Three candidates vie for Commissioner Precinct No. 4 spot
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Ricky Sherrill has always dreamed of being a county commissioner, and believes now is the time for voters to know he wants to serve Precinct No. 4.
Sherrill has lived in Hockley County since he was four years old. He said he looked up to former commissioner, Sam Langford, and has always wanted to be a county commissioner.
“When I was a kid in Pettit, the county commissioner, Sam Langford, would pick me up and I got to ride around with him,” Sherrill said. “He would talk to the people, listen and listen to their hardships. He would try to find a solution. That’s what made me want to be a county commissioner.”
Sherrill said he has expressed an interest in running for county commissioner for several years and believes now is the time for voters to know he wants to represent them.
“I want people to know I’m interested,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill believes he is qualified to serve as county commissioner as he understands some of the challenges residents face when living outside the city limits.
“I have lived in the county most of my life and was raised and lived a big part of my life on dirt roads in the county,” Sherrill said. “I understand a lot of hardships people who live in the county endure with livestock, roads and getting to school.”
Additionally, Sherrill said through his relationships with others, he understands the difficulties that come with farming in the county.
“I have a lot of friends who are farmers and I see their hardships and understand their struggles and want to help,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill said his family moved to Hockley County 50 years ago and Hockley County has always been his home. He says his family and enjoying his work has kept him in Hockley County all these years.
“I work for Oxy, the plant in Sundown,” Sherrill said.
He has worked for Oxy for 30 years.
Along with that, Sherrill is heavily involved and runs the Hockley County Goat Association, which helps to raise money for students in Hockley County that show goats.
He and his family also participate with other organizations, and try to stay involved with the youth organizations.
“We got to every event to help the kids, anything the kids are involved in, we try to participate and help out,” Sherill said.
He believes having a positive influence on the younger generation will have a positive effect down the road for not only them, but the communities they serve.
“I feel like when kids see the positive influence, that will help them in the future,” Sherrill said. “They realize if they help out, other people notice that.”
Sherrill said he believes the voters of Precinct No. 4 should vote for him as their next commissioner because he will work hard for the voters.
“I will work hard for the people of Precinct No. 4 and will keep the integrity of the commissioner office,” Sherrill said. “I will keep a budget that is equal and fair for the taxpayers and all the county employees, alike. I will do my best to find the resources to help all people.”
He said integrity is an important value he will bring to the office of county commissioner that will benefit the precinct and entire county.
“If you tell someone you’re going to check on something, do it and get back to them,” Sherrill said. “Be honest, even if it’s not the easy way out. Serve all the people, not just selective groups; and leadership–I’ll lead with my heart.”
He hopes voters understand the job of a county commissioner is more than taking care of the roads, but is about running the county government.
“It’s about the people, it’s the government of the county,” Sherrill said. “The commissioners are responsible for looking out for the safety and well-being of the entire county. It should be held by someone who has experienced the hardships of living out in the country.”
Sherrill said his experience in dealing with difficult budgets will help if elected as the next county commissioner.
“Working out there at the plant, when oil prices dropped to a negative, we were asked as a team to manage and cut costs without destroying the integrity of our by-products,” Sherill said. “We managed that, and we realized some of those cost cuts were the new normal because we didn’t really need those things.
“That’s what I want to do when I step in here, is be able to manage and manage the people and cut the costs for the taxpayers,” Sherrill concluded.
Tommy Clevenger is asking voters to re-elect him to another term as Hockley County Commissioner for Precinct No. 4 to finish the job he has started.
“I would like to serve Hockley County for another term,” Clevenger said. “I would like to do one more term to finish up what I started.”
Clevenger said the county started several projects last year that were on five-year plans, most of which were done through grants with the Texas Department of Transportation.
“We have plan
s to use this money for roads and improvements,” Clevenger said. “I would like to see them through completion.”
Clevenger said he enjoys serving as commissioner and meeting with constituents and helping them find solutions.
Clevenger added that he bel
ieves he has assembled a good precinct crew that handles business and works hard.
“I enjoy my people, my constituents and my crew that works for me,” Clevenger said. “I have a good crew, they’re really loyal and come to work because they enjoy what they do.”
He also says he enjoys working with the commissioners and county judge, and believes there is a good balance in how they all work together.
“We don’t always agree, but when we leave, we are under the same consensus. The decision is the decision of the court,” Clevenger said. “We don’t carry personal ideas out of the courtroom, and that is a healthy atmosphere.
We don’t want to all agree, but when we leave, it needs to be the whole not the part.”
Clevenger has been serving as county commissioner for 15 years, which he believes does a good job in qualifying him for the position.
Prior to serving as county commissioner, Clevenger served 22 years for the Whitharral ISD school board.
“I’m familiar with handling big budgets and also spent numerous years farming,” Clevenger said.
He began his farming career in 1973 and said he farmed until he decided to run for county commissioner 15 years ago. At that time, he began renting his land to another farmer.
Clevenger has lived in Hockley County since 1960 and went to school at Whitharral and Anton, then on to South Plains College.
“I stayed in Hockley County because I was farming and I liked the people,” Clevenger said. “This is where my kids grew up and went to school, I have never had a reason to leave.”
Clevenger said he decided to run for county commissioner when the former commissioner, Billy Thetford, decided it was time for him to step down.
“He was my old football coach and he approached me and told me this might be something I would like to do,” Clevenger said. “Plus, I was in a transition period quitting my farming operation and I wanted something to do.”
Clevenger went to work for Thetford for three years running a maintainer before tossing his name in the hat to run for commissioner.
“I wanted to have an idea of what my employees would be doing and make recommendations and guide them based upon my experience,” Clevenger said.
Clevenger said he brings continuity and experience to the position, and believes that, along with his conservative beliefs, are valuable to Precinct No. 4 and Hockley County as a whole.
“I believe the taxpayers of Hockley County should get the most value for their money,” Clevenger said. “I don’t think we should spend it frivolously. I do want to fund the services they need and that we can afford to do without raising everyone’s taxes. We have to be good stewards and have our constituents best interest in mind.”
Clevenger said he hopes voters understand the commissioners office has many facets, which include guiding the expenditures for the county.
“It’s a balancing act, we have a pie that is only so big and we have to slice that pie so each department gets a portion,” Clevenger said.
Clevenger said in his time as commissioner, the county has begun to see an increase in population in the rural areas, which requires commissioners to be mindful of those citizens.
“When I first started as commissioner, the rural area was decreasing in population, but in the last two years, we have started to see an increase,” Clevenger said. “That’s something we have to think about and make sure they have roads that are passable and they are able to get back and forth to town.”
In closing, Clevenger said he has enjoyed the last 15 years and hopes the voters will give him another term.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 15 years and I would like to serve Hockley County for another term,” Clevenger said.
Greg Kelley hopes to bring his knowledge and experience to the office of County Commissioner for Precinct No. 4 to best serve the citizens of Hockley County.
“My desire to run is simply that I have a strong interest in Hockley County and its growth,” Kelley said. “I love this community and feel it’s the right time to contribute my personal knowledge, passion and leadership.”
Kelley retired as the chief appraiser for Hockley County in May of last year after serving in that position for 16 years.
Kelley said his tenure there gives him knowledge that could be integral to his service as county commissioner.
“I know the county, the roads, the subdivisions, and a lot of the leaders,” Kelley said. “I know some of the needs we have in the county.”
Additionally, his role at the appraisal district gave him experience in managing budgets and employees.
“I’m experienced in managing an office and personnel, and I’ve developed budgets and managed budgets,” Kelley said. “I know where the revenue comes from and the importance of spending it wisely.”
Kelley said right now, the county is seeing a reduction in the oilfield tax base and believes he has the knowledge to balance the needs of the industry within the county.
“I think I can balance the needs of the farmers and the small businesses and homeowners,” Kelley said.
Kelley moved to Levelland in December 1995 when he began working for the appraisal district. He was promoted to chief appraiser in 2005.
Kelley said he is also interested in seeing the county continue to grow and to do what he can as a commissioner to facilitate that growth.
“My feeling is if you’re not growing, you’re dying,” Kelley said. “Nothing stays static.”
Kelley said he would be a good choice as the next commissioner for Precinct No. 4 because voters can talk to him and see him in the community.
“I’m visible in the community, you can catch me at the grocery store or a ball game,” Kelley said. “I’m part of the Levelland Industrial Foundation, a member of the Levelland Noon Lions Club and I think people can call me if they have a problem or concern.”
Kelley said he has a significant amount of experience in handling difficult situations and would be good at helping in times of difficulty for citizens.
“I have had job training with difficult situations and resolving problems because I did that for more than 25 years, the last 16 as the chief appraiser.”
Kelley said the most important value he will bring to the office if elected as the next commissioner for Precinct No. 4 is his conservatism.
“I’ll be a good steward of taxpayer money,” Kelley said. “I spend money as if it is coming out of my own pocket, conservatively and with good purpose.”
Kelley said he hopes voters understand the job of county commissioner is about prioritizing county funds and how they are spent.
“Commissioners are responsible for prioritizing taxpayer money and how it’s spent,” Kelley said.
He said the services the county provides for the county and its citizens all come out of taxpayer funds and commissioners are responsible for ensuring those funds are split up effectively and efficiently.
“The services for the coutny, such as the maintenance of roads, staff and personnel in all county offices, including the courthouse, annex and library; funds for the jail and indigent care, it is the commissioners’ responsibility to make prudent decisions to enable our community to grow and prosper and be a safe place to raise our children,” Kelley said.
Kelley said his past successes that speak to his ability to serve well as a commissioner can be measured through how he ran the appraisal district for 16 years.
“My success can be measured through annual reviews from the Controller’s office and always delivering the appraisal roll to the entities in a timely manner,” Kelley said. “I continually operated my office efficiently and effectively and feel that my tenure at the appraisal district gives me the skills needed to manage Precinct No. 4 and handle other commissioner responsibilities.”
