7. I don't intend to micromanage Citizens Hospital. I have found that transparency can solve most of these types of problems. I don't like the current setup between the County and Citizens. There is a blurring of the public/private line. It is my belief that any agency that wishes to seek public money should open its books for the public to view. That way people know whether or not their tax dollars are being spent wisely.

8. I don't see the need.

9. No. At some point, we need to admit that the experiment has failed. How many decades should you continue to subsidize something? I think the VRA has become nothing more than a money pit and a trophy for several of the Commissioners. You should read my January 23rd letter to the editor on the topic.

10. The only way you can attract business is lower taxes. My experience is owning my own business, and having many friends who do the same. I don't have a marketing degree or a Chamber of Commerce membership, which is probably why my ideas seem unorthodox. I have not been indoctrinated and brainwashed into believing erroneous concepts.

11. You would have to define "supporting business". I don't think government has the right or the duty to meddle in the free market. Anytime govt. does that, they are picking winners and losers. I think govt. should take a deist approach to business - set the rules of the game, hire a few referees, and let the players play. The stars will excel, the losers will fail, and the majority will fall somewhere in between. If there is anything that even my detractors can say about me, it's that I don't pander. I will not say something I don't mean, just for the sake of you wanting to hear it.

Well, let me see if I can answer these questions to your satisfaction.

1. Yes. I have a checking account dedicated to the campaign, and my treasurer is on file at the Elections Administrator's office.

2. I do not intend to name my contributors. I will file the necessary campaign finance reports with the EA's office and the Secretary of State. It will be up to individuals to take personal initiative if they wish to know who has donated to my campaign. But to answer your question, the full amount of my campaign funds to date can be attributed to myself and my treasurer.

3. I'm not sure I understand this question. Do you mean have I taken SI money, or do I intend to? My plans are to accept donations from anyone who wishes to contribute. I don't foresee any SI money, as I will not be returning any favors.

4. As I have previously explained, the County Judge cannot personally change property appraisals. What I plan to do is increase awareness and take a leadership position on the matter. As a private citizen, I am easy to ignore. As County Judge, eventually the Commissioners, City Council, and school board will have to take notice. People will eventually wonder why their elected officials are not looking out for them. The problem right now is that we have a bunch of followers holding public office. There appears to be no person willing or capable to lead them. I can change that.

5. I wasn't aware that I had an outright animosity of the City and its staff. How did you come to that conclusion? Of course I do not plan on severing any City/County relationship. I believe we are one community.

6. I don't quite understand this question either. Do you mean Republican Party officials? Republican voters? I have no intention of giving list of names. If someone wants it to be known that they support me, that is their decision.

I am going to break here and send the rest of my answers in a minute.

Mr. Ocker...I think the comments posted on November 26, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. were valid questions.

Perhaps I could word some of them a different way for you to have the ability to answer them openly and truthfully.

1. Have you filed the necessary declarations to raise public money for political campaign?

2. Who is your largest contributor as of this date?

3. Are you taking special interest money?

4. If elected how will you bring property taxes to a parity level that you have proposed?

5. If elected, will you sever county relations with the city based on observing your outright animosity of the city and its staff?

6. Who in the Republican party in Victoria county is supporting you?

7. If elected, how will you stop the losses at Citizens Hospital and its over the top spending it continues to do year in and year out?

8. What are your thoughts on severing the agreement between the city and the county jail system?

9. Do you think the airport should continue to get funding?

10. How do you propose to attract large industry into Victoria county and the surrounding region? What is your experience in this matter?

11. Do you not agree the we are in midst of a global economy and that just supporting local businesses over national and international businesess possibly locating here is just a pandering to a political statement to try to get elected?

Simple questions deserving simple answers, Matt.

You're right Spotter. No need to stoop. As soon as this coward has the nerve to show up to a public event and ask these questions in person, I will consider answering them.

It amazes me that the Advocate allows so many people to come on this site for the sole purpose of making slanderous remarks about me. I guess my dialogue is hitting a nerve. Pay attention Victoria...this is the cowardly oligarchical elite at work. They can't speak to the issues, so they spread false and malicious rumors. They can't stand it that there is nothing they can do to get to me. They hate the fact that I don't make my money here. They hate the fact that I am not afraid. They hate the fact that my ideas are incomprehensible to them. Get a good look Victoria!

Matt,

As I quoted earlier, "It's so much easier to pass judgment on a man than on an idea." TxEx can't attack your ideas, so he attacks the man. The cowards & cronies will be coming out of the woodwork to debase your character, and it'll only lend credence to your ideas. Take the high road. Don't stoop to their level.

Mr. Ocker--

Just a couple of questions.

If you don't run for county judge, what will you do with the money you are asking for?

Have you made the necessary declarations with the state to raise money?

Who in the Republican party is behind you?

Are you part of the Tyler/Hagan/Truman camp in the Republican party?

Is it true you are only running for county judge because you think you might have a slim chance to win and the fact that your ex wife is going to take a large part of the ownership of your business and you will need a job ?

Okra? You get no points for originality. If I had a nickel for every time I have been called that, I could happily retire.

If you would like to view some numbers, I would direct you to my blog on the subject. If you type Victoria CAD into this site's search engine, you can find it.

I think it would be pertinent to direct your attention to Country Club, Country Club Village, and Benchmark. I would also view the disparities between Castle Hills West and North Crest vs. Cimarron, Fleetwood, Hamlet, and Tangerine. Pay close attention to homes built in the same years of similar square footage. Downtown is also a good place to look. Go back and view past Council meetings, take notes of who wants to silence oppositin to City spending, and view their appraisals. You will be as disgusted and amazed as I was.

Okra,

Ok so I watched the video. If all the appraisals in upper crust" neghborhoods have gone up less than everyone elses how does that make the appraisals to low? Maybe the appraisals in the rich neighbor hood were higher to start with?

Do you have specific addresses in upper crust neighborhoods that are unfairly low? I am gonna go take a look online.....

Let me be very clear: I will not have the ability to influence any individual appraisals. I also don't necessarily want to see the appraisals of the rich raised. What I want to see is equity. If the upper crust are being taxed at 60% of their property values, then I want ALL property to be assessed at 60%. My ultimate goal is to see taxes decreased, period.

You are correct that I have done a ton of research on the appraisals. It is my belief that as County Judge I will have far more influence into the process than as an ordinary citizen. What has been sorely lacking from the current County Judge is leadership. On any matter deemed controversial, he is nowhere to be found. I approached the Commissioners Court with the same data that I presented to the City Council on July 7th, and have yet to hear anything from them. To be perfectly honest, I cannot even get my Commissioner to return my phone calls. These occurences are unexplainable and unacceptable. I can assure every citizen that they will have unfettered access to me as County Judge.

As for donating to my campaign, There are a couple of ways you can do so. You can make a ckeck out to Matt Ocker 2010 Campaign and mail it to me @ 2307 FM 2615, Victoria, TX 77905, or you can wait until tomorrow and donate online at mattocker.com

Anything you can send would be greatly appreciated. I also encourage you to send me an email to matt.ocker@hotmail.com

Thank you for your interest.

Matt,

I think I understand. I have been checking out the Appraisal district lately, cant figure them out. My appraisal has gone up a lot also, too much! When you are Judge will you be able to get my appraisal lowered for me? Didn't you say you did a lot of research, are you gonna go after the rich neighborhoods and get thier appraisals increased?

How do I donate to your campaign?

g4further,

That is an excellent question. However, I hope you don't expect me to give specific names. If you will view my comments before the City Council on July 7th of this year, I gave a few examples of whom to look at. Look at appointments to committees. Pay attention to which citizens appear before the Council as cheerleaders. Take a look at the Committee for Victoria's Future. Look at the people who attend functions such as the UHV downward expansion hearing. Read the letters to the editor. Take a look at the membership, board members, and employess of the VEDC. Pay attention to who pushes bond issues.

Also think about who benefits with local government expansion and control. With every local statute, ordinance, or resolution, there is always a loophole. Look at who is granted City variances, versus who is not.

To me, the most telling story of who is in charge can be told by viewing the CAD property appraisals. Can anyone tell me when was the last time a portion of the City other than District 3 was represented on the CAD Board? I have been beating on this drum for some time, and eventually people will realize that what I am saying has merit. The Advocate doesn't think so, but the CAD is one of their sacred cows. I don't have any sacred cows. I root out corruption wherever I find it. Mr. Don Pozzi can either not seek reelection, or stand and answer for the corruption that has occurred under his watch. When I see some homeowners' assessments increase every year, to the tune of 80% over 11 years, while nicer neighborhoods see approximately 45% increase over the same period, I cannot see this as anything but sinister.

I already know that Pozzi will do what Polasek did. He will pass the buck and blame the CAD, saying they are an independent agency. While he may be technically correct, the question you should ask yourself is whether or not you want responsibilty and accountability from the highest executive position in your County?

If you continue to put gas in the car of an irresponsible teenage driver that drinks and drives and destroys private property, while endangering the lives of others, you are ultimately responsible, right? Well, the City and the County continue to place members of their bodies on the CAD Board that offer no dissension, and they continue to fund the CAD. So whose ultimate responsibility is it?

I am the man that wants that responsibility. I do not want to pass the buck. I ask for the privelege of being held accountable to the taxpayers. Will you allow me that opportunity?

Zorro, you hit the nail on the head with your statement;

"By contrast, here in Victoria, the city council is influenced by special interests that would not dare show their face at a meeting and prefer running things from the shadows."

When steve Roth did not get the bid for the new fire station he contacted Hagan. Hagan lead the charge to throw out the bids and start over. After all Hagan is the only one on council to recieve a large contribution from steve Roth. Cant wait to throw Hagan out!

Right on Ocker!

By the way, what is your definition of a Good ole boy? Try and be specific if you can. Is it income?, where they live? Where they grew up? Race? or something? List the good ole boys in order of "good ole boy" strengh, so I know who to vote against.

spotter,

That is a great line. The reason why is because it is 100% true. I know what is coming my way. I would not have made the decision to run if that were a deterrent. I am placing my faith in the voters of Victoria County. Hopefully they will not let me down. This really is a moment of reckoning. We shall see whether or not all the disgust over the "Good ole boy system" is genuine. Everyone knows there will be no campign donations coming my way from any of the special interest groups. I am on a reconnaissance and recovery mission. I am the agent that will expose the sinister agendas and take back County government from the people who have no claim to it (corporate and family elite) and return it to the people who rightfully own it (John and Jane Q. Citizen).

Most people in this community will not recognize any of the names on my donor list. That is how it should be.

So bring on the mud - I can sling a little myself. There are far more people who live in glass houses than realize it.

Matt,

I've been reading the The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and I came across a line that immediately made me think of your campaign -- "It's so much easier to pass judgment on a man than on an idea." The establishment has no answers for your ideas, so they'll have to create an answer for the man -- mudslinging, personal threats, or worse. The point will come when you know you're succeeding because they won't address your ideas. Keep it up.

Now you're starting to catch on. I can't wait for the debates! I will probably be shot, but what I have to say needs to be said. Most people have absolutely no idea how their money is being robbed from them and squandered. People also need to realize that there is no distinction between the various boards and committees in this community. The people that hold all of these positions come from the same stock.

fascism by any other name...

It is one of those dreaded "public-private partnerships", which is code for "give us tax dollars, because we need to give a few jobs to undeserving individuals.

To answer your question, yes, it is partially privately funded. The problem is that no one knows by what percentage. They are public when they want tax dollars, but private when someone wants to see their books. Politicians love these types of organizations for 3 reasons:

1. It is a way for them to make some money disappear
2. If any perceived success comes from any of the programs, they can take credit for it
3. If there is any failure, they can claim they had no part in it

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't like the blurring of the line between government and private corporations. VEDC is private when someone asks them about their finances, yet they don't pay property taxes on the Lone Tree Business Pasture.

MattOcker said,

"So while public funds are being taken from all of us for one purpose, we are actually enabling the power structure to accomplish the exact opposite."

and therein lies the answer.

Thanks Matt.

Just to examine this further, what incentive does the VEDC have to actually fulfill its mission statement, its stated purpose? It is not like they are dependent upon donations or need to turn a profit...

Not to suggest that I've just fallen off of the turnip truck, but can someone educate me to as to whether or not VEDC is a privately funded entity?

Thank you dollysdad.

Jackdeuce,

You make some interesting points. First of all, it would help if people understood the true intentions of VEDC. The Victoria Economic DESTRUCTION Corporation does not intend to fulfill any of its mission statements if any of the "new" businesses compete with businesses owned by any of its members. So while public funds are being taken from all of us for one purpose, we are actually enabling the power structure to accomplish the exact opposite. Look at the members of VEDC. Tell me, how many of those companies have any real local competition?

Then there is the matter of their ridiculously inflated numbers. Have you seen some of the presentations that Dale Fowler has made? It is almost as ridiculous as Randy Vivian's claim that for every 1,000 college students, 434 full-time jobs are created. What!? Only if every other one hires a personal assistant!

Last year, the VEDC and the Chamber collaborated on a study that produced some propaganda data for the UHV downward expansion hearing. For anyone who attended, I think my questions about the comparisons were dead-on. My only mistake was contacting Don Pozzi prior to the event. Had I not done so, their master comparison to the UHV-VC situation would have been A&M College Station-Blinn! I guess once I ripped that ridiculous comparison to shreds, he figured someone really smart would do even worse in public. Like I said, I should have kept my mouth shut and fed him some more rope.

On the subject of teachers, I'm not sure most people have the data needed to analyze current teacher pay in VISD. I applaud the current administration and Board for their efforts in increasing teacher pay. The problem is, I see no improvement. In private industry raises are either given for what an employee has already accomplished, or as an incentive for the employee to perform better in the future. Teachers in VISD have gotten roughly $6,000 in raises in recent years, and you can decide for what reason those raises were given. I think it bears mentioning that not a single ISD that borders VISD pays their teachers better than VISD. I think it is also true that not a single ISD that borders any of those has higher pay. I could be wrong on that one, but I don't think I am.

You are also correct that we need proper venues to host profitable and fulfilling events. I am of the opinion that a state of the art convention center is needed in Victoria. The problem is that our illustrious City Council just voted to reduce the Community Center fund to the tune of $200,000 (or roughly 50%). It is hard to fund projects that will benefit the entire community, when we continually fund things that only a very small percentage of the population wants. Most people call these things "pet projects".

VEDC needs a change in leadership. 3.2 percent growth is a joke for an organization that is designed to attract larger well-paying businesses and industry to town. Get rid of Fowler and let Cannady have a shot at it.
There have been some good candidates that have run and they haven't been elected. James Martinez and Jeff Lyons are two recent ones that might have been a welcome change.
Marketing has been a problem. Some of the same positives that have been posted here should be the selling point for the Chamber and the CVB but first we actually need a convention facility to attract a convention.
I like having major cities within a short drive yet not having to deal with big city problems like traffic (we still have too much crime). That said if Victoria grew to be about 150,000 people that would be a nice size that would probably eliminate the need to go to Houston, Austin, Corpus etc.
This city has avoided the 59 corridor for a reason that is beyond my comprehension. Can anyone explain?
Schools need to be fixed and that is easy, pay teachers more so we can actually keep the good ones here and attract good ones to come here.
I like the parks, every city but this one has been able to take it from concept to useful. For whatever reason, Victoria can build a park (great concept) but that is where it ends. Once built the city lets them get run over by drug sellers and users and they are basically red light districts.
I remember when Ethel Lee Tracy was opened and the ampitheatre was going to be used for outdoor concerts and events and the fields would be good for softball and soccer. Not so, as they are littered with needles and broken bottles.

#1. I think it's Buccee's

#2. Victoria offers a lot in terms of lifestyle outside the fast lane.

3. As noted by previous poster, the article is poorly written.

4. Drivers in Victoria are bad enough already without inviting more blue hairs to join in.

5. The City and County Government struggles to find qualified individuals to run for elected office, hence the seemingly "good ole boys" serving term after term. I applaud Mr. Ocker for throwing his hat in the ring.

Wait 'til you hear from the butler.

a debate? i can't to hear the questions the babysitter may ask. or at least her comments.

JD,

As you will see if you visit my website, the problem with our local government entities is nut a lack of funds, but rather where those funds are directed. The City and County of Victoria have abdicated their true responsiblities, while trying to pervade areas where they have no legitimate cause to be. The City has a responsibility to fund an adequate, well-paid, well-trained, well-equipped, professional police force. They have no business funding "Jaguar Dens", downtown "pretty pretty" sidewalks, or so many public parks that go unused.

tnt88,

You ain't seen nuthin' yet. Wait until the debates. If my opponent(s) have the nerve to show, that is.

Lamppost,

Don't you ever get tired of me giving you a public spanking? I notice you only pop up to run your mouth when I post something. Why don't you come out of the shadows, or just go away?

For the record, I am 32 years old. I moved here in October of 1990, when I was 13 years old. I was not your typical teenager. My family often held discussions of current events, philosophy, and all manner of politics. I remember well viewing the Q&A with Yolanda Gutierrez on channel 25. I might have been the only eighth grader that knew Ted Reed was our mayor. I remember hearing about Greg Laughlin, Steve Holzhauser, Ken Armbrister, etc.

Our neighbor across the street, B.J. Cornstubble, ran for City Council. I remember having Mr. Cornstubble over for backyard BBQ's and many hours of discussion.

Just because you may not have been involved at an early age doesn't mean that it is impossible. Your ignorance at your current age proves its possibility as well.

Matt
You hit the proverbial nail on the head:

The same oligarchy that claims publicly to want growth is the very one that behind closed doors prevents it. The ruling elite of this town wants control.

"Finding the the problem is half the battle in solving it".

so why do we need our town to get bigger?

20 years ago, you were hearing that stuff, huh Matt? 20 years ago, you were like 10 dude! Ha! What a joke!

Matt: I agree with you on the fact that lower taxes might be a big help. The problem as I see it though, is that over the years (eh, decades) poor management has caused the city to realize less real progress even though they had the income. Things have continued to slide until we are now at a point that things are near critical mass (overexaggeration). The police department, of which so many bloggers are so critical, is seriously understaffed and has been, for the past fifteen to twenty years. I heard recently that it is not uncommon for there to be as few as five to eight officers working on a given shift. Five to eight officers...in a city of 60,000 plus population. Is it any wonder people are frequently dissatisfied with the service they receive. At the same time they are burning out the good officers they still have. Other city departments are in the same boat, with only the Fire Department really operating in the green so to speak. To simply cut taxes would cause the city agencies in need to take an even bigger hit which would lead to even more dissatisfaction. It will require a complete reconfiguration of the spending matrix and I'm not confident this administration has the ability to pull it off.

I have read and appreciate all the comments on this story. I have lived in Victoria for about 20 years. For all of those 20 years, I have been hearing things like:
"Victoria is on the verge of great things"
"We see some very exciting trends that are going to transform Victoria"
"We need to invest in Victoria, and our investment will pay off"

blah, blah,blah

Sorry, I just don't buy it any more. The same oligarchy that claims publicly to want growth is the very one that behind closed doors prevents it. The ruling elite of this town wants control. That means they want growth, but only for themselves. The don't want any big fish to invade this little pond. They want all business to have to fall into a funnel, with their hands securely on the valve at the bottom.

We don't need growth for the sake of growth. We certainly don't need artificially stimulated growth. We don't need growth. What we need is strength. I really don't want to live in a city the size of Corpus.

There is a magic bullet that can help on all fronts for Victoria. It is called lower taxes. Businesses locate in places where they can most easily make a profit. In recent years, we have lost a number of businesses to the surrounding smaller towns. The reason? TAXES!

You want seniors to locate here? Why would they want to pay such high property taxes, particularly when they don't have children in school?

The long and the short of it is that if you want something better, you must destroy the old paradigm. I think all of these folks that are giving us certainties about the results of new schools, promotion campaigns, and UHV downward expansion should stake their reputations and jobs with their promises. If they are so certain of the outcome, I think every one of them should retire if their predictions don't come to fruition. After all, that's what happens to the rest of us when we make a bad investment.

Victoria is a great place to live. The location makes it really the ideal place,you have a nice assortment of places to eat in Victoria, great standard of living, top notch medical community and a regional airport, but also you have the major cities all within a short drive, where you have any restaraunt and entertainment events you can imagine. What makes Victoria unique though is all the coastal towns with local places to eat and enjoy. If you look at the big picture of living in Victoria there are not very many other towns that offer what we have here. I have lived here for 11 years now and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I think Austin has that California influence, especially after the dot. com boom and Dell computer era look how fast Round Rock has grown..The old timers remember when that was just a wide spot in the road...Plano is another example...It's how fast the surrounding cities are growing; that measures growth..Victoria; not so much.

If it going to happen; it will get its start in Austin.

group6,

IIRC, your avatar is the old Victoria High School mascot, no?

If that is the case, then you and zorro are both a testament to the need for Victoria to focus its development efforts on interconnectedness between the larger "competing" cities from the border to the coast, Houston up to the hill country.

The manner in which the locals branch out and return home represents both market opportunities for local and outside investors and growth/cultural opportunities for the community.

There is no good reason for Victoria to not build on its role as a hub for interstate and international trade...

Well said Zorro! Austin is a "state of mind", and that is why I choose to live there. There is a positive energy in this city, and it comes from the people who live here. However, I will have to agree with exresident on one thing, sure are a lot of yankees starting to show up here. They are showing up in the masses!

wow, punctuation vomit... "it's" and all that...

Also, what every seems to be missing in all of this is the overarching factor of "travel," and how it plays into Victoria's economy. You have a town of 60K+ and a surrounding area with probably another 40-50K. Out on Hwy 59 you have what, maybe 50K passing through from the City-to-City or Houston and points beyond to the boarder or coast?

So on any given day you have a potential of 3X your population actually within your city limits, and the frequency of their visits, the amount of time they stay and how much money they spend is primarily dependent upon ease of access?

Proximity to the larger cities, better shopping and culture are selling points not problems...

This should be a no-brainer.

zorro,

An interesting paradox about Austin and it's alleged weirdness. I would argue that was once the weirdness of Austin was born of the city's connection to its rural roots and the crazy people who for decades meandered their way back and forth from the city to country towns like Burnet, Flatonia, Bastrop, Smithville, Lockhart, Marble Falls, etc., etc.

For the better part of a century it was this flux, farm-to-market, which formed the backbone of the emerging "Austin" way of life. Unfortunately, over the last 20-30, the city--while cleverly marketed upon the old image--has fallen prey to the massive north, south migration from the Rust Belt states, and the Upper-east and West Coasts, trading its folksy rural roots for run-of-the-mill American mediocrity.

...

To make a long-story short, really short, it is quite clear from my times in both Austin and Victoria, that there are far more weird people in Victoria (or Cuero, Yoakum, Shiner, Port Lavaca, Goliad, Edna) at present than have ever graced the scene in Austin. It's really just a matter of image.

Why would anybody want Victoria to grow? If you want to live in a bigger city, move to Houston.

Doesn't anyone find it strange that the mayor owns a moving company? Could there be a conflict between that and wanting to stimulate growth in the community?

"Experts say the county attracts low numbers of outside retirees, lacks the allure of larger cities such as Austin"

I know Austin, went to school there, worked there and have family and friends who live there. I will be there for Thanksgiving. In short, I think I know Austin.

Austin is not only a city but a state of mind. The city is seen by many as a liberal bastion in the heart of a very conservative state. Their slogan is Keep Austin Weird and that sums up Austin. Austin embraces different cultures, races, religions, ideas and way of life. Their city council meetings are long and generally well attended by all manner of special interest groups, which makes them quite interesting. By contrast, here in Victoria, the city council is influenced by special interests that would not dare show their face at a meeting and prefer running things from the shadows.

The political leadership of Victoria has never made a sincere attempt to welcome different peoples to our area. The Czech Festival and Cinco de Mayo celebrations are insufficient demonstrations of a welcome mat for people of different persuasions. You have only to read these forums to get a sense of how most people in this area feel about newcomers and people with differing ideas. I sincerely doubt that Victoria will ever grow in the spiritual sense and it is doubtful it will grow in population either.

Watch ch 15 and you'll figure out why real quick.

Maybe it's the water. It's pretty bad when you order a glass of water in a restaurant and the whole place bursts out in laughter.

Buckey's is always packed because the management realizes that the customer comes first, not last, as opposed to some less-than-speedy convenience stores around here. Sometimes I wish I had a chair while waiting to get checked out with a bag of ice that's already half-melted. A retiree may well collapse under these conditions.

School taxes. Why would a retiree want to fund three new schools? Their kids are gone already.

I always get a kick out of someone new in town, all excited and such, and then a year later they're depressed beyond description and ready to move anywhere but here, literally.

Oh, the "comedy hour" thing...that was great!

VBB - first of all I love your comment about Buckey's! Great chuckle! Re: your comment about competing with larger cities...although poorly written, I think what was meant is that UNFORTUNATELY we have to compete, and we just can't.

Also, they mention education, but if they want people to move here (and you can't just go after the retired population) you have to do something about the public schools here. At an extremely superficial, aesthetic (sp?) level, who wants to have their children go to oh-so-generic sounding schools with the same colors? But seriously, VISD got VERY poor grades from the state, and people don't want that for their children. I DON'T want that for MY children; I have no choice because I live here.

The "young professionals" don't want to live in a town with such a good-ole-boy atmosphere; they want somewhere to live and work and raise a family with modern outlooks and a true democratic (small d - not Democratic, capital D) society. Our "leaders" are elected over and over and over again and nothing changes at all.

Bottom line - you want population growth, job growth, etc.? We better get some new people in office because it isn't going to happen with the people we currently have. They speak a good line, but they really seem satisfied with the status quo.

Advertising Victoria as a great place to go to and die is smart. After living here for a while death will seem a step up.

I find the placement of this article under the "Faith" section as quite ironic. This reminds me of all those evenings at council chambers where we heard the mayor, the administration and VEDC reminding us to trust them. Faith and trust must also be backed up by the numbers...3.2 percent. The city administration increased their taxes more than that in just one year. So much for faith and trust. "Captain Will the iceberg is getting closer, abandon the Chamber!"

I say clever billboards like Buckeys, hire their marketing team & Victoria will be booming! Seriously, have you ever seen a Buckeys not packed?

3.2 percent growth in the entire county is not something VEDC can crow about. Loss of population in the surrounding counties seals the deal. No population growth equals no job growth. Basically, this number says our cities' economic development effort has not been worth the time or the money the hotel tax has expended.

How can we get folks to come to Victoria? The answer is not fancy, expensive or complicated. The target market is the tens of thousands of cars bypassing Victoria every day along US 59. These folks are hungry, tired and carrying credit cards. Why aren’t we market to these potential shoppers? The only things these potential visitors see are oil field operations (a good thing), a couple truck stops and two motels. Is that all Victoria has to offer? That is all the occupants in these vehicles know. Want to stop these vehicles? Move the CTB to the edge of town. Install eight computerized (hi-tech) signs all along US 59 from Edna to Refugio. Promote our shopping, our fancy downtown sidewalk, the new sewer plant forced down our throats, the north side restaurants and motels. Under no circumstance should the marketing plan forget the comedy hour at City Hall. (Young professionals love intrigue, comedy and government wheeling and dealing.)

Here is the marketing plan and it will provide immediate results. And if the VEDC wants to pay a consulting fee for this plan, deduct it from your budget and donate the money to those Victorians whose houses will be placed on the court house steps because of their inability to pay the huge tax increases passed this last September.

"Although Carol Vanhook said she enjoys Victoria's shopping and dining, no one can argue the city competes on this level with nearby cities such as Austin and Houston"......HUH? Victoria can compete with the larger cities in this area??? Seriously???