By PAUL STONE
The Palestine Herald
FRANKSTON
February 01, 2008 01:42 am
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The trio of candidates vying for the Republican Party’s nomination for Anderson County precinct 3 commissioner touted their credentials and answered questions during an hour-long forum Thursday night at the Frankston High School auditorium.
Incumbent commissioner Ronny Smith, who resides in Frankston, and challengers Van Brown and Kenneth Dickson were center stage for the forum which was organized by a handful of “concerned Republicans” from throughout the county.
The candidates were allotted five minutes to make opening statements before fielding questions submitted by committee and audience members.
Question topics ranged from rising appraisal values to starting times for commissioner court meetings to accessibility to one’s constituents.
Smith, who is nearing completion of his first term in office, pointed to his education, public service and experience already gained on the job as his chief advantages in the race.
“I think I’m, by far, the most qualified candidate,” said Smith, who previously served as Frankston’s mayor and also on the Frankston school board.
The theme of Brown’s and Dickson’s comments Thursday seemed to be one of accessibility to their electorate.
“One thing I guess that would sum me up (if elected) is, ‘Listen to the people and do what’s right for the taxpayers,’” Brown, who currently serves on the Neches school board, said at one point during the forum.
Dickson, who volunteers extensively in local youth sports, told the crowd he wanted “to be an effective voice” for precinct 3 residents at commissioners’ court meetings.
“I will approach the court with common sense and will be a full-time commissioner and give it 110 percent,” Dickson said.
Brown and Dickson both own private businesses, with the former operating Van’s Country Store in Neches and the latter Dickson Sand & Gravel in Palestine.
Both challengers said their business responsibilities would not prevent them from serving as a full-time commissioner.
“I have three employees that work for me,” Brown said. “Out of those three, I would pick any of them to run it while I’m not there.”
If elected, Dickson said he has already made plans for his son and an employee to “take care of the daily operations of my business,”
Dickson pledged to devote “24 hours a day, seven days a week” to serving as commissioner.
As the race’s incumbent, Smith answered a host of questions regarding how county revenues are expended. Citizens want services which cost money, but want their taxes to remain steady at the same time, he indicated in his comments.
“People want the benefits, they want the sheriff’s protection,” Smith stated. “But somebody’s got to pay for it. It’s just a squeeze.”
Smith said court members have to treat the county’s budget like their own family budget.
“Do the best you can with what you’ve got,” Smith said.
The second and final of two forums featuring the three Republican candidates for precinct 3 commissioner will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Neches Elementary School auditorium.
Party primary elections will be held throughout the state on Tuesday, March 4.
The ultimate Republican victor will face Democrat Rush Herrington, who won his party’s nomination without opposition, in the general election in the fall.
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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com
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