Communication with legislators is key, judge says

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

County Judge Donald Pozzi urged rural residents to watch several key issues, such as water and funding. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Dec. 15, 2005 - “The time to ‘kill the snake’ is when you have it in your hand,” said County Judge Donald Pozzi, of Victoria County, in referring to dealing with matters in a timely, effective manner — and specifically dealing with legislative issues that affect rural Texas.

A native Texan, and a lawyer for 32 years, Pozzi was a speaker at the recent South Texas Farm and Ranch Show in Victoria. He dwelled on how many urban representatives in state and federal government have little understanding of issues that affect rural areas.  

Pozzi stressed it is up to rural areas to make the individual state representatives aware of local, rural issues and/or problems.

According to Pozzi, there are “… many others (urban representatives) who have a hard time believing what they’re being told.” It’s as if urban areas have no idea of what is happening in nearby, rural areas. “County government is really big business,” he added.

While state representatives try to address local revenue and appraisal status, Pozzi noted the local, county governments know a lot more about what rural services are needed and which are not as important to the citizens. He said most local taxes equal local programs, with little money from the state.

Also mentioned in Pozzi’s speech were the Texas criminal justice system, human resources, and mental health/mental retardation programs, all of which Pozzi believes are suffering in counties because of a lack of state funding ... and further cuts are being considered.

In the criminal justice system, Pozzi explained the state pays more for correctional officers than the national prisons. Texas has a ratio of one officer to 45 inmates, and the national ratio is one to 73.

As Pozzi said, he wasn’t suggesting there is a “…lot of money lying around, but the state government needs to find a way to serve rural counties better, and without putting the expense on the local citizens.”

Another area rural citizens need to carefully track is the water issues. Pozzi noted the county officials “touch lives, daily.” He suggested that citizens use common sense and sound business principals, along with educating the public and then leaving decisions up to the public citizens.

Pozzi closed his address by noting that he, along with other rural county officials, will “continue to do the right thing to help its citizens raise their families better, and make rural life better.”