Ramping up

I just put most of my campaign signs out through Joshua on Broadway and a few side streets. tomorrow I'll get all the rest out so if you don't have yours yet, it's coming. Thanks to everyone who has called to make sure you're getting one back and to the new supporters since May 9th that have requested one. We've got a few more prominent locations now that we didn't have before the general election so hopefully it will help bring some more people out to the polls on June 13th.

Its been reported to me that the mayor has been campaigning for my opponent. That's not surprising since he had one of his signs in his yard before. A couple other council members have made it clear they would like to keep the current council in place also. They like things the way they are. Actually I was told that specifically by a council member. Why is it someone would have so much opposition when their message is openness, accountability and bringing the voice of the citizens to the council, I wonder? You should wonder too.

A.J.

UPDATE: Anti-American company policy

After much public pressure I'm happy to report that Kindred Hospital has reversed their decision and has now allowed their employee to display her American flag in her office. Hopefully other companies will learn from this and make the right choice the first time.

Let me again be perfectly clear on my position here. I believe in the rights of employers to make the rules for their companies, employees, property, etc., but not in the case of displaying the symbol of our nation that affords us all other freedoms. Call me a hypocrite if you want. I'll take that badge, paint it red, white and blue and wear it proudly.

A.J.

Anti-American company policy

Last night on our local news there was a story about a woman who brought an American flag to her workplace, Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She displayed the flag in her office and apparently offended some of her American-hating co-workers so she was asked to take it down. In slight defense of Kindred Hospital they fly our colors outside the facility, but that doesn't excuse them from this travesty. I'm so sick of small groups of people deciding what the rest of us can or cannot do and it should be the right of any American to display our flag in any personal space.

Do they also not allow people to wear American flag lapel pins and has a doctor there never worn an American flag tie? I'm sure the real purpose of the forced anti-patriotic decision was to avoid a lawsuit from an offended individual. How about the lady who was offended to the point of tears for not being able to display the symbol of freedom that her son is now defending in Iraq? Where's the ACLU now?

Here's the email I sent to Kindred Hospital last night. I encourage everyone reading this to also contact them to express your displeasure in their decision.

"I was offended and appalled this evening watching the story on the news of how you would not allow an employee to have an American flag in her office. THIS IS AMERICA!!!!! What is wrong with you? A company so weak that it would not stand up and defend our flag against a few people who are supposedly offended doesn't deserve the privilege of doing business in this great nation. You chose instead to offend someone who does respect and honor our country by making her remove the very symbol of our freedom that allows you to exist. Shame on you. I'll be doing everything in my power to bring you the negative publicity you deserve until you publicly apologize and allow the America flag to be displayed in any office of your facility. And just so you really know where I stand, you should not allow any other nation's flags to be displayed just because an American flag is. Refer to sentence number two if you have any questions as to why."

A.J. Mathieu, American

Getting ready

I've had a lot of calls and people stop by asking about campaign signs and the status of the race. As most of you know we've got a runoff on June 13th. I picked up all my campaign signs so I could change the date on them and there's no use in having the weather beat them up for several weeks. I had red stickers made with the runoff date so they'll be highly visible. Early voting starts June 1st so I'll get the signs back out by that date.

It will be very important that everyone gets back out to vote this time around. If your spouse didn't make it to the polls last time make sure he or she is there this time. Every vote counts and every vote will matter. Early voting and election day voting is at city hall this time around.

Thanks,

A.J.

Runoff Election to be Held for City Council Place 4

There will be a runoff election for City Council Place 4. The election will be held June 13th at Joshua City Hall and polls will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Early voting will also be held at City Hall, and will begin June 1st and end June 9th. Early voting hours will be Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Extended voting hours will be offered June 2nd and June 4th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

We almost did it!

We received the most votes in yesterday's election, but not enough for 50% so we've got a run off to get through now. Thank you very much to everyone who supported me! I'll post the run off date here as soon as I get it and we'll do our best to rally everyone back out one more time to get this finished up. I'm excited and encouraged with the results we've seen so far so I know we can win this. Keep talking to your family, friends and neighbors and lets get even more people out to the polls for this next try.

If you have one of our yard signs in front of your home or business I'll be picking them up this week so I can change the election date on them. I'll put them back out a couple weeks before the run off.

Thanks again,

A.J.

More fun

I walked a neighborhood today that I've been trying to get to for a couple weeks now and I'm glad I did. A lot of people were home so I was able to actually greet them and personally hand them a campaign card.

I met one elderly gentleman today that was more than happy to chat for a while and I really enjoyed talking with him. He worked for a company for 31 years before getting hit by a car on the side of the road and ending up in a coma for three weeks. Previously in his life he found himself twice in situations where he was shot. Wow! I told him that he was the most interesting person I've met so far in my campaign. It's conversations like that that make me glad I'm doing what I'm doing. It's good to hang out on the front porch for a while and get to know someone.

A.J.

The Issues

This information will appear in my half-page ad in this week's edition of the Joshua Star newspaper. With this I will have definitely published a lot more information than any other Joshua City Council candidate. I'm not holding anything back from the voters. What you see (or read) is what you get. I'm not a politician I'm an American. Vote for me because you like what I stand for or don't vote for me because you disagree with what I stand for, but don't vote for someone because you just remembered seeing their name on a sign somewhere. You should demand information like this from anyone asking for your vote.

CITY DRAINAGE ISSUES
There’s been a lot of talk about fixing three city drainage issues including Mountain Valley. The cost of the three projects is estimated at over $6.5 million. Since the entire city budget each year is less than $2.5 million those projects would most likely mean enormous debt or an increase in property taxes. Those projects will need to be looked at again much more closely before the taxpayer’s money is committed to spending that large.

PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
Another area of increased spending is switching our current volunteer fire department to a paid one. The timing of that spending still needs to be studied and debated before jumping into a huge increase in the budget of the department. Joshua has an outstanding volunteer department made up of amazing public servants who love what they do and care for those they help every day. Careful consideration needs to be given to this issue before one consultant’s recommendation is taken at face value without considering those who provide the service now.

RESTAURANT ALCOHOL SALES
Success of the Joshua Station retail development may depend on being able to attract and retain some quality restaurants. Most national chain restaurants want to be able to sell alcoholic drinks. Our state legislators have made the issue of alcohol sales much easier for municipalities to customize an ordinance to the wants of the voters. Alcohol sales can be as specific or broad as the people wish in the ordinance. Public forums and polls should be held on this to ensure the majority of residents are heard.

GARAGE SALES
One of the few issues in the last year that the current city council has not voted unanimously on is garage sale signs. I support residents being able to put out more garage sale signs. I would accomplish this by requiring a deposit for signs. People would be more likely to pick up their signs and return them if they were going to get their money back and if they did not, then that revenue would help fund our code enforcement officer picking them up.

CITY PARK
I’m very excited about Joshua getting its first city park. The planning and design of the park is still ongoing. I would like to see much more citizen involvement in deciding the features that will be included in the park with public meetings and some informal online polls on the city website to shape the park into what our residents will enjoy and use regularly.

TERM LIMITS
It’s a tough sell to get politicians to buy into term limits because they don’t want to give up their power. Some will tell you that they need to be around longer to get things done, but if they were on a tighter schedule more things would get done anyway. I believe government would run better with a turnover of representatives. I believe it is the duty of a representative to engage the public and inspire and encourage participation in the business of the government. In that approach other qualified candidates will emerge to carry on the projects, ideas and values of their predecessors. If elected I will support adding term limits to our city government. I will self-impose a two-term limit on myself should I be fortunate enough to win your support. You’ve got it in writing.

A.J.

The final week

I didn't get much done last week since it was raining so much and I had run out of my campaign cards (1000 of them!). I've got another box of 1000 now and decent weather so I'm back at it. I got through one more small neighborhood today and several businesses. It felt good to be back out walking, knocking and talking. I'm actually going to miss going door to door asking people to consider me for the Joshua City Council.

It's been a fun challenge:
"Will anyone be home here?"
"Will they be receptive?"
"Will they be engaging and willing to talk?"

I ask myself these questions and it keeps me wanting to go to just one more house to find out the answers.

I spoke with a business owner today who was adamant about not getting involved in political things because "all politicians are crooks." I'm sure he didn't believe me that I agreed with him and that was exactly why I'm running for office now. I should have mentioned my stance on term limits. Perhaps that would have at least given him something to think about. My next post will have more info on that and several other issues.

A.J.