Northeast Tarrant electing new county commissioner. Here’s our endorsement | Opinion
When this year’s elections are complete, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court will have recently lost nearly 100 years of experience. Starting in January, every member of the court will be in his or her first term.
So, previous governing experience, connections and understanding how systems work are even more important than usual. In Precinct 3 in northeast Tarrant County, Republican Matt Krause is the best option to ensure the growing area gets the services and attention it needs now that veteran Commissioner Gary Fickes is retiring.
Krause, 44, a former state representative who lives in an unincorporated area outside of Haslet, will continue the court’s conservative majority. He is an unabashed Christian conservative who is unafraid to mix it up on social issues. But he works in a spirit of cooperation and would come into this job with an understanding and attention to the nuts and bolts issues that face commissioners.
In our interview with the candidates, Krause cited infrastructure and property taxes as priorities for his would-be constituents. He praised the management of the county’s JPS Health Network but said the system needed more streams of revenue and to move faster on its 2018 bond package projects.
On the issue of the county jail, Krause, a lawyer who ran unsuccessfully for district attorney in 2022, said he supports Sheriff Bill Waybourn. He noted, however, that commissioners can push for change in the process of approving the budget for Waybourn’s department. And he hailed the leadership of Commissioner Manny Ramirez, a longtime police union leader, on the issue.
Krause should remember, too, that Northeast Tarrant County is best represented by an independent commissioner, not a rubber stamp for County Judge Tim O’Hare or a partisan agenda.
Democrat Laura Leeman, 55, is a fierce advocate for the rights of those with disabilities. She cited issues borne of the area’s rapid and sustained growth, including public safety concerns such as emergency response times and a dearth of affordable housing. Leeman, who lives in North Richland Hills and owns a company that provides support services for wheelchair users, argued that she would bring an average citizen’s perspective to the court.
Krause’s governing experience, however, gives him the edge.
Precinct 3 includes all or parts of Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller and Fort Worth. Early voting begins Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5. Voters can cast ballots at any county location. The winner earns a four-year term.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bradford William Davis, columnist and editorial writer; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.