The Midlothian Mirage

Former Midlothian Mayor Pro-Tem Dusty Fryer moved his property out and off of his ex-girlfriend's home. Diane Day alleges Fryer of stealing property,

2009-11-26T13:32:00.000-06:00

[Updated: Nov. 24, 2009]

Today was my first "Becky Oliver experience." Two days after calling in some TV camera crews from Dallas on the commissioner's court slaughterhouse vote Monday, I took my arsenal of video cameras and met with Diane Day, who is the former girlfriend of Midlothian Mayor Pro-Tem R.J. "Dusty" Fryer (who has not divorced his wife fully yet, btw.)

She visited with me in Ferris at Big Time Computer Outlet, a computer store next to The Ellis County Press office. She alleged Fryer of being a "con artist," of "theft," of "stealing people's money and conning them out of more," of having a "sex addition," of hiding secret cameras at her house and filming her and then putting videos and photos on porn Web sites, etc., etc.

I followed Diane to Ovilla, where I hopped in her Hummer and "laid low" until we got to her property near Joe Wilson Road and Montgomery (almost at the Cedar Hill/Ovilla city limits.)

After getting the motion to come out, I stepped out, video cameras rolling.
I'll let the videos do the rest:

FYI: I talked with Fryer at the "event" today and asked if he'd like to comment on the civil process service by the Precinct 4 constable's office or any of the allegations made by Diane. Fryer said the break-up was a private ordeal and that it happens everyday. "It's life," Fryer told me. I then asked about the allegations (contained above) at which point he said there was no comment, that the civil court would resolve those issues.

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What's ironic about this all is that Midlothian Mayor Boyce Whatley, Fryer, and Councilman Steve Massey initiated an ethics investigation on Councilman Ken Chambers (which later found Chambers committed nothing that was alleged.)

Diane alleges Mayor Whatley of having numerous affairs. "Dusty and the mayor talk every single day," she said. "They're best friends. I ask who that was that called and [Dusty would say], 'the mayor.' Calls all the time."

Whatley flat-out denies he's had an affair, but according to at least four sources to date, that is not the case.

Facebook Album: Former Midlothian Mayor Pro-Tem GF Drama

Beware of iPennyBid.com

2009-09-01T11:20:00.001-06:00

My friend's PennyAuctionWatch.com site is giving me a whole bunch of ideas...maybe branching my Internet companies (here and here) out into the penny auction business.

Of course, if not for PennyAuctionWatch.com, I wouldn't know about the scamming and shill corporations and the scam-software used to make things appear like they're legit. I of course am referring to iPennyBid.com, among others who are questionably suspect. And yes, I know all about the IPennyBid.com's attempts to sue PennyAuctionWatch.com, which is why I'm ready to help my friend throw iPennyBid.com straight out of business.

Defamation? Haha.When an expose Web site (such as PennyAuctionWatch.com) is accused of being a scam for exposing certain sites or raising questions about companies like iPennyBid.com, you know there's an effectiveness to this...

For more information about penny auctions and questionably suspect "penny" bid sites like iPennybid.com, click here:

http://www.pennyauctionwatch.com/?s=ipennybid

The New Midlothian Observer

2009-04-30T19:01:00.001-06:00

Readers can now visit the brand new Midlothian Observer by bookmarking these sites:

http://www.boycewhatley.com

http://midlothiantexas.wordpress.com

http://www.midlothianobserver.com

Conflict of Interest in Midlothian Police Department Deal

2009-04-30T12:49:00.002-06:00

http://www.KenChambers.net
Coincidence, or Conflict of Interest?

I’ve been asked by Midlothian residents about perceived irregularities in the purchase of the First Baptist Church, now home of the Midlothian Police Department and Justice Center, in February, 2006. At question is whether the city’s representative had a conflict of interest with their broker, and if that could have raised the final sales price to the detriment of the Midlothian taxpayer.

What started as citizens’ concerns regarding recent city discussions, such as the building’s roof and air conditioner units, took on a confusing twist unrelated to the original inquiry. I was told it was very difficult retrieving the correct contract regarding this transaction.

The original open records request produced a contract for $1.5 million, but two pages were missing. The $1.5 million contract was followed up with a $1.7 million contract. The HUD Settlement Statement provided was in the amount of $1.6 million. Because the HUD document purchase price did not correspond to the contract price additional inquiries were made. The city finally provided an amendment to the $1.7 million contract, lowering the purchase price to $1.6 million.

Inquires were made of the Ellis County Assessors Office. The assessor has no record of the value history of improvements for this particular piece of real estate, stating that it is because of the church’s non profit exemption. However, other exempted churches on the Ellis County Assessor’s website detail a value for the improvements (buildings) … why is this one different?

The land value of this property in 2008 is $82,000. This is currently the only information provided on the value of the property, leaving us to believe the city perceived the value of the buildings at over 1.5 million.

It’s unusual to have pages missing from an important legal document, but what made me question the value of the property was how this story kept unfolding like a dime novel.

Former Police Chief Steve Campbell initialed the contract for the city as the city’s representative (buyer), the person responsible for representing the taxpayers … it was his job to acquire the property at the best price for the citizens of Midlothian.

Representing our city, Campbell used William Foshea as the broker (realtor). Foshea received $36,000 in commission, according to the HUD Settlement.

Coincidence? The Texas Real Estate Commission verified that William Stephen Campbell had a real estate salesperson license and was being sponsored by licensed real estate broker William Foshea (the person who received the commission) during the course of the real estate transaction. The TREC website currently shows the same address for both Foshea and Campbell. The city has verified the buyer’s initials on the bottom of the contract are those of William S. Campbell.

Here’s where I question the arrangement: Campbell represented the city in the transaction, and his job was to get the lowest price possible. However, his broker was also his sponsor (boss). The higher the price, the more the broker would make. All the broker would have to do is talk the buyer (Campbell) into paying more, and the broker would make more commission! While the two parties would normally “haggle” over how much to offer the church, they had a business arrangement where the buyer worked for the broker. The potential for a conflict of interest is clear, and, if that arrangement affected the price, it would be the taxpayers who would lose.

We don’t know the answer, but we have to ask: As an employee of Mr. Foshea, did Campbell convince the city to pay more for the building than it might have otherwise? Did Campbell receive a “back door” commission on a sale where he was the buyer – a commission that would be greater the more he agreed to pay?

I’ve phoned Mr. Foshea several times, requesting a meeting regarding this transaction. My calls have not been returned.

All I have are “unusual” circumstances. I cannot prove any impropriety. But, if there was nothing wrong with this transaction, why won’t Mr. Foshea return my calls?

And, even if everything was perfectly legitimate, wouldn’t it behoove Mayor Whatley to avoid the appearance of potential conflicts of interest like this?

Duff Hale's Letter Wars

2009-03-27T13:15:00.001-06:00

Duff Hale, recently annexed with 1,299 other Midlothian-area taxpayers and a columnist for The Ellis County Press, has been taking up fuzzy math in the editorial sections of both the Waxahachie Daily Light and sister cover-up rag the Midlothian Mirror. The question borders on if money was spent from the parks fund(s) on eminent-domained property.

Hale's latest letter:

Letter: ‘Responding to letter’
Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009 2:21 PM CDT
To the Editor,

A letter appeared in this week’s edition of the Midlothian Mirror that asserted my letter regarding acquisition of certain property by eminent domain and paid for with parks’ money was “false and misleading.” With all due respect to the letter writer, I do not believe my letter was in any way false or misleading.

In fact, in that letter I asked the question that should not the acquisition have been taken care of with funds from both parks and utilities. If it was indeed handled that way, then well and good. However, the information from the actual text of agenda item 2009-078 would lead one to draw an entirely different conclusion. In the section “ITEM SUMMARY/BACKGROUND” it clearly states this “is necessary for the installation of a new transmission main to the Water Treatment Plant No. 2 site.” No mention of any other use. Under the section “FINANCIAL IMPACT/FUNDING SOURCE” it clearly states, “Funding is available in Fund 226, Project No. 134, WTP No. 2 and Fund 120, Parks Projects. Debt has been issued for Project No. 122 Community Park. Expenses will be charged to the Park Land Acquisition and Land Project No. 123.” I don’t believe there is another conclusion that can be drawn from this language but that funding for the pipeline right-of-way is coming from parks money.

That is what I stated in my letter. As I said in my previous letter and stated above, if in fact funding did come from different sources, then well and good. It does not appear to me it did.

Duff Hale,
Midlothian

This letter is in response to a Midlothian damage-control specialist who plays as if Hale was misleading in his original letter. This letter-to-letter back and forth is going to bring out a lot of issues.

When Place 3 Councilman Ken Chambers wrote a letter to the editor that completely exposed a massively corrupt way of purchasing the old First Baptist Church-Midlothian for the city's new justice/courts/police headquarters, no one anywhere responded. NO ONE.

NO ONE has come forward to accept responsibility or accountability for what Chambers wrote.

And sadly, the damage control division of Midlothian City Hall seems to have bypassed any resemblance of truth, judging by this response to Hale's first letter:

The facts on parks money
Published: Thursday, March 19, 2009 3:51 PM CDT
Dear Editor,

In 2006 the voters of Midlothian passed a municipal bond package. This package included money ear-marked for park expansion and a start to a trail system for our city.

Since the passage of this bond, the Park Board has used all types of resources to work toward the completion of the Park Master Plan. We have utilized donated property, volunteer labor, neighborhood involvement, dual use property, and donated funds to achieve our goals. I believe that all of these types of resources are vital to the growth of our parks and trail system.

I hope that we will be able to make use of utility easements and rights of way to enhance our trail plans. One need look no further than the Katy Trail in Dallas to find an abandoned right of way that has helped to spark growth, development and rejuvenation. What once was considered an eye-sore is now a valuable asset to the uptown community.

In last week’s opinion section a letter stated that the city council had used money from the park bond to purchase a utility easement, and that the council had been intentionally deceitful in their action. This statement was false and misleading. I know that a pipeline easement is generally no wider than 20- to 30-feet, yet the city purchased 100-feet plus of easement. The additional width will provide for a second use as a pedestrian trail. This is a classic example of a dual use easement. This piece of property will help to form a link from Jaycee Park to our city center by way of a recreational trail. In fact, a 26-acre site is already held by the city immediately south of the purchased easement and right of way (just south and west of the Northridge neighborhood). The money used to purchase this easement came from two different funds: one set aside for parks and the other for utility work. This information is a matter of public record. The city council acted in an appropriate manner and did good work in acquiring one piece of property that can serve two purposes. And by the way, I encourage all interested citizens to review the city’s Trail Master Plan, which you can find at City Hall or on the city’s website at www.midlothian.tx.us (go to Departments/ Parks & Recreation).

Respectfully,

Gary Hensel, Chairman
Midlothian Park Board
Midlothian, Texas

See Online: MidlothianObserver.com

Mid-Way Regional Airport, Loop 9, Local Races

2009-03-23T16:28:00.001-06:00

Freedom of the Press | Joey Dauben

Mid-Way Airport, Loop 9 and local races

The taxpayers in Midlothian and Waxahachie are getting screwed the longer we keep throwing more money at the massive construction problems caused by illegal contracts to the Nay Company for airport hangars.

The airport, shared and subsidized by both cities and run by an appointed seven-member board, has been the subject of intense scrutiny from pilots, construction contractors, politicians and lawyers alike. The only media outlet with a flashlight over the Highway 287 airport is this newspaper.

However, the three years' worth of constant coverage, YouTube videos, blogs and other tools have not stopped the hemorrhage of tax dollars being used to repair the Nay Company's damages. There are plane hangars with improperly built drains, leaky roofs and door gates that won't lock into place when shut. Andy Biery, the new airport manager, has no experience managing so much as a Taco Bell, let alone an airport, according to his resume.

The Nay Company has done what was done to the original three-story Ellis County Justice Center, but this issue is different because voters didn't get a chance to elect the airport board members as we did the county commissioners that passed a tax anticipation note to fund the Justice Center (they passed it after voters rejected the building at the polls.)

Both city councils in Midlothian and Waxahachie awarded the Nay Company numerous contracts equaling well over $1 million to repair and build shoddy hangars and other projects. No one seems to care because the power of incestual politics is too strong.

The taxpayers are being shafted at that airport, so much so that one of Mid-Way's board members' hangars had to be repaired 15 times. What's so callous about this is that the damages committed by the Nay Company are also being repaired by the Nay Company.

The definition of insanity has an Ellis County equivalent: hiring the company that you originally brought on board to build things that itself has damaged and expecting different results is ridiculous.

I bought MidWayAirportBoard.com to serve as an online reminder of the tax dollars being poured into that sink hole.

Loop 9 Opposition

Two months ago, Megan Gray and I covered an Oak Leaf City Council meeting where I saw numerous maps on the walls. As someone who once had 12 variations of Ellis County maps on the walls, I can tell you how fascinating the ones featuring the highway Loop 9 project were.

They also disturbed me greatly. The alternate routes for the highway - first hatched in the 50s - go right through neighborhoods and subdivisions in Glenn Heights, Ovilla, Oak Leaf, Cedar Hill and southern Dallas/northern Ellis counties.

I'm not opposed to toll roads, which is what Loop 9 will be, but I am opposed outright to taking people's homes and properties for a project an increasing number of readers have said they had no knowledge of.

I bought StopLoop9.com to prepare for Ellis County's version of the Trans-Texas Corridor.

May 9
On Saturday, May 9 people will elect new councilmen, mayors and school trustees. The issues above will be sure to creep up with elected officials and challengers alike.

We don't need a tea party in Washington, D.C. We need to go after these Ellis County officials allowing this stuff to take place.

Midlothian Election Polls

2009-03-15T22:05:00.001-06:00

Another poll:

Don't forget about the contested Midlothian ISD school board race:

Poll Policy: Users can only vote once per 30 days.

Online: Midlothian-ISD.net | Midlothian.TX.US.

ECP-TV.com | Selected Midlothian Videos

2009-03-15T21:57:00.002-06:00

Place 3 Councilman Ken Chambers:

Place 5 Councilman Wayne Sibley:

Midlothian Approves Annexation on Nov. 25:

Anti-Annexation Activist Thrown Out of Meeting:

Anti-Annexation Activist/Ellis County Press columnist Duff Hale:

A controversial IRS Task Force was established in Midlothian:

Political Assassination Against Councilman Ken Chambers

2009-03-15T21:51:00.002-06:00

Click Here to Read the Archives on the Midlothian, Texas City Council Subcommittee Ethics Report and Investigation Against Councilman Ken Chambers

Note: That witch hunt ended in July of 2008 and no wrongdoing was found against Chambers. Mayor Boyce Whatley and the members of the subcommittee were later sued by Chambers.

09 | Midlothian City Council Elections

2009-03-15T21:35:00.000-06:00

The hottest election in our county will be in Midlothian’s city council elections. And that means I’m cranking back up MidlothianObserver.com.

Election Day
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Place 5
Wayne Sibley - Incumbent
vs.
Dr. Hank Miller

Place 6
Steve Massey - Incumbent
vs.
Bill Redding

Already, the Citizens For Responsible Government and Midlothian Agenda have endorsed Miller and Redding.

Online:

CFARG.org

MidlothianAgenda.com

Also worth noting, Dr. Hank Miller’s treasurer is Ellis County Press columnist Duff Hale, who, like Miller and Redding, was annexed on Nov. 25, 2008.

Midlothian Councilman Ken Chambers, on his Web site KenChambers.net, offers this:

For those of you who have been tracking council activity, you are aware that there’s little to no communication between myself and fellow council members, including Mayor Whatley, over various agenda items that I have opposed.

The subcommittee that Whatley formed and dropped last July 2008, in an attempt to discredit me personally and my council seat, Place 3, “was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” My fellow council members stood by and said nothing, knowing this was a personal vendetta Whatley had against me over forced annexations and many other issues that I opposed.

Council members should have the right to voice their opinion and vote based upon his/her conscience. Council members should represent the people, not their personal agendas. I believe this is not the case with the current council.

There should be term limits on council member seats and the mayor. When someone remains in a position for an extended period of time, they become too relaxed, too confident and can lose their perspective on issues, as well as voting for special interest agenda items.

This election on May 9th for two council seats, Place 5 and 6, could very well determine the future direction of the city. Incumbent council members Wayne Sibley and Steve Massey will have to work extra hard to hold their seats. The two new candidates seeking these seats are well known and carry a lot of support; it should be an interesting campaign on both sides.

As an elected official, I cannot officially endorse a candidate for a council seat. I ask that citizens review all the facts and voting history on current council members and the political platform for the new candidates seeking those seats. As a city voter, you are entitled to the best representation on city council. You must ask yourself if you seek council members who will represent you and protect your Constitutional rights or council members that just go with the establishment.

I’d really like to know why elected officials cannot endorse. Is that by Midlothian’s charter or an ethics policy (haha, ethics) or state law or what?

I’ll give these two quotes for the reading public:

“Consensus is the process whereby everyone gives up what they believe in…for something that nobody believes in. What great cause in history would have been fought and won under the banner: ‘I stand for consensus?’ Consensus is the absence of leadership.”
— Margaret Thatcher

And this one:

“The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion.” - John F Kennedy

It is obvious from the years of running this blog and the news articles that I have written for The Ellis County Press who I would - if I had a vote - put my support behind.

Since Midlothian has produced more Republicans countywide in Ellis County, I think it’s time the city start acting the part, too. After all, how can the GOP be so strong in western Ellis County with those regulations and anti-freedom ordinances being produced from Cement City?

Larry Burns vs. Becky Ramsey | Part 1.0

2009-03-11T22:37:00.000-06:00

Someone who did not have my permission (Joey speaking here) deleted a post titled Larry Burns vs. Becky Ramsey | Part 1.

I have changed passwords - again - and have granted administrator access to only two other people - Megan Gray and my webmaster.

The original contents of that blog post were located in a Cache file on Google, so the original contents are below.

[UPDATE]However, someone has deleted the original comments on the Chad Adams Resigns post. Those were some pretty controversial comments that were damaging to local real estate developer Larry Burns. Ironically, those were the only ones deleted, along with the blog post below.

However, if I find the person or persons involved in this, I have plenty of legal help to get even.

[[[Original Post: Larry Burns vs. Becky Ramsey | Part 1]]]

When The Ellis County Observer launched in October 2005, it was fueled in a large part by real estate investor/auto dealer Larry Burns and Rodney Pat Ramsey going at it over a few controversial issues pertaining to downtown Waxahachie’s location for the new justice center, jail and parking garage.

[Click Here to Read the 2005 Archives]

Now Ramsey’s wife, Becky, is at it with Burns over some reportedly disparaging remarks made in some facilities subcommittee meetings (this was stirred by me reporting rumors on a Burns for County Judge campaign.) The claims are that Burns more or less said voters in Ellis County are too “stupid” to make decisions on certain county issues and that he referred to people of Middle Eastern heritage as (a) “towel-heads” or (b) “sand-niggers” or (c) wait until we release the written recorded meeting minutes to find out for sure.

It should be noted that: Ramsey ran for county/district attorney against Burns’ “boy,” Joe Grubbs. The Waxahachie Daily Light stabbed Ramsey in the back, the heart, the sides, the face, the legs, and probably beat up his wife in the process multiple times, which is why Ramsey no longer speaks with the WDL. (or writes for them)

This is classic Establishment vs. Non-Establishment.

I’ll let the readers judge - and post responses unedited - for themselves:

[Original Blog Post: http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?p=5159&cpage=1#comment-16284]
From: Becky Ramsey
Would that be the same larry burns who insinuated that the citizens of ellis county were too dumb to make their own decisions?…the same one who used racially insensitive remarks in a public forum (which were recorded in the minutes)?…the same one who served on a facilities committee for a year, helped waste a few thousand tax dollars and then admitted they had accomplished nothing during their tenure?…the same one who swallowed any pride he may have had to kiss up to Judge Adams for board appointments?..is it the same one who attempted to get me fired for a letter to the editor written by my husband?…that guy? yeah, thats what we need..another completely unqualified candidate short on brains and quick to anger…but then again, he probably doesn’t have anything better to do and that seems to be a qualification around here lately…lets elect the guy with the least experience and ability…that always a good idea…jeesh.

More responses:

[Original Post: http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?p=5159&cpage=1#comment-16284]
From: Larry Burns
Becky,
I think that most Ellis County citizens realize that my service on three different facilities commitees as well as service with The Friends of Ellis County, who were instrumental in the passing of the bond, has been to assure that what happened in the past would not happen again. The person that made the racially insensitive remarks you reffered to was not me and was not invited back to serve on subsiquent commitees at my suggestion, perhaps you need to read the transcript again. I think you failed to mention that you and your husband Rodney Ramsey were speculating on property accross the street from the Justice Center at the time the original facilities group met, and we were’nt moving fast enough to suit you, resulting in much discourse. Chad Adams was never pleased at seeing me serve in any capacity and never appointed me to anything. Becky you took information meant for your employer, who’s property was later purchased by the county and shared it to your husband who used that information in a letter to the editor. I informed your employer that we would no longer be allowed to meet informally because of this breech and what your employer did after that is none of my concern. I have never announced my intention of running for County Judge and have no intention to do so. I have however, been asked to consider filling the un-expired term and I said I would consider it. If your intent is to help Bob Carroll get elected I think you should tell Bob in advance that you intend to use inflamatory remarks on his behalf and let him decide if he needs your help. Bob Carroll is an honorable man and a friend and I doubt he approves of such behavior on his behalf.

Larry Burns

[UPDATE] Unfortunately, again, certain comments originally posted detailing the back-and-forth exchange between Burns and Ramsey are gone. Totally. Someone who did not have my permission deleted the content.

Keg party flyer resurfaces

2008-04-30T12:21:00.001-06:00

Click here to see a full version of the front page

2008-01-21T23:51:00.000-06:00

About this poll: One vote per IP address every 30 days.

2007-07-23T00:16:00.000-06:00

Readers, please refer to http://www.elliscountyobserver.com for the new Observer site.

The features are being added from this blog to the main site daily, and we welcome your patience during this transition. Keep sending your comments and news tips, though, to elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com!

Joey Dauben
Publisher

A Running Count...

2007-07-19T12:56:00.000-06:00

Well, since I've designated myself as the news agenda-establishing blogger in this county, I'd like to point to a running count of the stories that no one has covered - the Waxahachie Daily Light, The Ellis County Press - this really isn't fair to subscribers or longtime, loyal readers, it's really not. But it is my hope that this short list will spur someone to start covering this...

(or, if people aren't careful, this blog will launch a print edition** and smoke all of the newspapers anyway)

Story 1: Navarro College officials admitting to breaking open meetings laws in discussions on giving Ellis County taxpayers a property tax. Isn't this illegal?

Story 2: Navarro College's efforts at getting the state Legislature - i.e., Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana & Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie - to tweak state law allowing for the passage of a property tax without a referendum (or at least the petitions);

Story 2A: The 92% conservative-ranked Cook and Pitts taking the "hell no" stance at Navarro's efforts (Cook isn't even our representative, but he fights for us anyway!)

Story 3: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms arrest of Midlothian "right-wing" activist Leslie Davis; the warrant originally stated the ATF and DEA, as well as Ellis County Sheriff deputies were searching for an inert rocket launcher (possession of this is not illegal, supposedly), but all that was found was a .22-caliber rifle in Davis' closet that he got when he was 14. To be fair, it's still illegal for felons to possess guns (which is a stupid law, in the first place, but hey, it's the law). Reports said that there were about 100 agents in Midlothian the day Davis was arrested;

Story 4: Mid-Way Regional Airport Construction Defects (allegations) + Video. I won't spend too much time on this, but you can Google Mid-Way Regional Airport Disaster and have a blast.

Story 5: Campaign contributions in the May 12 county facilities bond election. It's just interesting to know, that's all. Not a single newspaper has published the list. This blog has though.

Story 6: The stiff-armed lobbying supporters of Judge Gene Knize made to get their friend, Carol Bush, nominated to the open county court-at-law bench (when Bob Carroll retired suddenly), and the ensuing criticism of new-Judge Greg Wilhelm (elected last year as our county treasurer) from the same forces;

Story 7: The county treasurer appointment of Judy Burden over that of GOP county chair Rusty Ballard being a complete (personal opinion of the publisher, no one else) slap in the face; nothing against Burden, but Ballard would have been a great treasurer.

Story 8: Construction defects and ensuing lawsuit over the Midlothian Conference/Senior center;

Story 9: County Attorney Joe Grubbs' lawsuit and efforts to keep victims of Dr. Chitale of obtaining documents related to the case, despite the state Attorney General ruling requiring their release;

The BIG ONE: The 50+ aggravated sexual assault cases that have gone before Grubbs and his pedophile-protecting assistant Patrick M. Wilson, only to be plea-bargained for a quick conviction and in turn, probation. Resumes get padded while child molesters run the streets of Ellis County in droves.

Did I miss anything? Just for the sake of honesty and fairness, Wilson wasn't the prosecutor on all of the cases, but he was on most of them. The signatures of both Wilson and Grubbs, however, appear on the court documents and paperwork filed at the district clerk's office.

To send questions and comments to this blog, do so at: elliscountyobserver@gmail.com

To send questions and comments as to why our newspapers aren't covering these issues, use the following:

Editor@WaxahachieDailyLight.com
Editor@EllisCountyPress.com

**What would Ellis County politics look like if an infusion of one payment of $50,000 were to find itself under the management of The Ellis County Observer? Well, for a quick look at what the ideas are in driving such a print edition of this blog, visit www.ThePolitico.com.

Prepare for war, Ellis County. That $50,000 just hit the market. And I've got the team in place to make this a very interesting little county...

Prostitution Legal in Midlothian?

2007-07-17T19:29:00.001-06:00

It is if you're the Midlothian Mirror editor.

First, the guy who I should have filed charges against for grabbing me and jolting me at the Rotary Club's fish fry last year is none other than Floyd Ingram.

He sits on the committee offering plans to the MISD school board on what to pass in the fall as far as bond elections go. I have no problem with reporters sitting on any board or commission, or involved politically. But his bias towards the city and school district about not publishing certain things -- is a huge conflict of interest.

So, about the prostitution. Just how big of a prostitute is Ingram? Intellectually-speaking of course, he's probably earned a pimp status just for the bribes he gets for not printing a single word about anything this blog and the other Observer has reported about...could someone point me to the article and/or date of publication of anything about the lawsuit related to the construction mess at both the Midlothian Conference Center and Senior Citizens Center?

I'm thinking that's probably pretty useful information for taxpayers in Midlothian to know.

I'm pretty sure that the open records laws that Navarro College officials admitted to breaking when discussing whether or not to lay a property tax on Ellis County would be useful for folks in Midlothian to know as well.

He prides himself on this good 'ol boy image, but in reality, he's being bribed with big contributions in the form of ads to shut his mouth.

Chief Carl Smith?

2007-07-17T12:55:00.001-06:00

UPDATE: Different Carl Smith.

If this is the same CNB Texas-backed Carl Smith that ran for school board in 2006 (came in second to winner Tom Moore), then he just might become Midlothian's police chief.

I was digging around the Midlothian minute archives to see if public smoking ban-opponent Ken Chambers - elected in May after knocking off the ordinance-writing Jimmy Beaudoin - has been opposing any thing to come up during the meetings. Haven't found anything interesting yet...

More Government Construction Projects Going to Waste
There is a lawsuit - if not one already that is - pertaining to the construction of Midlothian's taxpayer-financed conference and senior center.

There is just absolutely nothing else I or this blog can say other than...someone please ...just stop building government buildings in Ellis County period. Something has to change in this county. When will the tax dollar waste stop?

Mid-Way Airport Board Members

2007-07-06T11:41:00.001-06:00

Special thanks to the City of Midlothian for providing this information to the public. It is this blog's hope that the problems and issues raised by pilots over the past two weeks will be addressed honestly, openly, and with a concern towards our taxpayers. Here's the list:

Mayor
Paula Baucum (Rotating Member)
1738 Creek Bend Drive
972-723-2080

Place 3
Al Castleman
5841 Waterworks Road
972-723-6132

Place 6
Aubrey Price
3640 Oak Tree Lane
972-723-3471

Waxahachie's Representatives:

Mark Morgan

Jim Odom

Dale Stevenson

Serves as advisory board to both Midlothian and Waxahachie Councils, oversees day-to-day operation of airport. Board is made up of seven members serving three-year terms; three regular members from Midlothian and three regular members from Waxahachie plus a rotating member appointed by each city on an alternating basis.

2007-07-04T14:30:00.001-06:00

So apparently there's a letter circulating from a recent Mid-Way Airport Board meeting discussing what has been posted on this blog (and once we get it, that letter will be posted). Well, for those who are new to this situation and new to this blog, it's really quite simple:

The first video shows Waxahachie Finance Director Carl Wessels making a presentation to the Midlothian City Council about the need to approve a contract with the Nay Company; this was the same contract that contractor Ken Halverson and I sued Waxahachie over last year. Waxahachie's attorneys said regardless of the decision in then-Judge Bob Carroll's court, they were going to appeal. The case was thrown out on a single word ("resident") not being included near one of the other taxpayers to have brought forth the suit. Back to the video: turn up your speakers real, real loud, but you can faintly make out what Mayor Boyce Whatley and another councilman said about how Midlothian doesn't normally approve contracts like that, and that this would be the last time one like it would be approved. Thanks go to the Rural Citizens Against Annexation for this video footage.

This video shows the "after" part of the contract being awarded to the Nay Company. A number of pilots allowed The Ellis County Observer access to the hangars that are reportedly in such shoddy condition that it's hard for planes to navigate in and out of them; problems that have pilots buzzing at our airport include: major flooding, less-than-adequate drainage pipes and systems; the concrete "humps" the planes are having trouble crossing...those are just the major ones. One pilot reportedly swept six inches of water out of his hangar.

And I got word that there are a few "allies" not so happy with me on this. Allow me to explain something: what you people (critics of this blog and of what I do) need to realize is that my role in this county is not to make friends with anyone in public office. My role is not to go along to get along. It's not to compromise and turn a blind eye to crooked and unethical actions and decisions. No, my role is to do exactly this. And if you don't like it, that's just too damn bad.

I'll admit where I'm wrong, and if I've come out too harshly against someone, I'll admit to it. And if public officials do good, they will be praised.

But I'm done caring about how many "friends" I have politically. Just remember one thing: if you take a dime of taxpayer money, you're my property. And you become my business. And you become scrutinized. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If the newspapers in this county won't do their job, I'll have to do it for them...and yes, that includes all of them.

-Joey Dauben
elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com

13,000 Homes Coming to MISD

2007-07-02T15:23:00.000-06:00

Apparently a second high school - and a third, and a fourth - will be needed, part of which will stem from the 13,000 homes that the City of Grand Prairie has platted in the MISD.

(thanks to MISD school board president Duke Burge for this)

As much as I hate, hate, hate, hate having to break up the 100-square-mile-plus MISD into "factions" at the secondary level, it's pretty much inevitable that there will be numerous high schools.

Hello Mansfield East!

Can Floyd Ingram Be Trusted?

2007-07-02T10:35:00.000-06:00

The Midlothian Mirror actually had an informative front page last week -- maybe too informative.

The gigantic story was about a "new" Midlothian ISD bond committee - formerly known as the Growth Management Committee but it went through a sex change and became the Bond Steering Committee. Most of the same people from the GMT are now members of the BSC (I don't think MISD voters are that stupid...), which will serve the purpose of getting a bond package passed. MISD hasn't had that much of luck in recent years.

What can I say, it's the taxpayer revolt in Midlothian...

Anyway, Floyd Ingram, the Mirror editor, is on this Bond Steering Committee.

Says so right at the bottom of his article. Question: Does the fact that the Mirror's editor participating in a committee that will be responsible for persuading the school board in doling out millions in tax dollars to companies that have more or less pitched in money for those bonds passing sit well with you?

Question 2: Is it not safe to assume that if any of those individuals or companies with a direct interest in seeing bond packages pass in Midlothian, the Mirror won't report it?

It's the perfect conflict-of-interest type of story. At least when I ran for MISD school board while also writing for The Ellis County Press, I would practice what I preach: transparency, open and honest government, asking really hard questions, etc.

But Floyd seems to think that the Mirror is the only news outlet in Midlothian. Taxpayers are not stupid, Floyd. They will get the truth regardless.

2007-06-26T14:35:00.000-06:00

The Ellis County Observer Forum
Debate & Discuss all things Midlothian:
http://eco.informe.com/forum/

Look for the link on the top-left hand sidebar!

2007-06-26T12:29:00.001-06:00

Our commissioners court voted to create an oversight committee last night to check on the status of our newly-approved facilities bonds. The membership will consist of 15 people. To lobby your commissioner and county judge to be included on this important committee, use the following contact information:

County Judge Chad Adams
chad.adams@co.ellis.tx.us
972-825-5011

Commissioner Dennis Robinson - Precinct 1
dennis.robinson@co.ellis.tx.us
972-449-3260

Commissioner Bill Dodson - Precinct 2
bill.dodson@co.ellis.tx.us
972-875-3241

Commissioner Heath Sims - Precinct 3
heath.sims@co.ellis.tx.us
972-483-7477

Commissioner Ron Brown - Precinct 4
ron.brown@co.ellis.tx.us
972-723-8017

MidlothianNow.com

2007-06-26T11:03:00.000-06:00

The site is graphic, informative and very controversial. But it's worth a good read-through.

http://www.midlothiannow.com

Midlothian Mirror Editor in TIME Magazine

2007-06-26T10:40:00.001-06:00

And no, not talking about the current one, but a hero of mine, the late Penn Jones, Jr. In TIME's recent "JFK" issue, the author of the pro-conspiracy article mentions that the former Midlothian Mirror editor (back when the Mirror was worth reading) appeared in Bobby Kennedy's office to discuss the paper's coverage of the Jim Garrison-led trial in New Orleans. Wow, what I'd give for archives of those papers...

A good case study would also be to check with Robert Groden, who lives in Midlothian as well, and who is considered the world's leading expert on the evidence pointing to a plot to kill JFK by the CIA.

Mid-Way Airport Illegal Contract Update

2007-06-24T19:53:00.000-06:00

Remember that illegal contract Waxahachie and Midlothian approved late last year involving a Mid-Way Airport hangar - the one contractor Ken Halverson sued the city over?

Well that hangar, built by the good 'ol boys over at the Nay Company, is in such disrepair that pilots are calling airport management griping about massive flooding and issues regarding entrance-exit "bumps" that prevent pilots' planes from going too far.

That new hangar, built after a temporary restraining order in then-Judge Bob Carroll's courtroom was denied, is now in risk of joining the other project that the Nay Company half-way constructed: a paint hangar and another plane hangar (oh, and those flood too).

Aside from the haphazard construction, pilots are complaining of six-inch flood waters in their hangars. The contract for Nay to build the new hangar (photos and more YouTube video to come...) was approaching $1 million. Midlothian's city council has also refused nearly $75,000 in change orders on the hangar projects.

There are also reports of massive mildew damage in the original structure that the Nay Company built (the one Halverson complained about having faulty drainage); Midlothian's fire marshal was also reported as having been denied by Airport Manager Cam Fearis to update structures on necessary fire-safety measures; the Mid-Way Airport Board - which consists of members of both cities - bypassed Fearis and adopted the fire marshal's standards.

Waxahachie Finance Director Carl Wessels and Fearis should resign immediately; the two city councils in both cities should halt all construction and contracting at the airport and allow an independent investigation into how to go about repairing the damages. Not just that, but every dime of taxpayer funds should be stopped if any is still going to this boondoggle; quick, someone get me the laws regarding filing against a contractor's bond - is that the city's role, or can a concerned taxpayer "have standing" on an issue like this? The city councils that voted to approve this contract were unanimous. It's time to start firing some people over this...because it's not looking good for anyone in this county, especially after dealing with the Justice Center fiasco.

The Ellis County Observer Radio Show

2007-06-21T17:53:00.001-06:00

What's it like being related to someone who was wrongfully accused?

Ellis County will find out - from their own words: tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Sharon Allen will be on The Ellis County Observer Radio Show to discuss not only her getting-updated book exposing Ellis County corruption (read: County Attorney Joe Grubbs & Judge Gene Knize), but her fight to have her wrongfully accused brother released from prison.

Then, the major news: Olga Trevino (now Dixon), the sister of the Robert Trevino (as in the 2004 Ellis County Press series of columns that now appear on JoeGrubbs.com) will be our guest live next week to discuss her family's ongoing fight to see her brother released.

Last week's show was downloaded 65 times. Let's push the number to 100-plus. Those who want to call in to ask our guests (or me) anything related to Ellis County politics and/or the current events of the show, please call: (646) 478-5811

Note: Unfortunately, callers cannot be screened. It's a live-fire radio broadcast, so if someone calls in, we wont know the identity of that person unless they state their name on air.

New Marketing Campaign

2007-06-21T17:19:00.001-06:00

We hope to have t-shirts made (white lettering, black t-shirt) depicting a "brazen" brand of activism.

The Ellis County Observer takes its idea off this image.

And I'll figure out a way to work in the syringe. It was kind of unique...

This one is reader-submitted and goes along with the "editorial" posted here.

-Joey
elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com

Re: ATF Arrests Midlothian Man

2007-06-20T14:03:00.000-06:00

More information on last week's arrest of Leslie Davis keeps coming in, this time from even more sources. Friends of Davis, who was picked up by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms last week on weapons charges at his Midlothian-area home, had a friend-person-roommate by the name of Branda Houlk living with him; she worked at the coffee shop at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and reportedly came to work numerous times strung out on loads of medicine. Former co-workers told this blog she had an "overnight case" full of prescription drugs. This could explain why a Sandra Sanford was taken into custody for possession and a weapon charge (she was booked in the Ellis County jail, where she remains on $80,000 bail); not sure where Sanford fits in to this story, perhaps a friend of Davis'.

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office reportedly came in to the coffee shop at SAGU one day because Davis reported stolen property that he believed Houlk took from him; deputies wisked Houlk into an unmarked car and drove her to the Davis "compound." (sorry, couldn't resist that word in an ATF-related story.) Co-workers say that Houlk was "out of there [Davis' house]" quickly, mainly because of the reported struggles between the two.

And to clarify some things said about Davis' anti-annexation stances, it should be noted that officials with the Rural Citizens Against Annexation say they know of no known connection between their group and Davis.

One RCAA member says with almost near-certainty that the ATF found (his words) "two fully-automatic weapons" and a missile launcher "that could take out an aircraft." We'll see if that's true...

Note: The Ellis County Observer & sister blog Midlothian Observer have been the only media sources where the ATF arrest information is found on this case. The Midlothian Mirror has been silent. The Waxahachie Daily Blight has been silent. The Ellis County Press has been silent. Dallas TV stations aren't even covering this. So stay tuned to this blog for continuing coverage of the ATF's arrest of Davis and his associates.

Anti-Midlothian Mirror Group on Facebook

2007-06-19T11:26:00.001-06:00

You know it's getting bad when critics of the Midlothian Mirror (and more importantly, the Waxahachie Daily Light organization as a whole) create a Facebook group about it.

It's a legitimate Facebook group. With lots of people. Editor Floyd Ingram - or whoever they have over there now - better shape up.

2007-06-18T15:37:00.001-06:00

287(g)
Should the Ellis County Sheriff's Office or individual Ellis County cities' police departments help the problem of illegal immigration? The issue is getting serious up in Dallas County, specifically the Republican Party primary for Sheriff.

The title of the program is called 287(g). Irving's city council shot themselves in the foot; only two council members voted for it. First Farmers Branch. Then Irving (sorta). What is going on up there most certainly should be coming down - south to Ellis County that is.

The Detention Model under 287(g) keeps illegals from being released back into the community after being arrested. The problem is, however, we also want to catch them before they commit a crime and that is the Task Force Model. The Criminal Alien Program is just one program that ICE operates under 287(g). We want them all...Research it at ice.gov and Mechlenberg, N.C. police department website

Thank You, Joe Barton!
Finally, finally, finally a vote by Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, that I can be proud of: he actually voted against a spending bill! And get this: for the Department of Homeland Security at that (probably depended on the amendments the Democrats tacked on to it). But still, this is cause to celebrate. Congressman Barton has been in office since 1984. I was three. If someone gave me $4,000, I'd throw my hat in the primary just to teach him a lesson. But today, I'll give him credit. He voted like a conservative.

Homeland Security Appropriations, FY2008 - Vote Passed (268-150, 14 Not Voting)
The House passed this $37.4 billion bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security for the 2008 fiscal year.
Rep. Joe Barton voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

(wonder if all of those hits from the House of Representatives in Washington were a result of this blog - and only this media outlet - publishing his Congress.org voting record?)

2007-06-15T18:16:00.001-06:00

Readers who weren't able to catch The Ellis County Observer radio show today can download the podcast by clicking here...

Still not sure when the next ECO Show will be, but rest assured, I'll let people know about it...

http://boss.streamos.com/download/blogtalkradio/show_30539.wma

2007-06-15T13:23:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: Re: ATF Arrests Midlothian Man
Some information was reported to us at an earlier date, and it was found to be incorrect. The changes have been made. More details continue to trickle in about Midlothian resident Leslie Davis, who was arrested two days ago by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Midlothian police and Ellis County Sheriff's Office officials, when contacted, supposedly had no clue as to what happened. Really? So a federal law enforcement agency can just swoop right in to a county and arrest whoever the hell they want? Quick, someone e-mail me the ATF's jurisdiction:

elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com

Davis, active in many right-wing causes and most recently, the anti-annexation activities in Midlothian, was supposedly ratted out by a chic who had been living with him; she also worked at the campus-public coffee shop at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. That's at least what the family of Davis is alleging; he had served time several years ago for something relating to "explosives" and "weapons." Must be a member of a "right-wing militia."

Comment Policy Reversal

2007-06-13T18:03:00.001-06:00

Comment Policy Reversal
Readers can now post comments anonymously again. I missed the arguing.

Send news tips to elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com or contact me directly at 972-891-2135

ATF Arrests Right-Winger

2007-06-13T11:23:00.001-06:00

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) reportedly arrested Leslie Davis in Midlothian yesterday on a weapons violation. Davis, who supposedly knows quite a bit of dirt on some Ellis County pols, was taken into custody at about 7:15 a.m. for having in his possession a "22-caliber rifle." He's considered extreme right-wing, but that's not likely to be a cause of why the ATF would go and arrest someone...

2007-06-11T17:25:00.001-06:00

The Ellis County Observer Policy Comment Changes
Effective immediately, if you don't have a registered username with Blogger.com, then you will not be able to post comments. Hundreds and hundreds of comments are posted weekly on all of our blogs, but 97% of them are anonymous.

When you go to register a username, you don't have to actually "blog" to post comments. This is simply a way for the editors - and me - to moderate comment-posters better. This might cut the number of active-posters, but with a 2-minute registration, readers can post comments on any of our blogs. The identity of the comment-posters will still not be known unless a specific username is registered with a real name.

Sorry we had to do this. I encourage all participants to register at www.blogger.com and continue posting, but now you'll need a username to do it.

-- Joey

2007-06-10T14:23:00.001-06:00

Incidents
May 26 to June 1
Accident/minor 4
Assault 2
Credit/debit card abuse 2
Criminal mischief 1
Disturbance – civil 1
Disturbance – noise 1
Found/lost property 1
Fraud 1
Missing person 1
Prisoner transport 1
Runaway 1
Suspicious person 1
Theft 7
Traffic with arrest 4
Unknown call type 3

Arrests
May 26 to June 1
Christian L. Smith, w/m, 27, DeSoto warrants
Fedrico Montero, w/m, 23, no driver’s license, failure to maintain financial responsibility
Dallas K. Phillips, w/m, 41, Tarrant County warrants
Juan J. Villarreal, Jr., w/m, 26, MPD warrants
Leroy Ragland, b/m, 62, MPD warrants
Nicholas A. Everhart, w/m, 20, evading arrest, Henderson County warrants
Jake A. Justus, w/m, 18, theft

Beer & Wine Needed

2007-06-08T16:49:00.000-06:00

I'll just go right out and say it: Midlothian could use this vital product. Of course, most of my more-conservative friends have said they would fight this in November, but hell, I'm a college student -- this makes sense.

What's interesting though is if Exxon is frothing at the mouth as the article seems to indicate, where does County Judge Chad Adams stand? Or for that matter, any politician in Ellis County who has received campaign donations from local oilman Ali Sharaf. Hmm. Take a Google search for campaign contributions to Adams and other Republicans -- those who own the gas stations are expecting something in return perhaps? We'll see...

And the Republicans shouldn't say crap about this vote. They did, after all, have a Cathy Beer run for district clerk last year...

County clears way for beer vote this fall

By FLOYD INGRAM Midlothian Mirror Managing Editor

Midlothian voters will decide whether or not to legalize two forms of alcohol sales this fall.

During its meeting May 29, the Ellis County Commissioners’ Court accepted two petitions as certified by elections administrator Jane Anderson and set the election for Tuesday, Nov. 6.

The ballot propositions will be to “legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption” and to “legalize the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders.”

Anderson said Monday the petition, filed by Sissy Day of Texas Petition Strategies, saw 1,040 names submitted for the sale of alcohol at restaurants and 1,059 names submitted for the sale of beer and wine at local stores.

“They only needed the names of 926 qualified voters for the petition to be accepted,” said Anderson. “We stopped when we reached that point.

Anderson said this is the first formal petition she has seen filed with the county seeking a referendum on alcohol in Midlothian. Anderson has been election administrator in Ellis County since 1993.

Anderson said the referendum will be placed on the county ballot for the November General Election.

“Only voters living in the city limits of Midlothian will be voting on this referendum,” said Anderson.

Signatures were solicited at Midlothian businesses in April for the petition that has put the sale of alcohol before voters.

Mark Pitts, of Sissy Day and Associates out of Arlington, said at that time he was collecting signatures for Texas Strategic Petitions seeking to call for a vote that would allow the sale of beer at convenience stores and grocery stores and the sale of wine and mixed drinks in Midlothian restaurants.

Pitts would not say who hired Day and Associates and repeatedly said he worked for Sissy Day and Associates.

“We have done this for a number of communities around the state,” said Pitts. “An individual tried to do this here in Midlothian a couple of years ago and didn’t get enough signatures.”

Pitts said he would have to get 10 percent of the city’s eligible voters - or about 920 valid signatures - to take the petition to the Midlothian City Council and call for a vote.

“Midlothian has about 9,200 of graduation ceremonies and each is different, exciting and full of special memories.

“All graduations are special and something teachers and administrators take very personally as we watch students walk across that stage to pick up their diploma,” Smith said. “High school graduation is a defining moment in the life of every young person and one the community needs to celebrate with pride.”

For the sixth year Panther graduation ceremonies will be held at The Potter’s House. Directions to The Potter’s House can be found at the end of this story and a map to the ceremony site can be picked up at the Midlothian High School office on Ninth Street.

The doors to the Potter’s House open to the public at 7 p.m., but graduates must check in by 6:30. Graduation ceremonies will begin sharply at 8 p.m., with graduates entering the auditorium to the music of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

The auditorium is air-conditioned and has the seating capacity to hold the more than 1,000 students, teachers, parents, family and dignitaries, who are expected to attend Thursday’s ceremony. Since graduation will be inside, it will be held rain or shine. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Parents, relatives and friends are reminded that the Potter’s House is a church and artificial noisemakers are prohibited. Family and friends are encouraged to clap when their graduate’s name is called.

The order of service will see Salutatorian Stephen Nabinger speak and honor graduates will be recognized. Students to be graduated will then march across the stage to accept their diploma as major accomplishments are read about each senior. Valedictorian Michael Gummelt will then speak and be followed by the Midlothian High School Song that formally ends graduation.

The ceremony is expected to last about two hours.

Direction to The Potter’s House

To get to the Potter’s House, follow U.S. Highway 67 north out of Midlothian. Take the Kiest Boulevard exit and turn west onto Kiest Boulevard. The Potter’s House will be on the north or right side of the highway and will be marked with signs. If you go to Texas Highway 360 you have gone too far.

registered voters and we will probably try see 11,000 signatures to make sure we have enough.” Pitts said. “I had hoped to do this in a week but it looks like it will take me two weeks.”

Several people in Midlothian called the Midlothian Mirror in April saying they were told their signature was a ‘no’ vote against the petition. The signature cards were in yellow and blue and both called for a vote to sell beer, wine and alcohol in Midlothian.

“They get to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” said Pitts. “We just want people to have a choice in this matter. There is nothing wrong with that. All I ask is are they a registered voter in Midlothian.”

Anderson pointed out the different colored signature cards each called for a different ordinance and referendum.

Those who signed the petition were required give their name, address, date of birth and be an eligible voter in Midlothian. Those petitions are on file at Anderson’s office.

While Ellis County is dry, Texas law allows a city or precinct to vote itself wet. Beer can be purchased in Ellis County at Reagor Springs west of Ennis. Garrett passed a referendum in May to allow all alcoholic beverages to be purchased and consumed off premises.

Waxahachie allows beer and mixed drinks in restaurants where food provides the majority of the restaurant’s income. Waxahachie does not sell beer in convenience stores or grocery stores.

In Midlothian Savor Restaurant, Don Chano’s Restaurant and Deb and Jerry Restaurant sell mixed drinks and beer as a private club. Campuzano’s Restaurant gave away beer and margaritas before it burned and closed down in October. Campuzano’s had already filed for a liquor license with the state and has talked of building a bar at the back of the restaurant on the Back Alley Plaza.

Pitts said he set up his table at Wal-Mart Supercenter and Brookshire’s Grocery Store and also handed out petitions to tobacco shops, check cashing businesses and several local convenience storeowners.

“Exxon (gas stations are) chomping at the bit to sell beer, as are the Smart Stops east of town,” said Pitts. “The kind of person who signs varies. I’ve even had policemen tell me it is a good idea so it will keep kids from driving to other counties to buy beer.”

Pitts also said a number of people have become emotional about the issue.

“I had one lady yell ‘No,’ at me,” said Pitts. “I also had an older lady sign my petition and then take it and another card off with her. That’s just stealing.”

Pitts said he wanted to approach the city “sooner than later, so we have plenty of time to get it on the November ballot.”

City officials said Monday they don’t know if the petition has to be approved or channeled through the Midlothian City Council. The city is required to pay the county to conduct the election.

Pitts also said getting a vote doesn’t guarantee passage of a beer, wine and alcohol ordinance in Midlothian.

“They voted it down in Irvin, but that is the headquarters of M.A.D.D (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Pitts said.

Pitts also said his company had been hired to work the petition drive and he didn’t know if they would handle publicity supporting the referendum.

Anderson said the state used to allow a 30-day window to seek petitions on alcohol sales but changed the law several years ago. The state now allows 60-days to collect names calling for a referendum on local sale of alcohol.

Anderson said the alcohol referendum in Midlothian will not be a separate vote.

“At this time we would have state amendments on the ballot first, followed by local option elections,” said Anderson. “We have heard that MISD (Midlothian Independent School District) will be holding a bond election, but it has not been decided if they will be on the ballot with us or hold their own election.”

Laws governing the sale of alcohol and elections to allow the sale of alcohol can be found at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission website: www.tabc.state.tx.us.

2007-06-08T14:56:00.001-06:00

The Ellis County Observer Show
"The ECO Show"
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/eco

Friday, June 15 @ 6 p.m.
Guests: TBA

Listener Call-In Number:
646-478-5811

If you thought the blog was controversial, you haven't seen anything yet. Callers are not screened, guests will receive the itinerary beforehand so as to not feel "ambushed." We'll start this June 15 and continue every Friday at 6 p.m. until/unless the show warrants a daily audience. For now, this will be done on Fridays at 6.

Be sure to bookmark http://www.blogtalkradio.com/eco so as to listen live, or download the podcasts. Suggestions for guests or topics should be sent to: elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com.

Note: I don't check the ECO e-mail account, my webmaster does, so anything that is sent will be forwarded to me.

Anti-Smoking Ban Fun

2007-06-06T17:13:00.000-06:00

Thankfully, we can still have fun with Midlothian's recent ban on smoking. I'm not a smoker, but I am in favor of private property rights. Jimmy Beaudoin lost his re-election bid because he carried the water (they'll probably ban that too) for the Midlothian Chamber of Commun - er - Commerce on the city council's smoking ban ordinance.

Sad to say, but it's so downright true that it's funny...

JoeGrubbs.com

2007-06-05T16:39:00.001-06:00

Re: www.joegrubbs.com
Aside from me owning the domain to our county attorney -- that's right, I own www.joegrubbs.com -- I've been busy gobbling up a few others. Not sure what I'll put on the pages, but I guarantee readers will know the truth about cases that are argued before Judge Gene Knize's court.

The names now in my possession:

www.geneknize.com

www.judgeknize.com

www.elliscountyda.com

www.40thdistrictcourt.com

www.waxahachiedailyblight.com

www.knizelovesbabyrapers.com

Bookmark those. For now they will be pointing to "blank" screens, but rest assured content will be added when it becomes available. And just in time for high-profile election years :) For now though, readers can access www.joegrubbs.com and read about the Robert Trevino case that The Ellis County Press ran a five-part series on in 2004.

Salaries - Commissioners, Judges

2007-05-28T16:03:00.000-06:00

Salaries & Pay - Commissioners, Judges
When people have more information, they can make decisions clearly come election time, and even begin to trust those who we put in public service. We'll have these lists on the left-hand sidebar with the other salaries of the probation department and county attorney's office.

Note that former Precinct 2 Commissioner Jerry Holland, D, Ennis, is still employed in our county's "minority" precinct (Pct. 1 was designed to give the county a "minority.") And Commissioner Ron Brown, considered the most conservative of the court, employs David Duke. No, we're not kidding. David Duke works for Commissioner Ron Brown in Precinct 4.

Commissioner - Precinct 1 (Palmer, Ferris, Ennis)

Dennis Robinson		72,381.00
Roy Bobo		19.03 per hour
Carol Haden		16.98 per hour
Gerald Holland, Jr.		19.03 per hour
Charles Jones		15.65 per hour
Sam Knoll		19.03 per hour
Edwin Krajca		15.65 per hour
Lawrence Krajca		13.55 per hour
Cayetano Marin		16.98 per hour
Larry McKenney		15.65 per hour
Roger Melton		19.03 per hour
Guadalupe Nieto, Jr.		15.65 per hour
Thomas Pelzel		15.65 per hour
William Todd Robinson		20.59 per hour
Abel Rodriguez		16.98 per hour
John Williams		12.16 per hour

Commissioner Pct. 2 (Ennis, Waxahachie, Bardwell)

Billy Dodson		72,381.00
Ruben Benavidez		16.98 per hour
Judy Borders		16.98 per hour
Ojimer Cannaday		15.65 per hour
Kenneth Clary		14.32 per hour
Billie Copeland		19.03 per hour
Rodney Dickerson		19.03 per hour
Marvin Dorton		19.03 per hour
Ronald Holubar		15.65 per hour
Patrick Meyer		19.03 per hour
Randy Novak		19.03 per hour
Sammy Pleiner		20.59 per hour
Johnny Rankin		8.68 per hour
Billy Slovak		12.77 per hour
Kelton Spence		16.98 per hour
Robert Wilkinson		15.65 per hour
Tim Zabojnik		16.98 per hour

Commissioner - Pct. 3 (Italy, Maypearl, Midlothian)

Heath Sims		$ 72,381.00
Jonathan Blundell		15.65 per hour
Chad Bradley		13.61 per hour
Kelly Cravens		17.13 per hour
Johnny Hanes		16.98 per hour
Billy Isom		16.98 per hour
Bobby Johnson		19.56 per hour
Charles Johnson		17.13 per hour
Glen Johnson		9.30 per hour
Alysa Kirton		17.50 per hour
Ather Marion		16.65 per hour
Brian Mathiowetz		16.65 per hour
Henry Montez, Jr.		19.56 per hour
Jessie Phillips		16.98 per hour
Lonnie Reavis		19.98 per hour
Dane Southerland		12.77 per hour
Edward Vaughan		19.98 per hour

Commissioner - Pct. 4 (Midlothian, Red Oak, Ovilla)

Ronald Brown		72,381.00
Gregory Butler		13.02 per hour
Gary Davis		17.21 per hour
David Duke		14.32 per hour
Larry Feaster		13.00 per hour
Leobardo Grifaldo		14.32 per hour
Garry Herrell		15.65 per hour
Kenneth Hindman		15.45 per hour
David Hyles		13.02 per hour
Stacey Lee		16.51 per hour
Liborio Luna		15.45 per hour
Julio Perez		15.06 per hour
Thomas Logan		15.75 per hour
David Thompson		20.59 per hour
Rob Yates		11.00 per hour

County Judge

Chad Adams		93,002.00
Dawn Rousseau		16.42 per hour
Nelta Dayton		6.74 per hour

County Treasurer
	Judith Burden	63,469.00
County Auditor
	Michael Navarro	83,733.00
Audit Division	Cheryl Chambers	50,281.00
	Linda Lake	17.67 per hour
MIS Division	Teral Crawford	36.38 per hour
	Mathew Edington	20.72 per hour
	Jocelyn King	20.72 per hour

County Court at Law 1
	Gregory Wilhelm	$129,250.00
	Charletta Middleton	27.94 per hour
	Merced Urias	$ 34,159.00

County Court at Law 2
	Gene Calvert	$129,250.00
	Tierney Ledbetter	27.94 per hour
	Patricia Marshall	16.42 per hour

Open Letter to Ellis County, Texas

2007-05-27T12:38:00.001-06:00

Open Letter to Ellis County, Texas

Citizens of Ellis County, our beautiful county is growing, our children are faced with numerous opportunities and challenges...and just maybe in all of this, the people who read this blog are getting a better account of why this project exists.

I consider our courthouse the most beautiful building I have ever seen. The courthouse photo on The Ellis County Observer banner is the best photograph I've ever taken. However, past the beauty of that building - past the beauty of our family farms, of our scenic county roads and open space...is a disease that infects thousands of counties and cities nationwide.

The disease is corruption. And before I go further, allow me to say that, after watching A Time To Kill, I became convinced of the proper role God has me here for: and that's to tell it like it is. Call a spade a spade, call bad leadership what it is...and expose the "unfruitful works of darkness." You won't get a sugar-coated message from me. You'll get what's happening here and now, in the past, and what could very well happen in the future -- if we don't teach our children, grandchildren and current leadership the right way to do things.

Corruption is moral perversion, or dishonest dealings. It is the disease that has taken its toll on the body of Ellis County taxpayers. When God told me to launch The Ellis County Observer in October of 2005 (I'm not shy about admitting who calls the shots, either), my first focus was to apply the principles I learned from my family (honesty) and the years I spent at The Ellis County Press (honesty in government, an oxymoron at best). I had no idea how much of an impact this blog would be on the political structure in this county: and make no mistake, whether your politics agree with my views or not, no one can afford not to read this blog. It's that simple. Some actually have quit reading due to certain gripes or statements made. That's fine. It's just another statistic of why we have the problems we do.

Because people would rather bury their heads instead of fighting for what's right. Whatever the fear, retaliation of business, home, family...people are too afraid, and just too focused on other things to care about what's right.

My family values (honesty) trump any political persuasion I may hold, or any political party I may become involved with. So allow me to make it simpler: I am an honest young man trying to make a name for doing what's right in politics. That's almost unheard of, but it has been done. (That's why I love Barry Goldwater so much)

Now let's get to the main point of this: we have a disease that has wrapped itself in every body politic in this county; cities are being run by good old boys; school districts tax the fire out of people (still); our county government at times seems to care more about special interests than the people.

And there's a cure: honesty in government. I have struggled and struggled with myself these past six to eight months over just what God wanted me to do, how he wanted me to do it, and where he wants me to go. And I became convinced -- it took a great movie to do it -- that regardless if I ever raise my right hand to swear an Oath to defend the Constitution as an elected or appointed official -- I will be honest, and I will expect the same from public officials everywhere.

And if God allows me the opportunity to serve in some capacity, I'll be excited; but I'm confident now that the proper role for Joey Dauben in all of this is to be the watchdog on Ellis County. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Just because something has existed for so long doesn't make it right. And I'll call people out on it. I'm no longer afraid of what I do. I stopped being afraid about two years ago. It just clicked that if I were doing God's will, I would be protected -- and so would my family.

There will be times when I post things on the blog that won't make sense. There will be times on the blog where people will be offended. There will be times that I even make mistakes (gasp!), but know this: it took a 19-year-old getting his first newspaper job in DeSoto to learn the ropes in how to effectively witness to such a dirty industry as politics. I knew politically that I was a threat when I damn-near won a Midlothian school board seat in 2003 (losing by 19 votes in a four-way race); but my calling was already in the hopper before that time; I had most, if not all, of the front page articles on The Ellis County Press. I was 22. No college education. Just a by-the-ropes from the people I consider a second family to me (and more importantly, Sheila Hatfield, whom I consider a mom).

So why the need for an open letter? Why the need for a movie to finally get me to realize? Because for one thing, attorneys and the legal establishment in this county will not tell you the truth about the power juries really hold. That's not made-up fantasy conspiracy views; our own founding fathers believed strongly in the power of juries.

Some will say my almost-obsession with the Robert Trevino case trumps reasoning; I say if someone is guilty of a crime that heinous, they deserve the maximum punishment; however, if someone is railroaded, like Robert Trevino certainly was, then it's up to people like me to expose it.

Some might argue that I've burnt too many bridges, and recently did I apologize again (I've done it numerous times) to the members of the Catholic community for my long-held spiritual views - that I was open in sharing. But realizing that in certain situations, it's better to have allies on huge issues than enemies on small ones, I cannot apply the same principles to everything. For that I'm sorry.

But make no mistake about it. I will not apologize for what I do. My heart - I believe - is in the right spot. It's still a learning process, though, navigating the dirty politics of this generation. Of many generations.

The Ellis County Observer exists for one sole reason: to expose the people doing wrong, so that solutions can be done right. That's it.

There is plenty of wrong in our county. Plenty to make mayors, council members, judges and attorneys sometimes afraid to have their name bolded.

Not to say I don't have friends who are mayors, councilmen, judges and attorneys. I certainly do have a core group of elected officials that I look up to very much, and short of political strategy or information they might "leak," they will be treated differently (look, politics is politics; if someone wants to be off the record, I value that relationship more than anything). However, if my friends screw up, make a bad vote, or don't listen to the people, I'll call them out on it.

Republican, Democrat, Independent...it doesn't matter. If you do what's right, then there's nothing to be afraid of. If you're doing something that the people don't want you to know about, this blog will expose you.

This letter is an extremely in-depth way of saying that I'm convinced of my role, both present and in the future, and that I will not give up fighting for what is right.

And if that makes me "uneducated," or "extreme" or "radical," so be it. Honesty is a bitch sometimes. It's hard to swallow. Hard to comprehend. But in the course of everything, it's the right thing. If you're not honest, you can't be trusted. And if you can't be trusted, more than likely you'll be blogged about. I promise you.

-Joseph "Joey" Dauben
Publisher, The Ellis County Observer
elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com

Re: Judge Wilhelm

2007-05-25T10:33:00.001-06:00

Discontent with Wilhelm?
Recently appointed-to-fill-the-post-of-the-retired-Bob Carroll Court at Law No. 1 judge Greg Wilhelm...whew...is reportedly causing headaches for a few defense attorneys in the county. Surprise, surprise, none of these attorneys want to go on record, but they say Wilhelm, who won the county treasurer's position over incumbent Ron Langenheder last year, is inexperienced when it comes to handling jury trials.

More than likely, it's the Knize Camp that keeps circulating these "complaints," and if I was given the permission to post the list of who has told me what and why, I would (but I'm not stupid either, if I say someone's name won't be published, it won't be published; hence comment moderation from now on).

So there's all sorts of rumors as to who might commit political suicide and go up against Wilhelm in the primary next year. And all I can say is that if you've got County Judge Chad Adams and more importantly, the Midlothian Bible Church, behind you, it's going to be a hard race.

(MBC has produced county leaders Adams, Wilhelm, Dan Altman, Paula Baucum, Carroll, and probably the entire GOP executive committee)

Ellis County Facilities Bond Vote

2007-05-18T10:41:00.000-06:00

Ellis County Election 2007
County Facilities Bond
Vote Analysis
Compiled By Joey Dauben

Friends of Ellis County PAC
Contributions: $15,625
Expenditures: $13,998.45

Contributors
Larry Burns - $500
Layne Ballard - $200
Joe Gallo - $500
[Mark] Singleton - $5,000
Tom Ed Burleson - $100
John Wray - $75
Danny Humphries - $100
Clay Jenkins - $500
Chuck Beatty - $100
Staubach Company - $5,000
Wayne Boz - $200
Rocky Stones - $500
Gary Stanford - $50
Steve Chapman - $50
Jim Chapman - $50
Craig Anderson - $100
Waxahachie Merchants Assoc - $500
Ellis County Abstract - $1,000
Gary D. Brown - $100
Linebarger, Blair... (city's law firm) - $1,000

Expenditures
Michael Franks Printing - $7,121.77
Postmaster (2 payments @ $3,438.34 each)

Summary: I've highlighted the unique contributors. [Mark] is put in brackets because I assume that's who contributed (Singleton is head of CNB Bank); Ellis County Abstract is state Rep. Jim Pitts' company; the Staubach Company - the consultants commissioners paid $150,000 to study facility needs - pitched in $5,000; the City of Waxahachie's law firm also pitched in $1,000; Danny Humphries is a Red Oak insurance agent - keep your eyes on that guy. I sense a future political office run for Mr. Humphries, who, by the way, has a very, very nice car he takes out to drag race :) Now for the fun part:

Election Day - May 12, 2007
Voting Analysis By Precinct
$53 Million County Facilities Bond

Precinct 101, 102, 107, 108, 142
(Midlothian Conference Center)
FOR: 533
AGAINST: 406

Pct. 103, 137
(Ovilla City Hall)
FOR: 284
AGAINST: 192

Pct. 104, 109, 110, 139, 140
(Red Oak City Hall)
FOR: 405
AGAINST: 359

Pct. 105, 106, 143
(Ferris Jr. High)
FOR: 143
AGAINST: 154

Pct. 111, 134, 136
(Waxahachie Bible Church)
FOR: 197
AGAINST: 87

Pct. 112, 118
(Maypearl ISD Administration)
FOR: 219
AGAINST: 201

Pct. 113, 114, 115, 119
(Waxahachie's Graham Street Church of Christ)
FOR: 218
AGAINST: 109

Pct. 116, 117, 128
(Palmer's Fundamental Baptist Church)
FOR: 208
AGAINST: 243

Pct. 120, 129, 135, 144
(Marvin Elementary)
FOR: 581
AGAINST: 225

Pct. 121
(Ennis' Austin Elementary)
FOR: 107
AGAINST: 178

Pct. 122, 126, 127
(Ennis' San Jacinto Auditorium)
FOR: 205
AGAINST: 339

Pct. 123, 141
(Ennis' Bright Morning Star Baptist Church)
FOR: 49
AGAINST: 52

Pt. 124
(Ennis Community Center)
FOR: 41
AGAINST: 72

Pct. 125
(Ennis' Travis Elementary)
FOR: 102
AGAINST: 298

Pct. 130
(Milford Community Center)
FOR: 43
AGAINST: 56

Pct. 131
(Italy Community Center)
FOR: 194
AGAINST: 161

Pct. 132, 133
(Avalon School)
FOR: 51
AGAINST: 38

Pct. 138
(Oak Leaf City Hall)
FOR: 102
AGAINST: 75

It's interesting to note that the conservative areas in the county are still north - I say this because statistically, the no votes on elections such as this are mainly from conservative or conservative-leaning voters and precincts. It's very, very interesting to see how many of the Ennis precincts were voting no on the facilities bond. And in Palmer, where the people there absolutely love their commissioners named Robinson (the only dissenting vote in putting the facilities downtown), the box pulled in more no votes than yes ones.

The above information is readily available at the Elections Department, 116 Monroe in downtown Waxahachie. Phone: 972-923-5195

Found a copy of this Waxahachie Daily Light - the Sunday issue about (former) Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government chair Marshall Evans taking down vote Yes signs - "touched up" in one of the county offices. Is this what we pay our county workers to do? It's a fuzzy photo because it was taken with my camera phone.

And, while everyone's attention is on this analysis, I want to thank the management at Bent Tree Apartments for "sticking up" for me during the recent city council campaign. They told me that the Waxahachie Daily Light had "ambushed" them with all sorts of questions about who I was living with, for how long, etc., etc. to which Bent Tree replied, "first, pull out your tape recorder and put it on the table," and "...we can't give you any of that information." I didn't want to make an issue at all about it, but the management came to me telling me what had taken place, and even went as far as saying, "they did it just because they don't want new blood on the council."

Ellis County District Attorney Salaries

2007-05-11T15:27:00.001-06:00

2006-07 District Attorney Salaries
Due to increasing demand that this blog publish - again - the salaries of some of our local government officials, we are doing just that:

[Source: Ellis County Observer Open Records results]

Note: Grubbs is paid by the state ($100,000+) but is paid for specific county attorney duties.
JOE GRUBBS
COUNTY/DISTRICT ATTORNEY
$10,262
DON MAXFIELD
ASST ATTY VI
$95,696
CINDY HELLSTERN
ASST ATTY V
$82,798
PATRICK WILSON
ASST. ATTY V
$82,798
ANN MONTGOMORY
ASST ATTY IV-CIVIL
$66,387
LINDY TOBER
ASST ATTY IV
$65,122
AMY NGUYEN
ASST. ATTY IV
$65,122
JULISSA MARTINEZ
ASST ATTY IV
$65,122
SARA SPECTOR
ASST ATTY IV
$65,122
AUVENSHINE, W. LEE
ASST ATTY IV
$65,122
KIE WATKINS
ASST ATTY III
$55,066
MONICA BISHOP
ASST ATTY II
$52,463
ANDREA KLEMENT
ASST ATTY I
$51,286
SIPES, RICKY D.
ASST ATTY I
$51,286
As of December 8, 2006

Adult Probation Department
Gary Hunter -- $50,232
William Riley -- $51,106
Sonja Butler -- $46,769
Sharon Levingston -- $43,661
Mary Guerra -- $40,367
Frankee Velarde -- $38,814
Jimmy Smith -- $37,231
Justin Bryan -- $35,714
Steve Erickson -- $34,167
Matthew Hanrahan -- $34,167
Jeffrey Roney -- $32,705
Hector Verdin -- $32,705
Leonor Cerda -- $32,705
Kim Satterwhite -- $32,705
Brett Beaman -- $31,147
Garner Brass -- $31,147
Miranda Mercer -- $31,147
Marvine Morrow -- $37,027
Yvette Gallegos -- $31,148
Rita Walker -- $27,824
Sammie Hall -- $33,410
Norma Kennedy -- $27,711
Donalyn Derfer -- $25,116
Johanna Sigala -- $25,116
Richard Rodriguez -- $64,470
Alfred Mims -- $80,018

Juvenile Probation Department
Chris Aldama -- $73,808.73
Darrin Ray -- $52,220.10
Mark Zmolik -- $42,600
Janis Burdett -- $43,757.71
Chatrinia Bank -- $41,789.52
Chad Anderson -- $37,130.33
Matthew Martinez -- $36,913.72
Lola Spuhler -- $35,746.71
Jessica Martinez -- $35,000 (starts Oct. 16)
Ryan Payne -- $32,930.33
Callie Cole -- $31,000
Raquel Piper -- $29,061.64
Ginny Lindsey -- $17,304 (1000 hours)
Intake Officer -- $34,085.70 (to be filled at a later date)
As of Sept. 22, 2006

What a O'Toole

2007-05-09T14:12:00.000-06:00

Mr. O'Toole can vote how he wants, but a clarification is needed: we are not anti-government, and I doubt seriously the radio ad he speaks of was the issue that contributed to him voting for the facilities bond. I'm speaking purely from an individual standpoint: I have no intention of eliminating "government." Such a view that people who hold those platforms, however, should not be in this county or country makes me suspect a very strong authoritarian bent on this guy.

He's an O'Toole alright.

To the Editor,

This morning I heard an ad on a local radio station somehow trying to connect a childhood hero of mine to the county bond election and in fact it seemed so far fetched that it warranted further investigation. This ad being political in nature ended with “Paid For by Jimmie Simmons.” A Google search brought this quickly into perspective. The man that lays claim to this ad along with Marshall Evans and Joey Dauben are listed as the leadership for a group called TAGG. Now if these other two names sound familiar it could be because Marshall Evans was the man that recently admitted to (taking down) those YES signs. Joey Dauben is the young man whose residency has been called into question in a local council race. He is often connected to anti-government issues on a blog he publishes on the Internet. Smaller government is a concept that most of us can grasp but a group of people that through their actions aspire to eliminate government has no place in Ellis County or this country for that matter.

I may have been on the fence as far as this bond election was concerned but the alternative charge led by such a group has convinced me to vote YES.

John Thomas O’Toole,
Midlothian

Midlothian Debt

2007-05-09T11:38:00.000-06:00

Ellis County Debt
Peggy Venable with Americans For Prosperity told a near-packed crowd at last night's Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government meeting of what to expect with a successful May 12 $53 million bond: an increase in principal of nearly 288% - the county estimates (according to the Ellis County-AFP handouts given last night)

"a nearly 13% increase in property taxes over the 20 years to pay for the bond package. A $100,000 home could see property taxes change from $350 per year to nearly $400 per year." [Source: AFPTX.org]

Ellis County Government Debt
Property Tax (2005): $0.35
M&O: 32.37 cents
I&S: 27.3 cents (aka debt service)
Property Valuation (2005): $7,974,096,259
Total Tax-Supported Debt (as of 2006): $25,906,522
Principal: $18,701,262
Interest: $7,205,259
Debt to Assessed Value: .3248%
Debt per Resident: $194.09

What's more, every resident with a computer and Internet access can obtain the debt information from the Texas Bond Review Board. On. Each. City. And. School District.

http://www.brb.state.tx.us/dbsearch/city.lasso

Put in any Ellis County city and you can find the debt that is still owed, and average it out per homeowner (population stats would be handy).

Then do it for school districts:

http://www.brb.state.tx.us/dbsearch/isd.lasso

Then do it for Navarro College or any other college district:

http://www.brb.state.tx.us/dbsearch/ccd.lasso

Before this week is over, this blog will try to have debt information on every entity in Ellis County posted, linked and readily available for those curious to know how hard the taxes will hit. And don't kid yourselves. The property tax increases on this much debt for any of these entities will be drastic.

So much for our conservative county, ay?

What Will Midlothian Ban Next?

2007-05-07T19:34:00.001-06:00

What's Next Midlothian? Twinkies? Fast-Food?
The ordinance to ban smoking has wide-ranging support from the so-called conservatives on the Midlothian City Council; north-western Ellis County is, after all, very conservative (based on strong bond election opposition, Dan Altman taking the area in last year's Altman-Knize primary, etc., etc.). So how do you describe the fact that a Midlothian Chamber of Commerce - which, if it's anything like the $225,000 Waxahachie taxpayers give their Chamber, is taxpayer funded - and the entire city council support banning smoking in restaurants? It's a public health issue, you'll hear them say; it's for the good of the community.

Well, allow us here at The Ellis County Observer & Midlothian Observer to suggest a short list of "public health" problems that could be solved with more statist-driven council members' goals at ordinancing away private property rights. After all, it's all for the "public health" right?

Twinkies, sweet rolls, carbonated sodas -- all key ingredients in our battle against obesity. Why not ban these foods in places such as Brookshire's or CVS? Isn't this a public health emergency? Is public opinion not swaying from California to Texas now? Let's put an obesity tax on fast-food purchases. Or, only mandate that fatty foods be eaten in private homes and businesses, not in public areas;
Additives in gasoline -- here's a biggie: due to the global warming "crisis" (we call it a crock) that we are surely facing, how about banning preservative-saturated gasoline at all gas stations in Midlothian? It's only a matter of time before these Midlothian City Council Nazis try to regulate every inch of property;

For such a "conservative" community, Midlothian sure has its fair share of left-wingers running their city. We hope to God some of these councilmen or "business leaders" who support this ban come up for higher office later. We will be ready to remind them of their "record."

Jimmy Beaudoin proposed this smoking ban ordinance during his re-election campaign; that's like voting to give yourself a $10,000 pay raise a few months before the election (a la county commissioners, county judge). Should it even be a conflict of interest for Beaudoin, who is very active in cancer awareness causes, to have proposed this in the first place?

Citizens didn't elect the Midlothian City Council to nit-pick and regulate who can smoke and who can't (we don't even smoke). It's like people who come on to this blog and gripe and complain about the comments that are posted, or the blog postings that are here; if you don't like it, don't come!

We've got major problems with immigration into this county. And no, it's not from Mexico. It's from places like North Dallas and California. People move here in droves and then start wanting stuff to be done like they had it back where they were -- which was screwed up, messed up, too expensive and downright statist.

So with the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents, that means beer will have to be nixed too right?

Navarro College Up to No Good - Again

2007-05-04T21:09:00.000-06:00

Navarro Trying to 'Impose Tax on Ellis County'
The Corsicana Daily Sun, Navarro College's version of the Waxahachie Daily Light, has been publishing some interesting little editorials and stories of late, mainly in regards to Navarro College President Richard "Dick" Sanchez trying to lobby the state Legislature to force Ellis County taxpayers to pay a "maintenance tax." (a nice way of saying "user fee")

“Let me tell you. I don’t represent Ellis County,” [state Representative Byron] Cook told the group. “If somebody tried to impose a tax on people of my district, I’m going to fight them.

“For me to carry legislation that would potentially impose a tax on people I don’t represent is something that I won’t do ‘yesterday, today, or tomorrow,’ and I told them that,” Cook said.

“I also went to (Ellis County) Representative Jim Pitts who informed me that he was asked to carry (legislation) before I was, and he said ‘No, and not only that, if Mr. Cook carries it I’m going to fight it’,” Cook added.

“I love the college, and I’m going to do everything I can to help them, but the college has got to do things right. They have to do things right,” Cook said.

http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/archivesearch/local_story_104214806.html

See? If not for The Ellis County Observer, nobody would know crap in this county...thank God we have Jim Pitts down in Austin. With all the nice buildings that Navarro's revenue bonds are paying for in this county, Ellis County doesn't need a property tax to fund colleges.

As much as the establishment would love to just throw another property tax on us, we'll have a state legislator fighting against it.

Dick (Sanchez) should be careful; the cotton candy he's giving people here in the form of new school buildings is a nice gesture, but we'll fight another property tax - if that's the route he's willing to take, and it looks like Navarro County taxpayers are about to foot the bill for more expansion - in a place not called Navarro County. In fact, Navarro College's problems would be solved if they just chunked half of their board of trustees and Dick himself.

There's more (we're starting to become fans of state Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana):

“I’ve asked them to have transparency in their financial disclosure. Right now they have a consolidated financial statement, which means ... you will not have a clue how the money is being spent.

“It’s not allocated by campus, by community, overheads are not allocated in a way that anybody in this room would be able to understand,” Cook added. “You can never truly look at a business and make a determination when you can’t break those things down.”

Navarro's Board of Trustees will meet May 17 at the Midlothian campus; what the recent Waxahachie Daily Light failed to mention in their little article about Navarro's Waxahachie expansion is that a $3.5 million bond will be floated to pay for the expansion; thank you, Navarro County taxpayers!

This is getting good:

Sanchez said he confirmed with an attorney that such discussions, including at least two recent closed door meetings held by trustees in March, were in fact in violation of the [Open Records] act, something both Sanchez and Wasson said they were not aware of. Trustee meetings held March 3 and March 22 both included closed door sessions they admitted were in violation of open meeting laws; a March 3 meeting with State Rep. Byron Cook where trustees discussed proposed legislation they wished Cook to carry; and a March 22 meeting, when trustees and other college administration officials discussed proposed increases in tuition and fees.

Navarro is trying to slip this tax on us secretively. Well, thanks to the reporters at the Corsicana Daily Sun for shining the light on this stuff.

We're starting to miss Waxahachie resident Fred Weldon. He always had great editorials about what Navarro was up to.

Maybe some citizens should attend the May 17 Navarro board meeting and casually bring up the fact that the violations of the Open Meetings Act to discuss a potential Ellis County property tax will not be tolerated....or a tax on our residents of any kind for that matter.

Smoking Ban in Midlothian

2007-05-02T17:24:00.001-06:00

Smoking Ban in Midlothian
The sheer outrage over the Midlothian Mirror article this week regarding a smoking ban ordinance the Midlothian (liberal) City Council plans to foist on that city has gotten numerous voters, residents - and bloggers - ticked. On the surface, this is a "public health" issue; but in reality, the conservative voting bloc that comprises Midlothian, Ovilla, Red Oak and northern Ellis County is showing their muscle at the public hearings and citizen comment forums on this ordinance -- so much so that the city council, according to the Mirror, has tabled the issue three times. Here's the "compromise" ban so far:

Smoking would be banned in city parks
Smoking would not be allowed within 25-feet of the door of a city building
Smoking would be banned in "pool cars" owned by the city
Smoking would be banned in lobbies and conference areas
Smoking would be allowed in private offices
Smoking would be allowed in private homes
Smoking would be allowed in designated hotel rooms, private clubs and private vehicles

Just the mere fact that smoking "would be allowed" is scary; because what government can "grant," government can take away. (it would be a good time to go gun store shopping, folks, just in case; we might have ourselves a revolution soon)

Every single one of the 6-0 votes on the Midlothian City Council need to be thrown out of office; two such candidates -- Ken Chambers & Sam Hartson -- are running and are opposed to the ordinance.

This is quite simply the most liberal position a taxing entity could take outside of eminent domain. Private property rights of individuals far outweigh "public health," and the council members in Midlothian who support - and vote for - this ordinance need to be sent back to the private sector.

Chambers' opponent, incumbent Jimmy Beaudoin, first proposed banning smoking in all public places. Voters in Midlothian would be better served if they voted this borderline communist out of office; if government can force an issue like this onto public space, it's only a short matter of time before they do it on private space.

Conservative, free-market minds are still on the city council, however in a very symbolic way. If this quote from Mayor Boyce Whatley is anything, then the future political aspirations of this mayor will be severely hampered by the re-publishing of it:

"I would like to see us give up to five years to allow businesses to put money back to pay for new air conditioning and any renovations," said Whatley. "I don't know how expensive it would be to make these changes but five years would give time to put back $10,000, $15,000 or the $20,000 necessary to make these changes."

We personally like Mayor Whatley, but we're really starting to wonder where his 2004 opponent, ex-Councilwoman Paula Baucum, stands on this ordinance. Beaudoin said the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce supports a smoking ban. That's easy for the Chamber to say; that's easy for any chamber to say: they're subsidized by the very taxpayers this private-property-rights-raping ordinance would screw.

Dusty Fryer, a councilman who opposes the ban but still needs to be defeated for re-election the next time he's up (for another issue altogether), had a pretty good stance:

"There is something about this that is a little too much 'big brother,'" said Fryer. "I go where I feel comfortable going and I believe we ought to allow businesses to regulate their own establishments."

Councilman Wayne Sibley definitely needs to go. The Mirror reported him as saying, "Sibley said he favored an outright ban but would agree to a compromise that would be phased in quickly."

Richard Reno needs to consider running for city council next year. Here's what he had to say:

"I moved to Midlothian 11 years ago because of the sense of community and degree of independence I found here," said Reno, a downtown business owner. "I don't smoke and it is not the role of government to tell me how to run my business or my life."

Councilman Tommy Mitchell is sending mixed signals; on one hand, the Mirror says he doesn't want government telling businesses what to do; on the other, any ordinance the city passes, Mitchell said it should specify how to "guide and regulate" smoking and non-smoking areas.

"I don't want anyting that says at the Fire Chief's or City Engineer's discretion," said Mitchell. "We need clear rules and clear ways to measure and enforce those rules."

The chambers in every Ellis County city -- including Waxahachie -- will be watching this ordinance very closely. And when those taxpayer-funded organizations begin to see the council-led opinions sway the debate, start watching for Ennis and Waxahachie and Red Oak; they just might be dumb enough to push a ban in those areas. And The Ellis County Observer has news for any candidate or elected official who tries pushing a smoking ban in their towns: the barrage of blogging will not stop. And we will make life a very living hell for those who support and vote for a ban.

(note: keep in mind that a majority of Ellis County Observer bloggers do not smoke)

Endorsements

2007-05-01T17:20:00.000-06:00

The editors and contributors of The Ellis County Observer City Blogs - this one in particular - have endorsed write-in candidate Sam Hartson and Ken Chambers for Midlothian City Council.

Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government

2007-04-27T11:11:00.001-06:00

Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government (TAGG)
The countywide citizen group will meet Tuesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center to discuss - among other things - the $53 million county facilities bond package. Speakers are being lined up; at least one representative from the Friends of Ellis County PAC, the pro-bond group, has said they will be there to answer questions about the election.

TAGG
Tuesday, May 8
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Waxahachie Civic Center
http://tagg.4t.com
469-337-0405

Invitations have also been sent to Texas Eagle Forum's Cathie Adams and Americans For Prosperity's Peggy Venable.

County Facilities Bond Campaign Updates
Exclusive: Waxahachie police were called to investigate the numerous vote "Yes" signs that have been disappearing from business owners' property. The story goes, and reportedly, the Waxahachie Daily Light is about to run with something on this, that members of TAGG have been successful in getting business owners and managers to take their Yes signs down due to the "$53 million tax increase" that those signs "support." As it turns out, permission was given for the signs to be taken down, but that didn't stop attempts to get this practice stopped (even the Texas Ethics Commission said it was a property rights issue).

And if anyone is curious to know where the city council candidate directly affected by this bond package stands, here's a quote you folks can use: "We can ask a bank to finance our new house, but the bank would want every shred of documentation before handing out that kinda money; why should government be any different?" Note that I don't oppose the facilities, I really and honestly have major issues with how this is being presented to the public. Before our county asks for a cent, we should at least know what the buildings will look like, and where the location of said buildings will be constructed. "And when I am on the city council, I will fight every attempt to use eminent domain on any property owner in the area our county and city wants to construct these buildings."

TAGG
Tuesday, May 8
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Waxahachie Civic Center
http://tagg.4t.com
469-337-0405

Stolen Signs

2007-04-25T16:40:00.000-06:00

Ken Chambers, a city council candidate, is missing a few yard signs. They were all on private property, the campaign said.

I know first-hand about this. Back when I was running for Midlothian school board in 2003, residents of Lake Grove spotted -- I'm not making this up -- a kid wearing an Easter bunny costume piling up a bunch of Joey Dauben signs into a pile near the lake. Never found the identity to the Easter bunny.

And in 2002, when Scott Kurth was running for court at law No. 2 in the GOP primary, some kids that appeared before his courtroom (Kurth is a former JP candidate and current Red Oak/DeSoto city judge) spray painted his very expensive signs.

Anyway, if anyone knows the whereabouts of Chambers' signs, please contact him: ken-dianechambers@texasairnet.com

Ellis County History Lessons

2007-04-25T16:39:00.001-06:00

Ellis County History Lessons
Ever wonder who our past county clerk was? Or what about the previous county commissioners before the hilarious Jerry Holland, D-Ennis? Well, now you know:

County Judge
Bruce Allen (1946)
James Mulkey (1948)
Lem Wray (49 - 54)
Milton Hartsfield (55 - 74)
Joe Grubbs (75 - 82)
Al Scoggins (83 - 84)
Connie McGuire (85 - 86)
Jas. Blakemore (1987)
Penny Redington (88 - 94)
Al Cornelius (95 - 01)
Chad Adams (02 - present)

40th District Judge
A.R. Stout (46 - 68)
Bruce Allen (69 - 74)
Milton Hartsfield (75 - 86)
Gene Knize (87 - present)

378th District Judge
Al Scoggins (95 - present)

County Court-at-Law No. 1
Joe Grubbs (83 - 84)
Al Scoggins (86 - 94)
Carol Bush (95 - 96)
Bob Carroll (97 -present)
*Greg Wilhelm (*begins unexpired term May 1)

County Court-at-Law No. 2
Gene Calvert (2002 - present)

Commissioner Precinct 1
Grover Ranton (1946)
Glynn Luther (49 - 52)
Jack Risinger (53 - 81)
David Jones (82 - 88)
James Harper (89 - 96)
Hallie Joe Robinson (97 - 2001)
Dennis Robinson (2002 - present)

Commissioner - Precinct 2
E.J. Kendall (1946)
W.T. Munn (1948)
E.J. Kendall (49 - 57)
Mrs. E.J. Kendall (58 - 60)
Johnny Evarts (61 - 66)
R.L. Christian (67 - 68)
Johnny Evarts (1969)
Alex Kasper (70 - 74)
Harry Burden (75 - 81)
Don Johnson (82 - 86)
Ron Gillespie (87 - 90)
Jerry Holland (91 - 01)
Larry Jones (2002 - 2005)
Bill Dodson (2006 - present)

Commissioner - Precinct 3
Will Jarrett (1946)
Horace McCain (48 - 49)
Charles McLaughlin (50 - 53)
C.W. Wimbish (54 - 68)
P.L. Rollins (69 - 84)
J.B. Sims (85 - 88)
Del McLane (89 - 92)
Connie Doyle (93 - 96)
Charles Waller (97 - 00)
Jackie Miller (2001 - 2003)
Heath Sims (2004 - present)

Commissioner - Precinct 4
DeWitt McDonald (1946)
Harry Forbes (1948)
DeWitt McDonald (49 - 52)
Roy Cowart (53 - 57)
Mrs. Roy Cowart (1958)
C.W. Ralston (59 - 78)
Albert Baucum (81 - 86)
Cliff Wammack (87 - 90)
Ron Brown (91 - present)

Sheriff
Jess Cariker (46 - 48)
E.B. White (49 - 56)
Wayne McCollum (57 - 76)
Barney Boyd (77 - 88)
John Gage (89 - 96)
Ray Stewart (97 - present)

County Attorney
C.C. Randle (1946)
Stuart Lumpkins (49 - 54)
Bruce Allen (55 - 68)
Ward Casey (69 - 71)
Gene Knize (72 - 86)
Mary Lou Shipley (87 - 94)
Joe Grubbs (95 - present)

Auditor
William Davis (46 -73)
Doris York (74 -76)
Allie Venable (77 - 81)
Yvonne Odom (82 - 97)
Mike Navarro (98 - present)

Treasurer
Brevard Templeton (46 - 62)
Frances Phillips (64 - 90)
Theata White (1991)
Mark Price (92 - 02)
Ron Langenheder (02-06)
Greg Wilhelm (06 - 07)
*Judy Burden (appointed to fill Wilhelm's unexpired term)

Tax Collector
W.A. Lyon (46- 48)
Tom Craig (49 - 52)
W.C. Ralston (53 - 60)
Roger Tate (61 - 68)
Ernest Allen (69 - 70)
Joe Merritt (1971)
Bettye Meador (72 - 90)
Carol Calvert (91 - 97)
John Bridges (98 -present)

County Clerk
Louin Martin (1946)
Joe Thompson (1948)
Charles Huff (49 - 74)
Faye Washington (75 - 90)
Cindy Polley (91 - present)

District Clerk
Jake Talley (46 - 57)
Mrs. Jake Talley (59 - 66)
W.D. Price (67 - 73)
Raymond Oâ€™Daniel (74 - 82)
Gayle Simpson (83 - 86)
Billie Fuller (87 - 2005)
Melanie Price-Reed (2006 - present)

No need to thank me. These records are available at the county clerk's office, but because I'm a local history buff, I had to compile them all in a blog format.

Now if we could just find out who Ellis County's congressional representatives have been before Phil Gramm and Joe Barton. And no, I do not believe it would have been my distant cousin, Leslie Hackler, who ran as a Democrat for Congress in the 50s; his was mostly a Dallas County district (he was on a first-name basis with judges Barefoot Sanders, Sarah T. Hughes, the Hunt - as in oil - family, etc.) Hackler, who was originally from Ovilla actually, lost by a 60-40% margin, if my relatives are correct. (he later ran for district judge)

If anyone has any Justice of the Peace or Constable information from before World War II to now, please send that to: elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com.

Republican or Democrat?
Now if folks know what party those that have been listed were members of, that would be very interesting to know as well.

Write-In: Sam Hartson

2007-04-22T12:02:00.000-06:00

Sam Hartson is a write-in candidate for Midlothian City Council, Place 4. As in, Hartson of the Midlothian High School boys basketball team head coach; there is a relation in there somewhere.

And from the looks of the signs around town, Hartson and council candidate Ken Chambers are running as a team.

Judge Bob Carroll's Letter to Ellis County

2007-03-27T22:27:00.000-06:00

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is an open letter presented to the Ellis County Commissioners Court on Monday evening and submitted to the citizens of Ellis County by Judge Bob Carroll.

Good evening Judge. Good evening Commissioners. Also, good evening to the members of the public who are present here tonight to conduct business before the Commissioners’ Court. Thank you for allowing me to appear on the agenda.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I began reading a book titled, “George Washington’s War” by Dr. Bruce Chadwick. It is a phenomenal true story about the man, the life, and the leadership of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. One of the interesting aspects of his life which really connected with me was his desire to return to the private sector, after his time of public service.

The principle I gleaned was that returning to the private sector recharged him, and rejuvenated him, in a fundamental way. Please hear me closely, I am not George Washington, but the principle still applies.

It was said a long time ago, by someone much wiser than me, that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun. For over a decade I have attempted to faithfully and honorably serve the citizens of Ellis County. After prayerful consideration, I believe God is leading me back into the private sector. I also believe it is time for fresh leadership.Therefore, with the utmost humility, I am resigning the position of Judge for Ellis County Court at Law No. 1, effective at midnight on Monday, April 30.

My notice of resignation gives you a month to select a new judge. It is important to make the selection during April. Come Tuesday, May 1, there will be a heavy docket of CPS cases and lawsuits, and therefore the judge needs to be there and ready to go.

In the preceding agenda item, you approved a proclamation declaring April 2007 as “Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month” for Ellis County. I commend you.

In 2006, we had five times more new CPS cases than we did the year I started, and they are more complicated. This is why we are spending 60 percent of our time handling them. The person selected to be the new judge must be a person who is highly experienced in CPS cases, and passionate about protecting children and families.

Mercy, I want to publicly acknowledge, as court coordinator you have done an outstanding job! I am so grateful to you for all your hard work and dedication.

Carletta, you have excelled in all of your duties and responsibilities as our official court reporter, but beyond this, you have helped our office in countless other ways. I am very grateful for your strong work ethic and your tireless commitment.My wife Kathy and I, and our children, will continue to live at our home here in Ellis County, and we plan to remain very involved in the community..

My personality is such that I take work very seriously, but not myself. Perhaps I can leave you with a small chuckle.

Last Friday, I took the family minivan to the dealership to get fixed. When finished, I noticed a card hanging from the rearview mirror. The card was signed by the person who made the repairs. It said: “I take pride in my work. My signature on this card means I stand behind my repairs. If you were satisfied with these repairs, please tell a friend. If you were not, please call me immediately.”

My own card that I will leave with you reads:

“I take pride in my work. My signature on this card means I stand behind the work I did as judge. If you were satisfied with my work, please tell a friend. If you were not, please wait and call the new judge on May 1!” Judge Adams and commissioners, and to all my colleagues and friends in the community, and the citizens of Ellis County, it has been a distinct honor and privilege to have served as your judge.

God bless Ellis County, and God bless the United States of America.

Judge Bob Carroll

Midlothian Observer note: Judge Carroll lives in Midlothian

County Facilities Talk in Midlothian

2007-03-21T10:18:00.001-06:00

Friends of Ellis County PAC
If I'm not mistaken, this Layne Ballard guy was the head of DeSoto's economic development corporation (correct me if I'm wrong).

Please be advised of an information meeting which will be held on Thursday, March 22nd, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. in the Citizens National Bank of Texas meeting room, located on 9th Street in Midlothian, Texas.
Information will be presented on the needs of our county facilities, which will be presented to the voters on May 12th 2007.

The Staubach Company will be present to answer any questions and/or concerns which you may have. There will also be an open forum Q&A time for any questions that you may have.

We encourage you to attend and bring interested county citizens to learn more about the need of this bond election.

If you have any questions concerning this invitation, please feel free to call me at (214) 236-5932.

Thanks,

Layne Ballard, Friends for Ellis County

(214) 236-5932

* Lane Ballard is not related to Rusty or Wayne Ballard. I am sending this email out only in the interest of keeping you informed of events in Ellis County.

Tracy Davidson Doesn't Re-File

2007-03-13T09:41:00.000-06:00

Councilman Jimmy Beaudoin re-filed and will face off against Ken Chambers. This is a sharp contrast due to the rumors that Beaudoin was moving out of town. However, I'd have given anything to see a Paula Baucum-Beaudoin showdown. Sigh. Baucum withdrew from the race last week.

Place 3 will feature a new candidate who is running unopposed. Incumbent Tracy Davidson has gotten a lot of heat for his vote (only one to do so) to not annex hundreds of landowners last year. This might have played a role in him not filing.

Still working on the MISD races to see who's filed there.

Baucum Withdraws

2007-03-05T16:05:00.000-06:00

Update: Baucum Withdraws
Paula Baucum withdrew from the Midlothian City Council race today, leaving Jimmy Beaudoin's position wide open. Filing deadline is March 12 at 5 p.m. for all city and school board races.

Ken Chambers Files For City Council

2007-03-05T15:31:00.000-06:00

Ken Chambers Files for City Council
Now the fun part: figuring out what position - either against Paula Baucum or Tracy Davidson - Chambers plans to run for.

Some friendly advice though: Don't file against Baucum. Her name ID alone will be the biggest obstacle.

Rural Citizens Against Annexation will no doubt want to speak with Chambers.

Midlothian Observer Polls

2007-03-01T19:21:00.000-06:00

Midlothian a Refuge for Ex-Politicians

2007-03-01T18:51:00.000-06:00

Midlothian is quickly becoming a refuge for ex-politicians. Aside from former DeSoto Mayor Richard Rozier, the Duncanville Today reports this week that Duncanville ISD school board trustee Joe Gray relocated here.

Next on the list? Rumors are that Sheriff Ray Stewart will be calling it quits. Stewart, who came out publicly against the USA Patriot Act a few years ago, and supports the Second Amendment for Ellis County residents, lives in Midlothian.

If we're leaving off anyone, please let us know: elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com.

Jim Mentzel & Phil Seay Re-File

2007-02-27T15:29:00.000-06:00

Jim Mentzel & Phil Seay Re-File
According to MISD, as of today, incumbents Jim Mentzel and Phil Seay have re-filed for re-election.

The deadline to file is March 12 at 5 p.m. at the MISD Administration Building. For those interested in fighting higher taxes, either one of these slots would be fodder for asking why - even after the state Legislature voted to reduce our taxes - our school boards in Ellis County went ahead and voted themselves a four-cent tax increase.

Keep it real simple: Mentzel and Seay voted for a tax increase after it took an act of the Legislature to force taxes down.

Paula Baucum files for City Council

2007-02-26T12:36:00.000-06:00

Paula Baucum Files for Midlothian City Council
We can't confirm this 100% yet, but rumors in Midlothian are floating that former councilwoman and 2004 mayoral candidate Paula Baucum has filed for Midlothian City Council.

Baucum most recently served as president of the Ellis County Republican Women's chapter, but this is major political news if in fact she has filed. Rumors are that Councilman Jimmy Beaudoin will be moving out of the city limits (I wonder if he'll soon be annexed though?) and will obviously, be unable to run for a second term.

How Paula responds to the major issue of the day in Midlothian - annexation - will be interesting. However, knowing her personally, I can vouch for her that she will be one of (like she was on the council) the most approachable council representatives in Ellis County.

See also: Rural Citizens Against Annexation, c/o David Lister 214-212-4573

Annexations

2007-02-21T18:40:00.000-06:00

Midlothian-area homeowners, watch out: the preparation for being taken in by the city went from a three-year period to 90 days.

There are also issues dealing with County Attorney Joe Grubbs and his refusal to help these county residents coming soon. So many things, so many things. Stay tuned to The Midlothian Observer for future details...

Midlothian School Board Filings

2007-02-19T10:30:00.000-06:00

2007 Midlothian School Board Filings
Given the fact that every big school district in Ellis County (Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, Waxahachie) voted last year to increase their tax rate an additional four cents when the state Legislature bought down the tax rate 33%, there is not one single reason that any of those tax-increasing trustees deserve re-election. The only exceptions are of course any trustee who voted against the move.

Even after the Legislature forced the tax rate to decrease, administrators and superintendents recommended that trustees increase tax rates anyway. The Legislature granted a four-cent "wiggle room" margin, and all of the major ISDs in Ellis County took advantage of it. Citizens, when those incumbent trustees come knocking on your doors, put them on the spot about this. Not a single one deserves to be re-elected. Know of someone running? Send your info to elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com.

Corruption in Cleburne ISD - Links to Ellis County?

2007-02-14T22:48:00.001-06:00

Corruption in Cleburne Finally Getting an Airing
It took blogs, independent Ellis County Press-like newspaper coverage, federal involvement, and WFAA-Channel 8, but the corruption in the Cleburne ISD is finally getting attention from the cover-up daily. It's milked with bias, but that's typical for papers that are controlled and influenced by the entities they cover.

Why is this important for Ellis County? Because Johnson County shares many allies - both politically and spiritually - with some residents there. Not only that, but enough local blog coverage of this and pretty soon, Google searches will start popping up with names, dates and places, but mainly names...

2007-02-13T18:19:00.000-06:00

`You Should Know'
Video Screening Series
Café Corner @ A.H. Meadows Library
(in Midlothian High School)Free Admission – Open To The Public

Come join us for a series of videoshowings and discussion regarding many important issues that are having anincredible impacton you as citizens of the United States and the Earth.
We don't want you to feel powerlessto make the world a better place.

All it takes is the willingness tolearn about various issuesthat affect you every day and what youcan do about it - everyday.

The Next MovieDate - Saturday Feb 17th at Noon
`Hidden Dangers in Kids Meals'

Why Remove Genetically EngineeredFoods from Schools
The Health Dangers of GeneticallyEngineered Foods and Their Cover-Up
The Impact of Healthy Food onLearning and Behavior at a Wisconsin School

(See Bulletin Board at the Library for FutureShows)
Sponsored by www.MidlothianTexas.Net

Comments – webmaster@midlothiantexas.net

Future Selection List and

Updates/Cancellations

www.midlothiantexas.net/youshouldknow.htm

2007-02-05T23:16:00.000-06:00

Woman Disputes Midlothian Police Account of Weekend Events
Well, surprise, surprise. Someone in Midlothian disputes what the police department has been doing and has said in local newspapers (those owned by the Waxahachie Daily Light).

A guy was killed in Midlothian by another man's baseball bat. This woman who disputes the events as told by the MPD said force was unjustified on an unknown man. She witnessed the event and said the MPD surrounded the house armed with rifles and what not.W

ell, The Ellis County Observer/Midlothian Observer has documented extensively the turmoil in the MPD relating to:

MPD issues arrest reports, but on numerous open records request attempts, MPD responds with "no such arrest records exist for this person";

MPD Chief Steve Campbell has no official oath of office as authorized by the Texas Constitution, Art. 16, Sec. 1;

Overuse of tactical officers and equipment for a man who shot at four officers last year from his apartment; honestly, the scene looked like the ATF raid on the Branch Davidians church in Waco in 1993;

Illegal and unlawful searches and seizures conducted by MPD officers, litigated by Midlothian attorney Todd Phillippi on one high-profile case (charges later dismissed due to the illegality of the warrants), on numerous occasions

Trying to remember some more The Ellis County Observer has documented; if I've missed one, kindly post the info

See, if the establishment press would stop covering up all the time for these entities, alternatives such as The Ellis County/Midlothian Observer wouldn't exist.

2007-02-04T13:49:00.000-06:00

Municipal Judge on Trial - Feb. 9 @ 9 a.m.
A hearing in Court at Law No. 2 Judge Gene Calvert's courtroom on Friday, Feb. 9 @ 9 a.m. will be convened to discuss the (a) legality, (b) Constitutionality, (c) jurisdiction and prior cases of Waxahachie Municipal Judge Sylvia Lopez Beaver, who has collected $4.8 million in revenue unlawfully for the city since 1997, according to records obtained by The Ellis County Observer.

Beaver, like Midlothian Municipal Judge Roy Vaughn, is unlawfully seated according to Article 16, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution. All public officials, appointed or elected, must have an official oath of office on file (Vaughn has neither); there are two sections, one dealing with the duties of the office, and the other (b) dealing with accepting bribes. Section B of Beaver's oath was filed in July of last year. She had Section A, but Section B dealing with bribery was filed after The Ellis County Observer made public (for at least a solid year) the discoveries.

A Waxahachie lawyer contacted The Ellis County Observer late last year and showed five court cases that court of appeal judges ruling that actions by municipal judges without oaths are either "void" or "voidable." The state Supreme Court has yet to take up a case as of yet, but Friday morning will be a true hearing on this matter.

In Ferris several years ago, the city council at the time fired the municipal judge after it was learned that he didn't have an official oath of office.

The Ellis County Observer will hold these so-called "judges" accountable, and the police officers that carry out their orders.

TCEQ Meeting in Midlothian

2007-01-31T10:52:00.000-06:00

TCEQ Air Quality Meeting in Midlothian

Special thanks to MidlothianTexas.net for this:

Now is the time to let your voices be heard by the state environmental agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), about their failures to clean up our air. Their current draft plan gets us only "close enough" to the goal of clean air. They are taking official comments for the record this week.

Thurs, Feb. 1, 2007 at 6:00 pm, Midlothian Civic Center, 1 Community Circle, Midlothian, TX

If you would like to receive talking points, please e-mail us at info@downwindersatrisk.org.

If you are unable to attend the hearings, please send your comments by Feb. 12th, 2007 to:

Joyce Spencer
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P. O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Project number 2006-034-117-EN

For more information, www.dfwairplan.org or www.downwindersatrisk.org.

Slaughtering Plant Coming to Midlothian?

2007-01-21T15:00:00.000-06:00

Slaughtering Plant Coming to Midlothian?
The Waxahachie Daily Light carries the story in their Sunday issue. Commissioner Ron Brown, Pct. 4, is on record opposing the location (in the middle of a housing subdivision) of the proposed plant, which is reportedly for sheep, goats and chickens, but not opposed to the facility as a whole. Thankfully, it won't be one of those horse-slaughtering plants. Horse meat, by the way, is definitely not kosher. Commissioners take up the matter Monday evening.

The agenda for tomorrow's meeting is available here. County officials say they don't know much about the company wanting to put the plant in, but back when The Ellis County Observer was writing for The Ellis County Press, an investment group from Nigeria looked into putting in a slaughtering plant for horses in eastern Ellis County.

Protest @ Midlothian Wal-Mart

2007-01-18T18:54:00.000-06:00

Protest in Midlothian Tomorrow @ 6 p.m.
Anti-annexation activists are planning a protest at the Midlothian Wal-Mart tomorrow at 6 p.m. I'm not sure why the Rural Citizens Against Annexation have picked the Wal-Mart, located at Highway 67 and Highway 287, but for more information, contact David Lister at 972-723-3425.

Citizens File Complaint Against Grubbs
Speaking of the RCAA, the group has filed a series of complaints against County Attorney Joe Grubbs on issues relating to Midlothian's annexation attempts. Stay glued to The Ellis County Observer for an interview with RCAA representatives. Rumor has it that the RCAA is putting forth a challenger to Grubbs in 2008's GOP primary.

Joe Barton's Recent Votes

2007-01-15T13:17:00.000-06:00

Joe Barton's Voting Record as of Jan. 9 - 15 ('07)
Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, has been in office since 1984. I doubt the people of District 6 would appreciate his votes on such matters as the USA Patriot Act (if they really knew what was in that Act, Barton would be in the private sector today), or the REAL ID act (national ID card), so it's strange to see that he voted against the 9/11 Commission recommendations. It's not consistent with his votes against other Bigger Government legislation mentioned previously.

Anyway, here's the latest voting record from Congress.org. You can sign up to receive Barton's voting records via e-mail. It's free, but the information (ammunition) is priceless.

Recent House Votes
Implementing the 9/11Commission Recommendations Act - Vote Passed (299-128, 8 Not Voting)
This House bill is intended to implement the remaining 9/11 Commission homeland security recommendations.
Rep. Joe Barton voted NO......

Fair Minimum Wage Act - Vote Passed (315-116, 4 Not Voting)
This House bill would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 over the next two years.
Rep. Joe Barton voted NO......

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act - Vote Passed (253-174, 8 Not Voting)
This House bill would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
Rep. Joe Barton voted YES......

Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act - Vote Passed (255-170, 10 Not Voting)
This House bill would require the government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Rep. Joe Barton voted NO......

Barton voted once again for embryonic stem cell research. So much for his pro-life record. Then he votes against the minimum wage, which is good (bad for business). At most Barton is a moderate who needs to be replaced. County Judge Chad Adams would be a better replacement...

2007-01-14T12:29:00.000-06:00

Crawford, Texas Paper Covers Phil Smart Update
There's a lot to be said about a local daily that refuses to inform the people of what's going on. Too bad it takes a paper an hour away to do it for them.

Pro-Life President is Pregnant
Congratulations go to Dana Rausch, the Ellis County Right to Life president. She's pregnant. I guess this means I'll have to officially take her out of the Rumor Mill for the county attorney's race in 2008.

Navarro Property Tax Opposition
There will be a strategy meeting sometime in February regarding the Navarro College property tax election, and the topics will center on how to inform the public of the need to defeat a new property tax. For more information, contact elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com or 972-891-2135. You can also send donations - officially - to the:

No NAV Tax PAC
1200 Sycamore #8354
Waxahachie, TX 75165

(No NAV Tax is registered with the Ellis County Elections Department)

Letter to the Editor - Dallas Morning News

2007-01-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

Too bad I waited until after my school board campaigns to say what I really felt...

Let's be honest on deregulation, school choice debate

I've read for weeks in The Dallas Morning News regarding deregulation and school choice; now it's time to throw in some truth to the debate.Reporters and readers alike rail against deregulation, yet if our electricity market was truly deregulated, TXU would not have ultimate control of the lines like they do now; it's easy to blame the free market when companies are jacking up prices, but at the same time, if we had 35 different companies able to put in their own lines instead of renting space from TXU, we would have true deregulation and lower rates. Somehow this is lost in your reporters' minds when writing articles.

As for school choice, this issue is largely lacking in intellectual honesty.

I attend a private university in Waxahachie, and utilize taxpayer funds to attend classes here. Is this not "school choice?" I didn't have to attend this school because I am from Ellis County. I chose it because I had the option to choose. We call this higher education, yet teachers and local school district administrators call this system a "voucher" system. We can have choices on where to attend college - on the taxpayer's dime - but when it comes to local schools, we can't.

That's hypocrisy, and something that needs to change, because I can assure you, those local school districts chiding conservatives for advocating school choice are the very ones encouraging graduating high school seniors to attend the college of their choice - using taxpayer funds.

Joey Dauben
Southwestern Assemblies of God University,
Waxahachie, Texas

2007-01-02T22:07:00.001-06:00

Waxahachie-Midlothian Mid-Way Airport Unlawful Contract Video

External Speakers Required

Jim Mentzel & Phil Seay

2006-12-26T14:55:00.000-06:00

City-School Races 2007
The local races are gearing up. Aside from my campaign, there's a very high possibility that the local Libertarian Party chapter will field a Midlothian ISD school board candidate. After trying to get the Rural Citizens Against Annexation group to field someone for MISD school board, the LP quickly came into the picture. Two recent Libertarians moved in to the MISD within the past two years; the RCAA could tip both the school board and city council races in Midlothian this year, but mainly the school board race. With an estimated 300-400 residents affected by the city's future annexation plans, I guarantee there will be some heavy hitting in those races. Incumbents Jim Mentzel and Phil Seay have their positions up for re-election in May. Sucks for them: they both voted to increase taxes -- I've got the public records -- last year and the year before.

Speaking of MISD races, there are so many rumors floating around that former Midlothian City Councilwoman Paula Baucum will run against trustee Cindy Williams when she's up for re-election. I would absolutely pay money to see that race. Dan Altman, who ran against 40th District Judge Gene Knize in the March GOP primary, is rumored to be looking at Mentzel's seat in May. See, folks, that 22-year-old "kid" who campaigned on lower taxes and fiscal responsibility in 2003 is finally starting to see some results...three out of the past four bond elections have failed. I'm placing my bets on the RCAA having a huge impact on the MISD races, even though annexation and school district issues have virtually nothing in common.

Annexation Letter to the Editor

2006-12-21T13:45:00.000-06:00

To: Ellis County Press
213 W. 6th St .
P.O. Box 370
Ferris , TX 75125
Editor@elliscountypress.com

Earlier this year the Texas Legislature voted to give property owners 33 percent reduction in their school property tax rates over the next 2 years. The Legislature did not address the issue of rising appraisals or property tax rates. Governor Perry appointed an appraisal reform task force to focus on the stealth tax hike of rising appraisals. The task force is made up of 15 members appointed by the governor.

On Thursday, November 16, from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. it held a public meeting in Dallas at the Bill Priest Institute at 1402 Corinth St . The final hearing will be November 21 in Austin . At the Dallas meeting there were about 80 politicians, mayors, city council, state representatives, county commissioners, and less than 10 property owners. The majority of the politicians were given as much time as they wanted to speak and got to speak first. The property owners spoke near last and were limited to 3 minutes. The gist of the matter was the politicians wanted to leave everything the same and not change anything. When asked about giving the voters a chance to decide (vote) they said that they were voted into office to make the decisions for us. No one ever complains at commissioner’s court or city council meetings about taxes just about fixing things. The property owners, on the other hand, indicated they wanted to lower the caps on how much the appraisal district can raise the property values and taxes. (5 %?) If the state is going to set mandates it needs to fund them.

Property owners want accountability on the appraisal board by having them elected to the board instead of being appointed by other government officials. (No more of the fox in charge of the hen house – put the chickens back in charge) Owners want property appraisal rollback to within reason, then transfer to ½ % sales tax to take some of the tax burden off property owners. Taxes set by appraisers for a loan are usually inflated – not actual value. If they were set by the selling price then someone could swap land for land and $1.00 or 2 people could want the home so bad they could start a bidding war and run the price up – neither of which are accurate.

The board seems to take their job seriously, but most of them were elected politicians, so we will have to see. They DO want your input, and time is running out. So send them your thoughts at Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform, P.O. Box 12428 , Austin , TX 78711 . Or call 1-888-892-7772 or at www.tfar.state.tx.us. If you have any questions you can call Americans for Prosperity at 512-476-5905 or email at mconnole@afptx.org. Website www.afptx.org.

P.S.
The board asked at the end of the meeting why property owner turnout was so low, when in other cities it was much higher. The government officials said that the people had confidence in their abilities to make the right decisions. In my opinion, attendance by property owners was low because there was no publicity from the media about the meeting. Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. is not a workable time for most folks-and many feel that with the tax rollback, our property taxes increased anyway- so their input wouldn’t make a difference.

My perspective,

David Lister

Councilman Dusty Fryer Should Resign

2006-12-19T15:11:00.000-06:00

Midlothian City Councilman Dusty "Turncoat" Fryer needs to resign. His platform when he first ran was that of a genuine interest in the people. He campaigned against annexation and won a seat to the city council several years ago. Up until he "retired" recently, he had kept his voting record anti-annexation, but now he's part of the problem that he was elected to fight. For that reason alone, Dusty Fryer should resign. Why anyone hasn't sought to group eminent domain with annexation, I don't know. To me they're brother and sister. Watch Fryer have an opponent when his position is up in a couple of years.

Navarro College, Annexation, 2007 Campaigns

2006-12-19T14:48:00.000-06:00

Navarro College's Warm Marketing Efforts
In case you've missed the warm marketing clues, Navarro College is putting out more PR pieces in papers -- like in the Dec. 13 issue of the Midlothian Mirror -- across Ellis County. The critics say this is proof Navarro plans to come to Ellis County and force an annexation election upon residents. What Navarro wants has been clear since they put a campus in Waxahachie, since they opened in Midlothian, and it is evident throughout: a property tax to fund, support, and sustain their college district. Currently, of the several counties that Navarro services, Ellis County is the population center, as well as its biggest financial cash cow. The college district is allowed to levy a property tax, but Ellis County is not within the college district. Therein lies the entire "game." Suck up to the Ellis County business and political establishment, as well as the residents already paying massive amounts of property taxes a year, and hope that the suckers adopt yet another tax to pay for yet another school district.

May is when the campaign for a college district tax will really kick off, supposedly. I for one have seen the benefits of a community college, but I also taught myself -- with the help of my economics teacher at Midlothian High School -- real-world free market economics. The intentions are good, but the economics aren't. It does not make sense for 140,000 residents to adopt themselves another property tax to pay for 2,000-3,000 students to attend school.

Annexation Editorials
If you're an opponent, supporter, or someone in between on this entire Midlothian annexation battle, feel free to e-mail the Midlothian Observer your editorials: elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com --- I've heard many complaints from Midlothian folks that the Mirror doesn't publish all of the editorials, and from the Dec. 13 issue, it appears that there's a deliberate -- correct me if I'm wrong -- attempt to discredit the messengers that are against the city annexation plans due to the misspellings in the letters themselves. Roby Bass' letter last week is Example # 1. I'm pretty sure Roby Bass spells his name "R-o-b-y" and that he knows how to use spell check. In fact, I've helped him out on a few little projects over this past summer and I know the guy is very careful and dots his "eyes" and crosses his "tees." Floyd Ingram, the excuse for an editor at the Mirror, has a history of doing that stuff, not just with me, but in every story he puts out. There's always something wrong. Everyone's a critic I guess.

2007 Campaigns
So the Midlothian Observer's Political Rumor Mill is stirring up and there's a lot of questions being thrown around as to whether or not former Midlothian City Councilwoman Paula Baucum will run for Midlothian school board. Also throw in potential school board candidate Andrea Walton, who was chair of Dan Altman's 40th district court judge campaign in March. I admit, half the reason I put Andrea's name in the Rumor Mill is because she's amazingly attractive, and she would fit in with Tom Moore, Wayne Shuffield and Paula Baucum if the two women were to run.

Know of anyone rumored to be in the running for Midlothian city council or school board? Send the name(s) to elliscountyobserver@hotmail.com or call 972-891-2135.

MISD Slams Midlothian Mirror

2006-12-10T19:59:00.000-06:00

Editor Floyd Ingram wrote an editorial about the Nov. 7 MISD bond election and got his clock cleaned in the Dec. 6 issue. I did a little editorializing on his editorial as well, but MISD public relations director Jana Hathorne took issue with Ingram calling the district "average."

Hathorne's comments are in green text with my notes in between.

Out of respect to your recent editorial in the Mirror, it's unfortunate that you feel our district is just "average."

Define average.

Your opinion should not be based solely on the district accountability rating.

I've been saying this for years. Administrators and the establishment tout those accountability ratings all the time, but are those splashy little "Recognized" banners getting students educated? Highly unlikely considering you have standardized brainwashing at all levels.

I don't appreciate your opinion of "slamming" the district's efforts of ensuring the success of all students. From my personal observation, Dr. Kennedy, administrators and teachers continue to move our students forward both in academics and extra-curricular activities.

Don't let this letter fool you. Ingram turns tricks for the big-money advertisers and bond backers that help pay his salary. Perhaps he was on a different slant than the pro-football-everything caucus, but make no mistake, Ingram is bought and paid for. And "move our students forward" is entirely subjective. How come 70% of all incoming college freshmen in Texas are required to take one remedial course of some sort? Throwing more and more money into the government school system doesn't move anyone forward. I know homeschooled students who know more in the "fourth grade" than high school seniors. Moving forward needs a better explanation.

(Don't get me wrong, I like Jana Hathorne and all, especially her hit piece against Ingram, but honestly, I don't believe government bureaucrats are going to say, "Our school system isn't very workable, we just spend so much money and have little to show for it.")

Your editorial titled "No means no, let's move on" truly doesn't represent all voters' opinions.

No, but three of the past four not being successful sure started a trend. Maybe a comparison chart showing real results from how much is spent to educate (indoctrinate) students would make it more palatable for voters the next go-around.

More Money for 3rd Fire Station?

2006-12-10T16:45:00.000-06:00

Could Midlothian be heading back to voters to ask for additional funds for their over-budget Fire Station No. 3? No. 2 was over-budget, so apparently there's a construction material inflation going on...which is normal in an economy such as this...details to come.

Danny Rodgers for Mayor?

2006-12-07T19:30:00.000-06:00

Floyd Ingram, Why Won't You Publish This?
Why won't Midlothian Mirror editor Floyd Ingram publish the list of contributors to Midlothian ISD's bond election campaign this past May? Is it because too much information in the hands of voters might prevent MISD from passing another bond (two bond packages went down in flames this year alone; three out of the past four have failed)? Anyone else find it unethical for the contractors to be funding the pro-bond campaigns, only to get awarded the contracts to build those schools?

Danny Rodgers for Mayor?
Influential sources in Midlothian are telling the Midlothian Observer that Citizens National Bank-Midlothian Vice President Danny Rodgers is gearing up to run for mayor in 2008. The Midlothian Observer has agreed to keep sources' names private, but expect a shoot-out if Rodgers does indeed run against incumbent Boyce Whatley, who's serving his first term as mayor currently.

City/School Board Races - 2006
The anti-annexation committee, Rural Citizens Against Annexation, say they have two interested people to run for city council next year (incumbents Terry Davidson and Jimmy Beaudoin are up for re-election), but nobody to run for Midlothian ISD school board. Trustees Phil Seay and Jim Mentzel are up for re-election next year (city-school races are held in May), and there's lots of talk of recruiting Midlothian attorney and 2006 GOP district judge candidate Dan Altman to run against Mentzel. Altman hasn't made a final decision yet, but expect an exciting Midlothian political season nonetheless.

Another name being floated around as a potential city council candidate is Arthur Nahatis, who was successful in getting conservatives from his Responsible Individuals for a Greater Home Town (RIGHT Group) elected in the mid-90s. One of those council members included Dusty Fryer, who ran with William Hollabaugh on an anti-annexation platform but has since reneged and joined the majority to annex thousands of acres of land.

Speaking of anti-annexation, the RCAA reportedly has someone lined up to run against County Attorney Joe Grubbs in 2008's GOP primary. That prospective candidate is Midlothian attorney Kent Traylor, someone that The Midlothian Observer has met and would definitely endorse should he run against Grubbs.

Midlothian Observer Launches

2006-12-07T19:06:00.000-06:00

Welcome to The Midlothian Observer, a news blog dedicated strictly to reporting on the political events in Midlothian, Texas. The need for a news blog came about for two main reasons: (A) the Midlothian Today newspaper, an ally of conservatives, was bought by the establishment Waxahachie Daily Light, which owns the rival Midlothian Mirror; (B) Mirror Editor Floyd Ingram refuses to report what really goes on within the Midlothian ISD and City of Midlothian, politically-speaking. He's a member of some very influential committees and boards that he's responsible for covering, but history - and subsequent articles - has shown that he's more interested in covering up what goes on instead.

The Midlothian Observer exists because of these two main objectives. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors.

Place 5 \| Who Would Get Your Vote on Election Day?
	Wayne Sibley - Incumbent
	Dr. Hank Miller
	None
	Undecided
	I Don't Live in Midlothian

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Place 6 \| Who Would Get Your Vote on Election Day?
	Steve Massey - Incumbent
	Bill Redding
	None
	Undecided
	I Don't Live in Midlothian

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MISD Place 1 \| Who Would Get Your Vote on Election Day?
	Jay Roberts - Incumbent
	Daniel "Matt" Cooper
	None
	Undecided
	I Don't Live in the Midlothian ISD

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Precinct 4 Constable: Mike Jones vs. Kyle Neal
	Mike Jones
	Kyle Neal

Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government Poll

Should cities get voter approval before annexing property?
	Yes
	No
	Not Sure
	Other

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Mayor Boyce Whatley Approval Rating
	Very Favorable
	Favorable
	Not Favorable
	Can't Stand Him
	Other

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Should tax-increasers Jim Mentzel & Phil Seay be re-elected?
	Absolutely Not
	Yes They Should
	Depends Who Runs Against Them
	Not Sure

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