The last two articles I have written have included information regarding the spring municipal elections and the opportunity our residents have to consider serving our community.  I have been asked a number of times during the past several weeks if I intend to run again for Mayor and my answer is the same as it has been for the past two years, “I have served as Mayor long enough and it is now time for someone else to take up that job.”  I suspect a few citizens are beginning to believe me, but I assure you that after 15 years in this job I feel confident it is time for me to “retire”.  During these past years I have chaired over 200 meetings of the City Council, written well over 600 of these weekly columns, and spent countless hours in meetings with City staff, lawyers, engineers and state regulators working out details of providing our town with water, electricity, sewer and garbage services.  Yes there is a paycheck at the end of the month, but it isn’t big and the hourly wage comes out to about $4.00 per hour, or perhaps less, so none of your City elected officials have ever taken the job to get rich!  Mason does not have term limits and I feel sure that having consistent leadership has stabilized the often rocky road of keeping a city on track.  However, when I recently realized that the ever present and constantly in use iPhone was introduced two years after I was elected Mayor, it does seem that I might have served long enough and it might be time for a change!  While there have been many challenges during the past fifteen years,  I will repeat what I have said before, there are few jobs which can provide the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment to compare to providing leadership in a progressive and supportive community like Mason.

      The City of Mason is in great shape currently, and in the next two or three months we should begin the initial steps in constructing the new Landfill.  Also, as soon as the environmental regulators finish their review of the design and plans for our new water treatment system, that project too will begin construction, probably during the coming summer.  If all goes well, both of these major improvements to the quality of life in Mason should be complete and serving our community in about twelve months.  In addition, the City crews continue to take care of the many daily jobs and projects that are needed to keep the water flowing, the power on and all the other services functioning properly.  Certainly there are a variety of other projects that would improve our infrastructure and services, but these are being considered through the Planning Workshops been going on for many years and which met in early December and will continue in a couple of weeks.  There are continuing needs, but with a proactive approach these issues will be dealt with and small problems will not become big ones.  In so many ways the City of Mason is in great shape, and the only real concern that I have is the need for wise, committed and progressive citizens with a good bit of common sense to step up and provide the leadership that will take our community into the next decade.  In the spring elections this year the Mayor as well as at least two Commissioner positions will be on the ballot. The filing period for these positions has just opened and will continue until February 14.  If you have an interest in being a part of the continuing progress of our community, now is the time to take action and put your name on the ballot to serve the best hometown in Texas.