Rancher, businessman kicks off race for commissioner
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HOW TO GET INVOLVEDFiling for a place on the primary ballot begins Dec. 3 and continues until 6 p.m Jan. 4.
A rancher and businessman became the first person to enter the race for Victoria County Precinct 4 commissioner.
Clint Ives, 29, said Monday he will seek the Republican nomination in the March primary.
Incumbent is Democrat Wayne Dierlam.
Precinct 4 covers the northeast part of the county.
"Living in the county, I get to see the shape of our county every day, coming and going," he said. "I'm definitely aware of the areas that have been overlooked within Precinct 4."
Ives declined to elaborate, but said the problems can be attributed to Dierlam.
After working eight years on the 20,000-acre Robinson Ranch, Ives said he founded Arenosa Construction and Fencing. He manages the business and is active in his family's ranching operation in the Inez and Fordtran areas.
"I have considerable real-world experience handling complex projects and working with people, as well as operating and maintaining equipment," he wrote in a prepared statement. "I want to put this knowledge and experience to work in helping make our county a better place for everyone."
That real-world experience includes contracts with Jackson and Bexar counties, as well as oil-field contracts, he said. That has allowed him to be involved with everything from operating and maintaining equipment to dealing with employees and handling contract details.
Ives said he's been involved with 4-H and the Future Farmers of America, has served as a ministry volunteer at the juvenile detention facility and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Victoria. He chairs the Properties Committee and Benevolence Committee at church and is a member of the Texas Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.
He is married to the former Jennifer Mullins, a teacher at Chandler Elementary School. They have a 10-month-old son, Cole, and are expecting their second child in January.
He is a life-long resident of Victoria County and attended Victoria College.
Comments
I have met Clint Ives, and he seems like a hard-working, nice person. He came out to my house a couple years ago to dig some post holes, and he did a good job for a fair price.
On the other hand, Wayne Dierlam is a very nice man as well. Mr. Dierlam has always been engaging of me, and I appreciate him for that. He also has a wonderful family. Mr. Ives will not have a snowball's chance if he can't delineate a true and concise oppositional platform to what Mr. Dierlam has been doing for years. He cannot and will not win in a personality contest with Mr. Dierlam.
Maybe he should check out my website. But no plagiarism, dude!
November 10, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.Mythoughts: I kind of agree with you. A fresh mind and a fresh set of ideas can be a good thing and not just in the county commissioner's position.
November 10, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.BigDogDaddy,
November 10, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.You know now days not having any Goverment experience so to speak,in my book just advanced a candiate to the top of my ballot!! Dont' look at it as such a bad thing!
It's easy enough for a challenger to slam the incumbent. Truth is the challenger has no real world experience in local government, or any government. Knowing how things work in the "real world" of county government can be a tremendous advantage. Elected officials are only as accessible as they allow themselves to be.
November 10, 2009 at 3:22 p.m.Without enumerating them, Ives blamed Dierlam for the county's problems. Most candidates stake out positions on the issues and run on a platform of what they want to accomplish if elected. Running on a resume, inflated or not, is a poor substitute for ideas and solutions to the challenges of county government. I hope we learn where he stands and what he would do different prior to the election. Slinging mud right out of the chute might get you thrown off the horse.
November 10, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.I know this young man and I will tell you, he is everything he professes to be. Best of all he is a true Christian who treats everyone with respect and courtesy. My experience with my county commissioner (not precinct 4) is that they are for the most part inaccessible. I would be hugely surprised if Mr. Ives operated in that manner. It is a shame that a day after Ives announced his intention to run against Mr. Dierlam that Zorro has already decided that he is not who he claims to be and is questioning his credentials.
November 10, 2009 at 9:50 a.m.exresident,
I'm just saying, do the math! You might be surprised at how that resume might be inflated, and if it is, well, that's not a good recommendation for public trust. As you say, this is only a sliver, but I wish we were more informed on his stand on the issues, and there are plenty of them to hang his hat on.
November 10, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.zorro,
I don't think that's necessarily a fair assessment.
My concerns are as follows.
1) "I'm definitely aware of the areas that have been overlooked within Precinct 4."
This comes off sounding like "more pie for us" will represent a significant portion of his platform and agenda in office. As an adversary of compulsory contributions to the state (at any level), this is a philosophy, an agenda that I find unpalatable.
Couple this with:
2) "I have considerable real-world experience handling complex projects and working with people, as well as operating and maintaining equipment," he wrote in a prepared statement. "I want to put this knowledge and experience to work in helping make our county a better place for everyone."
And it sounds like, well... I'd keep my eyes on the details of contracts handed out for county infrastructure projects.
Disclaimer: this is purely speculation based on an interpretation of a mere sliver of the candidate's actual words.
November 10, 2009 at 8:50 a.m.CHEAP SHOT! without elaborating, Ives said county problems can be attributed to Dierlam.
This 29 year old fence builder comes across as a big ego afflicted with the little bit of education being a dangerous thing syndrome.
That resume sounds like somebody needs to do some due diligence.
"I'm a doctor, I'm a lawyer, I'm a movie star.
I'm an astronaut, and I own this bar.
And I'd lie to you for your love."
November 10, 2009 at 8:24 a.m.