Outgoing Tarrant County judge says local politics need to stay nonpartisan
Outgoing Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley stressed Friday that local politics need to stay nonpartisan and focus on resident issues.
Surrounded by over 300 county colleagues and acquaintances at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington for his final state of the county address in the city, Whitley hit on several topics surrounding his tenure but emphasized the need to work together, no matter the political affiliation.
“We do not have Republican and Democratic potholes,” he said. “And COVID-19 was pretty indiscriminate about who it went after.”
Whitley told the crowd to stay knowledgeable and informed as he exits the role that he’s served in since 2007. Within the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, there are 100 years service time combined between the five members, he said.
After Whitley’s tenure ends at the end of year, there will only be about 34 years of experience on the court with commissioners Devan Allen and J.D. Johnson also both choosing to not seek reelection.
With several officials leaving, Whitley said there’s going to be a lot of change not just on the court but in the county. Thus circling the need to reach across the aisle by both sides.
“The issues that we’re dealing with are issues that are affecting people’s lives,” he said. “They’re not issues that are partisan type issues.”
Only about 16% of registered votes in Tarrant County cast their opinion in the March primary, leading Whitley to question why.
He continued saying maybe it’s because people don’t want to be associated with either the Republican or Democrat parties or perhaps they don’t care at all.
Regardless, there needs to be a better way to make sure people are informed and realize that they’re Americans first. Political affiliation comes later down the line, he said.
“We ought to come together an work through issues and not be constrained to address an issue and solve and issue because we’re afraid somebody may be hurtful,” Whitley said.
Whitley’s last day as county judge is December 31.
This story was originally published April 1, 2022 at 4:24 PM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the number of people in attendance at the event.
