The following questions were submitted to all candidates in contested races by Brownwood News.
1)How long have you been a part of the Brown County Community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Brown County?
Almost my entire life 49 of 55 years. Government is supposed to be “of the people – and for the people”… so I’ve been a part of US – us, for that entire 55 years. Never elected to any position. For me it’s time to quit complaining and be a bigger part of the solution. Change is needed.
2)What is your vision for the future of Brown County: What changes would you advocate and why?
Closer review and stewardship, within the County Judges duties as the counties budget officer, of the tax dollars. The idea will be to identify areas where we can be more prudent and cost effective in our out of control spending of our money.
3) Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
Business leadership. Several businesses I have opened, grown, managed and been very successful at because I’ve found better, more cost effective and efficient ways of operating. The Paint & Body Shop (across from Gomez restaurant from mid 90’s to about 2010 when I sold it. Brownwood Fitness center before it was sold to the current owners, Jetblast oilfield services until I sold my half to my business partner. I have managed large catastrophes such as hurricanes during my years in the insurance industry where there were hundreds of adjusters, many supervisors, large quality control department, vendors and contractors along with other coordination with local entities during these large scale events. Many of these were all being done at one time – many irons in the fire. My greatest strength is my unparalleled work ethic. My weaknesses are only that I have a soft heart. Despite the tough exterior, my heart breaks for so many things that I can’t seem to cure. Abused children, women and animals is a trigger for my emotions.
4) What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why?
The three main duties are business related as far as managing several areas including the budget. I am more experienced than any of my opponents in this field(s).
Emergency management skills with the aforementioned insurance industry experience gives me a huge edge in experience over the others.
My experience with the judicial side is my weak point but I am not inexperienced in that part of the past roles I’ve been in include mediation between many parties which is simply “dispute resolution” which falls into judicial duties concerning civil matters and many more. Note that the State of Texas sends newly elected County Judges to school to satiate the knowledge needed to preside over County Court. Currently our county court is shut down. I intend to get it back open to help alleviate the back-log of cases at the County Court at Law and relieve some of the burden.
Improvements need to be made in availability of the officials, accountability and commitment. Elected officials across the country have forgotten that they need to be serving the community.
5) What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life?
EGA – Executive General Adjuster – this is one of the top designations in the insurance industry. This simply means that I have and can manage large numbers of people and multi-million claims that include adjusters, vendors, contractors, attorneys and other entities that must be managed to bring these huge claims to resolution.
AIC – associates degree in claims. Insurance specific.
Built three successful businesses from the ground up and eventually sold all three.
My kids(Olivia Blevins – Austin and Jason West – unofficially adopted this one when he was in high school and he currently lives in Brownwood) and my wife (Lahonda Blevins). Having an exceptional relationship with all is the greatest blessing I have.
How long have you been a part of the Brown County Community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Brown County?
I was born in Brownwood and raised on a ranch in Brown County. My mother, Judith Smith, is a retired kindergarten teacher from East Elementary. My father, Larry Smith, is a retired agriculture teacher from Brownwood High. I attended public school, grades K-12 in Brownwood. I graduated from Brownwood High in 1995. I moved away and lived in a few cities to complete my college education at Baylor University and internships in cardiac rehab. I pursued a career in health and wellness, working as a personal trainer. I moved back to Brown County to learn how to farm and started building my cattle business in 2005. I farmed and ranched in Brown and Mills County. I moved my permanent residence to Brown County in 2014 and currently live on the ranch where I was raised.
As a farmer and rancher, I have worked closely with our local government USDA offices, NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) and FSA (Farm Service Agency). I have witnessed firsthand the importance of conservation programs and how they greatly affect our groundwater and surface water storage. These partnerships have significantly improved the quality of life for the livestock, wildlife habitat, soil health and surface water storage.
I served on the Brown County Farm Bureau Board, traveling to our Texas Capitol and US Capitol, discussing agriculture policies that would greatly benefit all the residents of Brown County and those working in production agriculture.
I recently shared personal testimony for Brown County District 60, House of Representatives Redistricting Hearing, communicating the unique values of our rural county and the importance of rural representation for our district.
I currently serve as the Legislative Chair for the Brown County Republican Women’s Club. I recently read through all legislation passed in our 87th Legislative Session and Special Sessions, wrote summaries and explained legislation signed by our Governor.
What is your vision for the future of Brown County: What changes would you advocate and why?
I want to help build civil, respectful and professional relationships with each member of our Commissioners’ Court. As our County Judge, I want to bring cooperation back to Brown County Government. I am a dedicated public servant and fiscal conservative who will spend our hard earned tax dollars wisely. I will always put the needs and welfare of Brown County citizens first.
My number one focus and priority will always be water conservation. Our Texas population is growing, but our Lake Brownwood is not. I will always be researching and educating our community about our most precious and valuable resource. I will always be forward-thinking, educating our county about drought contingency plans and water conservation methods that will yield more efficient water storage for our county.
Our law enforcement is my next priority. I support our Sheriff’s department 100%. A strong law enforcement will reflect a strong community that is growing economically. We need adequate law enforcement and more specialized training for our growing population.
I care deeply about the mental health of our county residents. I will effectively communicate the necessary public education required to help everyone understand the mental health issues including PTSD. I will communicate publicly all the resources available to our veterans and non-veterans. I will create a public platform for education and awareness for sex trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence and family violence.
I plan to provide more efficient access and communication to all of our county residents on a social media platform. Serving as head of Emergency Management, I will ensure that we have the most efficiently run emergency response teams for humans and animals. We cannot just prepare for human emergencies. We need a county judge who understands livestock emergencies as well. We need a county judge who understands the needs of both a Human Disaster Response Team and Veterinary Emergency Response Team. I will work closely with our government agencies, public safety officials, non-profit organizations, elected officials, private companies and the public to develop effective plans that minimize damage and interruptions during an emergency. I will communicate a unified message on social media for Brown County with all available resources. If we are without electricity or water, I will delegate boots on the ground to communicate to the residents of Brown County. I will effectively communicate online to our residents all prevention and preparedness suggestions to minimize stress and provide comfort during an emergency situation. Preparedness is imperative when faced with unforeseen emergencies. I will ensure that communication of our available resources reaches all the residents of Brown County, both urban and rural. If there are new state or federal mandates that affect Brown County, I will explain in detail our personal freedoms and responsibilities. I trust the residents of Brown County to use careful discernment and good old fashioned common sense.
Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
Serving as Brown County Judge, I think the fact that I do not have a law license is an asset, not a liability. This will ensure that our licensed attorneys, Court-at-Law Judge and District Judge are the only team members handling our higher level judicial cases. I want to serve and fill a void wherever I am needed. I am a team player and will consult with our Brown County attorneys and judges. We will decide as a team what judicial cases I need to handle to help each of them and Brown County operate as efficiently as possible. This will limit my power as county judge. I think my limited judicial authority is a good business decision for Brown County and prevents any potential judicial conflicts of interest. Too much power in the hands of an elected official is not good policy for any level of government. Brown County has a sufficient number of licensed attorneys in our courthouse to handle our higher level judicial cases. I will only handle judicial cases the state of Texas considers appropriate for a County Judge. I think checks and balances in Brown County government will ensure that one elected official does not become too powerful. As County Judge, my limited judicial scope of practice will ensure political power is not concentrated in the hands of one individual.
The position of County Judge does not require a law degree. The state of Texas will provide the adequate training and education necessary for me to perform the required judicial duties. The curriculum will be an intense accelerated law curriculum taught by an accredited university. I will complete all the required continued education courses, statutes education and administrative training. The County Judge has a wide range of administrative responsibilities and serves as the presiding officer of the Commissioners’ Court. The judicial duties are limited to misdemeanor criminal and small civil cases, probate matters and appeals from the Justice of the Peace Court. The duties of the County Judge vary depending on the population of the county.
I have a strong desire to learn, but most importantly, I am teachable. I am always striving to learn, grow and pay my knowledge and skill set forward. As our County Judge, I want to improve morale. I want to show our community how an elected official should behave at all times. I want to consistently demonstrate what civility, decorum and diplomacy look like in my personal and professional life.
I am not afraid of conflict and the uncomfortable conversations that most people run away from or avoid altogether. I know how great the outcome will be on the other side. Uncomfortable conversations will lead to better understanding one another, bridge-building and civil behavior among everyone. These conversations will produce resolutions to problems facing all the residents of Brown County. I will lead by example, and I am comfortable serving in that position. I think our county has been comfortable with good for too long. I want to take Brown County from good to great.
I was raised to be a very independent woman and encouraged to solve problems on my own. I have learned to ask input from others. My strong work ethic, grit, determination and loyalty is unmatched. I was raised on a farm and taught to work until there is no sunlight or until the job is complete. I am working each day to make a better conscious effort to allow myself to take a day off occasionally. I am learning to integrate a few hours each week to participate in non-work activities.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why?
Serving as our County Judge, one of the biggest challenges of the position will be meeting all the needs of each resident and agency in Brown County.
As the Chair who oversees the Commissioners’ Court, I will implement the skills I have learned in FFA parliamentary procedure to keep order, de-escalate any uncivil or unprofessional behavior and execute all business discussions for the County in an efficient and timely manner. I will do my best to support all of our commissioners, providing each with the resources and support they need to do their job efficiently.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life?
In my farm and ranch career, I have successfully managed a ranch as owner and operator during two severe droughts. I was the first female in my family to build her own cattle business and own her own row crop tractor. I created a new legacy in my family, full of new traditions, working cattle on horseback and more efficient farming conservation practices.
My greatest accomplishment in my personal life was the day I learned how to forgive.
1)How long have you been a part of the Brown County Community? To what extent have you been a part of local government in Brown County?
I am honored to possess over three decades of experience in public service. I have served in government leadership role, law enforcement leadership, and of course education where I taught our future government personnel and leadership. I moved to Brown County in 2011 when I was recruited to be a professor of criminal justice by Howard Payne University, a position I held until I was sworn into office as the county judge. Since Jan. 1, 2019 I have served as the elected county judge here in Brown County.
2)What is your vision for the future of Brown County: What changes would you advocate and why?
While I am not at all a believer in career politicians, i.e. those who remain in office for decades, I would like to serve a second term and then retire. We have accomplished a great many wonderful things over the past three years, and there is still work to be done. As the County Judge I am also the Director of Emergency Management which of course makes me responsible for the ultimate response to COVID. I would very much like to continue to lead this fight and to help to once and for all defeat this horrible virus.
Over the past 3 years we have been able to hold our county tax rate steady. However, that is only a very small part of the property taxes our residents must pay per year. My NUMBER ONE PRIORITY if elected to a second term, will be to work with our new state senator and our new state representative and find a way to STOP these ever-increasing property appraisal evaluations and taxes. Ultimately this is a state issue not a county one, however there are 254 counties throughout Texas and we have all come together and adopted multiple resolution for our representatives to consider… each of which if adopted at the legislative level and signed by the governor, would dramatically reduce the amount of property taxes paid throughout the entire state.
Second, I would like to continue to reinvest grant funding into our local economy. If we invest in Brown County, we can increase tourism and use our geographic location to boost other sporting and business activities to our county. The old adage “If we build it, they will come” does apply to the youth fair grounds renovation I have proposed. Can you imagine the positive effect such a state-of-the-art facility will have on our youth and the community as a whole? Not only with it enhance our local youth fair operations beyond measure, but we would also be able to rent the facility out for other events, which in turn would bring additional revenues to our local businesses, restaurants, and of course hotels and motels. It will be designed as an open-air environment facility thus reducing greatly the COVID risks. Further, it will also give the Office of Emergency Management a facility to designate as a temporary emergency shelter and staging area. Again, the monies from this project would come from the Federal Grants that the Grant Coordinator has been able to help secure. Local tax dollars would not be utilized for the project.
3)Regarding your prospective position, what do you consider your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
I would state that my attributes for this position include having served for more than 3 decades within government, specifically within the criminal justice profession. Further, having also served in the field of higher education, I am able to offer a well-rounded combination of hands-on experience combined with the benefit of a wonderful academic education.
4)What do you consider the biggest challenge of the position you are running for? What areas need improvement and why?
Again, we must work with out state officials to find a way to curb these ever-increasing property appraisals evaluation and increased property taxes. We must find a more fair and balanced system of taxation, which I firmly believe we can do, thus reducing the appraisals taxation increases on the local residents.
5)What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career? In your personal life?
I would have to state that having been given the opportunity to wear a uniform and serve and protect both my country and my state. This combined with my service in this office for the past 3 years have been so very rewarding and I would like to have one more term to serve the citizens of Brown County.