Richard Morrison Files For March Primary: Fort Bend County Commissioner, Precinct 1

Richard Morrison has been around a lot lately. You might recall that he ran in 2004 as the Democratic challenger to Tom DeLay in what everyone said was a hopeless tilt at windmills. Only to surprise EVERYone in his impressive showing with a significant 41% of the vote in what was assumed to be a safe Republican gerrymandered district. Richard Morrison was first to prove that DeLay could be unseated [Little did we realize at the time that he could actually be chased out of his state].

You might also recall that Richard Morrison is the leader in opposition to Allied Waste’s plans for expansion of their Blueridge Landfill in southern Fort Bend County. A project to which present Precinct 1 County Commissioner Tom Stavinoha has given his blessing.

Morrison also led the charge to invoke the Netroots community to start a draft movement to urge State Rep. LTC Rick Noriega to challenge Bush rubberstamp junior senator John Cornyn.

And most recently, Richard Morrison has added his voice to the growing community objection to TxDOT’s plans to build Section C of the Grand Parkway as a toll way, a hue and cry that has gotten so loud so as to cause a reversal in Tom Stavinoha’s tacit approval of the project.

So what do you do after all of that? Well the answer is obvious: Invite County Commissioner Stavinoha into an early retirement.

Press release follows:

RICHARD MORRISON DEMOCRAT FOR COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 1

Residents of Precinct 1 have lost confidence in Tom Stavinoha. His choice to approve a toll way as an extension of the Grand Parkway, his support of I-69 through the middle of Fort Bend County, his conscious decision to ignore flooding and drainage problems in the precinct, and his approval of the location of a 20 story pile of Houston’s garbage in Precinct 1 demonstrates how little he cares about the current families of Precinct 1. Residents of Precinct 1 are tired of leaders who will not stand up to the big moneyed interests and who engage in "pay to play politics" which leaves current residents without effective representation. Stavinoha has lost his focus on the families that live in Precinct 1 and their critical issues of quality of life and an honest ethical government.

That is why today I filed to run for Fort Bend County Commissioner of Precinct 1.
The families of Precinct 1 are demanding a leader; someone with a backbone, willing to fight outside interests that want to pillage our county resources to the detriment of our current residents. I am a seventh generation Texan, whose parents and grandparents taught me to stand up for what you believe in, work hard and play by the rules. I will apply those lessons to the office of Commissioner. I will S.T.O.P the Grand Parkway Toll Road. I will keep I-69 and the Trans Texas Corridor as far away from Fort Bend County as possible. I will fix the flooding and drainage problems that exist in the precinct. I will fight against the location or expansion of any landfills in the county. And I will make sure that Fort Bend County acquires no more debt goes back to operating on a pay-as-you-go basis.

I want to reform the Commissioner’s office, making it a place where leadership, responsibility and ethics prevail. I will mount a strong, issues based campaign to win this most important post in the 2008 General Election. I will campaign as a voice to the families of Precinct 1. I am pro-business and pro-growth, but these issues should not diminish the quality of life of the families that already live in the precinct. I have chosen to raise my family in Precinct 1. My family and I have lived in Fort Bend County for 12 years. We are residents of Greatwood. My law office is in Precinct 1. My church is in Precinct 1. My children attend school in Precinct 1. My wife shops for groceries in Precinct 1. The County Commissioner needs to know how to prioritize the growth of Precinct 1 with the needs of its current residents.

Fort Bend County has a budget of more than $214 million per year, much of it is spent without explanation. No-bid contracts for expensive professional services are awarded primarily to big donors. Hundred million dollar bond issues are passed for roads to nowhere. When elected I will fight to pass ethics reform, so that Commissioner’s Court will not be able to accept donations from entities that have or will have no-bid contracts with the county.

I will restore the words "fair, honest and hardworking" to the office of the Commissioner. The Commissioner’s office will not operate in secrecy. I will make decisions based on facts, not campaign contributions. When elected I will do everything in my power to open up government to the voters. Budgets, appointments, contracts, and campaign contributions will be made available on the web for anyone who wants to see them. Every decision I make will benefit the current families of Precinct 1.

In filing for my candidacy for County Commissioner, I am sending a strong message that it is time to run Precinct 1 on behalf of the current families that live there. I will fight for higher ethical standards, provide stronger oversight to manage future growth, and make quality of life for the current residents a top priority. I hope to have the support of all the families in Precinct 1. I need your time talent and treasure to get to take back seat on Commissioner’s Court.