The Collin County Observer

After the health care debate last night where every single county commissioner used his or her definition of 'conservative' to justify their vote either for or against restricting health care grants to nonprofit clinics who serve our poorer neighbors, I spent a few moments reflecting on what 'conservative' means to me.

I'm old enough to remember many constructions of conservative, from Eisenhower to Bush.

I listened closely as the citizens and commissioners debated what level of empathy for the uninsured was appropriate for county government. I listened to debates about using tax dollars to fund charitable organizations. To some it mattered not that the charities were cost effective.

Three commissioners believed that they were the best judge of community needs, The other two argued that the charitable clinics were the best judges of the needs of the community. All the clinics needed was assistance in carrying out what they saw as their mission to the poor, they said.

Now I believe that basic human values, such as a work ethic, respect for the individual and compassion for the least among us transcend narrow definitions of conservative and liberal.

But I'm a citizen and a taxpayer. To me a conservative government takes care of the community's needs in an economical manner. I expect my leaders to do all they can to conserve taxpayers' dollars and to spend them wisely.

As I said I'm a taxpayer - a Wylie taxpayer. Last night I saw conservative leadership, but I saw that leadership not in the front of the room where the commissioners sat, but in the far back corner.

Let me explain.

Last night's meeting lasted over 3 hours. Wylie City Hall is usually closed that late at night, but doors were open and lights were on to accommodate the 100+ citizens who attended the commissioners' court session.

As the meeting wound down, I noticed Mindy Manson, Wylie's City Manager, sitting in the back of the room. She was patiently waiting for the room to clear so she could turn out the lights and lock the doors.

The City Manager, the highest paid official in the city was waiting to close up city hall. By doing it herself, no overtime was incurred by the city, and as she told me, she didn't have to ask an employee to stay late away from his family.

That's conservative leadership.

Bill