostics, a foreclosure specialist for BBWCD&F Attorneys, and a catalogue entry specialist for Neiman Marcus, holding all positions 5 to 7 years.
Family My mom and dad were Bill and Ava Corder. I had one sibling, Rickey. I raised three kids here. My daughter Becky and Stevie Torres now reside in Spur, owning several businesses here. My daughter Belinda and spouse live in Frisco, Texas. I have 13 awesome grandkids along with 7 beautiful great-grandkids.
SPUR CITY COUNCIL, WARD 3
Rhea Melton (Incumbent)
Spur resident
Hometown My hometown is Spur. I have lived here 63 of my 65 years.
Education I graduated from Spur High School. I have a certificate of completion in secretarial science from Central Texas College. I have a B.S. in elementary education from Texas Tech University.
Occupation I am a retired teacher with 25 years of service with Spur ISD. I currently work as a substitute teacher there.
Family I have two children: a daughter, Serena Lester (Les) in Spur, and a son, David Melton (Daresa) in Brownfield. Serena and Les have two children, Reace and Ryleigh. David and Daresa have two children, Cory and Caleb.
Interests My interests are my family, my church and my community. Volunteering in each of these is very important to me.
Key message 1 Doing my best to keep Spur a town people are proud to call home.
Key message 2 Taking care of business is the business of the city council.
Key message 3 Building for the future while remembering the past.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most Infrastructure is the most important issue for me. Our water system and streets are at the top of the list. I don’t want to raise taxes for funding, but unless the federal government provides funding for programs for upgrades, funding will fall to the community. Of course, I understand that even if funding comes from the federal government, we’ll still be paying for it in some way. This, however, is not just a Spur problem. Any municipality over a hundred years old has these problems. Infrastructure is a national problem. The Spur city council is actively seeking ways to suitably repair our water system and streets.
Gayle Massaro
Spur resident
Education High school graduate, 2-year college, graduate of police academy
Occupation Retired criminal investigator
Family Mom turning 90 in July
Interests 1. Rescue animals, abused or not wanted or in shelters designated as “no-kill” but are scheduled to die. 2. Firearms 3. Long motorcycle rides 4. Being kind to others, volunteering, learning from elders
Key message 1 Short and long-term plans in place to revitalize Spur’s economy to include a more efficient and effective budget process with input from the community as well as mayor and city council. Making all citizens responsible for compliance with city ordinances, especially asking store/building owners to maintain or tear down structures.
Key message 2 Transparency in city government regarding matters discussed at council meetings with the exception of confidential matters exempt by law. Fully explain bidding process. Contracts with vendors must be fully examined and understood before voted on and approved to include vendor penalties for under-budgeting and not completed by date in contract.
Key message 3 City council does not know, it should be asking its citizens for help by forming committees to ask for input. Our little town is diverse and many have expertise in areas in which the council does not. So get the community involved because their voices matter.
What areas of public policy or community issues that matter most to you? 1. Be honest with the citizens; fully inform them of the good and bad issues.
2. Get a police department for the safety of the community and let them do their jobs under the laws of Texas.
3. Implement HB 305 as required by law.
4. Give tax credits to employers who hire summer youth and teach them a trade.
SPUR ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLACE 1
Patrocino (Pat) Ortiz (Incumbent)
Spur resident
Hometown Born and raised in Spur, Texas
Education Associate’s degree in aerospace ground equipment technology, Community College of the Air Force.
Occupation Johnson Controls Inc., maintenance engineer 20 years; prior served eight years in the USAF; honorable discharge.
Family Married to April Ortiz, and have four children.
Interests Fishing and golf. Have coached all local youth sports for the last 11 years in Spur. Football, basketball and currently baseball. Served for three consecutive terms at Spur ISD on the school board.
Key message 1 My focus has always been to serve the children of our community and give them every possible opportunity to succeed.
Key message 2 Our community depends on our honesty, integrity and passion to make sound decisions that are in the best interest of our school district, teachers and students.
Key message 3 Taxpayers deserve to get the best outcome for their investments, and that is what I strive to do.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most I feel that as a small town we need to make our community as appealing, to visitors and folks searching for a community to live in, so that people have a desire to move to Spur and brings in businesses and their families. That means as a community we have to chip in to keep our neighborhoods clean and desirable.
Andrew Adams
Rural resident of Dickens County
Hometown I was born and raised in Spur, Texas.
Education I graduated from Spur High School in 2007 and went on to earn my welding certification at Western Texas College. I recently completed my Comp-TIA Network Plus certification, a universally renowned certification, to further my education and advance my career.
Occupation I am currently working for Caprock Telephone as a central office technician and thoroughly enjoy my job.
Family My proudest accomplishment is not any of this, but it is my family. I have a beautiful wife, Laura Adams, with whom I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary this August. We have two wonderful children, Lily, who is 10, and Cash, who is 8. Currently, we have the additional blessing of raising two foster sons.
Interests Outside of spending time with my family on our hobby farm, I enjoy reading, fishing, welding, and participating in church events.
Areas of public policy or community issues that matter most I believe that if you want to see change then you have to be active in it, and therefore I would be honored to be able to serve this wonderful community and school. I wish to work for our children to have the best opportunities and technologies to further their futures in an everchanging world.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
