The Big Government Nanny State in Hurst

The Big Government Nanny State in Hurst

By

James Scott Trimm

In a recent letter to the editor in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Robert Mills endorsed incumbent Anna Holzer for Hurst City Council saying “When my wife and I got married, we wanted a home in a safe community with a city council that looked after all of its residents.”  It appears that Robert Mills was looking for a “nanny state”, a government that “looks after” its citizens. 

Ms. Holzer does not repudiate this endorsement of herself in connection with the Nanny State, but instead proudly posts it on her campaign Facebook page, with Ms. Holzer herself and two of her supporters “liking” the letter.

Yesterday, while walking door to door campaigning for Anna’s opponent Joel Downs I came to the door of one of our other city council members.  This man greeted me at the door and immediately told me that he was on the city council, that he was voting for Ann Holzer and that Joel Downs would be bad for Hurst.  I had lots of houses to visit, most of which were giving me a very positive response, so I was about to move on, when he says “And I can tell you why if you want….”  

I have always said that one’s beliefs must be big enough to include all of the facts, open enough to be tested, and flexible enough to change, so I decided to hear him out.

He was quick to identify himself as a conservative, but then began to defend Anna Holzer and the council’s borrowing.  He said that the “Tea Party has its place” but that city elections are “non partisan.” 

I responded by saying that conservative values of limited government, personal freedom and individual determination, are just as applicable on the municipal level as on any other, and he could not deny the point.

He then tried to argue that Ms. Holzer is not really a big government liberal, but a “blue dog Democrat.”  Of course the fact that Ms. Holzer donates to liberal causes such as Wendy Davis, makes it clear that she is a liberal.  But if there is any question about Ms. Holzer as a big government liberal, the fact that Ms. Holzer displays Robert Mill’s letter with pride, makes it clear that she is a big government nanny state liberal.

He tried to sell me on he idea that the money has been well spent, saying that it had been spent to create many "conveniences" (his word) for Hurstonians.  This is where we come to the Nanny State.  Here we are presented with a big government that "looks after" its citizens providing for their conveniences.  This is directly counter to the limited government principle of conservatism.

Finally this council member argued that as a Hurst citizen, I should not be worried about the Hurst debt because most of it will not be paid by Hurst residents, but with sales tax from non-Hurst residents shopping in Hurst.

I responded that regardless of the sources of tax money, we should be good stewards with all tax funds, and that the principles of limited government stand, regardless of the source of the taxes. 

In the end he told me that he respected my opinion, and that should Mr. Downs be elected, he will accept that this is the will of the voters and work with Mr. Downs on the council.

Folks, the weed of tax, borrow and spend big government state-ism has taken root in the City of Hurst.  It is even being defended by self-described conservatives on the City Council.  If Hurst is to grow, we must weed out the garden.

Early voting starts today, and I hope you will join me in voting for Joel Downs, and sending a message to our City Council. 

Why I am Supporting Joel Downs for Hurst City Council

Why I am Supporting Joel Downs for Hurst City Council

By

James Scott Trimm

I want to say from the outset, that I am not writing on behalf of Joel Downs or his campaign.  My thoughts expressed herein are my own.  In fact I did not even know Mr. Downs until he left a pamphlet on my door just a few days ago.  I have lived my entire life (nearly half a century) in Hurst, and I have been a registered voter in Hurst for my entire adult life.  My entire family was very politically involved, and I was raised a conservative.  In those days (back in the 1970’s) before the Reagan Revolution, we were Democrats and Anna Holzer was our precinct chairperson.  Although we were (and are) conservatives, and like other conservative Democrats, we crossed over to the Republican party during the Reagan Revolution.  As Reagan said, we did not leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party (which had become dominated by its liberal wing) left us.  We left Anna behind, as she did not crossover, because she was part of that liberal wing of the party.  I want to say that I am a conservative first, and a Republican second.  My conservatism is non-partisan.  I have been a conservative Democrat, I have been a conservative Republican, and I stand ready to abandon the Republican party as well, if it too rejects conservative principles. 

As a conservative I have a core set of values and beliefs about the limited role of government, and personal liberty, which serve as my guide.  These principles are applicable on every level of government, including municipal government.  These are values that I do not believe Ms. Holzer shares.

One of those core values is that government must live within its means.  If possible, government (on all levels) should avoid borrowing, and even establish a “rainy day fund” for future lean years.  However, the City of Hurst has been borrowing at an alarming rate, despite having a healthy tax base.  The city is now nearly 100 million dollars in debt, and has borrowed nearly 40 million dollars in just the last three years!  We must not let this trend continue.  We have seen what has happened to cities that have run themselves into heavy debt.  And what have we gotten for this debt?  Well in the case of the recent renovation of the Hurst Library, I cannot tell that anything I recognize as a “library” was actually expanded.  From what I can tell, no new shelf space for actual books has been added, much of the new space is a large, grand, lofty hallway that must now be heated and air conditioned. 

Joel Downs wants to begin the process of reining in this debt, and this definitely resonates with my conservative values. 

But Downs is hardly a one issue candidate, he is running on a number of issues that resonate with my conservative values of limited government, personal liberty and self determination.

One issue is the red light cameras in Hurst.   I am convinced that the majority of residents in Hurst do not want these cameras.  I do not believe that a properly limited government should press these red light cameras upon citizens that do not want them.  To me, this is offensive to my values of freedom and self determination of the people of our city.

Joel also emphasizes personal liberty and encourages capitalism.  These are also core conservative values which go hand in hand with limited government, and would do much to encourage new business growth in areas of Hurst that definitely need it.

Anna Holzer is running on her experience, she has been on the city council since 1992.  Now I have nothing against Ms. Holzer personally.  She seems to be a very nice person, who has been very community minded over the years.  But that does not mean that Ms. Holzer reflects my values.  Ms. Holzer is the establishment candidate, the status quo. 

I make a challenge to my fellow Hurstonians.  Drive down Pipeline Road all the way through south Hurst.  After you cross Precinct Line Road (going east towards Bedford), start looking at what this area of Hurst looks like today, and ask yourself, is Hurst better off today than it was in 1992?  How many head shops were in Hurst in 1992?  How many head shops are in Hurst today? 

My conservative values separated me from Ms. Holzer in the Reagan Revolution, and they separate me from her now.

Mr. Downs is not the establishment candidate.  He offers positive change.   It is time for change, for new blood, and for a course correction toward conservative values that reflect those of the majority of the residents of our city.  And that is why I am supporting Joel Downs for City Council.  I hope that you will join me.  

You can Visit Joel Down's Campaign Website at http://www.downsforhurst.com