I’ve lived in Wichita County for over 50 years. I grew up playing little league baseball in Burk. Once I entered high school, I became active in baseball, football, and track for the Bulldogs. After graduating from Burkburnett High in 1986, I began my law enforcement career with the Wichita County Sheriff’s Department. I joined the Wichita Falls Police Department in 1992 where I spent the next 28 years of my law enforcement career working in different sections of the department.
I met my wife Robin (who has been a lifelong Wichita county resident) in 1989. We were married at First Baptist Church in Burk in 1993 and have been together for 28 years. We have three daughters: Kayla, Kortney, and Kaydee who have all graduated from Burkburnett High School.
I am a Christian, a conservative Republican, and a business owner. I enjoy working whether it was hauling hay for local farmers, working at United Supermarkets, welding at my dad’s shop, or owning several small businesses throughout the years, one thing is certain: I’m not afraid of hard work.
| First Day of Early Voting | Monday, February 14, 2022 |
| Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail | Friday, February 18, 2022 |
| Last Day of Early Voting | Friday, February 25, 2022 |
| Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail | Tuesday, March 1, 2022 |
EARLY VOTING STARTS
FEBRUARY 14, 2022
The job of the county commissioner calls for hands-on service delivery as well as policy-making budget decisions. Four commissioners, each elected from a quarter of the county’s population, serve along with the county judge on the commissioners court. In addition to assuring that county roads are maintained, commissioners vote with the county judge to set the budget for all county departments and adopt a tax rate. Among other responsibilities, the commissioners court:
Qualifications: What training, experience, and background qualify you for this position?
Serving the past 14 months as the current County Commissioner for Precinct 2, I have committed myself to learn as much as I can about this job. In this short time, I have completed 95% of TAC’s advanced curriculum for County Commissioners which shows my dedication and willingness to serve the residents of Wichita County. I have completed more training than my opponent did in his 6 years in office.
As a local business owner, I have the experience of working with budgets daily which has helped me tremendously in my day-to-day operations as Commissioner. Whether it be with budget hearings, court hearings or staffing issues I focus on what is best for the residents of Wichita County.
I also have 34 years of previous law enforcement experience which gives me a different perspective on county decisions that no other commissioner has had. Other have stated that my LE background brings a unique perspective to the court and has been helpful in numerous court decisions regarding law enforcement and jail budget issues.
Issues: What do you feel are the top two issues facing Wichita County and what do you see as appropriate action for the county to take?
Property taxes are the number one issue overall that taxpayers are concerned with. I will always fight to keep property taxes as low as possible. As commissioner, I will keep an eye on expenditures within the county, ensure we are adhering to our budgets as much as possible and deter wasteful spending. I was elected to be a good steward of Wichita County tax dollars and I will never lose sight of that. I am extremely conservative in my spending which I have displayed in open court on multiple occasions.
I foresee inflation to have a dramatic impact on our county government. The skyrocketing costs of supplies and services will greatly impact our current budget. The reality is that inflation cannot be controlled, and no county official can change it on their own. We must be diligent and monitor our spending closely. No different than the residents of Wichita County, we do not have unlimited funds and we must work within the budget we have set. As an official in charge of the overall budget for the county, we must set priorities on purchases and cut what needs to be cut. Hard decisions will have to be made and I have proven I am the right person for that job.
Funding: What criteria do you feel are the most important in evaluating competing needs?
When it comes to the county budget, there are certain services (IE Jail staffing) that are required by law and cannot be avoided. Unfortunately, these required expenses make up a large portion of the budget so the competition for the remaining funds is tight.
As commissioner, I look at what is necessary versus what is not. I analyze each departments prior budget history, review their current upcoming needs, and consider what will benefit the county as a whole not just each individual area or department. A few examples of the criteria I utilize in evaluating expenditures are what is the overall cost, are funds available, what is the longevity of the purchase, overall impact, and future cost savings.
Security Concerns: What do you think are the most important strategies for providing security in the outlying county offices?
Wichita County hasn’t experienced many security concerns in our outlying offices thankfully. While these buildings need to be accessible to the public, we must also ensure that we are providing adequate safety for our employees. Most offices are currently equipped with partitions to set employees apart from the public, but additional security features could be installed without compromising public access. Cameras and a doorbell entry system could be installed to allow county employees full view of each person wanting to gain access to the facility. A county-wide strategic plan for each facility should be in place and each employee should be fully trained to handle security issues if they arise.