The Clarksville Times (Clarksville, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 23, 1974 Page: 11 of 18
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Red River County Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Red River County Public Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Native of Red River County • Clarksville School Bus Driver
Young and Energetic
Attended Clarksville
Public Schools
Fully Aware of Local
School Situation
Working Man Not Retired
•6 Years Teaching Experience •Family Man
In Local Schools
The Clarksville Times, Thursday, May 23, 1974
Mike Colbert
LET THE FACTS CONVINCE YOUR VOTE
Several weeks ago, my opponent, Mr. Henry Lee Somerville, ran an ad in The
Clarksville Times stating his position and stating his reasons for seeking
election to the position of County School Superintendent. I would like to take
this opportunity to make comment on that advertisement.
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: ’If I am elected as your next county superintendent,
I will circulate a petition asking that you vote to abolish the job."
COMMENT: My opponent, Mr. Somerville, neither has to go to the trouble or
the expense of running for this position to circulate a petition asking that the
job be abolished. Anyone can circulate a petition at any time for office
abolishment. Why run for the office just to abolish it?
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: "Our school funds need that $29,21 1 a year that can
be saved this way. Just think how many teachers, janitors and cooks and other
people that this money can be used to hire."
COMMENT: The annual census requirement has truly been dropped to only an
every five year requirement and many duties have been changed. However,
with the addition of the funding of the C.S.T.E. program, headed by Mr. Mac
Varley, lyes that's right, this office payroll comes through the county school
superintendent's office] and increased busing responsibilities, the office
possibly requires more attention than ever before. A school surplus food
program in conjunction with Lamar County is also worked through the
superintendent's office. In fact, some $70,000.00 total cash flow circulates
through this office annually. Do you want our county to lose this kind of money
circulation? Sure most of this money will still come into the county, however,
this office presently is responsible for this much cash flow.
>,
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: "The Texas Education Agency has officially
recommended that if a county wants to keep its county school
superintendent's office on the payroll, it should do so through local tax funds
only."
COMMENT: If the job is abolished, the county schools will still be funded per
capita through T.E.A. [ Art. 16.79, Sec. B, Part 3] Only the Superintendent's
salary and the office secretary's salary will be omitted from the county
payroll. The schools will neither gain nor lose money by abolishing the office.
This fact can be verified through the finance department of T.E.A. NO
ADDITIONAL $22,280.00 WILL COME INTO THE COUNTY BY ABOLISHING THE
SUPERINTENDENT'S POSITION.
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: "My two opponents in this race claim we should
keep this job on the payroll for ever and ever."
COMMENT: Again, this office is not on the county payroll. It is funded through
the state. We have investigated by conversation with the state finance
department and by thoroughly reviewing the Texas Education Code with state
officials and we can find no backing of the statement that the state wishes the
county to assume the responsibility of the office. NO TAX MONEYS WILL BE
SAVED AND RED RIVER COUNTY WILL LOSE INCOME IF THE JOB IS ABOLISHED.
CHECK WITH YOUR STATE OFFICIALS.
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: "The duties of this job have gone and our schools
need that money for your children's education."
COMMENT: This job is not on the county payroll and local taxes will not be
reduced if the job is abolished. This is a state funded job. The county will lose
money if it is abolished. Can Red River County afford to give up government
paying jobs that can also be useful to our children's education?
Ask me or B.L. Murphy if we ever made this claim that my opponent, Mr.
Somerville quotes us as saying. I have never said the we should "keep this job
on the payroll for ever and ever."
QUOTE MR. SOMERVILLE: "Let's review the facts. By law, nearly all of the
duties and responsibilities of this office have been abolished."
COMMENT: Our schools do need money but they won't get it by abolishing this
office. Schools are allocated money according to the number of students they
have | Article 16.79, Section B,3, Texas Education Code]. The duties and
responsibilities of the county school superintendent's office are great,
especially in smaller rural counties such as our own. This office is badly
needed and is funded from state and county available school funds that do not
cost the lord taxpayer one penny. DON'T BE FOOLISH. SAVE THIS JOB THAT
OUR SCHOOLS RELY ON AND OUR CHILDREN NEED SO BADLY. IT WILL NOT
AND HAS NOT COST YOU.
I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE PRESENTLY INVOLVED WITH THE FUNCTION OF
OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS^ I AM NOT RETIRED. I WANT TO WORK FOR YOU
VOTE JUNE 1
•I"
Political Advertising Paid For By Mike Colbert
Published By The Clarksville Times, 106 E. Main, Clarksville Texas
VOTE JUNE 1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Clarksville Times (Clarksville, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 23, 1974, newspaper, May 23, 1974; Clarksville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth922062/m1/11/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Red River County Public Library.