Dateline: May 10, 2007
A conversation with Mayor Mark White
Clarendon Mayor Mark
White has been at the city’s helm for less than a year and is seeking
his first full term in that position.
White grew up in
Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School in 1981 before
attending Clarendon College and West Texas State University. In 1983, he
took a position with the family business, Wallace Monument Co.; and today,
he and his sister are co-owners of the business.
City leaders picked White
to fill a vacant position on the Board of Aldermen in 2001. He soon was
tapped as the city’s Mayor Pro-tem and then succeeded Mayor Tex Selvidge
when he stepped down last May. White visited with the Enterprise last week
to discuss the accomplishments the city has made and the things he would
like to see happen if he’s reelected.
ENTERPRISE: What would
you say are the main accomplishments Clarendon has achieved since you
joined the Board of Aldermen?
WHITE: I think the main
accomplishment has been the street project. Another has been getting the
[Best Western] hotel here.
ENTERPRISE: What good has
come from the street project?
WHITE: The main benefits
have been water control along with beautification of that part of town.
Travelers don’t have to go down rub-boarded roads anymore. Another thing
is dust control. You know, used to we would have to dust at home once a
week, and now it’s not so bad. It was coming off those streets.
ENTERPRISE: A lot of
people were against the street project. What would you say to them?
You have to keep up with
the times if you’re going to grow and prosper. I think that was a step
toward beautifying the town. It cost a lot of money, but I feel like it
was money well spent.
ENTERPRISE: Maintenance
of the streets is always an issue. What can be done in that area?
WHITE: We are trying to
find a street sweeper that we can afford, and our summer help will be
shoveling and sweeping rocks and dirt out of the gutters. We hope to seal
coat a certain number of streets every year on a five-year rotation, and
that work will go to bid this August.
ENTERPRISE: The personal
property tax has been the subject of a lot of debate lately. What are your
personal thoughts about that issue?
WHITE: I don’t like the
personal property tax; but I feel like if we don’t have it, the ad
valorem rate would have to go up. I think there needs to be a cap on
taxing vehicles. Anything over 10 years doesn’t need to be taxed.
ENTERPRISE: So is that
something you would push for if you are re-elected?
WHITE: Sure.
ENTERPRISE: In the last
few years, there has been some discussion at City Hall about publishing
the list of who owes delinquent taxes. What are your feelings on this?
WHITE: I think the Donley
Appraisal District has done a lot better job recently of collecting
delinquent taxes; and if a list is going to be published, it ought to be
up to the appraisal district.
ENTERPRISE: What are your
goals if you’re re-elected?
WHITE: I want to see the
downtown area beautified with new sidewalks and ADA ramps. We’ve got a
grant to install a water pressure system in the west side of town. The
pressure in that area is extremely low and could be a potential health
issue, and I want to see that project finished. Also, our water tower is
deteriorating and needs to be replaced.
ENTERPRISE: What’s
wrong with the water tower?
WHITE: It was built in
the 1920s, and we’ve had to weld up some places where it’s seeping.
We’ve applied for a grant to replace it and should know something in the
near future.
ENTERPRISE: Any other
goals?
WHITE: I just want to see
Clarendon continue to grow and thrive. We have a lot going for a town our
size, and I want to see it continue to be that way. We’ve applied for a
parks grant to get some new picnic tables and playground equipment –
merry-go-rounds and swings – for the park. It would also plant
wildflowers in the terraces at the park.
ENTERPRISE: As you look
into the future at Clarendon 10 or 15 years down the road, what do you
see?
WHITE: I hope it’s a
lot cleaner and nicer. Hopefully, we’ll have more paved streets, more
sidewalks, and maybe another new hotel to bring more people to town. I’d
also like to have an activity center for our youth.
ENTERPRISE: What would be
your final message to the voters?