On February 18th I, Debra Pate Smith, submitted my application to run for the mayor of Timpson, Texas. Many of you may wonder why I am running for office, when just 2 short months ago I resigned. Well it is quite simple – I loved being the mayor of Timpson and didn’t shy away from long hours, difficult decisions or a few calls every now and then when someone wasn’t happy with one of those decisions. What I didn’t love or want to be a part of was fussing, wasting time, harassing employees, and getting absolutely nothing done because of gridlock and bruised egos.
I served as the mayor of Timpson from May 2010, when I was first elected, until my resignation on December 31, 2015; prior to that I had served 1 year on council. During the five years I served I attended continuing education classes and training conducted by TML and other agencies on topics that included the Texas Open Meetings Act and Texas Public Information Act, finance, budget, parliamentary procedure, economic development, code enforcement, hazmat evacuation, and water conservation. Most of this I did by choice and at my own expense. I helped found the Timpson Economic Development Corporation and served on its board until January 2016. During my tenure as your mayor I have worked closely with county and state officials, grant administrators, Timpson ISD board and staff, Chambers of Commerce in Timpson, Shelby and Nacogdoches County, local churches and ministerial alliances, businesses and non-profits all with one goal in mind; to positively impact the economy, services, and infrastructure of Timpson. I am running for mayor so that I can continue in this endeavor and with the new council I feel that we can go back to work for the people of Timpson.
If elected as your mayor, I will work with the council and city employees to cohesively and strategically improve our city’s infrastructure. I will work with the best agencies to reduce our outstanding accounts receivables and strengthen our financial position. I will strive to cut cost where possible and diligently search out opportunities to increase areas of revenue. The City of Timpson may not be “a business” but it is an entity that has to be managed; that conducts transactions and enters into contracts with others; that has employees and payroll; that has bank accounts, customers and vendors. It may not be a business, but it surely needs someone with business experience to see that matters are handled properly, transparently, and intelligently. I feel that I am that person.
I encourage you to vote in the General Election for the City of Timpson on May 7, 2016.
