Just to be clear, we have no beef with Bluebonnet employees, or their fine service both during the historic fire or otherwise — they’re doing a great job!

The sick feeling I had in my stomach was not because Dick Peterson and George Kehler were not elected to the board, or even that all three incumbents (one who has served for 30 years!) were reelected.  It was the arrogance of Bluebonnet’s CEO, Mark Rose, who deigned to interfere with our right to support these two fine people.  I asked for a simple apology.  What I got was a refusal by Rose to admit that he lost his temper and abused his authority.

We supported Dick and George because we thought they would be great additions to Bluebonnet.  We also wanted to test Bluebonnet’s electoral system.  Bluebonnet failed on this count, pretty miserably.  We reported to you recently about the ads placed in the newspapers implying we had done something wrong — when we were operating perfectly within our rights to engage in electoral campaigning.

We just learned that another organization supporting Dick and George was issued an intimidating “cease and desist” letter by Bluebonnet’s attorney, for simply gathering proxies for the two candidates — something completely legal and proper under Bluebonnet by-laws.   Rose claimed that he had bonafide reports that Clean Water Action canvassers were posing as Bluebonnet employees.  We very seriously doubt that.

We will be back in touch with you after we gather more information and hear from all parties involved in what took place this week.  This may take some time, but I assure you that we will not let this go down without a fight to bring Bluebonnet’s governance in line with what the ratepayers deserve.  This includes holding meetings at a time and place that is convenient for the most members to attend, non-interferance in the elections process, ending the proxy system which is a set up for manipulation, allowing candidates the opportunity to speak to the membership about what they want to see changed and more.

Thanks for your participation.  At least the movement for reform at Bluebonnet is in the air and we hope to spirit moves towards reform at other coops.

I’m told that the reforms implemented at Pedernales Electric Coop have indeed made a big difference!

The rumor that Bluebonnet Electric is considering a rate hike is FALSE!  In fact, the coop has invested in some new technologies that are likely to help keep rates low.

Our primary concern about Bluebonnet is the “proxy system”.  We would prefer to simply allow ratepayers to mail in their ballots and vote for themselves.  Also, we hope Bluebonnet will start having their meetings on Saturdays so that members can more easily attend.

The membership meeting and final vote for the Bluebonnet Electric Coop Board is this Tuesday, May 8th, with registration starting at 1:30 pm at the Sons of Hermann Hall, 1031 CR 223 in Giddings.  Please consider attending to hear directly from the board about this as well as other plans for the coop that are of great interest, including conservation efforts.

Independent Texans endorsed two candidates running for the board — Dick Peterson and George Kehler.  An ad paid for by Bluebonnet, with your membership dollars appeared in area papers this week that seemed to call our efforts into question.  We believe this was an inappropriate way to spend coop member’s money as it was inaccurate, confusing and unnecessary.  These are two viable, highly qualified candidates put forth by Bluebonnet for your consideration!

It now seems our utility would like you to think otherwise.  Is it because Peterson and Kehler have generated broad-based support from both members and organizations interested in the difficult issues facing us in the future?

Please join us in Giddings on Tuesday to ask questions and learn more.  Bluebonnet need not fear its own members!

This is precisely why Shelley Cartier is running for County Judge and Phil Cook is running for Commissioner Precinct 3 (against John Klaus, a Democrat, who made the motion) as independents (no party affiliation).

Bastrop has a major challenge facing residents after the fires that destroyed a significant portion of the tax base.  Will the Commissioners start cutting jobs?  If they do, where will they start?  Will they take a pay cut themselves, before laying off those at the bottom of the totem pole?  What will they do to raise the funds they need to run the county?  Will the appraisal district treat residents fairly and not expect us to pick up the tab for a natural disaster?  There are lots of questions that cannot be easily answered.  We are going to need a Commissioner’s Court that will work WITH citizens, not behind closed doors in the protectionist fashion we just witnessed.

It’s time for Bastropians, of all persuasions, to work together and get involved — this isn’t us against them folks.  It’s about we, the people, working together to solve the problems.  Our officials must be held accountable or we should replace them with those who will listen and participated WITH citizens.

There’s more to discuss and we will at the next meeting on Monday, April 30th at 6:30 pm at the Bastrop Public Library at 1101 Church Street.

If you want to help.  Contact us by phone or email at 535-0989 or at ljcurtis@indytexans.org, and we’ll send you a petition you can sign and ask your friends and neighbors to sign.  Shelley needs 500 signatures and Phil needs 206.  We want to file by the primary on May 29th, though we have until June 29th.

Read more here on Shelley Cartier and Phil Cook

Ready for competitive elections and open government? 

We independents are!

Come meet two good local people who have agreed to run for Bastrop County Commission if we help get the signatures they need to get on the ballot to run as independents.

Monday, April 2, 6:30 pm
First National Bank of Bastrop
489 Highway 71 West (in the old HEB building)

Come Meet:

Phil Cook, County Commission, Precinct 3 (Cedar Creek)

Shelley Cartier for Bastrop County Judge

We will also discuss:  What Pati Jacobs would have done had she been appointed Bastrop County Judge. 

Bastrop can do better than what the County Commission is doing to address our serious budget and water issues.  They can also do their business out in the open with real citizen input.  Let’s get organized now to get the Commission on the right course.

Independent Texans
PO Bo 651
Bastrop, TX 78602  * 512-535-0989 * IndyTexans.org

Paid for by Independent Texans PAC