From our December 21, 2000, edition.

Chisum to hold forum at local high school

State Rep. Warren Chisum will be in Clarendon Friday, January 5, 2001, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the CHS Auditorium.

The state legislator has planned 24 town hall meetings in early January to hear from the voters and to provide an overview of what to expect from the Texas Legislature.

“State government works best when the public participates,” Chisum said. “I intend to spend more time listening than talking.”

Chisum typically files several bills based on concerns brought to his attention at town hall meetings.

“These informal get-togethers are probably the best time I can spend,” he said. “The best way to find out about a local issue is to hear about the issue from the people who have to deal with it. I hope everyone gets a chance to come and say what’s on their minds.”

The Texas Legislature, which is required by the Texas Constitution to meet for 140 days every odd-numbered year, will begin the 77th Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 9, 2001.

“Austin is pretty far from the Panhandle,” Chisum said. “I want to make sure people have the opportunity to tell their government what they expect right here at home.”

Chisum was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988 and will report to Austin for his seventh term in 2001. He represents the 88th House District, which includes Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.