Williamson County Commissioner's Court: "What Would Voters Ask?"

KLBJ Radio is reporting that the Texas Civil Rights Project has filed a lawsuit against Williamson County government on behalf of a former candidate for Constable, Precinct 3.  The candidate,  Robert Lloyd, alleges that members of the Wilco Commissioners Court asked him "inappropriate" questions during the interview process. 

According to Lloyd, Commissioners asked him about his views on abortion, gay marriage, his party affiliation, and his voting record.  He believes these questions were illegal for a prospective "employee."   

The only problem is that Lloyd was not "applying for a job" in the traditional sense; he was asking for an appointment to a politically elected position.  County constables are chosen by voters via partisan elections- in other words, candidates file for the office as either Democrats or Republicans and then run a lengthy campaign in which voters thoroughly vet them. 

If Commissioners did ask about Mr. Lloyd's partisan views, they would merely be asking about the issues primary election voters care about.  The reality is that Williamson County voters continue to choose pro-life, pro-marriage, & pro-family Republicans.  Since the voters will not be able to approve a new constable for some time, it is the duty of the Commissioners Court to stand in the gap for primary voters.  And it looks like the winning candidate was eminently qualified.

And just to note:  contrary to Lloyd's assertions, voting records are not private.  Public records available to anyone include data on whether or not you vote, when you vote, and which party primary you prefer.  The only thing that is supposedly private is which candidate you voted for (although with the recent NSA snooping revelations, one has to wonder.)

If Mr. Lloyd thought he could participate in a Williamson County primary election without having to answer questions about his political philosophy, he is very naive indeed.  While the Texas Civil Rights Project would probably like to stop anyone from asking candidates about social issues, (and are trying to dismiss such issues as just "religious" concerns,) the reality is that voters here do care and they will go on asking.  If you want to run for elected office, be prepared to share your political views. 

Seitsinger Publicly Endorsed Democrat in 2008

It seems that "GOP" Primary candidate Lee Ann Seitsinger is not only an inconsistent voter (she has only voted in 30% of elections since 2004,) but she has publicly supported Democrats for public office as recently as 2008.  During that election cycle, Ms. Seitsinger composed a letter to the editor of the Round Rock Leader expressing her support for Democrat Greg Windham for County Commissioner. 

She states, "It takes a bold person to run as a Democrat in this county."  And "This choice is clear.  Windham all the way."

So although Lee Ann Seitsinger rarely votes, it looks like she voted for Democrats in 2008. 

At local candidate forums Ms. Seitsinger has been unable to answer basic questions about local government nor deviate from her pre-written talking points.  She did not bother to vote in the 2006 bond election she has used as the primary basis for her challenge to Commissioner Lisa Birkman, and again, her voting record indicates she really hasn't bothered herself with elections much at all. 

Even more disturbing is the support Seitsinger has received from several prominent Democrats, especially those lobbying to have several local species of salamander added to the Federal Engandered Species List.  If they succeed, Williamson County will be further subjected to the machinations of the Obama Administration's radical environmental agenda.  We can only speculate as to what Ms. Seitsinger has promised these folks, but it can't be good.

Incumbent Lisa Birkman has done an outstanding job guiding Williamson County through this high growth period during which we have become the number three county in the nation for job creation. 

For Republican voters in 2012, this choice is clear; Lisa Birkman all the way. 

Republican Commissioners Court Cuts Spending, Keeps Tax Rate Down

Much Kudos to the Williamson County Commissioners Court, who yesterday approved a restrained budget and kept property tax rates steady.  Although under heavy pressure from a vocal minority in the county employees union, Commissioners heard the pleas of Wilco taxpayers already struggling to cope with the Obama economy. 

The 2010-2011 fiscal year budget reduced spending by $496,104.26, allowing for a total general fund budget of $124,355,685.15.  Although some county employees lobbied to raise the rate to provide for a COLA raise,  tax rate will remain at .489999, and may even reduce some homeowner tax bills next year.  As a compromise, Commissioners designated $500,000 for bonus pay for non-tenure plan, non law enforcement employees.  (Law enforcement personnel are paid on a completely different plan). 

Interestingly enough, the county auditor estimates the county will have a cash ending balance of $55 million on September 30, 2010.  The Commissioners Court approved authorizing the auditor to transfer about $4.3 million from the cash ending to balance the budget.  Seems like a pretty obvious solution?

Two of the these Commissioners will be on the ballot this year for re-election:  Cynthia Long for Precinct 2, and Ron Morrison for Precinct 4.  (The terms of Lisa Birkman, Precinct 1, and Val Covey, Precinct 3, will not expire until 2012).  We need to make sure we keep these fiscally conservative folks on the court, so click the links and give them a little help if you can.

Williamson County Employees Association Seeks Obfuscation

Apparently having grown tired of the ad hominem attacks on the women of the Commissioners Court, members of the Williamson County Employees Association have launched a new tactic: obfuscation. WCEA's latest mantra is that they received a pay cut last year, therefore we taxpayers should pay higher rates so that County Employees can have a pay raise. This is patently false.

The fact is that county employees have not received any pay cuts, on the contrary, pay increases prior to 2007 averaged 5% each year, and since 2007 have averaged 3.13%. The WCEA is basing this 'pay cut' argument on the increase in health insurance premiums.

What Royger Harris and the WCEA do not mention is that health insurance premiums have increased dramatically for all Americans. According to a recent study by Families USA, between 2000 and 2007 family health insurance premiums in Texas "rose 86.8%, while median earnings rose by only 15%." Unfortunately, the Families USA study lumps public and private sector workers together, hence the illusory 15% increase. Like government workers, private sector workers are also coping with insurance premium increases, but unlike county salaries, private sector pay, which is tied to economic reality, has steadily decreased.

The WCEA also very carefully avoids mention of county retirement pensions. Williamson County participates in the TCDRS, or Texas County and District Retirement System, and provides a whopping 250% match at retirement. In providing this generous tax-payer-funded contribution, Wilco is among 22 of 252 Texas Counties matching at this maximum rate, placing Williamson County in the top 8.73% of Texas counties. When local governments in other states are now on the brink of bankruptcy due to guaranteed government employee pensions,we understand why the WCEA would steer clear of this topic.

The WCEA demands for property tax increases so that county employees can enjoy a pay raise, while the rest of the nation is coping with high unemployment, higher living/healthcare costs, and actual pay decreases, is unconscionable. Furthermore, the WCEA social media and blogsite activity that permits anonymous personal attacks on the women of the Commissioners Court (often posted Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 and 5) is cowardly and detracts from their credibility. Perhaps these folks ought to take note of the majority of county workers who have not joined WCEA, and are doing the jobs we the tax-payers hired them to do.

If It Quacks Like a Duck...

It seems the folks over at the new Williamson County Employee's Association are very worried that we might think the WCEA is a union, and are adamantly protesting the reference on their blogsite. The WCEA claim is that since they can neither strike nor engage in collective bargaining, they are really just loveable, harmless, little fuzzballs. All they want to do is give out scholarships, “create unity among employees,” “foster complete cooperation” (emphasis added)between the county and its employees, and oh yeah, make sure they get raises and tax-payer funded cadillac-level benefits.

The definition of a union?

An association, combination, or organization of employees who band together to secure favorable wages, improved working conditions, and better work hours, and to resolve grievances against employers.

Since founding the WCEA, Royger Harris, an employee of Jana Duty's County Attorney office, and other members have been complaining loudly about not getting pay raises and having to contribute more to their own health insurance plans. They are unmoved by the fact that many of us in the private sector have faced unemployment, significant pay reductions, and have already been working to adjust to increased health care costs. WCEA members are lobbying the Commissioners Court to raise tax rates on Wilco residents to pay for county employees' raises and to contribute more to employee healthcare. In the tired, overused argument that inevitably attaches itself to every proposed tax hike, WCEA members whine that the monthly tax increase is "only the price of a Happy Meal at McDonald's!" Frankly, I don't care if it IS the price of a Happy Meal, the extra tax is still a redistribution of my hard-earned money.

Furthermore, while they may not be able to engage in collective bargaining, the WCEA is also demanding a seat on the benefit committee board. And, as Royger Harris recently admitted, the WCEA does have a political aspect in that it will be promoting certain candidates it deems to be 'deserving.' Never mind that these goals are identical to those of other public sector unions.

As the saying goes, "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it must be a duck."

Public sector employee unions are not terribly common in Texas, a 'Right to Work' state. Nationally, private sector unions have been steadily decreasing in membership and now claim only 7% of the private workforce, but public sector union membership has grown to over 37%. According to Michael Barone, public sector unions are especially effective due to their unique 'collusive' character:

Public-sector unions strive to elect their management, which in turn can extract money from taxpayers to increase wages and benefits and can promise pensions that future taxpayers will have to fund.

Lately, economists have identified public sector unions as major contributors to the economic woes of states like California, and a full one-third of the 2009 stimulus package went to bolster these unions. If Texas and Williamson County are to continue to tout economic strength, it will be necessary to keep taxes low and resist the unreasonable demands of these 'union lite' groups. The Commissioner's Court should ignore all the quacking and stay the course of fiscal responsibility.

For a great related article, check out Taxpayer Beware, regarding the coming local government tax increases in Texas.