05/02/2023
Who am I? What is my hope and vision for Lampasas?
I was recently asked this by the local newspaper, the Lampasas Dispatch Record.
This is how I see myself and a few of my first thoughts.
I am proud to be a native Texan, born and reared in Midland, in the Permian Basin. I am a Christian, a husband and father.
I attended Texas Tech University on a football scholarship and entered the workforce right after college.
I began working for my father’s heavy equipment business. That’s when my real education began.
I have spent the last 37 years in the lumber industry and share my knowledge through the Creating Badger Builders program for Lampasas High School students.
I started my business from the ground up, and I am passionate about business. My strengths are the ability to see and create opportunities, both professionally and within the community we live in.
My personal pillars of leadership are learning from both successes and failures, taking care of employees, treating customers with respect, and taking care of the finances and physical assets without cutting corners. I believe a business mindset is wellsuited for the role of mayor.
I really feel I wanted to bring these values into the service of the citizens of Lampasas. We live in very challenging days. In my lumber business, we’ve had some challenging times, but we also learned how to overcome those challenges.
After serving on the Lampasas City Council and as a member of the Capital Improvement Projects committee, I was inspired to run for mayor because of the people who built and continue to build the Lampasas community.
My wife’s great-greatgrandparents came to Lampasas in 1876 from England!
They got married, bought a property and started their life here.
I feel to whom much is given, much is required. To carry on what it took for someone to come from England, I am blessed to serve our community.
Many community members with hearts of service also have inspired me, a couple like, people like Marisa Skiles of Wings of Eagles Outreach and Janet Crozier with the Lampasas Community Gardens, really stick out in my mind.
Seeing City Hall come to life and filled with community members for something they believe in, that really inspires me. Seeing these things, have taught me to have an open mind about people’s convictions and passion to help other people and make their lives better.
Of the city’s list of Capital Improvement Projects, the Hostess House renovation is my top priority.
My daughter was married in that building. It adds another stake in preserving our historical markers.
Other high-priority projects include Public Utility Improvements like water and wastewater, as well as essentials like the Lampasas Fire Department.
When any of us goes to our water faucet and it doesn’t work, it becomes a problem. We have to keep our eyes on all those inner workings and do a good job with it.
Regarding the Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue, I hope the city of Lampasas, will use these funds to create venues from existing city spaces, like the New Hope Baptist Church, that draw visitors and tourists.
Let’s take care of the assets Lampasas already has. Lampasas doesn’t need to be a drivethrough town; it needs to be a place of destination. We’re so primed to do that!
The 2024 Solar Eclipse likely will require HOT fund expenditure.
We’re going to probably use some HOT revenue on the Eclipse, to put our best foot forward. Literally, the world will be watching us that weekend.
