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We need a County Judge strong enough to provide leadership for a change. We need a County Judge strong enough to go head-to-head with the County Commissioners. Leadership is not just about doing the right things, but doing things the right way. Only by working together can we end the pointless bickering and implement necessary, fundamental changes, including:

1. Root out corruption - the right way

We must be diligent in the face of corruption. As County Judge I will work with the criminal and civil divisions of the District Attorney's Office to root out corruption. Hiring outside counsel and investigators, wastes precious taxpayer dollars and gets in the way of our existing law enforcement system working as it should. I will establish and continually foster the leadership necessary to prevent corruption in the first place.

2. Support the District Attorney and the Sheriff

As County Judge I will support our District Attorney. Our DA is raising justice to unprecedented new levels in Dallas County, and nationwide. These efforts should be celebrated and supported. Instead, the commissioners are undermining his investigations and hijacking his budget.

I will support our Sheriff, and stop the blame game on the failures of our jail. The budget for the jail is actually overseen by the County Judge, along with most of the repairs and maintenance.

3. Budget - the right way

As County Judge I will expand services without increasing taxes, reduce costs, and identify new revenue sources. Budgeting is a full-time, year-round job. It is not a last minute, one-size–fits-all, 10% reduction meat axe. Every department and every function needs a sound business plan; coordinated into a comprehensive plan for Dallas County.

One solid cost saving measure is consolidation of services across governmental jurisdictions to save taxes at all levels. This can be done without loss of autonomy for the respective governments. For example a single vehicle maintenance facility could serve county vehicles as well as those of several cities. Dallas County Schools does this for 14 school districts and Dallas County is in the perfect position to implement this model.

4. Facilitate economic development opportunities like the Inland Port - the right way

As County Judge I will make the County a full partner with the cities in economic development. Dallas County must compete to attract new business and to retain existing businesses. It's not just about tax abatements and infrastructure. I will clear the bureaucratic and political obstacles to make projects like the Inland Port and Cowboy Stadium succeed in Dallas County.

5. Parkland

As County Judge I will fix Parkland Hospital. 20-hour waits in the emergency room are just plain wrong. Small problems become acute, preventable illness becomes emergency surgery. People die.

Dallas County ends up paying the bill for indigent health care for much of North Texas. Other counties do not have facilities, so their people are sent here. I will work with the surrounding counties to insure that this inequity does not continue; by packaging reimbursement with other projects on which those counties need Dallas County's cooperation.

6. Emergency Management

As County Judge I will focus on providing emergency management, which is the direct responsibility of the County. As the connection between municipal governments, Dallas County should lead local efforts when it comes to natural and manmade disaster response. The County has an obligation to insure the safety of its citizens, both day-to-day and in times of crisis.

This is another area in which Dallas County's budget can be better managed by reducing duplication of services. Since Dallas County has failed to be the leader in this critical area, other local governmental jurisdictions have stepped up to the plate, two of them under my leadership.

• when flood relief was needed, I led volunteers and got the City of Dallas to fund pumps and sandbags to save as many homes as possible, and worked with a variety of nonprofits to find temporary house for those affected. Then I rallied the City Council at the end of December when many were already gone for the holidays, to approve an emergency plan to build levees for neighborhoods that had been unprotected for decades. 

• when hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast, I sent buses from Dallas County Schools with food and emergency supplies to evacuate victims, and DCS is now the lead agency statewide for all disaster response efforts.
  

As County Judge, I'll work with all local governmental and nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) to build and coordinate a master plan for Dallas County, rather than playing Johnny-come-lately and building an emergency preparedness program from scratch at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars.

Conclusion

Promises, plans and committees are great, but accomplishments are better. I am the only candidate with a track record of solid accomplishments, both inside and outside of government. With this in mind I ask for your vote for Dallas County Judge.