TOM WHITTEN (incumbent)
Biographical
Spouse and children: Wife, Debbie; two girls, Hailey and Hensley, both students at Pleasant Grove Independent School District
Age: 51
Years a Bowie County resident: 51
Political party: Republican
Highlight your top three degrees and/or educational achievements:
- Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business, Southern Arkansas University
- Associate degree in claims, Insurance Institute of America
- Graduate, Texas High School
List your current job and employer and your top three occupational achievements:
Bowie County commissioner, Precinct 2
- Reduced the tax rate, restored the fund balance and bond rating and saved $9.5 million on U.S. Highway 82 bonds.
- Repair/new construction of key roads in Precinct 2 and Bowie County
- Led efforts to protect residents and businesses from catastrophic loss during two historic floods of the Red River
Highlight the top three examples of your civic or community service:
- Deacon at First Baptist Church, Moores Lane, and involved in numerous ministries.
- Board member for the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council
- Vice chairman, executive committee member for Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century
Highlight the top three examples of your political experience:
- Precinct 2 commissioner for Bowie County since 2012
- Member of the Texarkana Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board and Technical Committee, ARK-TEX Regional Review Committee and Regional Criminal Justice Advisory Board
Political
Why did you run for office?
I am seeking re-election to continue my leadership efforts of ensuring the long-term success of Bowie County and our region by keeping taxes low and making proactive infrastructure investments that help create a strong tax base and a business environment that's friendly to quality job creation.
What are your top three goals, if elected?
- Provide sound financial leadership that ensures a low tax rate and business-friendly climate
- Provide leadership on transportation at all levels to leverage tax dollars back to Bowie County
- Work with citizens to address issues specific to Precinct 2, including the prioritization of road repair schedules
The Issues
What are the three greatest issues facing the county?
- The need for significant infrastructure improvements in all areas-water, roads, airport, etc.
- Keeping taxes low to create a business-friendly environment in order to grow our tax base.
- Attracting and retaining quality jobs to ensure our children do not have to move away in order to find rewarding employment.
How should these issues be addressed?
We must elect leaders who have the ability and willingness to understand complex issues and who can effectively advocate in protecting the county's interests by:
- Supporting the local control of our water assets and the development of needed infrastructure through Riverbend Water Resources District.
- Actively working with Texas Department of Transportation, Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority, TEX-21, and the I-69 Alliance and others to advance key infrastructure and mobility projects for our region.
- Properly managing Bowie County's budget by keeping taxes low and promoting economic development with local partners such TexAmericas and Red River Army Depot, while still meeting critical county obligations.
How many miles of roads does your precinct maintain, how many employees and where is the precinct barn?
Precinct 2 encompasses 83 miles of county roads, has three employees and the barn is at 3404 Farm to Market Road 559, Texarkana, TX 75503. While this precinct has fewer miles of county roads compared to others in the county, it has the largest number of the most costly type of county roads to repair.
What are the three most pressing issues facing your precinct?
Infrastructure, taxes and jobs. Precinct 2 encompasses a high-, fast-growth portion of Bowie County where the demand for infrastructure and services is strong. We must proactively meet this demand to continue to grow our tax base and provide quality of life to citizens.
How should these issues be addressed?
We must elect a commissioner who has the ability/willingness to understand complex issues and who can effectively protect Bowie County's interests by:
- Supporting local control of our water assets and the development of needed infrastructure through Riverbend Water Resources District.
- Actively working with TxDOT, Northeast Texas RMA, TEX-21, and the I-69 Alliance and others to advance key infrastructure and mobility projects for our region.
- Properly managing Bowie County's budget by keeping taxes low and promoting economic development with local partners such TexAmericas and Red River Army Depot while still meeting critical obligations.
Under what, if any, circumstances would you support a tax increase or bond issue?
Cutting wasteful spending, making timely infrastructure investments and growing the tax base are the best approaches to sound fiscal management. Tax increases should be a last resort in order to fulfill essential county obligations. Bond issuances should be made carefully with consideration of market conditions.
If the county's financial situation improves, where would you like to see the money go?
- I would support tax relief, proactive infrastructure investments and market-supported competitive increases for employee benefits and salaries.
- If the county's financial situation does not improve, how would you suggest curbing expenses?
- I would support maintaining the tax rate, delaying infrastructure investments and salary and benefit increases.