Ray L. Williams -- Home

34 years working with computers, including mainframes, telecommunications, technical training, and public speaking. Two years on the city council of an area city (the second person in the history of the city to unseat an incumbent), as well as city and state boards. Presided over the two lowest effective tax increases in the history of that city (2.99%, 0%), while implementing many public safety programs, including police car replacement every 3 years and manning a previously closed fire station. Now retired, due to health. Businesses above are maintained by wife.

"I haven't lived here all my life, but I came as soon as I heard it had turned republican."

Ellis County provides a peaceful, country atmosphere in which to live, while being close to services available only in large cities. Commissioner Sims doesn't mind asking questions to keep everyone on their toes, and reminds everyone why there are five people representing the county, instead of just one.

I have supported Commissioner Brown since moving here in 2002, and have encouraged our homeowners group to do the same. I have now seen Brown's "true colors" and I apologize to the hundreds of citizens I've asked to vote for him. It won't happen again.

We have Johnny Brown protecting us as Sheriff, Mike Jones as our constable, and Steve Egan as our Justice of the Peace. I feel we have honest, caring people representing us in Precinct 4 in the public safety area.

I'm a firm supporter of public safety. Ellis County has a very good group of peace officers, although the 2008 Sheriff's primary and election seemed to turn a few into playground bullies, which hurt the entire department. It's one thing to promote your candidate, or say why you don't like someone else's candidate. It's quite another to spread rumors and call people childish names. If we have issues of public integrity, they should be exposed to the public and to the county and district attorney. But, office politics shouldn't exist, and certainly shouldn't be broadcast to the public.

McDonald's says, "If you have time to lean, you have time to clean." If an employee has time to play office politics, they aren't busy enough. The ECSO needs to learn from that.

To those who criticized Johnny Brown when he was running, you have only to look at the newspaper -- we're having record arrests for drugs, burglaries, etc. by the ECSO. He has done what he said he would do. If only Washington would do the same.

Judge Bush is a very sincere, intelligent person. I was amazed at her courtesy in a recent visit. She seems very "open" -- something not often found in a person in her position. She even opened the door for me when I left.

Johnny Brown will be the most innovative sheriff we've ever seen. As one of the most powerful people in the county, it would be easy for this job to "go to his head," but I don't think Johnny will have that problem. His ideas are progressive and intelligent.

Mike Jones is a man who has proudly served our country and has the best interest of the citizens at heart. He has already worked to solve mortgage fraud, having the foresight to recognize the problem and work toward a solution months before it became nationally recognized. He will work with the INS to reduce the number of illegal citizens in our county.

Steve Egan's election to the Justice of the Peace position puts a real person into what is often referred to as "The People's Court." With no agenda other than serving the citizens, he is a breathe of fresh air for Ellis County.

The ESD2 commissioners were of the "tax and spend" philosophy, but the sales tax election and new faces on the board seem to have given them a more conservative view. Tom Manning is invaluable in the financial area. I'd like to see us get a citizen-supported team to assist the firefighters in emergency situations.

Overall, the ESD's seem to be a win-win solution to protection in the county. The municipalities who assist the ESD's get extra income, and the ESD's save by not having to build fire stations across the county.

Government should tax only to the extent necessary for essential services. Instead of raising taxes, government should spend the money it has more wisely. Governments often are not short on money, they're short on the common sense to spend it wisely and the honesty to keep it out of their own pockets. The federal government has over-stepped itself by charging taxes, licenses, and fees on just about everything. The burden of tracking those fees, not to mention paying them, is a tremendous one to any business.

To be charged a fee for a license to do what the 2nd Amendment tells us we can do is just wrong. For Obama and his cronies to want to take it away from us regardless is even worse.

Dick Armey	House Majority Leader	When Armey was running for speaker, we were touring the capitol. Our young son ran up to him and asked, "Are you Mr. Speaker?" He turned to his colleagues and said, "See? Even HE thinks I should be the speaker." I immediately told him we were not in his voting district, and he replied, "If you're an American, you're MY constituent." We chatted and took photos for 15 minutes; I couldn't believe the amount of time he spent with us, especially without an appointment. He was an amazing statesman.
Mary Kay Ash	Founder, Mary Kay Cosmetics	I attended church with Mary Kay and Mel (2nd husband) for several years. They were both very gracious and generous people. Mary Kay wore 2 lapel pins all the time. One was a bumblebee. Scientists say the bumblebee can't fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it. She used that to demonstrate the power of positive thinking, especially for women, who had not quite been accepted into the marketplace at that time. The other pin was two shovels: One was large; the other, quite small. "The small shovel," she would say, "is what I give to God. The large shovel is what He gives back to me."
Arlo Guthrie	Musician, Actor	We met him at the Meyerson. He was very friendly and down-to-earth. How else could Arlo be? (If you've never heard "City of New Orleans" with full orchestra background, you don't know what you're missing.) It was an honor to shake the hand of such a talented musician.
Tom Lester	Actor, "Green Acres" and "Benji"	Think of "Eb" with a doctorate. Very intelligent, yet down to earth and sincere. Trivia: he teaches Sunday School at a Baptist Church in California.
Al Lewis	Actor, "Car 54, Where are You?" and "The Munsters"	A brief encounter on a plane, but when I asked for permission to take his picture, he responded with the "Grandpa" grin.
Dan Quayle	Vice President, U. S.	Extremely nice guy, very personable, intelligent, and amazingly powerful speaker. It's sad how TV and the liberals destroy his image. I got about 2 minutes to speak directly with him before his speech. It's amazing how many guys there were around him in dark suits -- he should have felt very safe.
Dr. David Sibley	State Senator, Texas	I spoke at the opening of his Duncanville office. He's a man who has overcome amazing physical hardships. He sent Christmas cards for several years -- he's a great guy.
Dr. Robert Young	Composer	I was introduced to Bob at a dinner at a relative's house. I made a joke about his name being the same as the famous composer, and then found out that's who he was. He has joined us at our house for Thanksgiving dinner several times, and is a very interesting person. Trivia: he was in the military, and was stationed to Pearl Harbor shortly after the December 7th attack.
Jim Wright	Speaker of the House	Yes, I know he's a democrat. It was still interesting to chat for a few minutes with the Speaker of the House -- it's not something one gets to do every day.