CANDIDATE PROFILES
EDITOR’ S NOTE: This is the second installment races. Early voting for Bowie County residents Feb .20, at the county courthouse in New Boston and at Bi-State Justice Building in Tex ark ana. The election is Tuesday, March 6. The Gazette requested that candidates not exceed a character limit on each question coverage and article length. Aside from minor changes and editing, the candidate responses are being printed as submitted. Precinct 4 commissioner Republican primary Carter and challenger Robert Lo ran ce. No Democratic candidates have filed to run for the spot.
Mike Carter
Bowie County Commissioner, Precinct 4 (incumbent)
Biographical
Spouse and children: Wife, Kathy; daughters, Shelly, Angie, Allee and Hollye; sons, Michael and Steve Age: 68
Years a Bowie County resident: 40
Political party:
Republican
Highlight your top three degrees and/or educational achievements:
■ Texas HVAC Class A license (current)
■ Texarkana College/ Accounting and Contract Law
■ 76 hours educational training for county commissioners
List your current job and employer and your top three occupational achievements:
Bowie County Commissioner, Precinct 4
■ I have improved 35 county roads from gravel to millings, working with TxDOT to get the millings for free.
■ The commissioners and I improved Bowie County’s finances, going from zero reserve to $6 million.
■ We refinanced the U.S. Highway 82 bonds and saved Bowie County almost $10 million.
Highlight the top three examples of your civic or community service:
■ Honorably served in the Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard; three tours in Vietnam.
■ President of Texarkana, Texas, Dixie Baseball Association for nine years.
■ Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, America Legion, Elks Club and past master of Masonic Lodge
Highlight the top three examples of your political experience:
■ 8 years on the Wake Village City Council as a council member and mayor pro tem
■ 4 years as Bowie County commissioner from 2014 to present.
■ Served as a board member at TexAmericas
Political
Why did you run for office?
Four years ago, I ran for office because Bowie County was in bad financial condition. With my 40 years as a successful air conditioning contractor and 14 years’ military experience, I felt like I could help get our finances in order. I would like to continue my work building reserves and improving roads and infrastructure.
What are your top three goals, if elected?
■ Continue the infrastructure repairs and overlay of our dirt roads.
■ Continue to work with commissioners to ensure our budget is followed and the county remains solvent.
■ Continue to lower county taxes through good management practices as we have done for the last four years, where taxes have gone from .473610 to .424322.
The Issues
What are the three greatest issues facing the county?
■ The first issue is to ensure our county’s finances are stable and continue the growth of our tax base so revenues remain ahead of expenses.
■ Deterioration of our county’s buildings and infrastructure.
■ Unfunded mandates from the Texas Legislature.
How should these issues be addressed?
■ We need to attract new industries through lower county taxes and programs to draw interest in our area.
■ We need to continue to build our reserve fund so bond issues are not necessary to improve roads and buildings.
■ We need to work with our elected state officials to ensure any legislation that is passed is funded by the state.
How many miles of roads does your precinct maintain, how many employees and where is the precinct barn?
I have 303 miles of road to maintain with 14 employees. The precinct barn is at 801 Texas Highway 8 S. in New Boston, Texas.
What are the three most pressing issues facing your precinct?
■ More budget for materials to repair our county roads.
■ Upgrading infrastructure to keep up with the growth in rural areas.
■ One of the major problems facing our precinct and the other precincts is crime. When criminals are arrested, they become our responsibility. We have to feed them and furnish medical and legal services.
How should these issues be addressed?
■ We need to continue to improve our county’s finances so more budget can be allocated for materials.
■ After we have built our reserve fund to the point mandated by resolution, hopefully we can use some to improve our roads and infrastructure in all precincts.
■ We need to find ways to lower our inmate population. I know it is an ongoing problem, but programs that work with the community to fight crime and making sure there are enough people to get the inmates through the system efficiently and quickly might lower our costs. We added another public defender last year, but we need to work with that department, also.
Under what, if any, circumstances would you support a tax increase or bond issue?
I do not support a tax increase at all. We should work together to lower taxes as we have the last four years, down from .473610 to .424322, while increasing our reserves from zero to $6 million. I do not support bond issues. If we continue to increase our reserve fund, we should have the money to take care of the county.
If the county’s financial situation improves, where would you like to see the money go?
The county’s financial situation has improved since I was elected. We need to build our reserves to the point mandated by county resolution. We could use any surplus to upgrade infrastructure. I would also like to build an economic development fund and attract industry with good paying jobs to build the tax base.
If the county’s financial situation does not improve, how would you suggest curbing expenses?
We would have to work with other elected officials and department heads to identify any areas where costs or services could be reduced. When I was elected four years ago, we had to do this very thing to get the county solvent. As revenues grow and budget allows, they are being restored.