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After reading a recent letter sent by one of my opponents to many of you, I felt it necessary to point out some fundamental differences between my opponents and me.
Anyone who knows me,
knows I am a "blue-collar" Republican. I work every day at my job as your Commissioner, and many of those days stretch into the night. I don’t have other commercial interests that could cause a conflict of interest. I
am dedicated to my "job". If this is the definition of a "professional politician" then I gladly accept that title. I prefer to call myself a professional public servant, because that is what I’ve done for
over 20 years, first in law enforcement and the last 7 years as your County Commissioner. My opponent also made the statement that "when a public office becomes a job; the person in the job serves the job, not the
people." Are we to believe that Phil Gramm, Jake Pickle and George W. Bush have only served the job and not the people? These are clearly long-term professional public servants just as I am... But I promise you I
absolutely consider the Commissioner’s position a job. That job is to serve you, the citizens.
I absolutely agree with my opponent’s statement that he "does not believe the solution to problems in government is more
taxes"... the fact is when you compare the DSISD School taxes, for example, to the County tax rate over the past 8 years you see a drastic contrast. While our school tax rates have skyrocketed, our County tax rate has been
stable and actually declined 2 of the last 3 years. The DSISD School taxes are currently at the maximum limit allowed by law and we recently lost our homestead exemption in order to help cover the cost of running the school
district. While reducing your County tax rate, we have resurfaced a record number of roads and upgraded the Sheriff Department’s equipment and staff necessary to meet the needs of a fast growing county.
I also agree with
the assertion that the County should use private contractors for maintaining and upgrading our roads. The fact is, I implemented a plan whereby the County supplements our Road Department with private contractors who are
contracted with by the hour, and managed through our Road Department. This allows us to reconstruct more roads even more efficiently and cost effectively.
My opponent states that the roads in Hays County need to be put
on a "maintenance" plan. It is great that he recognizes that a scheduled maintenance plan is necessary to keep up with growth. That is precisely why I worked for and implemented such a plan four years ago. That plan,
which is currently in place, is responsible for all road resurfacing, repair and/or construction.
My opponent says he is for bringing in high-density, low cost housing - because our teachers and deputies have a right to
live near where they work. I want to go on record as being absolutely against low cost, high-density development. I have worked hard to increase the minimum lot size included in the subdivision rules I co-authored five years
ago. If we are to keep our rural way of life and maintain the ambiance we currently enjoy, we can not allow low cost, high-density housing to penetrate Precinct 4 any more than it already has... If the objective is to create an
environment where our teachers and deputies can live near where they work, then we should pay them more.
My opponent makes it sound like I have not addressed the water issue. But those of you who have lived here for any
length of time will remember that it was I who was waving the "red flag" regarding ground water, waste water and water availability even when it wasn’t "cool" to do so... I have been on the leading edge of
the issues of water, rainwater collection, and the LCRA pipeline project since the beginning. My opponent even admits that he supports the plan I implemented requiring proof of water availability and wastewater treatment in
each new development.
As for developing a plan for areas like the one he discusses in his letter, from Nutty Brown Road to Henly along Highway 290, the fact is most of the area he is referring to is bound by restrictions
of the City of Dripping Springs through its ETJ. To the extent the County has control over growth outside the City’s jurisdiction, I feel we have done an outstanding job of keeping "urban sprawl" out of Hays County. I
am proud of the impact the County has had on not "controlling" but rather "managing" growth in this area.
Any employee of the Hays County Sheriff’s Department, including the Sheriff himself, will tell
you that I have been their "advocate" on the Hays County Court since I took office in 1995. This year I pushed for a necessary salary increase for our deputies just as my opponent says he would do.
My opponents
told me personally when they decided to run against me that I have done a good job, and they say they want to do all the things I have already done or am currently doing. So ask yourself - Is a change really necessary? Do you
want to take a chance on someone who is ultimately seeking higher office? Do you want a one-term commissioner or a part-time commissioner? Or do you want someone who has demonstrated fiscal restraint while making the most
efficient use of your tax dollars and one who has been and will continue to be committed "full-time" for the long haul.
In summary, I hope you will look at my record and listen to your conscience. I greatly
appreciate your continued support and ask for your vote on March 12. And remember that early voting begins February 26th.
Sincerely,
Russ Molenaar
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