For those of you who don't know me, my name is Bill Baumbach. I'm from from Wylie, Texas, and I'm running for County Commissioner in precinct 2 .

I'd like to take a few minutes to tell you why I am running and about my vision for Collin County.

I'm running because I believe our county can do better for its people. We can do better in health care. We can do better than adding tollbooths to roads we already own. We can do better in protecting our air and our water. We can do better in facilitating a real public transportation network. We can do better in making the county responsive to the people it serves. We can do better in planning growth, by planning for a sustainable growth that enhances our rural traditions, instead of paving farmland.

I'm running because I believe we've all had enough of career politicians. We've had enough of politicians paying themselves big salaries. We've had enough of politicians paying themselves huge bonuses. We've had enough of a commissioners court that won't meet where the people can take part in the meetings. We've had enough of the "good old boy" government that only takes care of its friends….

I'm running because I believe that Governments derive their just powers from the consent of those governed. Because I believe that we in Collin County have suffered under one-party rule for far too long.

I am running because I no longer consent.

I'm running because it's the right time to run. I believe that Democrats and Republicans alike are beginning to realize their interests are being sold-out by career politicians.

I am running to defeat Jerry Hoagland - one of those career politicians who for a 26 years has been so far to the right that he's out-of-touch with mainstream voters. He's out-of-touch with even conservative Collin County voters - heck he's just out of it.

Let me give you some examples -

2 years ago, Jerry Hoagland threatened to take the County to court to stop the healthcare trust fund from giving small grants to the Plano Children's clinic, the Adult Clinic and other groups who are trying to help our uninsured - they are doing what the county refuses to do.

Boss Hoagland has paid himself more in bonuses than he has voted in grants to charities trying to help the poor get some healthcare. He uses his County expense account lavishly, racking up tens of thousands of dollars in travel expenses, and self-help classes, while calling poverty a "lifestyle choice".

Just recently, Jerry Hoagland opposed federal grants to Lifepath, the County's mental health agency. Lifepath wanted to set-up a few apartments to house the mentally retarded in an assisted living environment that would allow those folks to get jobs and be productive, but return to a structured home.

Jerry said the grants encouraged the homeless to move to Collin County. I'm happy to tell you that Lifepath did win the grant. No thanks to Jerry Hoagland!

My opponent voted no to almost every spending proposal, except when he or his friends are getting your tax money. He sponsored the purchase of $800,000 in construction software….. with your tax dollars and payable to his friend the mayor of Richardson. A year later, County employees still can't get the software to work.

I'm running because I have a vision of Collin County. A vision of growth that is planned for. A growth that enhances our community, instead of merely adding to the traffic congestion. For too long, our politicians have regarded all economic growth as the "be all - end all"….the end result of their policies. I believe that economic growth should be targeted, that it is the engine… indeed a powerful engine that can be used for the good of our people and neighborhoods. It takes planning, and leadership

I believe that tolls should be used only rarely to finance roads. Our highways are the foundation of our regional wealth, and they belong to the people. They should be run in trust for the people, not milked as cash cows to finance other projects. I will oppose any and all attempts to privatize our roads. Let all those in Austin who think that roads are the new revenue source, let them hear me loud and clear. OUR ROADS ARE NOT FOR SALE.

When tolls must be used, they should only be put in place after public hearings, with the consent of those who need to use them, and only to pay for the construction of the highway. When the road is paid for, we must tear down the tollbooths.

Every summer we listen to the news warnings of air quality red alerts and purple alerts. I believe that too many of our children suffer from athsema, because we breathe air that has been polluted by our shortsighted policies. The county must begin to take the lead in cleaning our air. I will fight to stop the construction of 7 new coal-fired electric plants in East Texas. I will fight to end the pollution coming from Ellis County.

We'll sue them, if we have to. I'll fight for a meaningful plan to protect our air and water. To protect these god given gifts we've squandered.

One way to help our air is to make public transportation a priority. Did you know that DART owns the main north-south and the main east-west railroad lines in the county….but there are no plans to develop them. We can do better.

I believe we can do better in helping our wonderful volunteers and charities aid those who have no insurance, who need assistance with healthcare and public services. We can do better. We must do better.

It is inexcusable for the richest county in Texas to also be the meanest county.

I'll work for a County government that is fair and just. One that treats all citizens, rich and poor - black, brown and white, with respect. One that recognizes that diversity is our strength, not our weakness.

Have you ever been to a Commissioner's Court meeting? Probably not. The meetings are not well advertised - they are held on alternate Tuesday mornings. And the meetings are held in a room hardly larger than a closet. There is no room for the people there. They are not welcome.

I have a vision of a County Commissioners Court that wants to hear from the voters. One that opens its doors to all citizens. I will work to end the practice of meeting on Tuesday mornings. The Court should meet in the evening…and invite its citizens to participate. I will fight to move the court's meeting from its present upstairs closet to a room big enough for you and I to attend.

Do you know how your Commissioners voted? Again, probably not. The minutes are kept in the Courthouse. If you want a copy, go to McKinney - 8 to 5 - pay a dollar. I believe that is wrong.

I will end the practice of charging for minutes. If the County won't change, then I will on my own publish the minutes of the Commissioners Court and all Boards and Commissions on a website. I will publish voting records, and all background packets the Commissioners see before voting.

I will stop the practice of spending part of each meeting in secret, executive sessions. It is time for the county to let the sun shine in on its work. When the people know what their representatives are doing, then and only then can the people can tell their representatives what they SHOULD be doing.

We live in a county that has been blessed with prosperity. I pledge to protect that prosperity, to keep our taxes low, but to rethink our priorities. I will guard your tax dollars, ever aware of how hard you worked to earn the money you've entrusted to our care. I pledge to spend frugally, but fairly, with malice towards none and justice for all.

I pledge to listen, not dictate. I pledge to work with local businesses, civic groups, elected leaders and governments to solve the difficult problems that face us. And I pledge to work hard, as hard as it takes.

People -

This IS the time, this is the place to make a difference.

Precinct 2 has over 88,000 registered voters. They are ready for change. Whether you live in my precinct or not, I believe you and your neighbors have had enough. Hoagland has got to go. I offer you a chance to shock the one-party political machine that has run this county for 25 years. It's time to end the reign of Boss Hoagland. It's time for a change.

With your help we can do it. We are going to spend the next 8 months knocking on doors, talking to your neighbors. Winning votes one and two at a time.

Because the time is now. The need is now, and the way is clear.

Don't just demand change. Make it happen. Jerry Hoagland has got to go!

I ask you now to stand with me - to walk with me. Stand up now against the "Good old boys"..

Together we can begin to change Texas, starting here in Collin County

We're going to knock on doors from Royce City to Dallas, from Wylie to Allen, from Plano to Lavon. We'll knock whereever there are voters, and we'll bring them our message of new leadership.

We start today, and with God's grace and your help we will prevail in November.

Thank you and God bless you all.