ROCKWALL – The decision for whom to vote in the May 29 Republican Primary Election for Rockwall County Constable Precinct 1 is an easy one. Vote for 2010 Police Academy graduate and long-time County businessman John Benedetto.

Early voting is on now through May 25. Find your voting location on the Rockwall County Elections Department website.

From a family of law enforcement officers, Benedetto is well-known and very highly regarded by many area residents after raising his family, plus owning and operating several businesses, here for the past 29 years.

He’s run air conditioning and home-building companies – with homes in Buffalo Creek and The Shores. He has helped construct homes locally for Habitat For Humanity. He built and operated one of the largest child care facilities in North Texas with enrollment of 300-plus children, Stonebrook Learning Center in Royse City, which his oldest son now operates.

He was a member of the McClendon-Chisholm Planning and Zoning Board, and president for four consecutive years of the Rockwall High School Band Boosters.

He is also a Member of the Rockwall County Republican Men’s Club, Royse City Chamber of Commerce, Royse City Early Bird Rotary Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the Rockwall First United Methodist Church, where he and his wife, Pam, attend.

They currently own Rockwall Healthy Solutions Weight Loss, a very successful business that helps area residents to become much more healthy.

Suffice to say, the Benedettos have developed deep roots in the community, a reputation for honesty and integrity, plus generosity – having helped many people along way.

His continuous record of  service to the community – through business, church, school and charities  – provides ample proof that Benedetto is the best choice to serve the residents of Rockwall County as their Constable in Pct. 1.

In addition, after graduating with honors from the Police Academy in 2010, he passed his Texas Peace Officer exam and is current with all laws, preparing him well for service as a Constable.

His opponent, Vince Zubras, has more experience with the courts and in law enforcement, but much of that was as a volunteer in Denton and Dallas Counties, not Rockwall. Of concern is whether he actually lives in Rockwall County, which he claims but multiple sources dispute. Legally, he must have lived in Rockwall County for six months or more to qualify to run for office here.

Even if he has lived at his daughter’s home in Rockwall since 2010 as he says, he clearly does not have the track record of service to the community that Benedetto has and he will no doubt continue. Zubras’ commitment to Rockwall County clearly comes no where close to that of Benedetto’s.

Bottom line is that it is easy to find people who are well-acquainted and friends with Benedetto. They speak very highly of him.

Few really know who Zubras is, based upon our research.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

He was also a member of the McClendon-Chisholm Planning and Zoning Board, and president for four consecutive years of the Rockwall High School Band Boosters.

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ROCKWALL – Experience matters. That’s why we highly recommend you vote for widely-respected Rockwall attorney and former twice-elected Dallas Co. Criminal Court Judge Jim Pruitt for State Representative in House District 33 on Texas Primary Election Day, May 29, or during early voting which runs now through May 25.

The new House District 33 includes all of Rockwall County and portions of Collin Co., including Frisco.

Many others agree. The pro-life conservative has been endorsed by The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Association of Realtors, Americans Ending Abuse, State Sen. Bob Deuell and most of Rockwall County’s elected officials.

Besides being elected twice by voters in 1994 and 1998, Judge Pruitt was elected by his judicial peers as the Dallas County Presiding Judge for three years and Local Administrative Judge for two years.

As the Presiding Judge, he worked closely with the legislature regarding laws that would affect the criminal justice system and was instrumental in creating the first dedicated family violence court in Dallas Co. He also collaborated with the Department of Public Safety to write the first regulations governing driving-while-intoxicated ignition-interlock providers.

While on the bench, Judge Pruitt was also active in outside legal activities. He became Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (about one percent of the lawyers in Texas are board certified in this area) and was elected Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Criminal Law Section, a group whose membership includes prosecutors, judges and defense lawyers.

A dedicated believer in Second Amendment rights, Pruitt was the founder and a lead lecturer for a Weapons Education Safety Training Program. This class taught weapons law and law regarding self defense and protection of property to groups including attorneys and law enforcement officers.

He has been a member of the Dallas County DWI Task Force, the Interlock Ignition Advisory Council, the American Probation and Parole Association and, currently, the North Texas Crime Commission. He has spoken to numerous legal groups regarding various legal issues including weapons, DWI laws, family violence issues and judicial ethics.

Judge Pruitt earned a reputation as a tough but fair jurist, who demanded that criminal defendants pay financially for the system that was created to deal with their actions. In his eight years as a judge, he collected millions of dollars in fines and court costs from defendants. He once put notorious Dallas Co. Commissioner John Wiley Price in jail.

For his honesty and integrity, he has been lauded by his peers and citizens as a man of action who can work and communicate with people from all walks of life.

After leaving the bench, Pruitt moved to Rockwall County and became the managing partner of Culpepper and Pruitt with offices in Rockwall and Dallas. When his wife, Kenda Culpepper, was elected as the Rockwall County District Attorney in 2008, he created the Pruitt Law Firm which practices law in areas including mediation, family law and intellectual property law. Jim’s daughter also works for the firm.

He recently rolled out a comprehensive plan to improve ethics and transparency in the Texas House. His reform plan comes after several public scandals involving State Representatives and a special interest lobbyist. His proposed reforms include:

• Require all political advocacy groups to provide the names of donors and donation amounts on their website.
• End pension benefits for State Representatives convicted of felony criminal activity.
• Phase out the state pension program for State Representatives because their public service was never meant to be a full-time career.
• Impose additional disclosure requirements when Representatives meet with registered lobbyists.
• Enact more severe fines and penalties, including possible incarceration, for Representatives guilty of egregious ethics violations.
• Prohibit Representatives from serving as paid lobbyists immediately after stepping down from the Texas House.

His ethics reform plan is a first step towards shining the light on the Texas House and ending the backroom politics that have caused Texans to lose trust in their elected leaders.

Although his opponent, businessman Scott Turner, seems to be fine man with plenty of conservative endorsements, this is not his time. Turner has nowhere near the experience nor qualifications that Pruitt has.

Rockwall and Collin County voters would be smart to vote for Pruitt because he is honest, fair and a dedicated, life-long Republican who knows the territory who will hit the ground running as soon as he is elected. Turner would have to spend months learning the ropes in Austin, due to his inexperience.

For more info about Pruitt, see www.pruittfortexas.com or call (469) 698-8550.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – On the heels of this past Saturday’s city and school board elections, early voting begins today for the Texas Republican and Democrat Primary Elections, scheduled May 29, after originally being scheduled for March 6 and then April 3.

The changes were due to redistricting challenges by minority groups, which were finally resolved by the courts.

Early voting will continue through May 25 for the following federal, state and county offices:

• US President
• US Senate
• US Representative
• State Railroad Commissioner
• State Supreme Court
• State Board of Education
• State Representative
• Fifth Court of Appeals District
• County Commissioner
• County Constable

There are also five Referendums on the ballot dealing with:

• School Choice
• Repealing Obamacare
• Public Prayer
• Balancing State Budget
• Redistricting

To see the actual ballots, identify voting locations, hours or obtain voting information, visit the Rockwall County Elections Department website at:

http://rockwall-tx.connect4.clarityelections.com/

It is too late to register to vote in the May 29 election or early voting.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – A candidate debate and forum between the numerous candidates running for County commissioner, constable and Justice of the Peace positions will be hosted by the Rockwall County Republican Women and Young Republicans Monday, May 14, at 6:30 pm, at the Utley Middle School Cafeteria, 1201 T. L. Townsend Dr. across from the RISD stadium.

The three candidates for County Commissioner are former three-term Rockwall Mayor and Council member Bill Cecil, three-term Rockwall City Council member Cliff Sevier and businessman Dick Demien.

Running for County constables in the new Precinct 1 are Police Academy graduate and businessman John Benedetto vs. businessman and Denton Co. volunteer constable Vince Zubras.

Former Rockwall Police Officer Paul Britt is running against former Rockwall Police Officer and County Commissioner Trey Chaney in the new Precinct 2.

In Precinct 3, incumbent John Cullin vs. Tom Egan.

In Precinct 4, incumbent Randy Earl Parks vs. James Cookston.

In the new Precinct 3, Justice of the Peace candidates are former County Judge Chris Florance, former County Commissioner Joe Florey and two-term Rockwall City Council member Mark Russo, who will resign from Council if elected.

In the new Precinct 4, Justice of the Peace candidates are Royse City Council Member James Branch, Former Justice of the Peace David Karr and former County District Attorney Office Felony Administrator Liana Bell Whitten.

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ROCKWALL – Rockwall voters today elected Dennis Lewis (left) and Mike Townsend (center) as new City Council members, re-elected unopposed Mayor Pro Tem Mark Russo to a third Council term and voted “For” Propositions 2 (Downtown Improvements) and 5 (Road Projects).

Propositions 1 (Athletic Complex), 3 (Fire Improvements) and 4 (Heritage Park) were defeated.

Results are now official.

Lewis defeated Michael Johnston and Freddie Jackson, with 1,366 votes (52%) to their 909 (35%) and 358 (14%) votes, respectively.

Mike Townsend received 2,323 votes (86%) to Jonathan Gideon Singh’s 371  votes (14%).

Proposition 2 – $8.6 million Downtown Improvements, including sidewalks and more parking – was passed by 52% voters (1,822 to 1,710 votes).

Proposition 5 – $19.175 million Street and Road Construction – was passed by 58% of voters (2,050 to 1,456 votes).

Proposition 1 – $25 million Athletic Complex – was defeated by 67% of voters (2,354 to 1,162 votes).

Proposition 3 – $1.6 million Fire Improvments – was defeated by 59% of voters (2,084 to 1,421 votes)

Proposition 4 – $4.95 million Heritage Park – was defeated by 64% of voters (2,251 to 1,265 votes).

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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HEATH – Heath voters today elected unopposed City Council Member Lorne Liechty (left) as their new Mayor, Brian Berry (middle with wife) to the City Council, re-elected City Council Member Julie Zurek (right with husband) and easily passed the beer & wine sales option which opens the door to a local grocery store and other commercial development in the city.

Results are now official.

Liechty, Berry and Zurek will be officially sworn in at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Berry was elected to the City Council over John Curtis with 733 votes (64%) to 561 votes (36%). He replaces Liechty.

Six-term City Council Member Julie Zurek was re-elected to another two-year term over Joan Ream by nearly a 3-to-1 margin, 971 votes (71%) to 404 (29%).

In the Special Election for beer and wine sales, there were 961 votes (64%) and 538 votes (36%) against.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – Today is election day across Rockwall County for city and school board elections.

To see the ballots for each city and school district, see the Rockwall County Elections Office website and click on the respective city or school board election link you are seeking.

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HEATH – Heath residents who want a major grocery store within their city limits can take a giant step in that direction May 12 by voting FOR the Special Election for the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only.

According to the local group HeathForIt, which includes former Rockwall Mayor Alma Williams Howard, who initiated the necessary petition which led to Saturday’s election, a successful passing of the local option will lead to the development of a “reputable” grocery store, drug store, a town center, more restaurants and further retail. This will increase the City’s sales tax revenue and prevent a possible property tax increase. Their website can be found at www.HeathForIt.com, which includes comments from outgoing Mayor John Ratcliffe.

“This election is not about beer and wine sales. It’s all about getting a grocery store in Heath,” she said.

No organized opposition to the Special Election seems to have surfaced.

Outgoing Mayor John Ratcliffe confirmed that the developer who recently built the Tom Thumb store in Rockwall and one Heath landowner have represented and confirmed that there is an option contract in place to build a grocery store, contingent upon the passage of off-premises beer and wine sales in Heath.

The developer would like to build a 60,000 sq. ft. grocery store plus add other complimentary retailers.

“As you might appreciate, the City is not directly involved in any contracts or negotiations between Heath landowners and retail developers,” the Mayor told TheRockwallNews.com.

“However, in one instance, we have met jointly on several occasions with one Heath landowner and the retail developer who recently built the Tom Thumb in North Rockwall. Both have represented and confirmed to me, our Economic Development Council and others that there is an option contract in place for the sale of the property which is contingent upon the passage of off-premises beer and wine sales in Heath.”

Mayor Ratcliffe said there are several grocery stores interested in locating in Heath but no agreements have been made.

“The developer has expressed his intent and desire to build a 60,000 sq ft grocery store and bring other complimentary retail uses to the property in question. Although he has worked with Tom Thumb most recently, the developer has indicated there are ‘several possibilities’ for the anchor grocery tenant. To be clear, however, there has been no city approval or agreement regarding a specific grocery store development.”

According to one City Council member who preferred not to have a name used, Albertson’s and Walmart Neighborhood Market are at least two stores which have contacted the City.

The Council member said the most likely locations for the development are the large field east of the Shell station at the intersection of Hwy. 549 and FM740, just south of Heath High School, and the large field east of FM 740, just south of the Buffalo Creek subdivision.

Heath has maintained the same tax rate for the past 20 years, receiving most of its income from ad valorem real estate taxes.

The Heath Economic Development Corporation recently approved the following declaration at their March 27 meeting:

“Whereas, the Heath Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) has conducted numerous studies regarding ways to promote desirable avenues of development in the City of Heath; and Whereas, the results of those studies and communications with potential developers have indicated that approval of the measure to “legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only” would greatly enhance the likelihood that grocery and other low impact retail would locate in the City of Heath; Now, therefore, the HEDC finds that the approval of the measure to “legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only” will result in increased and enhanced economic development in the City of Heath.”

TheRockwallNews.com strongly recommends that Heath residents vote FOR the Special Election May 12 for the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – Although the City of Rockwall’s population growth has slowed, from among the fastest in the nation at about eight and a half percent in 2009 to just over four percent in 2011, the construction of new city streets and reconstruction and repair of roads continues to be among the city’s most pressing problems.

Many of our city’s roadways were built long ago as farm roads when traffic was nowhere near as heavy as it is in 2012. The City’s population has also grown from about 21,000 in 2002 to approximately 37,000 today – an increase of 43 percent.

Assuming new homeowners and businesses continue to move here, even at the current modest pace, new streets must be improved and roadways reconstructed to keep up with – actually catch up with – the steady flow. The construction of new I-30 service ramps and reconstruction of old roadways is most important and absolutely vital to the area’s transportation needs in order to attract more businesses to keep property taxes low.

Even if passing Prop 5 increases our property taxes by five cents per $100 valuation, or 10 percent – the worst case scenario based upon a very unlikely zero growth in the local tax base – we recommend that Rockwall voters vote FOR issuing $19.175 million worth of tax bonds for street improvements on May 12, City/School Board Election Day, or during early voting, which continues through tomorrow.

More and more companies, businesses and workers continue to move to Rockwall. Bimbo Bakeries and Hatfield & Company, for example, just announced they will locate in the Industrial Park and employ over 125 people. Numerous retailers and restaurants continue to open, bringing with them more traffic. We just can’t afford to wait to build and repair our roads. They should have been built and repaired years ago, but city planners never imagined the growth we’ve experienced during the past decade.

Now is the time to act. The bonds will finance the construction of four TXDOT projects, plus seven local projects.

Click here to see all of the street construction and road reconstruction projects included in Prop 5.

Vote FOR Prop 5.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – One of the primary reasons that Family Circle magazine called Rockwall “One of the 10 Best Towns in America to Live In” in 2009 was because of the many parks Rockwall has to offer.

The City currently offers at least 16 different parks, including Harry Myers Park – with its lake, trails, dog park and hiking trails – 14 neighborhood parks, the Highway 66 boat ramp park, plus the Leon Tuttle athletic complex and Yellowjacket fields.

While most everyone agrees that city parks are an excellent amenity for every community, the question is do we really need to invest nearly $5 million more right now for still one more park – to show off the rock wall for which the City was named – when the economy is still struggling so badly?

The answer is “No.”

Building a Heritage Park on the lake near Highway 66 sounds like a great idea, but it’s just not the prudent thing to do at the present time – when so many Rockwall homeowners are either unemployed or underemployed. Just ask the good folks at Rockwall Helping Hands how many Rockwall residents have been affected by the downturn in the economy.

Advocates say the potential tax impact would only be 1.3 cents per $100 valuation, or 2.6%, and that’s based upon zero growth in the tax base and all
bonds are issued in a single year rather than phased as the projects are completed over a five-year period.

But when the employment outlook and financial picture look as bleak as they do currently, we believe it would be irresponsible to assume we can just “buy now and pay later.”  That would be like someone who’s unemployed or underemployed going out and borrowing the money now to purchase another car, assuming or betting that he or she will have the job and money needed when it’s time to make the loan payments. That’s what most people did who have had their automobiles repossessed, and it’s not a very good idea.

Once the economy improves, Rockwall residents can always go back to the polls and vote for a beautiful lakeside park for all to enjoy. Now is just not the right time.

We recommend that Rockwall residents vote AGAINST Prop 4, the issuance of $4,950,000 tax bonds to build Heritage Park, on City/School Board Election Day, May 12, or during early voting – continuing through tomorrow.

For election info, see the Rockwall County Elections website at: http://www.rockwallcountytexas.com/index.aspx?NID=650

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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