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Candidates say their job experience sets them apart
By Christina Campbell: ccampbell@kaufmanherald.com
KAUFMAN - Democratic candidates for Kaufman County Precinct 1 commissioner have several key issues on their minds but it's their job experience that sets them apart.
George Mayfield, 61, and Glen Walker, 46, - both of Kaufman - hope to win the Democratic primary nomination with plans to improve Kaufman.
Walker said he believes his strong work ethic is what sets him apart from the crowd of three other candidates for commissioner.
“Any business I've ever owned, we worked six to seven days a week and I want to continue that when I go over to the county,” Walker said. “I want to stay there if I have to six days a week or whatever it takes to get the job done and I want to appeal to the people, and I think I will do a better job of that because all my businesses have been a customer service businesses so I have had to deal with people and take care of them and that's what I want to do.”
Walker also previously served on the Kaufman City Council.
Mayfield said he believes he is the best candidate because he has served Kaufman County before as Precinct 1 commissioner and he said he is old enough to have the wisdom to run county government and young enough do the job.
“If someone needs off, I can hop on any of the county's machinery and make sure things keep rolling, so there is no down time,” Mayfield said. “I also understand the wants and needs of the people living in the rural areas because I live in the rural area of Precinct 1.”
He also said he believes the job is not a typical work week schedule and it is important for commissioners to respond in situations such as nighttime storms.
“You have to be able to reach commissioners,” Mayfield said.
Both candidates cite taxes as their No. 1 priority.
“The appraisal district is going to put their assessed value on it - it doesn't make a difference what the county or anybody else wants on it,” Walker said. “I think we need to adjust the rate.”
Mayfield also said he believes taxes in Kaufman County have reached limits that are too high.
“If taxes are too high and roads are in bad repair, it will also inhibit growth,” Mayfield said. “We need growth to raise our tax base.”
Walker said he believes Kaufman also needs more trash days to help beautify the city and clean up areas that are in disarray.
Mayfield said that if elected, he would make sure people who had community service hours to fill could work on Saturday, because often they have full-time jobs, but also to help Kaufman County take care of its needs.
Walker said he believes a commissioner should be reachable and go and talk with the people who need help.
“We need a commissioner who gets out and works with the people and doesn't spend every day, every minute in the courthouse,” Walker said. “We need someone who will be out there taking care of the roadways, taking care of the people and also taking care of the courthouse. The courthouse part of it needs to be a secondary, not a primary.”
Mayfield said he believes Kaufman needs change and during a recent survey of Precinct 1 roads, the roads of Kaufman County cannot wait much longer.
“I drove all the county roads,” Mayfield said. “A lot of them need work.”
He said rural roads have reached a point where often a school bus and a car cannot pass one another, and that is not acceptable.
Early voting begins Feb. 19 and lasts until Feb. 29. The primary election is March 4.
George Mayfield, 61, and Glen Walker, 46, - both of Kaufman - hope to win the Democratic primary nomination with plans to improve Kaufman.
Walker said he believes his strong work ethic is what sets him apart from the crowd of three other candidates for commissioner.
“Any business I've ever owned, we worked six to seven days a week and I want to continue that when I go over to the county,” Walker said. “I want to stay there if I have to six days a week or whatever it takes to get the job done and I want to appeal to the people, and I think I will do a better job of that because all my businesses have been a customer service businesses so I have had to deal with people and take care of them and that's what I want to do.”
Walker also previously served on the Kaufman City Council.
Mayfield said he believes he is the best candidate because he has served Kaufman County before as Precinct 1 commissioner and he said he is old enough to have the wisdom to run county government and young enough do the job.
“If someone needs off, I can hop on any of the county's machinery and make sure things keep rolling, so there is no down time,” Mayfield said. “I also understand the wants and needs of the people living in the rural areas because I live in the rural area of Precinct 1.”
He also said he believes the job is not a typical work week schedule and it is important for commissioners to respond in situations such as nighttime storms.
“You have to be able to reach commissioners,” Mayfield said.
Both candidates cite taxes as their No. 1 priority.
“The appraisal district is going to put their assessed value on it - it doesn't make a difference what the county or anybody else wants on it,” Walker said. “I think we need to adjust the rate.”
Mayfield also said he believes taxes in Kaufman County have reached limits that are too high.
“If taxes are too high and roads are in bad repair, it will also inhibit growth,” Mayfield said. “We need growth to raise our tax base.”
Walker said he believes Kaufman also needs more trash days to help beautify the city and clean up areas that are in disarray.
Mayfield said that if elected, he would make sure people who had community service hours to fill could work on Saturday, because often they have full-time jobs, but also to help Kaufman County take care of its needs.
Walker said he believes a commissioner should be reachable and go and talk with the people who need help.
“We need a commissioner who gets out and works with the people and doesn't spend every day, every minute in the courthouse,” Walker said. “We need someone who will be out there taking care of the roadways, taking care of the people and also taking care of the courthouse. The courthouse part of it needs to be a secondary, not a primary.”
Mayfield said he believes Kaufman needs change and during a recent survey of Precinct 1 roads, the roads of Kaufman County cannot wait much longer.
“I drove all the county roads,” Mayfield said. “A lot of them need work.”
He said rural roads have reached a point where often a school bus and a car cannot pass one another, and that is not acceptable.
Early voting begins Feb. 19 and lasts until Feb. 29. The primary election is March 4.
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