The Collin County Observer

I'm surprised you failed to comment on Duncan Webb essentially announcing he'd be a part-time commissioner if elected; it was the most interesting part of the evening (which can be found at the link above, along with all the videos to the Commissioner's answers).

Bill Comments:

Probably because I saw it as less important than Judge Self not promising to serve out his term - especially in light of the criticism that has been leveled at Mabrie Jackson for resigning her city council seat.

You've put plenty of YouTube videos of people saying things you don't like. I see no real reason why I would be interested in allowing The Collin County Observer to be used as a propaganda tool of the North Texas Tea Party.

Bill

I also find this race interesting. To me, it is somewhat interesting to see the far right continue to supoprt Kathy after she did such a poor job managing the Collin County GOP budget. Poor would be an understatement. That leads me to think that this is a lack of better incumbent situation. The far right wants no part of anyone from Plano grabbing another spot on the court. This is more of a turf war than anything else.

Here's my rundown on the candidates:

Kathy - Not an accomplished resume and was handpicked by Keith Self. When I say handpicked, you have to understand the politics behind that appointment process, but I won't get into that. She has a spotty past and continues to amaze at how she is able to get people to look past it on the basis of, well actually I have no idea what the basis is. I think she is way out of her professional league on the court and if they decided to pay her only $80K a year, she would still be the most overpaid commissioner. My opinion is that she makes the party vulnerable in the sense that you have conservatives supporting someone that has such a sketchy background that one day, when we see a democrat running for office and we try to look at their past and call foul, they will rightfully be able to say hey, you overlooked the same stuff on one of your own. Not a good situation.

Duncan - He clearly has the business and financial managemnt background edge over Kathy. A $600million budget and over 7000 employees really shows the experience difference between the two candidates. He owns his own law practice and has been a civic leader in his community. The problem is simple. He is successful and from Plano and that is not a good combination.

My prediction:

This one is tough. It reminds me of Sarah Palin, but in a primary, versus John McCain or Newt. Clearly, Palin was clueless and a really bad VP choice, but people got behind her. She motivated and continues to motivate/pander to a far right base and that is working for her. I think, ultimately, she has two key advantages for her and oddly, neither have anything to do with her. #1 is that Keith Self and the far right have done a very good job at making John Muns represent Duncan Webb and Duncan Webb represent John Muns. Kind of like what Obama did to McCain with Bush, they became the same person. Kathy will benefit from that, but not at all deserve credit for it. She is a beneficiary of association. #2 is that there is a public environment that encourages the emotional dislike of successful people. Kathy can paint Duncan as being a successful lawyer in Plano and somehow, we are at a point in time where that is a really bad thing. Up is down and down is up.

I hope this will be close, but I think if people don't vote based on ability and experience, we will end up stuck with Kathy for four more years.

As with all new jobs there is a learning curve. Kathy was smart enough to realize she needed to spend as much time as possible to learn all she could about Collin County Government. She works extremely hard and attends many workshops, meetings and functions related to her job. Kathy has represented her constituents very well in her short time in office and will continue to do more than required.
Mr. Webb on the other hand, will only do as little as it takes. I do not believe Mr. Webb has the best interest of the voters at heart.

Wow, Davis, you sure seem bitter.

I have zero problem with Duncan being successful. And isn't Kathy is from Plano, too? Why does that matter that you trade one Plano person for another? It's Precinct 4 that is in question - and only those in Precinct 4 get to vote in that race...

I'm not in Precinct 4 - but I believe that Kathy has done a great job in her 18 months as Commissioner. And, even though Self did appoint her, she is not a rubber stamper. She has been very involved with Health Care issues and created the Collin County Citizens Academy.

From where I stand, it's obvious that the long-time Plano Republicans got mad when the GOP headquarters was moved to McKinney - and they wanted to throw Kathy under the bus because a few others had personal conflicts with Kathy after they realized that even though they had given Kathy the Dixie Clem award, she wouldn't be their political puppet. One of those is a former commissioner - and she is the same former commissioner that supported a liberal democrat against Kathy in 2008, purely out of spite and bitterness. She is still spreading the venom in the party today - which is exactly what we DON'T need...

Why is it that when people are unhappy with elected officials, even in their own party, they WANT them to fail - and enjoy that? It's not good for the party - and it's not good for Collin County.

I'm not here to slam Duncan Webb - I don't even know the guy. I'm glad he's successful and from Plano. But I think your comments and perspective are skewed because of your apparent association with these aforementioned disgruntles in the party. I see that you've jumped on that bandwagon - and you have the right to your opinion... but much of what you have alleged and insinuated regarding Kathy is dead wrong.

Conservative Frisco Voter-

I am not bitter at all. As you see in my previous post, I am simply giving my opinion and I think it's accurate.

My issue with Kathy is her past (remember, the same thing we all ranted about with Obama). Her financial mismanagement of the Collin County GOP is still hurting the party to this day. Somehow, you claim to care about the party so much but because of your allegiance to Kathy, you won't address that issue. That's not honest politics and you know it.
Also, I just don't understand how we will openly and in complete hypocrisy look the other way when it is one of our own candidates, but when it's a democrat, we will protest until the cows come home. I want you to ask yourself this question; why doesn't Kathy Ward fill out the DMN candidate questionairre? What question on that questionairre would a candidate feel uncomfortable answering, if there was a reason to feel uncomfortable? I encourage you to do some research and find the answer to that question. I think you will be shocked with what you find. Once you do, then ask yourself two questions. Is that the type of person you want managing our county's budget and do you believe that it is okay for a republican candidate to hide this type of information from voters and supporters?

When you choose to be an elected official, you open yourself up to public scrutiny and it's not unfair. If you don't want people looking into your past (also known as your qualifications), then I wouldn't get in this business. Conservative Frisco Voter, if you feel there is some reason that everyone should be allowed to search through every elected officials past except Kathy's, please, let me know why you feel that way.

Conservative Frisco Voter - I will add one more thing to your comment, "it's obvious that the long-time Plano Republicans got mad when the GOP headquarters was moved to McKinney". You don't think the reason that a lot of people, not just those from Plano, were upset because of the lease agreement Kathy got us into? My point of view was, why was anyone be suprised at her making that terrible financial decision? If the party had vetted her past, they would have known financials are not her strong point, to say the least.

With all due respect, I find it not only interesting, but humorous that there is criticism of a candidate for being “successful". Should I translate that to mean that only "unsuccessful" people should lead our government?

The reality is... we should give "extra credit" for successful leaders that care enough about our community, today and tomorrow, to take time out of their "successful" careers to better our future.

If not, should we just take a poll and vote for the least successful individual in a community as they would make the best representative for the people of Collin County?

Duncan Webb’s business acumen should be viewed as an asset for our community, not a hindrance. His experience (and genuine care) provides what we need to lead Collin County not just today, but well into our future.

Duncan Webb lives in an unfinished 8,000 hsf house. When asked why, he told me he ran out of money. And people say he's fiscally responsible?

I have been in Duncan Webb's house at a large event--not sure what was unfinished?

But if we are going to talk about personal and professional business fiscal responsibilty then it must be noted that Ms. Ward's home was foreclosed on and her management of the Collin County Republican Party led to a deficit because of poor business decisions.

Wow, it seems Roger that your attempt to prove fiscal responsibility has back fired....I am not a financial guru but I think bankruptcy sounds like a pretty serious case of irresponsibility.

I have also been to the Webb resident for several events (how kind of them to open up their home) and could not find anything unfinished.

It's a pity that offhanded comments like I am sure this quote was....about replacing floors or painting a bedroom seem to be grounds for being fiscally irresponsible. Looks like your not a Home Depot man.

Apparently there was a heated discussion about negative campaigning at the AARP forum. While I sympathize with ms. Wards situation, her personal and professional lack of fiscal responsibility ARE relevant when we are trusting her with our tax dollars. Budgeting is the biggest part of their job.