LETTER: County officials with integrity

To the Editor:

Just so there is no doubt what definition I am using for "integrity"; is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. I would add now and in the past.

Just before January 31 the Ellis County Citizen sent out around 38 questions to candidates running in the up and coming race for, Precincts 1 Precincts 3, County Sheriff, Constable Precinct 2, and Constable Precinct 4. The Citizen was preforming its civic duty to make sure Ellis Voters know who they are voting for rather than the old method of "well I was told the candidate was a good guy".

The questions asked at the Republican debate, this last week, were your basic political questions but did not get into questions about the candidates history or "integrity". Integrity is important and also history goes to show how a candidate will act once he is elected. I love the old expression: "you just cannot teach old dogs new tricks." Since candidates like Commissioners will be handling County Budget in excess of two million dollars and self-votes on raises, Ellis County needs to know the answer to the 38 questions. If no answer is given then the Voter has to fill in the blanks as to why or just take someone's word the candidate is a "good ol boy", trust me or he has more signs.

Sherriff's Race, both Brown and Winn answered.
Constable Precinct 2 both Nay and Morgan answered.
Constable Precinct 4 both DeLara and Jones answered.

Commissioner Precinct 1 Pagan, Sadler, and Walsh answered. Crittenden and Stinson DID NOT.

Commissioner Precinct 3 Incumbent Commissioner Perry answered.

Sanchez informed the publisher of the Ellis County Citizen that he would not participate in the questionnaire and took it one step further: "Sanchez took offense enough to visit the publisher of Ellis County Citizen on January 11 at the publisher's normal day job, which is completely unrelated to and unassociated with the news publication, and lay into him about the candidate questionnaire that was sent to all seven candidates running for commissioner in precincts one and three. Sanchez told our publisher if he wanted to know Sanchez's qualifications, he could look online. He also told the publisher that they have been friends and good neighbors and if it was to remain that way, then the questionnaire should have never been sent."

You can find Commissioner Perry, and the others that answered online or just the questions-answered by Commissioner Perry only at http://www.stopsewagedumpsellis.com/ (Sanchez vs. Perry.pdf).

Everyone had better vote like their life depends on it and that does include the Presidential race.

— Craig Monk, Native Texan for Ellis County and Texas