Voters Have Last Word
Public resentment of the huge pay increase the county commissioners court voted for itself in July of 2007 was a significant factor in the overwhelming jail bond issue defeat.
Only Commissioner JoAnn Fleming, who is leaving the court, dissented and spoke out against including raises for the commissioners court in the plan and did not accept the increase. The raise was 45 percent for County Judge Joel Baker and 30 percent for commissioners. Commissioner Bobby VanNess abstained from the vote but accepted the pay increase after it was approved by a 3-1 vote.
Baker and commissioners Bill McGinnis and Bobby VanNess said earlier this year they wouldn't take the next two years of the raise. Commissioner JoAnn Hampton indicated she still hasn't made up her mind.
The landslide defeat of VanNess to Terry Phillips in the April 8 runoff election in Precinct 3 is further evidence Smith County voters have no appetite for this kind of political force-feeding.
Many politicians are concerned about re-election and the three remaining court members who voted for the pay raise have to run in two years.
In the meantime, voters may decide to speak to them again in rejecting future bond issues unless more action is taken by commissioners in putting the pay raise issue to rest.
