Dateline: May 7, 2009

Showdown

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Voters will decide Saturday whether Alderman Tommy Hill or Mayor Chris Ford gets to lead the City of Clarendon for the next two years. Both candidates took time out of their day Monday to sit down with the Enterprise to discuss their campaigns.

Mayor Chris Ford has served Clarendon for two and a half years and says he wants to continue working for the city.

Ford grew up in Clarendon and attended Clarendon High School before graduating from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1980. He later received a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wayland Baptist University. After several years, he moved back to his hometown; and he and his wife, Terri, are now self-employed having started their Finders Keepers remodeling and construction business two years ago.

In September 2006, Ford was appointed to the Board of Alderman to serve the remainder of Mark White’s term after White took over for Tex Selvidge as mayor. Ford was elected to his own term in 2008 and was selected as mayor pro-tem. When White stepped down last December, aldermen again chose Ford to succeed him as the city’s 36th mayor.

ENTERPRISE: What would you say are the main accomplishments Clarendon has achieved since you joined the Board of Alderman?

FORD: I’m proud of the improvements at City Park. Our water line project (on the west side of town) will be a major accomplishment when it’s completed. We’re developing a plan to fix city streets properly, and planning an upcoming seal coat program. City Hall is looking better after its paint job. I’d say that hiring (City Administrator) John Webb was a step in the right direction. I’d also like to say we’ve developed a positive working environment for our employees. I’ve always felt like encouragement, positive input, and occasional criticism help develop a positive working environment.

ENTERPRISE: Does the city need an administrator and what do you think of the job Mr. Webb is doing?

FORD: I certainly believe we need an administrator. We found that out with the financial condition the city had slipped into when we did not have someone watching day to day. John Webb is a tremendous asset to the city. He is goal oriented. He can plan, organize, and execute effectively.

ENTERPRISE: City residents and businesses have seen their water and sewer bills go up this year, in some cases dramatically. Was that necessary; and if so, why?

FORD: I believe it was necessary. Past boards had not adequately gone up incrementally; and with rising costs, we were forced as a board to make those tough decisions.

ENTERPRISE: What can be done to improve the maintenance of city streets?

FORD: I’ve said it since I got on the board. You can’t put a Band-Aid on them. You’ve got to cut them out, square them up, and fix them right. You’ve got to plan to fix them and move on to the next one.

ENTERPRISE: What are your goals if re-elected?

FORD: Streets first. Fix the potholes properly and move toward seal coating areas of town. Finish the water tower project. Begin to replace some of the older pipes in the ground. And I’d like to see continued involvement with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce to beautify downtown.

ENTERPRISE: As you look at Clarendon 10 or 15 years in the future, what do you see?

FORD: I’d like to see a community storm shelter combined with an emergency command center possibly attached to a new City Hall. Definitely I see continually better streets. And continue to promote Clarendon as a wonderful place to live with new businesses.

ENTERPRISE: Why should people vote for you?

FORD: I believe I have the leadership and the ability to listen and work with citizens and the board; and I have the character to be non-judgmental, listen to both sides of an issue, and make the decision that will be best for Clarendon.

ENTERPRISE: What would your final message to the voters be?

FORD: I have only one agenda – to always think about what is in the best interest of Clarendon when I make decisions for our city. I’ve enjoyed serving as mayor and feel strongly that I’m best qualified for the position, and I would appreciate your support.

Alderman Tommy Hill is currently the longest serving member of the city board and now wants to serve as Clarendon’s mayor.

Hill grew up in Clarendon, graduated from high school here in 1974, and attended Clarendon College. Life and his family brought him back to his hometown and for 11 years he has worked as a property manager for Fletcher Properties, which has 41 rent houses in the city.

Clarendon voters elected Hill to the Board of Aldermen in 2002. In the last seven years, he has been consistently popular with many citizens. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008 and did not face an opponent in 2006.

Hill’s current term on the Board of Alderman does not expire until 2010. If he is elected mayor Saturday, the board will choose someone to finish his term on the board.

ENTERPRISE: What would you say are the main accomplishments Clarendon has achieved since you joined the Board of Alderman?

HILL: We got the new hotel. We’ve gotten some streets paved. Some east side streets were done with a grant, and the west side streets were money well spent. We got a grant for a new water tower that we’re working on and a grant for the park. The Economic Development Corporation has done a good job downtown, and I’d like to see downtown made even more historical.

ENTERPRISE: Does the city need an administrator and what do you think of the job Mr. Webb is doing?

HILL: Somebody has to oversee the daily operations of the city. Whether that’s a manager or an administrator or whatever you want to call it, someone needs to be overseeing things day to day. I’d like to see him get more grants and apply for more grants. He’s working on enforcing ordinances, and he’s trying to work on getting dilapidated properties cleaned up.

ENTERPRISE: City residents and businesses have seen their water and sewer bills go up this year, in some cases dramatically. Was that necessary; and if so, why?

HILL: My personal belief is that we can’t keep raising the rates of the utilities. There has to be other ways to raise money and cut expenses. We need to look at the big picture.

ENTERPRISE: What can be done to improve the maintenance of city streets?

HILL: They need to be repaired properly, which has not been done in the past. Five or six years ago, our city engineer gave us a book on how to repair the streets. Lack of maintenance is the problem. If you don’t fix them right, it won’t last.

ENTERPRISE: What are your goals if elected?

HILL: Get the streets repaired properly. I would like to see the water supply lines on the east side of town repaired or replaced. Clarendon is a great historical community, and we can make it better. I moved back here because this is my home. We all want something better, and the city, the EDC, the chamber – we can all fit together to do that.

ENTERPRISE: As you look at Clarendon 10 or 15 years in the future, what do you see?

HILL: I see the Clarendon College campus growing bigger. I see all the streets paved or bricked. I see better public education. I see a lot more businesses coming to town. And I’d like to see a community activity center for young and old like Wellington has.

ENTERPRISE: Why should people vote for you?

HILL: I think I’m well qualified to be the mayor of Clarendon and see to people’s needs and wants and to help make Clarendon a better community for generations to come.

ENTERPRISE: What would your final message to the voters be?