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Mayor has long record of public service

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  • David Tewes •
  • Originally published May 30, 2008 at 11:49 p.m., updated May 30, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.

Will Armstrong’s involvement in Victoria politics both in office and behind the scenes spans decades.

And if he has anything to do with it, it will continue.

“I plan to run for office again,” he said Friday, after decreeing that he will not let an indictment force him to step down from the mayor’s seat.

He waltzed into the mayor’s job in 2004 after beating three-term incumbent Gary Middleton. Armstrong won by about a 2-1 ratio.

He ran unopposed for a second term a year ago and has two years left in office.

During his time as mayor, he was successful in helping get a controversial ban on smoking in public places enacted.

He also served on a committee in the 1990s that successfully pushed for a controversial half-cent sales tax to help fund city projects. It had already been rejected once by voters.

Armstrong served on the Victoria Planning Commission from 1971 to 1973 and on the council from 1973 to 1979.

In 2000, he chaired the Citizens Bond Committee that successfully pushed for passage of a $35 million bond issue.

Armstrong and his wife, Linda, own a moving and storage company that is an agent for Mayflower Transit and United Van Lines. They also own The Back Office, a company specializing in record storage, management and shredding.

David Tewes is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6515 or dtewes@vicad.com.


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Comments

  • ragman ragman Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Plus, he got to pay it back with NO interest, over ten years, I believe. Yea, I know someone he sent to reform school who was caught with ONE ounce of mary jane. They got like 15 months.

    May 31, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.
  • ragman ragman Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Sparks! Oh my Lord.  How many people did he send away? Lots, and all he got was a slap on the hand. He was a good ole' boy though.

    May 31, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
  • southtexas southtexas Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Well Mr. Armstrong...you can run all you want but you are not getting my vote. The only two people presently in City Government who will get my vote this next time around will be Councilman Hagan (what a brave and honest man).....and Steve Tyler. Mr. Tyler must be admired for his continued willingness to place himself in a position to be criticized and even ridiculed in order to uphold the law.

    May 31, 2008 at 10:13 a.m.
  • bighorn bighorn Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    At the very least Armstrong should step aside until this mess clears. And just prior to that, revoke Smith stipend, suspend the Police Chief, and move to Edna. I know some guys that will help him pack.

    May 31, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
  • Shinethelight Shinethelight Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    If Mayor Armstring has any shred of decency, he will resign from his post as Mayor. Of course that wont happen because he wants the City of Victoria to pay his legal bills. I could not fugure out why teh Mayor was so intent on being with the Poice Chief and the former City Attorney when they were arrested follwing their indictments. Now it is crystal clear. He wanted to check out teh bokking process first hand so that he himself would be prepared when he was indicted and arrested. Why does Mayor Armstrong beliebe it was his reponsibility to go and involve himself in an ongoing criminal investigation. He is not a law enforcement officer! He has shown a total disregard for the taxpayers of this city on a host of issues, like the hospital road which he then tried to yurn into a joke, and his desire to keep the fomer city attorney on the payroll so that he would keep his mouth shut and be able to have his leagl bills paid for by taxpayers as well. If Armstrong won't resign then we should have a recall election and kcik him and his other cronies on the council out the door. With the exception of David Hagan all of them need to go and a recall election might just be our best way of accomplishing that goal. Let's start gathering the signautures needed to force a recall election and let's take Victoria back!

    May 31, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.