Letter from Former Ennis Mayoral Candidate Scott Rider

HOWDY DR.

You OBSERVER folks shure mix it up alot over here……I heard I made a ruckus due to my Letter To Editor so I thought i would check it out. WOW!

Well sir or mamm (not sure with just initials) I may be a long time resident, but you can bet you’re rear end I’m no YES man, to nobody, (except my wife) or rubber stamp, nor was my father or my grandfather, you must not know me personally or to well, if you even do. If you don’t I’m not to hard to find. So dont attempt to compare me to others.

I didnt win a whole batch of new friends by running for Mayor, heck he was my next door neighbor and he didnt like it much, but he’s one heckuva good person and family I respect greatly, and a friend, but I dont agree with him on a lot of things, so what, he’s still a great person just to do the dang job in the first place, and he’s doing good in a lot of areas.

In fact I lost quite a few “friends”, and a few customers too, but, I didn’t run to win friends, I ran to try and help create a CHANGE to improve POSITIVE GROWTH and help Ennis GROW FASTER for everyones benefit. Whats Good for Ennis is GOOD for ALL OF ELLIS COUNTY and vice versa for the whole county.

However, I feel I did light a fuse that is still burning. A new member on the council every year SINCE I ran. A new City Marshall with 2 years under his belt, TWO new first Term City Commissioners in fact, like em are not, they are NOT YES MEN based on what I’ve seen, read & heard. They are in the minority on votable issues on the commission table thats for sure.

Heck I think Holt had to run against someone every 2 years dang near the whole time he was Marshall/Chief. He is experienced at running for office.

This year another citywide contested race for the council and Marshall? HMMMMMM That’s a lot healthier than it was before I ran. I stepped in the ring back in 2000 for City Council and lost, Look what we got there, a Dentist, HMMMM…. so as Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday once said, “I’ll be you’re Huckleberry” The Canidate who was running for Commissioner the same year I ran for Mayor pulled out of the race THREE DAYS AFTER THE FILING DEADLINE….HMMMM, get u sum of that cowboy. Been there done it, TWICE, I did my part, but time to move on now…there are others willing to serve.

You may not agree with me, but remember this, it is not personal, we can agree to disagree on issues. SOME FOLKS do NOT understand this FACT and don’t take it well, I dont like it either, but I learned to live with it,some folks need to grow up a bit, I have.

You have a valid point about the City Marshall. The City Council must propose and agree to, buy vote, to change the City Charter by “LOCAL ELECTION” (I’m pretty sure on this issue, but stand to be corrected, I’m not absolutely sure, it’s been a while since I read the Charter, but I have read it) “Me & my friends” as you state cant change it ALONE.

In my personal opinion the Marshall should NOT be elected he should be HIRED, based on qualifications and past accomplishments a work related history & actions, like he/she is in most all other Cities, and FIRED when necessary by the CITY COUNCIL and BY direction and control OF the City manager, thats the CM’s job, just like the City Manager can and should be HIRED & FIRED by The Mayor and majority City Council vote.

IF you have a strong Council, acting on self enacted and effective TERM LIMITS (an issue that needs to be addressed in this campaign year) with significant ethical standards policy in place, (I dont know for sure, but I have never seen one of these at Ennis City Hall for Council Members, and there have been past times when they were needed)you will have a basis to move POSITIVELY ahead. TERM LIMITS need to be added IMMEDIATELY.

Then you would have the ability to circumvent the issue we have now, multiple incumbents in several Wards and positions who have been on the Council 10+ years, with few fresh ideas to create change.

When the charter was created it was a long time ago and things were much different then. Times have changed A LOT. Have you read it? It’s at the library,downtown, they have some good stuff there along with the kids books, the City Bible (it’s cool) The Charter, City Budgets & CERTIFIED Audits (very interesting stuff) & city information that will bore you to death til you start diggin. You can find out how much everybody makes for the job they do and all the rules, laws and regulations and stuff. What you can & cant do…. Go get you a shovel. HMMMM are you too lazy too dig?

The City Council runs the City, ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS, and controls and supervises the City Manager, they know they have an issue with the City Marshall/Police Chief appointment, Elected then customarily appointed, (I stand to be corrected on this) it is there job to fix it. To my recollection there is NOTHING that says just because you WIN THE ELECTION, YOU GET to Be Appointed CHIEF of Police.

I’ve been there and done my part by running to begin with. If you feel so strongly as you say here, along with others who have voiced anonymous opinions and such via email and in print, on this website & others, step up and pay to play, put your name in the ring, go VOTE as “Willietellall” says or get YOUR friends to support you and others like Escobar & Spence, Taylor & Erisman and all other potential candidates for future races on the City Council of for public office.

Ennis needs changes, and right now they are choking on them, they are hard to swallow, sooner or later the tide will turn, and that next cold one will wash it down, and all will be better, maybe this year maybe next, MAYBE IF YOU RUN NEXT YEAR…or in years to come.

As M Griffith said above. I’ll always be and Ennis man, and as the song says “You’re always 17 in you’re hometown,” I’m not 17 anymore Mark. Was here when everyone came and most likely will be here when they go, probably in Myrtle though.

Well Mark sorry but I got ya by a few years.

You can bet this, if Ennis DOES NOT VOTE TO CHANGE THEY WILL NOT CHANGE, so REGARDLESS of who YOU LIKE………..”VOTE and Vote Often” or at least tell your friends to VOTE TOO…. (some famous person said that I cant remember who, LBJ?).

YOU DONT NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE PEOPLE VOTE IF THEY CARE ENOUGH….DO YOU CARE?????

You folks have fun debating, but I agree with a post up top, TALK IS CHEAP, get with it or live with it.

I’m out, goodnight.

FOOTNOTE:

PLEASE CONSIDER ORGAN/TISSUE/BONEMARROW DONATION AND DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO’S LIVES COULD BE SAVED BY THESE ULTIMATE GIFTS AND THE GRACE OF GOD.

Scott Rider
Liver 2/2008
Ennis, Texas