New City Council Member Bill Richardson Rants Against Showdown in San Angelo

 

Tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., the 10th Annual Lucas Oil Drag Boat Races, or Showdown San Angelo 2016, will commence. This event is known to be energetic, educational and simply fun for the entire family. Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, City Council Member Bill Richardson made a statement on social media against the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Races that has a few people shaking their heads.

On his Facebook page, Richardson stated, "I would like to see this as the last time the Lucas Corporation comes into our community to bleed our community of capital with one sensational event. I do not believe this event brings millions of dollars into our economy. These people use our water, a precious commodity in West Texas. Taxpayers pay to maintain the lake."

However, Pamela Miller, Vice President of Convention and Visitors Bureau for the Chamber of Commerce, stated the opposite. She said the boat races in San Angelo are beneficial and has a big economic impact. 

"[There is] over [a] $4.5 million in economic impact," Miller said. "Many hotels have reservations; I know Rodeway is sold out!"

Richardson, on the other hand, said, "There is a small surge in hotel occupancy tax and tax. Hotels and restaurants benefit for two days. Homeowners in the area are inconvenienced. I doubt this event brings in millions of dollars. Possible Lucas Oil makes off with millions of dollars."

Richardson added that San Angelo needs to use its lakes to "attack family based people on a year round daily basis." In this case, we believe Richardson meant "attract" rather than "attack," as one person commented on the post. Richardson also stated that San Angelo should open up Twin Buttes North and South Pools to 24-hour fishing, and for families who want to experience "a wilderness camping experience."

Aaron Wright, radio personality and program director for KDCD, responded to Richardson's post publicly. He asked, "Do all of us (who are sane) agree that the Showdown in San Angelo is a really important event to our community and its economy?" He continued, "Okay. Well this is what 'Crazy Bill' Richardson, who SMD1 just elected to our City Council, says."

Wright then went on to explain how Richardson blocked him on Facebook for calling him out on a "Council Watchdog" group Richardson created.

"But I'm not going to let that stop me thanks to my awesome listeners who took my advice and are sending me his lunacy," Wright said. "But that's what 'Crazy Bill' does. He says crazy things. Like this. Because one weekend of drag boats a year is apparently too much of a stress on our city's weekend family recreational options. Evidently, all the economic benefits to our local businesses aren't justified by the City's investment in such a big event. According to him, at least."

Wright added that nothing Richardson does surprises him, and he really wanted to know what people from SMD1 had to say about Richardson's comments since they elected him.

Overall, since being elected, Richardson has used social media to engage in controversial rants, which has stirred public discussion, screen shots and many shares across texts, email and Facebook. With the boat races underway tomorrow, this latest rant has stirred a bit of pre-event drama, and Wright isn't the only one who had a lot to say.

Carol Cain said, "Bill you have no idea what you're talking about. These people [who] come to pay for their own lodging, food from restaurants, [and] gasoline. What part of this community is not benefiting from this event? This event is for family."

Cain went on to say that the lakes benefit from the revenue, and there are many volunteers who help out with this event who ensure the trash is all cleaned up when all is said and done.

"You need to get your facts straight to what event isn't healthy for our lakes."

San Angelo LIVE! attempted to contact Richardson, so he could explain further why he feels the boat races are a hindrance to San Angelo; however, he has yet to respond to our request.

In the meantime, how about you San Angelo LIVE! readers? Do you believe the boat races are a benefit or a hindrance to the San Angelo community?

Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily

The LIVE! Daily is the "newspaper to your email" for San Angelo. Each content-packed edition has weather, the popular Top of the Email opinion and rumor mill column, news around the state of Texas, news around west Texas, the latest news stories from San Angelo LIVE!, events, and the most recent obituaries. The bottom of the email contains the most recent rants and comments. The LIVE! daily is emailed 5 days per week. On Sundays, subscribers receive the West Texas Real Estate LIVE! email.

Required

Most Recent Videos

Comments

I think Bill Richardson is going to be a hindrance to the San Angelo community. And I venture to say, a ONE TERM councilman!

Sigman, Thu, 06/23/2016 - 20:15

Mr. Richardson, thanks for pointing all this out for us. Can you provide "$$$$ FIGURES" to support your claims? "HE JUST MADE SOMETHING PERFECTLY CLEAR"

Concho, Thu, 06/23/2016 - 22:30

It is certainly hoped that Mr. Richardson becomes more informed on city issues than he is concerning this annual event. The economic input from sales taxes, occupancy tax and local shopping are significant. What water are they using other than showers and drinking -- the same as any other occupant of out local motels. If this is his way of embracing the city then he will definitely be one term but that is four years ago. What did the voters in SMD1 see in him that was better than the other candidate?

When this article came out, I heard a sound coming from the south side of town. It sounded like several hundred voters simultaneously slapping their foreheads. Should have voted for Trinidad Aguirre.

I don't know about how they do things in Canada, where Richardson is from, but here we elect people to represent what the voters want. Don't screw up our town, Bill.

I'm not a boat race fan, and I wouldn't go to the lake during the event. That said, there are 51 more weekends in the year to enjoy the lake, and there are other lakes in the area. Mr. Richardson was somehow elected to represent the people of SMD1. If they want the boat races gone and the positive economic impact removed, then we should hear from them in a logical, honest, fact driven account of their issues. If Mr. Richardson is simply ranting without basis, he has severely compromised the trust his constituents placed in him when they elected him. Whatever the reality is, he has made a fool of himself and his constituents by posting a social media rant without any basis in fact. He owes his constituents a huge apology. He should learn to be a more responsible representative and use social media more wisely. He is no longer a private citizen, but is now a representative of the people of SMD1. His voice is not a private opinion; it is the voice of his entire district. I surely hope he gains wisdom and gains it quickly.

I totally agree , the races bring in all of the riff raff from around the area , they get drunk , litter and leave a mess . Not only that they drop a lot of oil and gasoline in the precious water that sustains us . Good people from around the area have to make plans for recreation around this event . We the citizens pay to maintain this lake , which is rapidly being commercialized , there are no real camping areas left , since the city closed the south pool and twin buttes areas . Of course the morlocks are howling , they don't want the people of San Angelo to enjoy their lake . Mr. Richardson you have many supporters , keep up the good work !

Lol. The area has a longer tradition of hosting riff raff than it does of being a place where families can live peacefully. And since when is turning down Morlock (I've always preferred the term "yahoo,") money a bright idea?

Sigman, Fri, 06/24/2016 - 10:37

Well, Mr. Richardson does not represent my district & "THANK GOD!" We have many more important issues in this town to deal with and Drag Boat Races are not one of them! I can tell you right now that he will be a problem for our council! Oh, yea... you want to complain about the litter, left behind messes, and drunk citizens, lets not forget the July 4th activities around this city and the issues they present. Not staying I'm for doing away with those festivities as that would be "ANTI-AMERICAN." I'm all for these events! This councilman has a lot to learn and he's getting off to a bad start! "PRIORITIES!"

You totally thought Richardson was the brightest thing since neon until you saw other people deriding him. LOL.

Well, I'll start off by saying that I am a citizen of the county, not the city but I only live 5 minutes from the lake. I have been to the boat races the past three years and enjoyed them thoroughly! I am unable to go this year because of other obligations and I am thoroughly bummed. I have never been drunk in my entire 54 some years and haven't witnessed any undue behavior at the races the three years I have been. I am grateful that I don't have to admit voting for an individual who obviously needs more facts, but I work in San Angelo and feel like my opinion counts in San Angelo matters. I certainly hope that Mr. Richardson is a better councilman than he is showing so far.

I'm sure this is only the beginning for this guy. Unfortunately this district didn't have a good candidate but I'm surely amazed at how this guy got elected. Even before election he was in social media wars with everyone. Numerous people sent him screen shots of an underwear clad young lady "offering" her free time :) and her phone number on his facebook page & he just kept calling everyone liars and saying they were trying to make him look bad. People were telling him he might be hacked & he just kept calling everyone a liar. He doesn't need anyone helping him to look bad - I think he will have that covered all on his own.

Concho, Fri, 06/24/2016 - 14:00

If you are saying your district did not elect a good candidate then you will probably have many in agreement. Not my district but I do believe you had a better qualified candidate that would have better served the district and the city. The district needs to start looking for someone to run next time. Maybe try and convince the other candidate to give it another try.

I’m one of those unlucky patrons of social media who has had a run-in with Councilman Richardson. It took me about 5 seconds to block him once I realized he is a blithering idiot. Councilman Richardson is a fool and his preposterous spew should be taken for what it is, the rantings of a lunatic.

Oh my goodness. What's the difference between the boat races coming once a year and the rodeo coming once a year. Different sides of town, always disturbs what ever neighborhood it's in but both of them bring in money and give the people of this city something to do. Twin Buttes needs to be open for fishing all the time and the dock at Lake Nasworthy should of been repaired before the summer so people would have a place to fish. It's the only dock there. Of course, I am sure they will figure out a way to charge you to fish on the dock too. If the city cannot charge for it they will not be happy.

What's the big deal? This guy is representative (in the sense of being typical) of most San Angeloans, as far as I can tell. And besides, maybe the oil companies really are hosting these events just so they can walk away with big sacks of "loot," marked with dollar signs, and spew chemicals into the drinking water. Kind of like the plotlines of those old "Captain Planet" cartoons.

Sigman, Sat, 06/25/2016 - 17:18

Yea, Rita Rupulsa, I'm out at the "DRAG BOAT RACE" having me some "CHEMICAL SPEW DRINKING WATER!' Good "CHIT!" If it will do for me what it has done to you, I'll be "HALLUCINATING" like you and be one one happy camper before too long! Come on out and join me! "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BOAT RACES"

Naw bro. You're supposed to build up antibodies by huffing diesel for a few weeks beforehand. After that, the gallons of toxic waste they unload into the lake just makes the water taste like Tang.

Post a comment to this article here:

X Close