2016 Voters Guide: Tarrant County local candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot

The Star-Telegram sent a Voters Guide questionnaire to all the candidates appearing on the Tarrant County ballot in contested races this year.

Take a look at Tarrant County’s sample ballot.

And here’s what the Tarrant County candidates who responded had to say.

Tax-Assessor Collector

Republican

Ron Wright (I)

Age: 63

Occupation and/or main source of income: Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Arlington, 30 years

Campaign (public) phone number: 817-483-7997

Your campaign (public) email address: ron.wright@sbcglobal.net

Web site: www.ronwright.org

Education background, including all degrees: Azle High School, UT-Arlington, PCC Certification

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Leadership positions on numerous boards and commissions, including Board of Commissioners for Arlington Housing Authority, Board President for Arlington Night Shelter, Board of Directors for Mansfield Education Foundation, founding president of Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Chairman of Tarrant County Historical Commission, Board of Directors for Arlington Historical Society, Arlington Human Service Planners, President of Arlington Republican Club, Area Leader for Tarrant County GOP, Board of Directors for Texas Conservative Forum, Board of Directors for Tarrant Co. Republican Forum, served on committees and chaired caucuses for Republican district and state conventions, delegate to numerous state GOP conventions, delegate to 2004 Republican National Convention in New York

Offices you have sought and/or held before: Served four terms on the Arlington City Council, 2000-2008; Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector, 2011 - Present

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I have extensive management and problem solving experience in the private sector. I was managing people when I was 25. Combined with my civic and public policy experience, I was uniquely qualified when I became Tax Assessor-Collector. I will have been Tax Assessor for five years in May. I completed the class work and passed the tests to achieve certification as a Professional County Collector in only 2 1/2 years. Including my years as District Director and then Chief of Staff for Congressman Joe Barton, I have real world experience in all levels of government. I am committed to public service and enjoy leading one of the largest tax offices in the state, with almost 200 employees in eight offices in the county.

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. Growth: Tarrant now has more property tax accounts than any county in Texas. The number has doubled since I assumed office in 2011 thanks to the surge in mineral accounts. We met this challenge with better technology and improved internal processes without adding clerks, but growth will continue to be a challenge. State mandates: Changes in property tax law and motor vehicle regulations such as the single sticker program always pose a challenge that county tax offices must be ready to meet. Technology: we can never stop working to find and embrace the next level of technological advances and apply them to the tax office to better serve the people of Tarrant County, including self-serve kiosks and mobile apps.

In 100 words or less, outline the top priority you would address if elected. Work diligently and forcefully with the Tarrant Appraisal District staff and governing board to resolve the problems related to the appraisal district software and management decisions. Nothing has posed more challenges for the tax office in the past two years than the conversion by the appraisal district to a different software platform.. The remaining issues must be resolved before another tax year begins, and I am determined to help make it happen.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. I have been dedicated to public service in one form or another for more than 30 years and have received public recognition for my efforts, including Volunteer of the Year award, Man of the Year for Community Service award from the Star-Telegram, service award from the Arlington Historical Society, the Partnership Award from the Fort Worth Builders Assoc., Hero of the Homeless award, Friend of Education award, and Republican of the Year award. Leading one of the busiest tax offices in Texas requires a steady and experienced hand.

For candidates for local offices, in 100 words or less, are local governments doing all they can to provide property tax relief? No, they are not. Local elected bodies determine how much property taxes we pay when they set the tax rate each year. This year, values rose significantly, but only a few taxing entities are lowering their rates more than a fraction of a penny. This undoubtedly invites action by the legislature to provide relief in ways local governments will not like. Just as important, however, is the need for local governments to be truthful about their tax increases and be accountable.

Democrat

Lucas Lothamer

Age: 27

Occupation and/or main source of income: Teacher

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Lived in Arlington, TX for 5 years

Your campaign (public) email address: LothamerForTarrant@gmail.com

Web site: www.facebook.com/LothamerForTarrantCounty

Education background, including all degrees: I attended the University of Texas at Arlington, earning my BA and MA in political science.

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: I served as president of the University Democrats at UTA in 2012 and a precinct chair for the Tarrant County Democratic Party from 2014 to 2016. Since moving here in 2011, I have taken an interest in improving my community by consistently volunteering and working with local and national candidates I felt had our best interest at heart.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: None, this will be my first time seeking office.

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. In addition to my time studying bureaucratic structures, rules and regulations at UTA, I also spent time in Washington, DC working for the National Association of Community Health Centers in 2014, reading and tracking legislation in Congress and assisting the non-profit association in improving our health care system. I have experience writing and researching complex documents and am confident my education and experience will allow me to streamline the tax assessor-collector office and make the process of collecting taxes more efficient and pleasant for the people of Tarrant County.

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. The problems facing the office are gross incompetence and over-politicization. Ron Wright has confused the responsibilities of his office and has spent his time stamping official documents with religious writing and blatantly attacking The United Way. This has led to taxes being higher than they should be by forgetting to include the homestead and other exemptions. Furthermore, Tarrant County is facing a crisis as how to pay refunds back to citizens who were overcharged this past year. I plan to make the office more efficient by sending out correct documents with all appropriate exemptions rather than waste time preaching ideology.

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. Competency is the top priority with the Tax Office that needs to be addressed immediately. We should never find ourselves in a position where we are unable to pay our bills because our citizens were over taxed and must now be afforded a refund. If the correct exemptions and proper calculations had been utilized we would not be in the crisis we currently face. If elected, my first priority will be to fix the numerous errors that have caused our current financial problems.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. Government is for the people, by the people. It is the duty of all public servants to ensure that government functions as smoothly as possible. That is exactly what you can expect from me. I am passionate about serving my community and I want us all to have a prosperous future.

For local and legislative candidates, in 100 words or less, are local governments doing all they can to provide property tax relief? If so, how? If not, what should be done? In short, yes. The current property tax rates have been established to provide for our local schools, roads, police, and other public services. Our reason for the high property taxes faced this year are largely due to erroneous errors made in the Tax Office which, if elected, will be my first priority to fix.

Libertarian

Cindy Stanford

Did not respond to Star-Telegram request for information.

Sheriff

Republican

Bill E. Waybourn

Age: 57 Years Old

Occupation/Income: Retired Chief of Public Safety, Dalworthington Gardens

City of Residence: Dalworthington Gardens, Texas

Campaign Phone Number: (682) 231-3150

Campaign Address: P.O. Box 151305, Arlington, Texas 76015

Campaign Email Address: Info@billwaybourn.com

Web Site: www.billwaybourn.com

Cell Phone: 817-825-0193

Education, Background, including all degrees: a. Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, Dallas Baptist University; b. Masters Degree in Conflict Management, Trinity Seminary & College; c. FBI National Academy – 2007; d. U.S. Air Force Active Duty and Reserves; e. Texas A&M Police Academy – September 1980; f. 35 Years Law Enforcement; g. Chief of Police Dalworthington Gardens– 31 years; h. Master’s Police Officer Certification – March 1997; i. 5,179 TCOLE Training Hours; j. Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: a. Peace Officer’s Angel Foundation – Board Member; b. Founder of Texas’ DWI No Refusal Program; c. Texas Police Chief’s Association Member; d. Former Church Trustee; e. Little League baseball Coach; f. Sunday School Teacher; g. Bible Study Leader

Offices you have sought and/or held in the past: Tarrant County Sheriff

Please explain your background, skills and experience that make you the best-qualified candidate for this office. 31 years as Chief, has given me the skillset required to be Sheriff. I have consistently maintained excellent services in Police, Fire and EMS while creating one of the safest cities in the state; all done while keeping one of the lowest tax rates in Texas. I have a record of creating future leaders, who have gone on to be successful in Chiefs throughout the country. I have helped coordinate emergency responses for national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. I’ve created relationships with groups from all areas, which allows me to anticipate incidents and resolve them prior to escalation.

Please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. a. Leadership: The lack of leadership in the current administration has lead to broken relationships with departments such as Fort Worth P.D. and county Constables, as well as created a high attrition rate in the Sheriff’s Department. I have a history of building relationships with agencies, which leads to successful outcomes for all. I also have a history of leading departments from the front, working to inspire and empower the men and women under my command. b. Terrorism: The FBI has said they are overwhelmed with this, and it is up to local agencies to pick up the mantle. The Sheriff’s Department can coordinate intelligence solutions while protecting all citizens’ Constitutional rights. Between open sources and the county jail there is ample information that can be collected to give us the ability to connect the dots and properly respond. c. Jail Management: There is a broken relationship between the Sheriff’s Dept. and the city of Fort Worth; which has lead to lost revenue of at least 7 million a year for the county. The solution is to reconcile this relationship with Fort Worth bringing that money back into the county, benefiting all the residents.

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. The first issue that needs to be addressed is employee moral. Currently moral is at an all time low in the Sheriff’s Department. It isn’t simply making people happy and excited about coming to work at the Sheriff’s Dept. thought. It has to be a complete culture change, where the leaders and command staff in the department lead from the front and come along side all members of the department to let them know they have the support they need to do their duty to the best of their ability.

Please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. I have been a conservative Christian my entire life, always serving my country, my constituents and my family. I have been continuously serving in uniform since I was 18 years old. I am proud to have been indorsed by Governor Rick Perry, the past two former Police Chiefs of Fort Worth, the Tarrant County Law Enforcement Association, the Fort Worth POA, the Arlington POA, and five of the county’s republican constables.

Libertarian

Max W. Koch III

Age: 48

Occupation and/or main source of income: VP of Arlington Cable

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Mansfield, TX 25 years

Campaign (public) phone number: No answer

Your campaign (public) email address: No answer

Campaign website: No answer

Education background, including all degrees: No answer

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: No answer

Offices you have sought and/or held before: No answer

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. No answer

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. No answer

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. No answer

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. No answer

County Commissioner Precinct 1

Democrat

Roy Charles Brooks (I)

Age: 67

Occupation and/or main source of income: Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct One

City of Residence and how long you’ve lived there: Roy Charles Brooks has lived in Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 1 for 64 years

Campaign (public) phone number: 817-682-2982

Campaign e-mail: Roycbrookscampaign@gmail.com

Website: www.roycharlesbrooks.com

Education background, including all degrees: Columbia University, 1971; University of Dallas Graduate School of Management, 1978; Texas Wesleyan University, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, 2015

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: First Vice President, Executive Committee, National Association of Counties (NACo); Member, NACo Board of Directors; Chairman, National Organization of Black County Officials; Member, Statewide Leadership Board for the Texas Nurse Family Partnership; Founder, Tarrant County Ex-Offender Re-Entry Initiative; Board of Directors of the Community Hospice of North Texas; Trinity River Vision Board of Directors; Advisory Board Member, Trinity Habitat for Humanity; Fort Worth/Tarrant County Minority Leaders and Citizens Council, Past President; Past Member, UNT Health Science Center Board of Visitors; Past Board of Trustees, Texas Wesleyan University; Past Chair, Tarrant County Obesity Council

Offices you have sought and/or held before. Tarrant County Commissioner, Precinct One (3^rd term as Commissioner) 2005 to Present– 12 Years. City Councilperson – City of Forest Hill – 1982 to 1988 (6 Years). Candidate for Texas State Representative (1972 and 1978)

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I have represented Precinct 1 as a Commissioner since 2005, and have served the residents of Precinct 1 since 1991. I am the only candidate with 25 years of experience in county government, and with deep knowledge of the needs of our residents. During my years of service, I have fought to bring real improvements to Precinct 1, from expanding health care access to strengthening our local roads and infrastructure. I have years of proven ability to work with leaders from diverse communities to achieve results. No other candidate has a similar record of results.

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. The most critical issue facing Tarrant County is growth. The exponential growth of Tarrant County is quickly overloading the capacity of our roads, bridges, mental health services, justice system, health care and child protection infrastructures. It is critical that we invest in both human resources and capital improvements to meet the needs of our current and future citizens. These essential and fiscally sound investments will increase the quality of life for the families who call Tarrant County home and secure a bright and prosperous economic future for our community and our children.

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. I have held a consistent priority throughout my tenure of office, and it will not change if I am reelected. I am first and foremost concerned with making the critically important strategic investments in our county systems and infrastructure that will support the continued healthy growth of this region.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. I believe in and will work toward a Tarrant County where all people are safe; all people are healthy; all people are self-sufficient; all people have economic opportunities; all people are culturally and recreationally enriched; and all people believe that government is efficient, effective and transparent.

For candidates for local offices, in 100 words or less, are local governments doing all they can to provide property tax relief? If so, how? If not, what should be done? Property values here in Tarrant County are rising, and as a result, so are our property taxes. There are residents, especially those on fixed incomes, who are becoming in danger of being priced out of their homes because of high property tax assessments. That is why I supported last year's successful ballot measure to increase the homestead exemption for local families. It's a commonsense solution that eases pressure on Tarrant County residents while stimulating our economy. Voters agreed, and I am pleased that that measure has taken effect and is currently providing some necessary relief to Tarrant County families.

Republican

Roy E. Lozano

Age: 44

Occupation and/or main source of income: Full time accountant in the mortgage banking industry

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Fort Worth, far north east HEB area. My family and I have been part of the Euless community for around 10 years.

Campaign (public) phone number: Please contact by email or via www.facebook,com/votelozano

Your campaign (public) email address: votelozano@gmail.com

Campaign website: www.votelozano.com

Education background, including all degrees: Currently taking classes for a B.S. in Business Management IT.

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Delegate to SD10 Convention 2016, Delegate to state CD24 2016

Offices you have sought and/or held before: I am not a politician nor have I ever thought of actually running for any public office previously. I was briefly appointed to precinct chair of 1175 last year, but stepped down to run for Tarrant County Commissioner.

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I have been a licensed real estate salesman in the state of Texas since November 1992. Since coming to DFW in 2001, I have successfully moved up the corporate ladder with hard work, determination, and the ability to learn which has taken me as high as a Senior Accounting Officer within the banking industry. I have a proven track record that shows I meet deadlines, balance financial reports, reconcile custodial accounts, work well within a team, and achieve goals. My financial and real estate skill sets will be a huge asset to the commissioner’s court when I am elected.

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. Unchecked rising county property taxes needs to stop. The commissioner’s court is raising county taxes by an estimated 9% this year alone. Taxes DO NOT have to increase with property values. The state dictated to Judge Whitley that property values must come up to increase tax revenues. He and the commissioners have failed the people of Tarrant County by not standing up for their constituents. With increased revenues, county debt has only increased. A financial downturn is coming soon and Tarrant has not used the added revenues to prepare, but rather spent more and borrowed more. It has to stop.

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. I plan to tackle rising property values and taxes and implement a standard practice of zero-baseline budgeting for Tarrant County. I will help the people of precinct one, especially the Latino and Black communities which have the highest unemployment rates in the county, find training and work. This is achieved by creating an environment that is safe to live and work in. I will work with local municipalities and our new sheriff to find solutions to lower crime and help precinct one prosper.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. I am a first generation Texan and American on my father’s side. My Tejano heritage has given me a strong since of family values including those Texas values such as hard work, being polite, helping and protecting others, and understanding “what goes around comes around”. I believe in our liberty and protecting that liberty. Love of God, Family, Country, and especially Texas are the main priorities of my life. I may be mistaken, but I believe that I would be the 1st person of Mexican heritage to serve on the Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court if elected.

Constable Precinct 6

Republican

Jon Siegel (I)

Age: 59

Occupation and/or main source of income: Tarrant County Constable

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: I was born and raised in Fort Worth. I have lived and worked here my entire life.

Campaign (public) phone number: 817-291-4781

Your campaign (public) email address: jon@siegelforconstable.com

Campaign website: http://www.siegelforconstable.com

Education background, including all degrees: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Dallas Baptist University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. I have been involved in Texas law enforcement for more than 22 years. I earned my Master Peace Office License in 2002 while serving as a full-time patrol officer with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. I have served 16 years with the Tarrant County Constables Office. I am also a certified police and firearms instructor and a graduate of the FBI’s LEEDA Trilogy Award for advanced law enforcement executive management.

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: I spent numerous years working on environmental issues regarding Tarrant County. A few of these events include the Annual Eagle Mountain Clean-up and The Trinity River Bash. I also participate in several county sponsored events including the Tarrant County Senior Fair and the Tarrant County Back to School Program. I currently sit on the board for the Fort Worth Tennis Association and am vice-president for the Southwest Republican Club. I also participate yearly in Fort Worth’s Annual Cowtown Bicycling Event.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: I ran for this office in 2012 winning in both the primary and general election. I have not run or considered running for any other elected position.

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I am a Master Peace Office with over 22 years of law enforcement experience. I have served 16 of those years in the Tarrant County Constables Office with the last four as the incumbent for this position. I have a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from Dallas Baptist University and hold a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.

In 100 words or less, please outline the most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. One of the most critical issues facing law enforcement offices today is the negative atmosphere between the public and law enforcement. Trust and citizenry approval ratings are at an all time low due to police misconduct or conduct perceived as prejudiced or unfair. To earn the public’s trust we must maintain a true sense of credibility and to do this we must treat every person with respect and dignity. Having increased transparency and accountability will help establish better community relationships and put us back on the track of working together to provide our citizens with a better place to live.

In 100 words or less, please outline the top priority you would address first if elected to office. No reply

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. Improved Public Safety: I implemented a reserve officer program to provide a higher level of law enforcement service that saves tax dollars. Saving Tax Dollars: I reformed the overtime pay system resulting in a nearly 65% reduction in taxpayer funded overtime pay. Implemented Accountability Measures: I instituted accountability reforms that resulted in enhanced performance, as well as increased productivity and accountability to taxpayers. Improved Officer Training: I increased and diversified annual training to better prepared. This training allows officers to be familiar with responding to a variety of situations and results in safer neighborhoods for you and your family.

Democrat

Kelicia L. Lyons

Did not respond to Star-Telegram request for information.

This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 11:03 AM with the headline "2016 Voters Guide: Tarrant County local candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot."