Howard County Commissioners Court
Precinct 1
Focus of Change:
1. Developing and supporting community leadership between County and City Governments.
2. Bringing awareness to the homeless in our community, the veterans and those who may have lost jobs.
3. Protect our environment by finding ways to recycle plastic bottles.
Biggest opportunity/challenge:
The biggest opportunity I see for our community is to see it thriving, businesses to open up again, employees to stay healthy. The biggest challenge for our community right now is keeping a lid on COVID-19. To limit negativity in one’s community, forming a participation support group to hear differences of causes and opinions.
What makes me the best candidate:
What makes me the best candidate for this position is my combination of skills and experience working in the county for 33 years at the Howard County Library. Then having character, integrity, courage, empathy and above all praying always for wisdom and knowledge.
Message to the voters:
The most important thing in a person’s life is to have a voice that is heard. By doing so, I encourage every citizen to go to the polls and vote for change so that your voice will be heard. A democracy can’t work effectively if it’s citizens don’t participate in the process.
Focus of Change: If elected, my priority will be to not only be the voice of Precinct One but to also ensure my constituents are informed. I will strive for clarity in all matters that are brought forth to the court and work to meet with all my constituents. Secondly, infrastructure especially roadwork is a problematic issue in Precinct One. I will address the road maintenance and the flooding issues several of my constituents are forced to live through. Thirdly, bringing revenue to Howard County that does not directly come from the taxpayers will be a focus of mine as well.
Biggest opportunity/challenge: Heading into this New Year Big Spring/howard County will be faced with the reduced income from property tax (the 7.99% to 3.5%.) The Commissioner Court will have to create a plan to pay for the unfunded mandates from the state.
What makes me the best candidate: For over three years I have kept myself informed with the Commissioners Court. Throughout that span, I have been attending the meetings virtually and in person, I have studied the budgets and familiarized myself with the duties of a County Commissioner. I am prepared to be Precinct One’s representative on the court. I am a lifelong resident of Precinct One. I have dedicated my adult life to helping my community through a nonprofit that I co-founded. During eight years of volunteer work, I have created and overseen budgets, written successful grants and the most importantly I have helped my friends and neighbors. I will always keep my door open and make myself readily available to my constituents whether they live out in the county or in the city limits of Big Spring. I vow to listen with concern and intelligently represent my precinct as County Commissioner. Please know my phone is always on. My number is 432-466-5113 I would love to hear any questions, concerns, or just to have a conversation with my constituents.
Message to voters: To every eligible voter – please go out and vote! Your vote is your voice and every voice matters especially in this uncertain time. With your vote, you can be a part of the change. And while you are voting please remember, do not vote straight party. Vote for the person, no matter if you are Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, or Independent; I will represent everyone. Please vote for Eddilisa Saldivar for County Commissioner Precinct One.
Precinct 3
Focus of change. 1. Over the last couple of years a group of leaders at the State level have really intensified their efforts to take away local control and move it to a state level. We must push back or our local voices of leadership will be taken away. We must stand together in the belief that Texas as a whole is better when we have local leadership looking after our counties. 2. If the Voter approved the Howard County Assistant District which is a 2% sale tax on goods purchased outside of the city limits of Big Spring, Forsan, and Coahoma. This sales tax is the lesser of two evils (sales tax vs property tax). We will need to work hard on directing those sale tax funds towards funding some of the departments, which will in the future lower property tax.
Biggest opportunity/challenge Voting for the Howard County Assistant District is an opportunity to lower future property tax. Also, we have received an $8.6 million grant from the state of Texas which gives us the opportunity for more road repairs. It doesn’t come without a catch, we must do a 20% match and perform work within five years to receive this grant. We have managed to spread this over the next 4 years which gives us opportunity to apply for any unused grant funds in the fifth year of this grant program. This will help us make some much need headed way in road repair and road safety.
In the ever challenging new normal in Road Maintenance, Law-enforcement, Jail Standard, Judicial System and every day Overhead. Also, the continued onslaught of unfunded mandate’s that come from the state level, makes it difficult to manage funds and stay in compliance with the Texas statues. We must continue to stay progressive and not become complacent for the future of Howard County.
What makes me the best candidate:
My voice of conservative leadership has been my focus to honor my promise to Precinct 3.
I’m asking humbly for the opportunity to continue to be Precinct 3 representative on the Commissioner’s Court. We need experience, knowledge, conservative values, and strong understanding of Howard County issues as we move along in these challenging times.
Message to the voters: Vote. Vote. Vote.
It is a responsibility as voters to make time to go cast your vote. Time is our most valued commodity, and we must prioritize that our voice, our vote, our time is an important part of our Americans rights. If we don’t give our time to vote we shouldn’t ask others to give us their time to voice complaints.
Focus of Change: Looking at road safety and longevity. Seeing if there are new efficient but effective ways of fixing the roads. Expanding the Volunteer Fire Department, by making them a self sufficient run program. This should make Howard County safer and hopefully save the tax payer money on their home insurance.
Finding self sufficient yet profitable programs that would contribute to the general fund, in hopes that it will alleviate the burden on tax payers. Biggest Challenge/opportunity:
The biggest challenge is Howard County is unfunded state mandates taking from the general fund and forcing the county to either cut programs or raise taxes to pay for said mandates. However, Howard county has so much potential. Over the last 2 years I have been in contact with other counties to see what kind of programs they have and if it would be feasible to do here in Howard. The first hurdle would be to find programs that can generate revenue that would not be on the tax payers shoulders. These are programs like a solar farm, which is a growing trend for counties to do. Once we find new sources of revenue, then we can start looking at fixing our roads at their core, expanding the Volunteer Fire Department, updating the library, and even doing the counties part in helping our Sheriff Department in their rehabilitation programs. Historically, our county has cut programs year after year thanks to the unfunded state mandates. It doesn’t have to be this way. Technology and innovation is ever evolving and we can find ways to make up lost revenue without having to burden the tax payers and without having to cut programs every year. We just have to want the change and we have to work towards the change.
What makes me the best candidate:
I don’t think there is a “best” candidate for any seat. Each candidate has something they offer over the other candidates, however I don’t think it makes us better. I feel that I offer new perspective to the same old problems. Message to the voters:
Encouraging voters to vote in the middle of a pandemic is a hard thing to do. However, for the last three years, I have been an advocate for every voice matters. However, I don’t blame people for fearing going to the polls. Having worked elections for Howard County, I can say I am confident in our elections staff in doing everything they can to keep the voter safe. I hope that people find their voice and know that it truly does matter. If people want change, it starts with them, at the polls!