Greetings and Salutations, my friends and fellows!
The time of change is drawing upon us, and I have decided to make my mark in the very fabric of Collin County's government. I have announced my candidacy for the Commissioner of Collin County, in Precinct 3, and will be campaigning from here to November of 2008!
Our first major event will be gathering signatures at the Plano Balloon Festival this weekend, so if you have a chance, please stop by and say hello. The width and breadth of my family and friends are gathered to support this campaign; it is not mine alone, it is our campaign for Collin County Commissioner!
I have a blog and website debuting Friday at www.victor4collincounty.com and will even have video of my introduction speech by this weekend. Stop by and see what's changing in our universe. Cheer us on, donate to the cause, or just say 'hi' as we campaign all the way to 2008!
Thank you all for your support,
Victor Manuel,
Candidate for Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 3
www.victor4collincounty.com
<http://www.victor4collincounty.com/>
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Maybe I just like Underdogs...
After a thorough review of Keith Self's presentation, Joe Jayne's blog, and the Collin County Engineering Web Site, I've decided that Keith is on the ball here. The projects that are suggested with this $235 Million bond are concentrated on cities that can handle the load of municipal construction already. Even McKinney has more than enough tax base to run its own share of the construction projects until after the County has taken care of the main highways.
We need to be pro-active in getting Highway 75 and SH 380 up and running. Everyone from local citizens to area trucking companies already complain that this entire section of highways is a mess. With Collin County slated to expand to nearly double its size in the next 10-15 years, we cannot begin soon enough to complete the expansion of our major transportation arteries. If you live in the area and don't see the traffic on our highways, you're riding a bike to work. At night.
My only regret in all of this is that he couldn't keep the Commissioners wrangled into their May agreement with the State to do the Pass-Through financing in the first place! Keith and the Commissioners had a deal several months ago to use bond money to fix the highways and get paid back from the state. Even with a 4-year turnaround of the $180 million that Texas promised us, we'd be ahead of the 8-year time limit that this bond package proposes!
If we agree to this bond, we agree to no construction on 75 and 380 for many years to come – TxDoT will be busy with constructing Hwy 121, and we’ll be left holding the bag on Central. If the cities are that concerned about traffic in and around their civic centers, I have one word for them, and it's a dirty word around these parts... Dart!
In the end, we need more long-term vision and a committment to the issues that matter in Collin County. When four Republican Commissioners and their Republican County Judge can't agree, the tree just needs a bit more shaking.
Ever Onward,
Victor.
We need to be pro-active in getting Highway 75 and SH 380 up and running. Everyone from local citizens to area trucking companies already complain that this entire section of highways is a mess. With Collin County slated to expand to nearly double its size in the next 10-15 years, we cannot begin soon enough to complete the expansion of our major transportation arteries. If you live in the area and don't see the traffic on our highways, you're riding a bike to work. At night.
My only regret in all of this is that he couldn't keep the Commissioners wrangled into their May agreement with the State to do the Pass-Through financing in the first place! Keith and the Commissioners had a deal several months ago to use bond money to fix the highways and get paid back from the state. Even with a 4-year turnaround of the $180 million that Texas promised us, we'd be ahead of the 8-year time limit that this bond package proposes!
If we agree to this bond, we agree to no construction on 75 and 380 for many years to come – TxDoT will be busy with constructing Hwy 121, and we’ll be left holding the bag on Central. If the cities are that concerned about traffic in and around their civic centers, I have one word for them, and it's a dirty word around these parts... Dart!
In the end, we need more long-term vision and a committment to the issues that matter in Collin County. When four Republican Commissioners and their Republican County Judge can't agree, the tree just needs a bit more shaking.
Ever Onward,
Victor.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Bond... _County_ Bond
The Commissioners and County Judge are at odds over a $329 million bond package that goes up for a vote in November. The County Judge says it's too much, and that we should fix the highways. The Commissioners say it's just right and that we have to fix the infrastructure of the cities first.
I'm going to have to dive deeper into this to make sense of it... both sides make it sound so simple that you just can't take it at face value. The County would contribute $235 million to support road projects countywide, and have almost $200 million of that matched by city funds. A group of $420 million in road projects without a tax increase is more than any one entitiy could do by itself.
But Keith Self is reminding them of the promises made in April of this year for the County to step up and finance the expansion and construction on Hwy 75, SH 380, and SH289 (Preston). The cost to the County for the project depends on who you ask, but it's estimated to be at least $160 million in funds. The only problem with Keith's position is that now he's at the point of asking voters to say "no" to an existing bond package, with nothing for them to say "yes" for.
I'm going to attend not only Keith's meetings on the issue, but also the presentations of Joe Jaynes and Phillys Cole to find out more about the issue. I suggest you do the same!
I'm going to have to dive deeper into this to make sense of it... both sides make it sound so simple that you just can't take it at face value. The County would contribute $235 million to support road projects countywide, and have almost $200 million of that matched by city funds. A group of $420 million in road projects without a tax increase is more than any one entitiy could do by itself.
But Keith Self is reminding them of the promises made in April of this year for the County to step up and finance the expansion and construction on Hwy 75, SH 380, and SH289 (Preston). The cost to the County for the project depends on who you ask, but it's estimated to be at least $160 million in funds. The only problem with Keith's position is that now he's at the point of asking voters to say "no" to an existing bond package, with nothing for them to say "yes" for.
I'm going to attend not only Keith's meetings on the issue, but also the presentations of Joe Jaynes and Phillys Cole to find out more about the issue. I suggest you do the same!
Friday, September 7, 2007
... and we're live!
Today is the release of our web site for the race. You can check out the updates for the campaign at http://www.victorforcollincounty.com/ from now on. I refer to this as "our campaign" and "our race" because this project belongs not only to me as the candidate, but to my family, friends, and the team of incredible people who are helping to put this all together.
Thanks to Suzi, Patrick, Anthony, Edward, Winter, Joel, John, Steve, Richard, Julie, Doloris, Sonya, Allison, and everyone else who's going to be joining on. Together we are going to make a change for the better in Collin County, Texas!
Thanks to Suzi, Patrick, Anthony, Edward, Winter, Joel, John, Steve, Richard, Julie, Doloris, Sonya, Allison, and everyone else who's going to be joining on. Together we are going to make a change for the better in Collin County, Texas!
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