Temple, TX

Residents of the City of Temple,

Ladies and Gentlemen of Temple, Texas

I would like to take this time to speak directly to the voters of Temple to announce my candidacy for City Council, District One. Like you, I have been affected by increasing home and auto break-ins, speeding traffic on our neighborhood roads, and the continuous surprise expansion of our city. Residents like you and I need a voice. With your support, I would like to be that voice.

Please vote on Election Day, Saturday, May 4, or early vote the week before.

Your vote will go a long way in impacting our community. Make your voice matter—VOTE

Information and Fairness in one word is OPPORTUNITY. As I met people throughout this past two weeks of campaigning I have explained that our community’s change and growth is not from an outside influence like Austin nor national government. The change begins with the five people on our city council. These people make the ultimate decision in road repair, expansion, and traffic control. For instance, they decide whether new housing areas will be developed like California and New York as HOAs (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowner_association). This puts the homeowner in debt to property taxes and the developer. Or to have residential areas free of long term control by a developer. Temple city government needs to return ownership freedoms to the voters. This requires changes to the city charter. Voters determine the make up and how fast the pace will be in our community.

City Council. “The concept of the council–manager form of government was a product of a confluence of the prevailing modes of thought during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Probably the foremost influence was the Progressive Movement; …. The focus of this movement was to run organizations in an objective, scientific fashion to maximize efficiency, among other things. A third influence behind the council–manager idea was that of the organizational structure of the for-profit corporation, with its board of directors, which hires a professional CEO to run its operations.” ( Stillman, Richard J. (1974). The Rise of the City Manager: A Public Professional in Local Government. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council–manager_government)

The Temple city council and “professional CEO” have left many of us out in determining our future in the pursuit of making our community into a city like Austin, Dallas, and Houston. There is no path to tax reduction in property taxes or sales tax as the city council functions as a for-profit corporation.

Americans are free to pursue their economic dreams. “You don’t need a PhD in economics to know that a nation where the government controls the economy and decides who gets what would be a dream killer and lead to an economic dictatorship of the elite few.” (Wildmon, Tim. American Family Association President, My 6 reasons why America is worth saving. AFA.NET. APR 2019)

The American dream begins in the home. Whether you rent, lease, or have titled property. The Temple City Charter requires change so that you the voter is the origin of change not the city’s ‘closed door sessions’.

“We are not fighting each other. This is not a war of believers against unbelievers. Though, at times, it may appear (and feel) that way.” (https://www.afa.net/the-stand/faith/2019/04/the-church-warriors-or-medics/?fbclid=IwAR2AuAPzdIBQvAYqsOW3h1Q0eIb9-IkHykmEIvagviSEfRb1rJGSwEzn1sM#.XLZi38fQQUQ.facebook)

One of the greatest personal rewards that I have been blessed with is meeting voters and supporters within my neighborhood and District 1 community. Homeowners who walk or cross their streets less due to speeding traffic. Veterans, single parents, residents of all ages who loose sleep due to the increase in home invasions and vehicle break-ins. Homes with doorbell cameras because the neighborhood watch is failing as transient traffic increases. The gentleman who no longer has the iHOP service to get to work and shopping he had a year ago (he is blind). The families who are looking for ways to support one another: the use of public facilities, functioning sidewalks (family members with physical and restrictive movement challenges). Neighborhoods with owners who are just now paying off their homes only to have to move again for city growth. And the people who do not get a vote. Our neighbors, home owners and farmers/ranchers, in the extra jurisdictional territory ((ETJ) is the legal ability of Temple City Council to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries) and local business owners who do not fit into the city’s corporate and franchise model: auto shops and mechanics, Temple unique restaurants, shops, seed and feed stores.

And those who refused to talk to me. I am not a candidate who has gotten into the ring to fight. I am the representative for those who are not in agreement with the Temple City growth plan. I will fight to keep what defines the Texas voter, a Republic, and for opportunities based on the principles of the American Dream, Democracy.

Public Appeal Before Temple City Council to Formally Initiate Eminent Domain, 6 December 2018:

Jeffery Ware of Moores Mill Temple, Texas

I request the City Council to provide me closure and execute the eminent domain of my property.

Tonight the City Council will discuss the need to raise taxes for unfounded projects and to provide tax abatement to industry within the Temple Industrial Development. In the meantime, I and my neighbors are paying property and consumption taxes to fund our very own removal from our homes. And, to add insult to injury, the same land will be tax abated for the industry and commercial endeavors of the new owner.

I am an Eagle Scout and have served over twenty years in the U.S. Army defending this country and protecting others. I know what democracy and representative government can do to protect and serve its constituents. It hurts me more than any of you can ever understand to have to go through this. My current situation is worse than the struggles I experienced in conflicts and combat against communism, dictatorships, and Islamic terrorism.

I have been more than patient for a number of years. I researched the impact of the eminent domain process. I maintained awareness of on-going development changes, worked with city planners, and attended appropriate city meetings. State law says I cannot be compensated for mental anguish, loss of sleep and frustration, but I am here to tell you; how can it not be when my family, home life, and business has been placed in limbo because of inaction. I later found that the City Council had already decided in 2008 to develop this land as commercial and to remove all current landowners as established in the 2008 Temple Industrial Development Plan.

My name is Jeffery Ware. I am a resident of Moores Mill Road. I bought my property in 2014. I am active in the community and very much integrated into my neighborhood. I am honored to stand before you to state that my neighbors and I work together and support each other as an agricultural and small business neighborhood of well over 500 acres. I was notified in 2015 that the Moores Mill Road in front of me was to be turned into Research Boulevard or an outer by-pass. The City Council should have made every effort to disclose that the land I bought to farm, ranch, develop, and bequeath to my daughters was actually not mine.

It is a shame to have to express the anger about the actions and comments the city has made in reference to the ordinances for 2018-4943 and 2018-4944. All I ask is to keep us, the land owners, informed. It is extremely important to understand the consequences of city planning upon present land owners. I have not invested in further upgrades to my home identified for improvement when I bought my house due to the impending eminent domain. This creates a less than ideal family situation. I and my neighbors keep the repairs and upkeep of our barns, fencing, and other improvements to the minimum due to unknown compensation. I have to plan for the realistic cost of having to start over with the same starting capital but four years later at a 300% plus buy in cost. This negatively impacts our neighborhood agricultural opportunities, creates losses in potential farm/cattle economic returns, and destroys our farming endeavors.

My neighbors have sweat and bled on Bell County land far longer than I in farming and ranching. They too are dealing with the inevitable. We are only delaying the disruption to my children, my wife, farming ties with my neighbors, and the final sacrifice of leaving our community. It is time to allow my family to move on and be a part of and actively live the Texas dream.

I am disheartened to be here with a request to the City Council to move forward with executing the eminent domain of my property.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.

Comrades, Texas is growing and change is here. No one is left alone in this growth.

I enlisted into the Army in 1982 at the Dallas MEPS. I am a life member of VFW 10342. My last duty assignment was with 5^th SFG. I am a retired 1SG. In August 2018, Post 10342 (Huachuca City) merged with Post 9972 (Sierra Vista, Arizona). I moved here in 2014. I have intended to make Central Texas my home. In 2015, the Temple City Council notified me otherwise.

I am active member in the community and very much integrated into my neighborhood. My neighbors and I work together and support each other as an agricultural and a small business neighborhood. I was notified in 2015 that the Moores Mill Road in front of me was to be turned into a Research Boulevard or an outer loop.

The outer loop is being built for a future Research and Industrial Park. I am not the only veteran affected by this planned acquisition for an Industrial Park upon some of the best agricultural land in Central Texas. One Navy veteran had just built his home last year not having been told his land too is in the 2008/2018 Temple Comprehensive Plan and required for the industrial park.

I have spent the past four years trying to find a resolution and why this land was not disclosed by either realtors or the title company as the city’s.

Why do I say it this way? Every lawyer I spoke to from Dallas to Houston and from San Antonio to Austin said the same thing. Basically, when the city serves you papers contact me. For a third above the first offer a lawyer will represent you. You will need to pay for your own appraisal and for expert witnesses and documentation to be submitted. But, do not expect to be compensated. For the law only asks that the city attempt to make the owner whole.

What does ‘whole’ mean? Whole can mean: In general, for the most part, or all things considered.

Who is it that makes the first offer – the city council.

How is a veteran to survive this process? The last person I need in my foxhole at this moment is a lawyer. I speak from previous combat experience in the use of lawyers when dealing with deceptive governments. I need warriors to assist me and fellow veterans in this conflict.

The VFW in 1899 formed local societies of comradeship by veterans who have faced previous conflicts. I am appealing to the VFW’s sense of purpose in being as involved in our city councils as we are in state and national legislative services and rehabilitation of veterans.

I and other veterans are in conflict with our city councils across Texas.

My conflict with Temple City Council is the use of eminent domain to achieve growth and development of Temple, Texas equal to or greater than Austin, Dallas, or Houston.

Our government and the future of our neighborhoods belongs to the voters. The City Council uses secrecy and closed door meetings.

Closed sessions may be used and have been the majority of the time, IAW, and I quote from many attended city council meetings: “to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person.”

Who is this third person? I intend to find out by being one of the five Temple City Council members.

We need to ensure there is a balance on the city council as our city is propelled progressively in growth and management. I propose that we all will benefit with having a veteran on the city council. A veteran that has a vote in securing ‘Fairness and Information’ for our community and neighbors.

You may be asking yourself now “What Can I Do?”

If you live in District 1, VOTE. ‘You’ vote for ‘your’ neighborhood.

If you are a Temple registered voter, encourage your District 1 voters to vote at the Temple Municipal building on 22-26 APR, 29-30 APR, or 4 May.

If you live in Bell County show your support of District 1 voters with yard signs.

Texans know their neighbors and support one another. Veterans ensure our community treats our people at least better than those we have sacrificed our lives for in foreign countries.

I have Texas titled land and pay local taxes. My wife and I have no outside business interests nor investments beyond establishing what was to be our family farm and land to be inherited by our children.

My military experience has focused on exercising U.S. democratic policy. In other words, I have liaised and communicated with foreign and U.S. counterparts in advising peace, maintaining democratic processes, and creating conflict resolutions for a global community. Most of my effort was and is in working with civil authorities and civilian populations in times of peace and conflict.

“What Can I Do?” I am volunteering again to lead in achieving ‘Fairness’. Are you willing to VOTE or support in improving the ‘Information’ flow to our veterans and civilians?

Thank for your time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iISaXxTW0lo&feature=youtu.be