The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V91
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Publisher's Note: Due to disturbing breaking developments in the May 5
School Board election, posting of the May 7, 2001 Newsletter has begun
early. Be sure to read the current edition, April 30, 2001, on
Newsletter Text V90. T.C. May 1, 2001.
*************May 7, 2001**************
More disturbing developments in the May 5 School Board election
have been brought to the attention of this publication. Apparently,
there have been further efforts by school officials to derail the bid
of Kingsland resident Fred Mraz for a place on the School Board.
Mr. Mraz has also informed this publication The Llano News faxed a set
of candidate questions April 30, allowing less than 24 hours for a
response. He has indeed submitted his response both to The News and The
Ledger. Moreover, he has included an additional statement further
explaining his position on the issues. Both documents will be posted in
their entirety. In the interest of fairness, equal space is offered to
any and all other candidates:
*****************
Q. Why are you seeking this office?
To do all I can to help our kids get all the support and tools they'll need to succeed in life.
Q. In your opinion, what are a few of the major issues facing the school district over the next two years?
In my opinion, there are major issues now that are not being
addressed. I guess the children are a good place to start. After all,
it's all about them. The drop-out rate, the drug and alcohol abuse,
teen pregnancy, and sadly the suicide and suicide attempts in this
County over the past few years have become an increasing problem. It's
also sad this information is kept from the public. "Out of sight, out
of mind." It has come to my attention I am not the only one in this
area that has had to seek other ways of educating their children. There
is an alarming number of kids that are being withdrawn from the School
District due to a lack of concern from school officials. The second
major issue I'm deeply concerned about is the money, who's in control,
and how taxpayers are being left out of the picture on how the money is
being spent.
Q. What are your qualifications for this position?
First, I've been a parent for better than half my life, doing
everything I can to teach my kids right from wrong. -- Self-employed at
home, and currently providing shelter and assistance for two broken
families, along with taking care of my own children. Second, over the
last twenty years I've taken in more troubled kids, adults, and
families than I can count in need of someone to provide if nothing more
than a positive influence of hope.
Q. Other offices or positions you've held that you think helps you to be a good candidate?
I was a Texas Department of Corrections officer in the mid-eighties for
a little more than three years, during the time when inmates were given
rights. I personally made rank quicker than most had ever, becoming a
leader and a teacher, and training new officers their duties. I managed
as many as 30+ officers and as many as 1500 to well over 1700 inmates
with as little as four to six officers during the worst time of TDC
history.
Other comments:
I want to give special thanks for "ample" time to The Llano News to
give this statement, and to Mr. Patton, LISD Superintendent, for trying
to discredit me for not keeping my mouth shut. For any further
information anyone might need as to my qualifications and ability to
serve the public, our children, and the taxpayers' best interests, you
can contact me through The Llano Ledger,
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2, personally at 915-388-6219 or by fax
at 915-388-2260.
************************************
The following statement was also sent by Mr. Mraz:
In addition to questions answered in The Llano News and in view of
the lack of time given to respond, I have a few additional comments
regarding one of the questions concerning the major issues facing the
School District over the next two years. In my opinion there are so
many things wrong with the system. Where to start?
The children would be a good place. The current administration in
charge of the Llano School District has been spiraling downhill for the
last four years I know of. -- With drug and alcohol abuse, teen
pregnancies, suicide and suicide attempts, and drop-outs at a high.
It's strange that this is kept from the public and actually covered up.
It has come to my attention I was not the only one to have to seek
other ways to have my children taught. -- Being that some teachers,
faculty heads have outright lied and deceived parents in their
activities and abilities as educators.
What I've seen is kids being pushed away from learning by what I
call selective discipline, according to your status in the school. I
was told by Mr. Patton, LISD Superintendent, that Mr. Jarret was
brought in to make change because he was not from here and would not be
biased. This backfired because Mr. Jarrett is a follower, not a leader,
and has fallen deeply in the cracks of the "norm". But I found if you
want to get along in Llano, keep your mouth shut and play along. Well,
I'm a true Texan and just cannot do this. All my life, I've tried my
best doing for others, giving those who are afraid or without, a voice
and a helping hand.
And now the money. ... The children's, that is. Well, that's
another not so "funny" issue. It seems a small few of the higher
officials have taken it upon themselves to spend this money any way
they see fit and not seem to want to let anyone know the details. What
I've been hearing quite often is that the "Good Old Boys" have been
reaping the benefits. In another "not-so-funny" issue, nothing of
importance is dealt with any of the public's participation, being that
the Llano County public continues to be kept in the blind about how
their tax dollars are being spent. In fact, the School District has no
PTA or any other parent-teacher cooperative efforts in place to speak
of.
Like these few officials have always had it, portraying themselves
to be accomplishing something of substance, when in reality closing the
public out these days and truly thinking they can actually get away
with it by refusing access to any records. None of the local officials
have done their jobs in seeing to it that these records, that belong to
the public, are released. The parents and the taxpayers have the legal
right to know how our money is being spent.
Fred Mraz
Candidate, School Board Place 2
Kingsland May 1, 2001
*******************************
Sadly, The Llano News did not fully publish Mr. Mraz's fax, neglecting to post his contact information.
Apparently, nothing in Llano County government is ever free from
scandal or impropriety. Nothing. As reported earlier in the April 9,
2001 Newsletter, reportedly there has been a concerted effort by School
District officials to derail the bid of Kingsland resident Fred Mraz
for a place on the School Board. For the last several weeks, an
investigation of this disturbing allegation has, and will continue to
be, conducted by this publication.
In Llano County, however, nothing is quite as it seems, and truth
indeed is a moving target. Especially, in the School District. As
readers will recall, Superintendent Jack Patton has been relentlessly
targeted by this publication for nearly two years. Sadly, this bumbling
bureaucrat has a history of stonewalling all formal, as well as
informal requests for information.
Apparently, this outstanding "educator" and government lackey
wouldn't know truth if it bit him hard on the ass. As reported
repeatedly, the Superintendent has demonstrably lied in correspondence
of October 27, 2000 to the General Services Commission, regarding the
disposition of an Open Records Request dated May 25, 2000. The Request
was for access to School District records germane to egregious waste
and alleged fraud, costing taxpayers at the very least thousands.
Apparently, the Superintendent is covering his ass, and that of his
cronies. Shamelessly so. -- With the support of the School Board as
indicated by the failure of School Board President Tere Hutto to
respond to earlier correspondence from this publication.
It should come as no surprise the School District would have quite
a bit to lose if someone other than a "Good Old Boy" were elected a
member of the Board. After all, Patton and his pals don't want the
gravy train derailed or worse yet, their abusive power diminished.
... Can't have that, now can we, Mr. Patton? From numerous credible
sources, it's quite clear former High School Principal Dennis Hill was
appointed Assistant Superintendent for his intense loyalty to the
Superintendent. After all, Hill knows how to keep his mouth shut and
has learned the fine art of stonewalling from the master. ... Right,
Jack? Dennis?
Readers are reminded Hill refused to provide germane information
regarding an $11,000 Year Book "irregularity" involving an unidentified
retired School District employee. He did take "personal
responsibility", though. -- Whatever the hell that means. Right,
Dennis? For his golden silence, lap dog loyalty to Patton, and
impressive ability to stonewall, he received a promotion. ... Nothing
quite like reverse Darwinism, is there?
Current High School Principal Earl Jarrett was brought in to clean
up problems at the High School. ... Supposedly, an "outsider" would
affect change. Not to be, though. Certainly, not to be. As Mraz and
numerous others have indicated, Jarrett is indeed a follower, not a
leader. Apparently, one of Ole' Jack's lap dogs. The School District is
without doubt proof positive the taxpayers pay dearly to get screwed.
Clearly, the "Good Old Boys", however, have much to lose should a
newcomer sit on the Board. Precisely why Ole' Jack's apparently soiling
his pants in an effort to maintain the status quo. From several
sources, there is strong reason to believe the Superintendent and his
cronies are indeed attempting to derail the bid of Mr. Mraz for a seat
on the Board.
In addition, an interesting e-mail was recently received from
someone who is apparently a School District employee. Since the writer
did not use a real name and ignored a follow-up inquiry from this
publication, the message will not be posted. Sadly, the cowardly sender
is more concerned with job security, than the best interests of the
taxpayers as well as the children.
The substance of the message, however, supports allegations received
from other credible sources. ... Not to worry though, Mr. Patton. After
all, the District Attorney is apparently in the pocket of corrupt and
abusive government officials. Right, sir? Wouldn't stop others,
however, from taking legal action, would it? Certainly won't stop this
publication from continuing the investigation no matter what.
... Hey Jack? One more thing... Been around the block a few times,
haven't you, sir? Certainly know greed, arrogance, ego, and unbridled
power surely bring even the best and brightest quickly to their knees,
don't you? -- Moreover, dolts don't have a snowball's chance... Wake
up. After all, aggressive stupidity is quite unbecoming. Certainly an
unfitting legacy for an "educator".
************************************
From beginning to end, the May 5 School Board election last
Saturday was a classical example of a dirty election, fraught with
irregularities. ... Clearly no surprise in Llano County. When Mr. Mraz
called County officials Saturday evening, no one could or would provide
the statistics, but indicated he had indeed lost. Interesting, isn't
it?
Monday morning, this writer arrived at the County Clerk's office,
seeking the numbers. A staff member asserted the Clerk's office was NOT
involved in the tally, but only handled the early voting chores. The
election itself was "put on" by the School District, and as such School
officials were responsible for the final count.
Fascinating, isn't it? ... Nothing quite like having the fox guard
the chicken coop, no? When asked if the Superintendent had the results,
the staff member asserted she did not know. On the way to Patton's
office, Mr. Mraz stopped and informed this writer that he had just left
the Clerk's office himself. We arrived at the Superintendent's office
together, determined to get detailed election numbers.
Patton's receptionist clearly wasn't happy and indicated the
bumbling bureaucrat who considers himself an "educator", was on the
phone and could not be interrupted. Convenient, no? Refusing to make an
appointment and determined to wait for "His Majesty", we sat down as
she left the room to make contact.
Having waited ten minutes, Ole' Jack decided to make his grand
entrance. -- With a shit-eating grin. He had NO election numbers, but
asked us to sit and wait while he prepared a copy. Outstanding, isn't
it? He asserted he had no knowledge of who did the count or where the
count was done. With the exception of the Kingsland election judge, he
did not know the identity of other election officials.
As repeatedly asserted, the Superintendent demonstrably lied to the
General Services Commission in earlier correspondence. Therefore,
nothing he says can be accepted at face value. He also claimed the
election results were unofficial, but could or would not say by whom or
when they were to be canvassed. Since the software on this website will
not support graphics, the data was tabled as follows:
LLANO I.S.D. SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FOR May 5, 2001
Place 2
Bill Kirkman:
242 Early Voting
186 Llano
43 Kingsland
16 Sunrise Beach
34 Horseshoe Bay
521 Total
Place 2
Fred Mraz
9 Early Voting
68 Llano
7 Kingsland
1 Sunrise Beach
2 Horseshoe Bay
87 Total
Place 6 (Unopposed)
Mark Chapman
192 Early Voting
201 Llano
41 Kingsland
15 Sunrise Beach
31 Horseshoe Bay
480 Total
Place 7 (Unopposed)
Billy Ratliff
194 Early Voting
224 Llano
40 Kingsland
15 Sunrise Beach
31 Horseshoe Bay
504 Total
********************
There are serious questions regarding the validity of these
election results. Considering the irregularities and other
improprieties, this is not the end of the story. ... Far from it.
********************
Changing the subject and as strongly asserted in the last edition,
gut-wrenching fear generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) is
quite impressive. After all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only
egregiously intimidate defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even
innocent third parties who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive
hands.
Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the
death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly,
the survivor got cold feet. Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in
hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to
stand up and expose them to the light of day? Every time a source
cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and abusive sons of bitches
win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another nail is driven into the
coffin of liberty.
Friends, serious consideration is given by this writer to simply
walking away from The Ledger due to a glaring lack of financial support
from the readership. As strongly asserted in Special Edition V65,
lacking any vested interest and no longer owning property in Llano
County, why continue in the absence of financial assistance from a
cowardly and selfish community? -- Despite a Llano Ledger and Llano
Ledger 2 visitor count exceeding 102,700? ... Over two years, now. For
what?
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Wed Jun 13, 2001 5:27pm EDT