Local Elections

By ROY MAYNARD
Staff Writer

It's all about listening, incumbent Smith County Commissioner Bobby Van Ness says.

Facing three challengers in the March 4 Republican primary for the Precinct 3 seat, Van Ness says he remains the best candidate because he's responsive to his constituents.

"I have made this job a full-time job," says Van Ness, a retired Tyler police detective who was first elected to the commissioners court in 2004. "I am accessible to my citizens in Precinct 3. People don't have to drive to Tyler to find me. I have made an effort to return every phone call. If I don't understand a problem over the phone, I get in my vehicle and I go and look at it."

Citizens are concerned about roads, he says, and the court has made significant progress lately.

"Twice as many roads have been repaired in the last three years than had been done in the previous four and a half," he says. "We restored the staffing levels for the county Road and Bridge Department, improved employee morale and reduced staff turnover from 32 percent in 2006 to 16 percent in 2007."

Employee turnover has also been a big problem in the past for Smith County, he adds.

"Part of that has been the salary structure, and part has been the working conditions," he says. "But we're seeing a turnaround."

In fact, the Physical Plant Department has seen its turnover go from 46 percent in 2006 to 8 percent in 2007, while turnover in jail employees has gone from 28 percent in 2006 to 17 percent in 2007.

But part of the new salary structure - raises for commissioners totaling 30 percent over three years - has drawn plenty of political heat, he acknowledges. He abstained from the vote on the new salary plan.

"I had a decision to make," he says. "I could vote no and vote against (raises for) our employees. Or I could vote for it and violate my word. And I was not going to do that. So I abstained from the vote."

The backlash from the salary increases has been substantial, he acknowledges. And the raises played some part in the defeat of the jail bond proposal in November, he says.

Rebuilding the court's credibility will require listening, Van Ness adds.

"We should heed what the citizens tell us," Van Ness says. "We know we need to build a jail. We're going to have to build it, even if we have to downsize it. But since we work for the people, we need to listen to what they want."

The public has made some things clear.

"The voters said they didn't want a Taj Mahal," Van Ness says. "They wanted a jail. And they aren't ready to go forward on (new) courts yet."

A new jail is feasible, he contends.

"If we come to the voters with a bare-bones jail, for medium and maximum security and keep low risk where it's at, I am guessing ballpark of $60 million, it could pass," he says.

Other issues face Precinct 3, as well, he adds. Citizens there depend on their constables' offices.

Van Ness says he has been instrumental in beefing up the offices in Lindale and Winona.

"In Precinct 4 (Winona), it has traditionally been a one-man office," he said. "We were able to get him some help in there."

One full-time deputy was added to the Precinct 4 office, and two were added to the Precinct 5 office.

Van Ness faces challengers Toby Cross, Ken Langley and Terry Phillips.

If none of the four candidates wins more than 50 percent of the votes on March 4, the top two voter-getters will face each other in a runoff on April 8.

Commissioner Precinct 3 includes the voting precincts of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 27, 32, 46, 47, 56, 61, 64, 68 and 69.

Bobby Van Ness
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