Tarrant Judge Tim O’Hare on what’s so special about Fort Worth: ‘We want to be thankful’
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare delivered a state of the county address Friday at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, hosted by the Fort Worth Chamber.
O’Hare touched on several topics including growth, the county budget, tax cuts and criminal justice. He said one of the perks of Fort Worth is that you can drive just five minutes outside of downtown and see livestock and undeveloped land.
“I think we want to be thankful and preserve what we have here,” O’Hare said. “What we have here is very special.”
The judge also said he asked Tarrant County’s chief appraiser, Joe Don Bobbitt, for information on how many residential properties are in Tarrant County compared with commercial properties. O’Hare described the number of residential properties as “really, really high.”
The county judge also said that he thinks downtown Fort Worth is safer than most urban areas.
Responding to a question about criminal justice and the jail, O’Hare said that Tarrant County is fortunate to have Bill Waybourn as sheriff, though he “gets some bad press.” The Republican sheriff, who attended Friday’s speech, has been the target of criticism from Democrats and community activists over jail operations and inmate deaths.
O’Hare touted the county’s proposed budget, which cut taxes for the second year in a row. On Aug. 15, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve a recommended budget with a tax rate of 18.57 cents per $100 of value. Last year, it was 19.45 cents. A public hearing and final vote on the budget and tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 17.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and three members of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court attended the event. Commissioner Democrat Roy Brooks was absent due to travel, his staff said.
Texas Rep. David Cook, a Republican from Mansfield, and Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, also attended.
When asked about his favorite memory during his tenure as county judge, O’Hare said it was the when the Texas Rangers won the World Series last year at Arlington’s Globe Life Field.
O’Hare said he was in Arizona for Game 5 of the series, when the Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks to secure the title. He also mentioned being at the parade with Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons, who represents Arlington.
