Posted 11:51 pm Friday, January 18, 2008
Berman Pushes For Law To Block Commissioners' Raises
By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer
It could soon be illegal for county commissioners in Texas to vote themselves pay raises that take effect before their next election cycles.
Staff Writer
It could soon be illegal for county commissioners in Texas to vote themselves pay raises that take effect before their next election cycles.
State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, announced his intention to offer such legislation at a forum for county commissioner candidates held Thursday by the Smith County Republican Women's Club.
"In Texas, county commissioners are the only elected officials who can vote themselves immediate pay raises," said Berman. "I have already written this bill and I will offer it in November (for the January 2009 legislative session)."
The pay raises Smith County commissioners voted for themselves in 2007 remain a central issue in both the Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 races.
"The pay raises should have been handled differently," said Precinct 1 candidate Jeff Warr, who added that he had contacted Berman to encourage him to offer such a bill.
There's no incumbent in the Precinct 1 race. Warr faces Mike Boyter and Derrell Cooper in the March 4 Republican primary for the seat.
In the Precinct 3 race, incumbent Commissioner Bobby Van Ness has drawn three challengers, Toby Cross, Ken Langley and Terry Phillips.
Van Ness pointed out he abstained from the vote on the pay raises.
"If I had voted no, I would have been voting against raises for our employees," he said.
Candidates were split on whether they would accept the pay raise, now that it's in place.
In the Precinct 1 race, only former Tyler City Council member Warr said he would refuse the increase, and instead put that sum into the county's work force fund. Boyter and Cooper said they would take the raise.
"I will take it," said Cooper, a former county commissioner for Precinct 3 who has since moved into Precinct 1. "I won't work any less than the others do."
"I'll accept it," said Boyter, a financial planner. "I know what this job pays and I'll take it."
In the Precinct 3 race, Van Ness had already pledged to give his raise to charity. Cross and Langley said they would accept the raise.
"I support some charities and some ministries," Cross said. "I'm not going to turn back (the raise). I'll use that money to increase (my spending) on some charities that I know will do some good."
When asked if he would accept the raise, Langley simply said, "Yes."
Phillips, however, said he would decline the raise.
Candidates used the forum to further introduce themselves to club members.
PRECINCT 1
"I want to make a difference now," said Boyter. "I'm an administrator and a manager. They call (the position) commissioner, but what a commissioner does is manage the affairs of the county. You're not a lawmaker. You're an administrator. And I have a background in business, a MBA."
"I want to make a difference now," said Boyter. "I'm an administrator and a manager. They call (the position) commissioner, but what a commissioner does is manage the affairs of the county. You're not a lawmaker. You're an administrator. And I have a background in business, a MBA."
Cooper pointed to his years of service as a county commissioner from 1993 to 2000.
"I enjoyed it very much," he said. "And when I was no longer commissioner, I began to miss it. I'm a people person. I love to intervene with people with problems and help them work them out. I did a good job, and I want to serve again."
Warr said Smith County needs "aggressive, sharp leaders."
"When I was on the Tyler City Council, I served with a group of people I really grew to respect," he said. "And we did some amazing things with the city of Tyler. I was one of the City Council members who signed the pledge (to avoid debt). Now I have the opportunity to serve at another level."
One further financial issue has emerged in the Precinct 1 race. When asked if they've ever declared personal bankruptcy, both Boyter and Cooper acknowledged they have.
PRECINCT 3
Cross said he has years of experience in keeping county budgets low, particularly in his service as a department head for Ector County.
Cross said he has years of experience in keeping county budgets low, particularly in his service as a department head for Ector County.
"I have a history of doing my part in keeping a county tax rate low," he said. "I was able to provide services to our county citizens without crying to the Commissioners Court and requiring anything from county coffers."
Langley noted that when he became a member of the Winona school board eight years ago, the district was broke.
"Now we have a $3 million fund balance," he said. "I know how to work in a system of budgets."
Phillips focused on taxes.
"I'm a real estate investor, and I know how heavy the tax burden is on people," he said. "I know how to spend a dollar and make sure we get a dollar's worth in return. I want to bring sound, conservative judgment to the court."
"I'm a real estate investor, and I know how heavy the tax burden is on people," he said. "I know how to spend a dollar and make sure we get a dollar's worth in return. I want to bring sound, conservative judgment to the court."
Van Ness pointed to the court's accomplishments on behalf of Precinct 3 and the county.
"Twice as many roads have been repaired in the last three years than had been done in the previous four and a half," he said. "Before I was sworn in, I can remember we had county employees picketing on the courthouse square. We had employees eligible for welfare. But since taking office, we have lowered turnover and we are moving forward in county government."
The last day to register to vote in order to take part in the March 4 primaries is Feb. 4. Early voting begins on Feb. 19.
