DANGER!
AND IN
LOCAL CONTROL IS IMPORTANT
by Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Edmondson photo courtesy by Commissioner Dianne Edmondson
A
Last session, about 7,000 different
So how do we handle this daunting task?
in Austin. These dealt with everything
as the Texas Association of Counties,
from public education, transportation,
licensing roofers, and regulating texting
to legalizing marijuana and hundreds of other topics. Some of those bills have a
direct impact on your local officials’ ability to serve you, their constituents, as you
want to be served. In many cases, very
different counties are treated identically. You, the residents of Denton County, are more aware than the lawmakers
in Austin of how you want your local
elected officials to deal with our local
issues. During the 140 days of a regular
legislative session, hundreds of committee meetings and dozens of general sessions are held, many concurrently. There is
By joining professional associations, such the Council of Urban Counties, Texas Municipal League, and other similar
professional groups such as those for
County and District Clerks, Tax Assessors/ Collectors, Elections Administrators,
District Attorneys, Sheriffs, Police and Firefighters, etc. As each of those associations identifies proposed
just minutes before a hearing. It makes
no financial or logical sense for all county judges, commissioners, and other county elected officials vainly to attempt to keep abreast of all pertinent legislation and
then travel to Austin to convey support
or concerns. Your local elected officials
urge citizens also to utilize associations to
which you may belong to track legislation and “lobby” your legislators with your
this link to follow legislation of interest to you https://capitol.texas.gov/Resources/ FollowABill.aspx .)
We are committed to full transparency on how your tax dollars are spent.
Accountability, embodied in the form of the ballot box, provides the most
transparent way for you, as local taxpayers, to ensure that you can measure results and hold your leaders accountable for how
we spend your public funds. Your Denton County elected officials communicate to our legislators on your behalf and also
encourage individual citizens to weigh in with their state legislators. (Use this link to find your State Representative or State Senator https://wrm.capitol. texas.gov/home.)
– the association notifies its members,
been the foundation of Texas’ economic
provides data regarding the legislation,
and encourages the individual members to contact their own state legislators to
express their opinions. The associations
are the conduits of important information.
jobs and head to Austin to monitor the
another way to review about 7,000 bills,
local constituents back home.
committee – sometimes with notice given
Strong partnerships between business,
members – either positively or negatively
Without these associations, for example,
progress of bills which will affect their
problematic bill is considered in
legislation which would affect its
simply no way that your local officials can – or should -- take time from their regular
and be present to testify when each
viewpoints on the proposed bills. (Use
s local elected officials, your County Commissioners and your municipal council members are the office holders closest to you, the residents of Denton County. Their actions affect you the most of any legislative body, and they are the easiest for you to contact. After all, their offices are near your home, and you probably run into them from time to time at a local store or restaurant. Virtually every political figure knows that local control is important to provide the services, events, and outcomes that the public wants. pieces of legislation were introduced
legislators sitting on relevant committees,
community, and political leaders have success. Local leaders and elected
officials have historically enjoyed a
mutually cooperative advocacy model that supports their citizens, creates jobs, and
protects the quality of life in the cities and counties we all call home.
your elected officials would have to find
Let’s remember that “all politics is
analyze them for potential impact on their
local control strong and vibrant
respective counties, communicate with
local,” and how important it is to keep here in Texas.
CONNECT WITH US
If you would like to receive an e-newsletter, please contact Commissioner Edmondson at 972.434.3960 | Dianne.Edmondson@dentoncounty.gov | Southwest Courthouse: 6200 Canyon Falls Dr., Ste. 90 www.LiveLocalMagazines.com
APRIL 2021 | 35 WEST | 11
