By ANDY HOGUE, Register Staff Writer
Fri, May 16 2008
—
Running together as a slate has proven to be advantageous for candidates in certain local races in years past.
So will a team of candidates seeking election to the governing board of North Central Texas College on May 10 find victory in numbers?
A slate of three candidates are publicly campaigning together, under the headline “Vote For NCTC,” in their races for open seats on the college’s board of directors. The slate consists of: Patsy Wilson, a retired long-time NCTC librarian seeking Place 3; Karla Metzler, a local Xerox service business owner seeking Place 5; and Lynn Williams, who currently serves on the Board of Regents on Place 1.
Candidates Ken Arterbury, running for Place 1, Stephen Harlow, seeking Place 5, and Mike Morrison, seeking place 3, each said they are not running together but independently.
Two elections ago in 2004, six of the seven candidates for the NCTC Board of Regents lined up in two slates for three open seats — one team dubbing themselves the “Challengers for Change,” consisting of Bill Ledbetter, Steve Gaylord and David Flusche; and the other running under the banner “Vote For NCTC,” with incumbents Karon Sullivant, Claude Walter and Ann Kemplin. Candidate Dewey Yeager ran a word-of-mouth campaign and did not align himself with either side.
The “Challengers for Change” won their elections, after campaigning on promises that they would end what they considered to be heavy-handed administrative practices and would cut spending and defend vocational-technology programs at the college.
An advertisement paid for by Patsy Wilson, at least one of which appeared in the Weekly News of Cooke County last week, said there is a common denominator in this election and Arterbury and Harlow: Regent Gaylord, one of the 2004 “Challengers for Change.”
The ad, in all capital letters, read: “Steve Gaylord supports Ken Arterbury. Patsy Wilson supports Lynn Williams ... Steve Gaylord supports Stephen Harlow. Patsy Wilson supports Karla Metzler.”
Wilson was not available for comment by press time.
Gaylord, who plans to submit an advertisement in response to the claim, shared his draft wording with this reporter on Saturday.
In the ad, he said he did not originally plan on running any ads or taking a public position in supporting a candidate.
“I’ve supported several candidates in the past for the NCTC Board including David Flusche, Bill Ledbetter, Ken Coolen, Ken King and Lynn Williams. They were all elected or appointed. Together, we’ve made significant, positive changes at NCTC. I’ve tried to support honest, conservative and independent candidates who can strike a balance between the NCTC Students, Cooke County Taxpayers and NCTC employees. Sometimes I took people at their word that they were conservative and independent when I was new to politics. Hopefully I’ve learned from my errors in judgment.”
Gaylord said he has known Arterbury and Harlow for several years. Harlow supported Gaylord in his run for Regent in 2004.
“They are conservative, and their hearts are true,” Gaylord wrote. “They are honest, analytical and independent thinkers. I don’t need to take their word for it; I know them. They may not be as polished as some people I know but I trust their integrity and character.”
Gaylord added that he and Harlow often take classes at the NCTC Cooke County Campus in Gainesville.
“If elected, I am confident they (Harlow and Arterbury) will take the time to ensure we are making the best use of limited taxpayer and student funds. I’m sure we won’t always agree but I am confident they will seek to make informed decisions with integrity, that are best for NCTC and everyone involved,” Gaylord wrote.
Arterbury, in an interview Saturday, said he is not aligned with Gaylord or any other Regent or candidate.
“My goal is to have the best interests of the students, the faculty and the college itself, and the taxpayers of this county, in mind,” Arterbury said. “I would develop a strategic plan for our college district and continue with strong, physical management in the current economic conditions. Therefore, I would treat everyone equally and never let friendship interfere with my decisions I make while serving as a member of this board.”
Harlow, in an interview Saturday, said he is not aligned with Gaylord or Arterbury.
“I’d be an independent board member, and I will do my own thing with my own reasoning,” he said. “There has not been any deals made for a proverbial log-run — you know where they say ‘I’ll vote your way if you vote my way.’ I’m running on my own.”
Williams, in an answer to one of several questions asked by the Register to each candidate, called Wilson and Metzler “intelligent people who have good backgrounds in business and education.”
“They are hard-working citizens that love NCTC,” he said. “We campaigned together to cut costs. I am impressed with Karla Metzler and Patsy Wilson and you may have noticed our names are on lots of signs around town. Both Patsy and Karla are positive people who are for NCTC and will bring unique vision and insight to the board. Each is an independent thinker with a desire to serve.”
Williams also added his appreciation for Regent Flusche.
Flusche, who is unopposed in his run for re-election for his place on the Board of Regents, was not contacted for this article.
“David Flushe also brings lots of expertise and wisdom to the board of regents and, while we have not campaigned together, I support his election,” Williams added. “I believe these people understand that the Board of Regents must work together to set broad policies for the college and ensure that the staff of professional that work there have an opportunity to improve the educational value that the college provides ...”
Metzler, in her prepared statement answering the Register’s candidate questions, said though she is running with two other candidates, she plans to work on her own as a Regent if elected.
“I guess if you call being conservative on the dollars spent to run for this position the answer would be yes,” she said, when asked if she was aligned with any other candidates. “However, I am my own person and will make decisions as a board member based on my high level of common sense and business experience. I respect anyone that will stand up and accept the responsibility of running for this type of position and know they like me have the college’s best interest at heart.”
Candidate Morrison, who said in a previous interview he is relatively new to Cooke County, was not aware of there being any alliances when he filed to run for Regent.
“It’s just me,” he said briefly in an interview Friday.
For interviews with each candidate for Board of Regents check future editions of this week’s Register.
Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net
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