Chelsea L. McGowan

cmcgowan@weatherforddemocrat.com

While it might seem to some that 16 months is a long time to campaign for office, Mason Wallis said he feels he probably should have started his quest for a commissioner’s seat much sooner.

Wallis, who has announced his candidacy for Parker County Precinct 4 Commissioner, has never held public office and wants to take time to get out and shake hands.

“I think it’s important to start early in a campaign,” he said. “I probably should have started a year ago. There’s such an influx of new faces who don’t know who Mason Wallis is. So it’s important that I get out and meet those people and make myself available.”

Wallis first claimed he was dedicated to running a clean campaign and he didn’t consider himself to be “running against anybody.”

Wallis went on to say, though, he felt incumbent Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Webster had not been as available to his constituents as he should be, and an open-door policy is something Wallis would bring to the table.

“Specifically in our precinct, the current commissioner is not always available,” he said. “There’s not a cohesiveness between the county and the municipalities out there. There needs to be unity.”

Webster has announced his intention to run for re-election, and said his work over the course of this term speaks for itself.

“I do plan to run again in the next election,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job in Precinct 4. We have operated efficiently and have a great crew. We’ve done lots and lots of work on the roads, as evidenced by the upgrade of all our major thoroughfares. You can drive anywhere in Precinct 4 and find our work. The county is making tremendous progress at this time. We passed a bond issue by an overwhelming majority. We intend to make the county transportation system up-to-date and modern, and in my precinct we’re working very hard to eliminate traffic problems.”

In recent months, Webster has seen himself in the midst of a legal firestorm, having been charged with driving while intoxicated and the unlawful possession of a weapon. The arrest, which took place May 16, has yet to have an impact on Webster’s position on the court.

He said he is confident his constituents will support him in his bid for re-election.

“Of course I’m the right person for this seat,” he said. “I know I’ve done a fine job, and that’s been reported to me by my constituents. I welcome Mr. Wallis to the race, and as far as I know, he’s a fine man. This is America, and he’s entitled to run if he feels like it.”

Wallis said he believes the motives of elected officials are of the utmost importance.

“In a day when we see rapid change in government, I think it is important for elected officials to make certain they are not making changes merely for the sake of change, or worse, for their own political gain,” he said. “Change needs to happen for the betterment of the people as a whole. Period.”

A lifetime Parker County resident, Wallis said his successful career in construction and track record as a business owner would give him a valuable perspective in governing a growing county.

“My family has been in Annetta since the 1880s, so this is home for me,” he said. “I feel like it’s my time to get involved. One key skill that I bring to the commissioner’s job is that of a consensus builder, able to understand what is needed in most given situations, and the experience and history of working with individuals as well as groups.

The candidate also addressed several issues he felt were crucial to Parker County residents, starting with budgetary concerns.

“Budget is a big issue,” Wallis said. “We need to maintain a pliable budget, meaning that we need to make sure we’re holding on to our conservative views and using the resources we have.”

In discussion about the water situation in Parker County and the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, Wallis admitted he did not have as much information as he’d like on the subject. However, he said he felt his lack of understanding was probably shared by the majority of area residents.

“The water issue is not something that I am completely understanding, and I think that’s a big part of the problem,” he said. “There’s a lack of education as to what that board’s purpose is, and what they’re there to do. That’s an entity that’s already in place, and I’m not sure what I would do to make a change. But I think that the key is education.”

Wallis also spoke of the recently-enacted firearm restrictions in rural Parker County, and said while he doesn’t agree with the decisions made, he fears it might be too late to overturn them.

“We need to make people responsible citizens more than we need more regulation,” he said. “I thought it was unfortunate that the court took a non-moveable stand on revisiting the issue. I don’t think it can be re-addressed. That said, I’m not saying it won’t be brought up again, but I don’t see anything changing with the current make-up of the court.”

Primarily, Wallis said he believes the court needs to face the future with determination, and vision for growth is desperately needed.

“The county needs to be pro-active for our future and not get left behind trying to catch up,” he said. “I think we need people with vision and also people who are concerned with who we are and where we’re from.”