LAURA MACZKA, RICHARDSON'S NEW MAYOR

 

What makes a great Mayor?

By J.B. Blocker

Before I begin, I want to set a few qualifications for my opinions
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  I have no racial or religious bias. As a naturalized citizen, I have the highest hopes for the children of immigrants to achieve the American dream. We are, by now, all decedents of immigrants even if it goes back multiple generations. I do have a problem using ethnicity or religion as a campaign platform for elected officials in a general election. Even in a District, City, or State that is predominantly one origin or faith, I believe that a higher power can prevail when good people elect good people.

  I am personal friends with many current and former mayors. My first part-time job was as a teenager working for the mayor of my hometown of Sunray, Texas at the Sunray Lumber Yard. That was 40 years ago and I still call and check on his wife Judge Billie Faye Schumacher, the former J.P. and current Teen Court Judge in Moore County. This comfort level and respect for the office prevails to this day. In the past 20 years in the DFW area I count over a dozen mayors as friends outside of their office position.

  Since the campaigns for Richardson’s mayor began, I have bided my time on voicing my opinion. I have spoken with each candidate, followed their web sites and Face Books, and used my friends and contacts as sounding boards.

In a few ways, both candidates have some similar qualifications. They have both served on the city council, are respected and even loved by many, and have worked hard to connect to the community.

One of the statements in the article was at best misleading and I believe it was intended to mitigate the perceived responsibilities of an elected mayor. It may be that the author just didn’t know the extent of mayoral responsibilities.
  
I sent this e-mail to several of my mayoral friends. In respect for the political integrity of those still holding office, I will not connect the mayor with their response.

J.B. Smith is flying off to new adventures

Sheriff J.B. Smith Finishing Out More Than Three Decades Of Service

  His very name has been synonymous with Smith County law enforcement for three decades. During those 30-plus years J.B. Smith has stood against his enemies, become beloved by most of the county's registered voters and even been admired by the prisoners in his jail.

  But how did an Arkansas sharecropper's son, who joined the Navy to flee his dysfunctional family and abusive stepfather, end up in Tyler as the longest-serving sheriff of a county named for Texas Revolutionary Gen. James Smith?

  Sheriff Smith, who took office in 1976, sat in his office on Spring Street recently and discussed earning his GED, attending college, his law enforcement career, which began in California, and his tenure in office.

"I got here by mistake. I was driving through in 1969 and fell in love with the area and applied with the Tyler Police Department and that's what started it all," he said.