Victoria County judge Democratic candidate profiles
Democrats have choice of county judge candidates
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Name: Ron Reyna.
Age: 49.
Occupation: Self-employed owner of R&R Electric and Integrated Computer Solutions.
City of residence: Victoria.
Name: Don Pozzi.
Age: 66.
Occupation: County judge.
City of residence: Victoria.
PROFILES ALREADY PUBLISHED
Jan. 19: Calhoun County judge, ...
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Name: Ron Reyna.
Age: 49.
Occupation: Self-employed owner of R&R Electric and Integrated Computer Solutions.
City of residence: Victoria.
Name: Don Pozzi.
Age: 66.
Occupation: County judge.
City of residence: Victoria.
PROFILES ALREADY PUBLISHED
Jan. 19: Calhoun County judge, Democrats
Jan. 19: Calhoun County Democrats uncontested ballot
Jan. 20: Calhoun County Commissioner Precinct 2, Republicans.
Jan. 20: Calhoun County Republican uncontested ballot.
Jan. 21: DeWitt County commissioner Precinct 4, Democrat
Jan. 21: DeWitt County Democratic uncontested ballot.
Jan. 22: DeWitt County Republican county judge.
Jan. 23: DeWitt County Republican county clerk.
Jan. 24: DeWitt County Republican Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1.
Jan. 25: Goliad County Republican County Judge
Jan. 25: Goliad County Republican uncontested ballot.
Jan. 26: Goliad County Democratic County Commissioner, Precinct 2.
Jan. 27: Jackson County Democratic Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
Jan. 27: Jackson County Democratic uncontested ballot.
Jan. 28: Jackson County Republican County Clerk
Jan. 28: Jackson County Republican uncontested ballot
Jan. 29: Lavaca County Democratic Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
Jan. 29: Lavaca County Democratic uncontested ballot
Jan. 29: Lavaca County Republican District Clerk
Jan. 29: Lavaca County Republican uncontested ballot
Jan. 30: Refugio County Democratic County Judge
Jan. 30: Refugio County Democratic uncontested ballot
Jan. 31: Refugio County Democratic County Clerk
Jan. 31: Refugio County Republican uncontested ballot
Feb. 1: Refugio County Democratic Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
Feb. 2: Victoria County Democratic Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
Feb. 3: Victoria County Republican County Commissioner Precinct 4
Feb. 4: Victoria County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
Feb. 5: Victoria County Clerk
Feb. 5: Victoria County Democratic District Attorney
Feb. 5: Victoria County Democratic uncontested ballot
Editor's Note: The primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties are March 2. To help our readers learn more about the candidates in the contested races in each primary, the Advocate is publishing profiles of the candidates.
Today's candidates are seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Victoria County judge.
One Victoria County judge candidate said he offers voters experience and leadership, while another said he would bring real-world experience to the office.
Businessman Ron Reyna is challenging incumbent County Judge Don Pozzi for the Democratic nomination in the March primary.
"This is a very, very, very trying job," said Pozzi, who is in his eighth year as county judge. "It's about making difficult decisions in both good and bad times."
Pozzi said he has provided the leadership and experience to bring county government through tough times, while maintaining the honesty and dignity of the office.
Reyna said owning and operating electrical and information technology businesses gives him the experience to run the office of county judge.
"I've got a lot of real-world experience dealing firsthand with operations of all kinds, businesses big and small," Reyna said. "I understand what's possible, what's not possible."
Reyna said he thinks the biggest issue facing the county is the ability to protect its water from others.
"There are these guys down the road in San Antonio that would like to take all the water that we have," he said. "They have been trying for years to manipulate the system to get all the water they can for San Antonio."
Reyna said the loss of the availability of water could discourage businesses from moving to Victoria County, leaving it what he called a wet desert.
"My concern is once they figure out a way to get it, if we want some of it back we're going to have to buy it back," Reyna said. "I promise you, it will be at a premium."
Pozzi said the biggest issue facing the county is being able to create a budget in this economy while providing essential services.
"It doesn't matter what office you hold in local government, the No. 1 issue that is always on the citizens' mind is taxes," he said. "We know that."
While appraisals increased the tax bills of some property owners, Pozzi said the county avoided raising the tax rate for seven years.
Even so, the commissioners court by being resourceful continues to provide the services demanded and deserved by the taxpayers, he said.
Reyna said he's not satisfied with keeping the property tax rate the same. He said he wants to lower it.
"I think the people of Victoria are being taxed in a painful way," he said. "If we don't address those issues, people are not going to come to Victoria."
Reyna said while the property tax remained level, the appraised property values used to figure the tax rate climbed. That has the same effect as a tax rate increase, he said.
Victoria has historically had high appraisal values in comparison to other parts of the country, he said.
Pozzi said the court faced a difficult time preparing the 2010 budget and it might be even more difficult for 2011.
"We certainly intend to do that without any tax rate increase," he said. "But until I see all the numbers and see where we are, it's very difficult to say at this point."
He said the court cut the 2010 budget by $3.5 million from 2009 and he anticipates even more cuts for the 2011 budget.
"Certainly, our employees took the biggest hit on such things as raises, longevity pay, retirement and insurance," Pozzi said. "As things begin to turn around, it is our intention to restore the benefits back to where they were."
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