Frank Carter Warns: Ports-to-Plains Will Bring ‘Homelessness, Drug Trafficking with a Direct Route from Mexico’

Interesting story about a forum that could have been a debate but was nothing more than a Q&A after a presentation. Maybe Mr. Carter does not understand that San Angelo, just like any large city, already has homeless people and the drug traffic is a fact of life. That he doesn't understand that US 277 and US 87 already provide a direct link with Mexico is appalling. It really stretches credulity to believe that he did not personally ask any of the current officers to endorse him. Frank, it doesn't matter if you do it or one of your surrogates does it. It is still you asking. Otherwise, you want us to believe that these officers, each independently, approached you and told you that they wanted their name to appear in your political ad. How naïve do you think the public is? It is one thing to make statements in a presentation and in a Q&A setting. It is totally different where you can be challenged immediately by the other candidate. I believe the current election is proof positive of the need to eliminate elected police chiefs and move to an appointed one. Should that eventually come to pass it absolutely needs to make it clear that the incumbent elected chief can APPLY for the position but is not automatically placed in the position. That was a flaw in the last proposal in November last year.

Of course, now he wants an appointed chief instead of elected...now that he is losing his grip on authority in town. We have a business owner, building up the community, and a drummer chief spending his free time in the bar. I'm not judging either, but Vasquez has a lot of nerve criticizing someone for trying to build a small business instead of playing drums. Seriously.

I do not think this is a recent choice on the part of Vasquez. He has supported appointed chiefs in the past. He will have the same position should he win the election. It is a little early on your part to call him, or anyone, a sore loser since the outcome remains in doubt. You are entitled to your support of Mr. Carter but there is no purpose to running down Mr. Vasquez because he plays drums and it just happens to be in a place where liquor is sold. I am pretty certain that Mr. Carter knows all about the sins of alcohol which is not disqualifying of either of them.

Well, these two candidates have now come together in a "FORUM" to discuss other relevant issues impacting the citizens of San Angelo, TX. In the presentation, questions were asked about "issues and challenges" facing our community. Mr. Carter expressed his concern with the "PORTS TO PLAINS CORRIDORS." Surprisingly he did not seem to be aware that these corridors already exists in our area. Also, he states that these corridors promote homelessness and drug trafficking. Every since I have lived here, homelessness and drug trafficking have been a problem in San Angelo, TX. Chief Vasquez addressed Mr. Carter's personal business involvement and there was a lady in the audience who brought up the issue of Chief Vasquez involvement with a local band. Seems petty for one to make an issue of what these two gentlemen do on their own time. As long as what they do on their own time does not interfere with their job duties/performance and no laws are being broken, what difference does it make? Chief Vasquez statements regarding an "APPOINTED VS AN ELECTED POLICE CHIEF" is nothing new. Chief Vasquez has publicly stated in the past, and now in the present, that he would support this change. He further cites legitimate reasons for this. The key is to have provisions in the change that would require the current Police Chief to apply for the position like everyone else and not be automatically placed in that position. I moved here from a city that "APPOINTS" a Police Chief, and can say that the entire process is much more effective than electing a new Chief. Since I've been here, I have always been a proponent of an "APPOINTED POLICE CHIEF." The turmoil that has come about during this election is one of reasons. This election is pitting many Police Officers within this department against each other and I have no doubt that working together at the Department might be uneasy for some. This should not be happening! I had also stated that while I'm not in favor of either candidate, I lend more credence towards Chief Vasquez. In "MY" opinion, he already has the needed experience and appears to be the better qualified of the two. In closing, I will state again that I strongly believe that this city needs to give serious consideration on changing how our Police Chief is placed in office at some time in the near future. One of these gentlemen will be our next Police Chief, so may the "Best Man" win! "APPOINTED VS ELECTED"

There are 149 sworn officers and 123 took a management survey. 82.55% response.

Of the 149 the chief, assistant chiefs and lieutenants were not allowed to take it. That is 11-12 people. Why were they not allowed to take it? Because it is a management survey, they are management, it was about them.

So now you have 137 available officers to take the survey, of those 123 completed it. 89.78% response.

Only 14 did not take the survey. When conducting a survey you want as many people to take it as possible to get an accurate outcome. 123 out of 137 is considered a good return. You have 89.78% of the department that took this survey. And if you want to get picky and say that management should have been able to take it that is still 82.55% of the department completed the survey. Had those 14 taken the survey I bet the results would still be the exact same.

123 aka 90% of the department say something is wrong with management, and on a big scale. And yet people outside of those walls want to argue with them. Citizens need to listen to their officers here.

Your statement that it is a management survey could not be further from the truth. It was strictly a union (CLEAT) survey. The questions were designed to obtain a specific result. If all the questions posted were the entire survey then there were obvious omissions that would either confirm or refute the overall result. I thought there more than 149 officers on the force. Still, missing 10 percent of the force is sufficient to alter the results of any survey. Further, you state that 123 officers is equal to 90 percent of the department which contradicts the rest of your numbers. Regardless, the 123 officers did not actually say something is wrong with management, particularly the chief. There can be problems with middle management that caused the results. Certainly that would require action by the chief and unless you are a member of the force you have no way to know what actions he may or may not be taking. I do not know the day to day operations of the department. I do know that I currently have no serious complaints about the department. Over many years, longer than the 12 years of the current administration, I have observed problems with the department. Now things seem to be working just fine. All of the officers are professional. I have witnessed considerable improvement in their demeanor, performance and overall behavior during the time that Chief Vasquez has led the department. Almost all of the concerns raised about the current administration would be removed by having an appointed chief. The problem with the current system is there will always be someone, qualified or not, believing they are better able to be chief. It doesn't matter to that individual or individuals, and possibly some voters, whether or not they have the training, experience or education to do the job. Many times we have elected the "wrong" person to be chief only to watch them be voted out the next election. What will it take for the voters to understand having an appointed chief eliminates all of the infighting and dissension within the department. Mr. Vasquez is the better qualified candidate. Whether you agree or not, please vote!

That's right citizens of San Angelo, TX so stay tuned for better times to come! "LOVE IS IN THE AIR"