Today keep29local.org is supporting Mr. Greg Windham for County Commissioner against incumbent Valerie Covey in the Williamson County's Pct. 3 County Commissioner's race. Mr. Windham has publically stated, and made a part of his campaign, his adamant opposition to any expansion of Highway 29 at this time. Keep29local.org feels strongly that, at this time in our county's history, to spend for the future when the present is left wanting is fiscally, ethically and morally irresponsible and reckless.
Williamson County has a proud Republican history. Unfortunately, Commissioner Covey's decision to support the "Road to Nowhere", a 12 Lane I35 corridor next to and through our homes, neighborhoods, and multi-generational old family farms and ranches, will pit Republicans against Republicans in the 2008 county commissioner election. Republicans are left with no choice but to turn to a fiscally conservative Democrat that values an individual's property rights over the state's right to declare imminent domain. The days are gone when backroom deals, secrecy, and trying to follow the letter of the law instead of the intent of the law can take place by either political party. Keep29local.org will support any candidate, either Democrat or Republican, who can serve the voters of Williamson County in an open, forthright way.
Some thoughts that keep29local.org has mulled over are the following.
Although Commissioner Covey voted against the new park acquisition, her "no comment" after the vote was very telling. Was she really for the park acquisition but hid behind the 3 to 2 vote? Do you really want a commissioner who is uninvolved, lacks passion and loyalty to her district? Commissioner Covey should have been somewhat upset when 60% of the park budget is spent outside her district on 1% of the county population. Isn't Blue Hole in Commissioner Covey's district? Where is the urgency, the passion, and the drive, to place her district's constituents needs first? Why spend $12+million on a future "crown jewel" when an existing "crown jewel", Blue Hole, is in disrepair. Actions can be very insightful, but why must voters try to decipher their commissioner's actions?
What is the hurry to force a major, possible trans-state corridor, down our throats when construction would not begin for 15-20 years? Anyone who travels from Bertram to Seward Junction can only scratch their head when trying to envision this highway nightmare. Where is the beef? Show us the traffic. What is really behind this and will the voters ever know until it is too late to stop it? This project was not even on Campo's radar screen. We are told by Commissioner Long that all of the existing CAMPO figures for traffic counts are inaccurate and therefore need to be refigured. Spending more tax dollars again. Is the housing slump and delayed or cancelled developments calculated into the new figures? Are we working backwards to justify the need for the "Road to Nowhere"? Are the same engineers that "miscalculated the first time recalculating for us the second time"? We are told by Commissioner Long that only the acquisition expense of the roadway is considered. All the wrecked lives on either side of the roadway are just a byproduct of "growth". Where is Commissioner Covey when these questions need to be addressed? Why must her constituents pursue her for answers?
Will the Waste Management Inc. facility become a regional landfill (really big garbage dump)?
Will Highway 29 be our future garbage truck expressway?
Will Highway 29 become a major east west truck corridor with all the associated noise and pollution?
Where is Commissioner Covey when answers are needed?
Will lost county tax revenues due to significantly reduced residential property values in the Liberty Hill area mean all
Williamson County residences
receive little or no county tax relief?
Actions are lacking when actions and explanations are long overdue. Who works for whom?
We deserve, Williamson County District Pct. 3 demands a fiscally conservative property rights advocate that
provides openness and loyalty.
This is why noto29north.com is supporting Mr. Greg Windham.
"Our county government, in its effort to plan for future growth, is avoiding the concerns and objections of its citizens. The huge expansion of Highway 29 through Georgetown and Liberty Hill is a senseless, disturbing proposal that smells too much like a feed lot after a summer rain. Particularly short sighted are the proposed bypass routes that would circumvent Liberty Hill. These routes would be most devastating to the greatest number of individuals and be a grandiose abuse of power by our county leaders. This is the typical behavior that we have begun to grow accustom to from a court that thinks it's a Roman Consul and not a representative of the precinct in a service delivery position. This whole idea still can be thwarted. It is the responsibility, indeed the duty, that the citizens elect responsive commissioners that are more concerned with the voice of the citizenry, the will of the people, and the desires of the existing communities... Val Covey is far too anxious for fast lane development. She and her commissioner cohorts should kill this plan now."
Greg Windham