Two Republicans and two Democrats compete for Precinct 2 Commissioner

The candidates in the Pct. 2 Commissioners race, from left, Phillip Hoffman, Eddie Perritt, John Fitch and Raymond Johnson

By LOU ANTONELLI

Editor-in-Chief

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of reports from the third annual Candidates’ Forum held by the Tri-County Press on Feb. 15 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.

It was large crowd who heard the four candidates at the forum, two Republicans and two Democrats.

The Precinct 2 seat is up for grabs as Mike Fields is retiring, after first being elected in 1986. Fields was a Democrat, and the two Democrats seeking to replace him are Phillip Hoffman and Raymond Johnson.

In his introduction, Hoffman said he served 29 years as a road foreman and is now an assistant to the county’s road engineer. He said because of his experience “I don’t have to be trained.” He said he sees the role of a commissioner is to promote economic development, keep taxes reasonable, and improve services.

Johnson said he studied law enforcement at Sam Houston State University and he served as a Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections officer for 23 years before retiring.

Republican Eddie Perritt went to work for the City of Mount Pleasant in 1987, and is currently the Director of Buildings and Development. He trained as a master electrician and worked for the City of Sulphur Springs for three years before coming to Mount Pleasant. He said he would bring a vast amount of experience to the job. He also said that as a cost-cutting measure he would not take a full salary.

John Fitch said he is a life-long Mount Pleasant resident and a 1984 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. He is a volunteer firefighter and has been a member of the family business, Fitch Memorials, for 25 years. His father is a former commissioner for Precinct 1.

Moderator and Tri-County Press Publisher Sonya Woods fielded questions from the audience. When asked what part of the county’s budget they feel should be “shielded from cuts”, Johnson said cuts should only be made “in the right areas.”

Fitch said he would not favor cuts to the budget of the sheriff’s office – including the jail staff – or fire protection. He said he would eliminate the road engineer’s budget. He said he is not in favor of the unit road system implemented after a 2016 referendum, and is helping a petition to have it put on the ballot and repealed in November.

Perritt said any cuts should be across the board “so as to not single out any one department.” 

Hoffman said he agreed that the fire protection and the sheriff’s office should not be cut.

When asked what changes to taxes they envisioned, Hoffman said the county already has the third lowest tax rate for a county its size. Perritt said he would like to look at the entire operation of the county before coming to any decision, “I don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver.”

Fitch said the county’s taxes are the fourth lowest of 15 counties in the region, and are watched over by “a great mastermind”, County Auditor Carl Johnson.

Raymond Johnson said “the county tax rate is already pretty low” and he’d want to get together with other commissioners once in office before making any decisions.

When asked if they would lower his own salary in office, Johnson said “I’m all for it”, but he would want it to be a decision of the majority of commissioners. He added he didn’t want any savings “to pay for the road engineer”.

Fitch agreed with that, reiterating he wants to do away with the unit road system. Perritt repeated his previous pledge to take a “substantial cut” in pay. 

Hoffman “it’s not a bad idea, I’d consider it for sure.”

Early in-person voting is underway, with the Primary Day being March 6.

ENDORSEMENT

Eddie Perritt is clearly the most qualified candidate for the job, both in terms of his experience as well as his personal attitude and temperament.

In light of Titus County voting history, this race is likely to be decided in the Republican Primary. In addition to voting FOR Eddie Perritt, Republican voters need to vote AGAINST John Fitch. His pledge to work to roll back the unit road system is petty and disruptive. The voters clearly decided the issue in a referendum. That’s the way democracy works, whether he likes it or not.