News

US Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Amarillo) has hit the ground running as the new member of Congress from the 13th District of Texas, and he’s finding the job is somewhat different than what he expected.

Jackson sat down with The Clarendon Enterprise Tuesday morning and said he ran with the expectation that President Donald Trump would be re-elected, which would have given him an advantage as a former White House official.

“That seemed like a far-fetched idea,” Jackson said of the possibility that Trump would not be re-elected.

Now, the freshman representative is looking to work with moderates in the opposition party to try to get things done for the nation and the Panhandle.

“I’m going to try to work with moderate Democrats, but they are being suppressed by the far left,” Jackson said. “My hope is that they (the far left) will overstep, they will go too far, and the moderates will stand up so we can get some things done.”

Jackson has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee, of which former Congressman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon was a member, as well as the Foreign Affairs Committee. He’s also part of the minority whip team; and even though he wasn’t named to the House Agriculture Committee, he will still plan to be a strong voice for area ag producers.

“No freshmen Congressmen from Texas were named to the ag committee,” Jackson said. “I’m going to be part of the leadership of a new House Ag Task Force that will work to find bipartisan solutions for our producers.”

He also said that he is first in line as soon as a position opens on the ag committee.

Until such time as moderate Democrats raise their voices to accomplish more bipartisan solutions, Jackson said he has no problem being the voice of conservative values in the face of a liberal agenda.

“They will not influence me,” he said. “They can come after me and come after my family, and I don’t care. I am willing to stand up to them.”

Jackson’s term in office began like no other. He was sworn in on January 3 and just three days later an angry mob stormed the Capitol. He said the day began with a peaceful rally for President Trump, but as Congress began the process of certifying the Electoral College votes, rioters entered the building and were soon trying to break down the door to the House chamber.

Jackson initially helped people ready their gas mask hoods before joining with three other Texas freshmen Congressmen in bracing the door to the chamber and arming themselves with pieces of furniture. As shots broke out, Jackson said Capitol Police evacuated the chamber through the Speaker’s Lobby.

“It was a terrible day for our nation,” he said. “Nobody thought that would happen, and 99.9 percent of Trump supporters would never do that. Most of them (Trump supporters) are people who don’t even leave trash behind after a rally, but (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi is spinning the riot.”

Jackson said he plans to focus on ag issues, armed forces, foreign affairs, rural health care, and election integrity as he begins his term. He will continue to be pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, and pro-First Amendment, he said. He also is urging Republicans not move to the new MAGA Party or Patriot Party, which began organizing this week.

“It will be the biggest blessing for Democrats if it is successful,” Jackson said, noting that it will split the Republican vote. “As Republicans with relationships with the MAGA crowd, we have to work to bring everybody together and stay united.”

In looking for areas of common ground, Jackson thinks infrastructure is an area that Republicans and moderate Democrats can work together on, especially in terms of improving broadband access to rural areas. Defense issues and ag issues are also areas he hopes Congress can find agreement on.

As President Joe Biden issues a series of executive orders to overturn Trump’s executive orders, Jackson said he thinks that may be another area the parties can find some agreement on – the need to reign in the power of the executive branch for what should be legislative issues.

“Both parties need to take back some authority on these executive actions,” he said.

In working for the 13th District, Jackson said he has new people staffing his office with a combination of experience and new blood. His chief of staff and his legislative director in particular both have congressional experience, while he has new faces working in offices in Amarillo and Wichita Falls, including Clarendon native Jake LaGrone, who is serving as Jackson’s district director.

Jackson lives in Amarillo, but he still owns a home in Maryland from his time working in the White House. He says he plans to sell that as soon as possible and will be traveling back to the district whenever Congress is not in session so that he can continue to keep in close contact with the people he represents.

An expansion to the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department building is progressing and promises to give the department much-needed extra space.

Fire Chief Susie Langford says the 12×35 addition to the fire hall will provide space for the department’s bunker gear as well as office space and a media wall for training personnel. The current office space will then be converted to a bathroom for the fire hall.

City Secretary and fire department member Sandra Childress said funds for the expansion came from a gun raffle as well as a $500 grant from the Donley County Community Fund. Locals residents have also donated a toilet and lavatory for the project, Childress said.

“We really want to let everyone know how much we appreciate their support of our fundraiser,” Childress said.

Langford said the department recently received new bunker gear thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Texas Forest Service, and more projects are being discussed to raise funds in the future.

The department currently has ten members with two applications pending. Landford said she would like to reach 15 and eventually 20 members. She says the department has a place not just for residents who want to fight fires but also for people to help with grants, secretarial work, and community service.

“The fire department is very community service driven,” Childress said, noting that its members have helped with clean-ups, deliveries during COVID, and other activities.

CHVFD responded to four calls last year and three calls for assistance. They responded to one fire just Monday, Langford said. The county has also increased the department’s call-out area from just the corporate limits of Howardwick south to the Greenbelt Lake entrance to Sandy Beach and north to County Road I.

Childress and Langford both expressed the department’s appreciation of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department for working with the Howardwick firefighters and letting the departments train together.

“We really learn a lot from them,” Langford said.

The City of Clarendon will apply for a Downtown Revitalization grant following action taken by the city council January 14.

If awarded, the Texas Department of Agriculture grant would provide up to $350,000 for downtown improvements. The city’s match would be $52,500 for a project total of $402,500, according to a representative of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, which will draft and administer the grant.

At least 50 percent of the grant funds would have to be spent to address accessible sidewalks downtown. Lighting is also an eligible expense under the grant.

The grant application is due May 3 with a possible award date this fall.

The city also took further steps on a Community Development Block Grant application that would pay for sewer improvements on the north side of town. Aldermen scored engineers for that work with Brandt Engineering of Amarillo narrowly winning the job over OJD Engineering of Wellington.

The council also continued discussions with Cheryl Johnson about closing a portion of Eighth Street that runs between her properties. Mayor Sandy Skelton said the city’s attorney advised against closing the street due to the precedence it would set. Discussion then turned to possibly installing stop signs at Eighth and Jefferson or possibly making Eighth Street one-way in that area. The discussion will continue at a future meeting.

No action was taken on the status of nuisance abatement at 600 S. Bugbee Avenue since the property owner was not able to attend last week’s meeting. The council did not consider any action on code issues at 117 N. Gorst since the code officer reported that the property owner there is making progress on those issues, but the council did declare 502 S. Bond as a nuisance because of no progress on issues at that location.

The council approved amending the Code of Ordinances to regarding parking regulations to give the city more authority to deal with vehicles that block driveways.

A resolution ordering an election to be held May 1 was approved to elect the mayor and two aldermen. The terms of Mayor Sandy Skelton and Aldermen Nathan Floyd and Jacob Fangman are expiring. Floyd resigned his seat Thursday night citing business and family obligations, city officials said. The council will consider appointing a replacement to fill the remainder of Floyd’s term next month.

Aldermen considered a request from the Donley County State Bank to pay for curb and gutter work. The bank recently replaced a portion of its sidewalk at a cost of $5,900, and City Administrator David Dockery reported that $1,200 of that was curb and gutter work and said the bank was asking for any possible funding. The city recently paid for curb repairs at the Courthouse, but city officials said in that case the county had talked to the city before the work was done. Aldermen unanimously voted against the bank’s request.