PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release AS IS - 8 am October 11, 2011
PARKER COUNTY – John Roth today announced that he will not seek a third term as County Commissioner of Precinct Three to pursue other opportunities. Roth will complete his term which ends December 31, 2012.
“Serving the people of Precinct Three and Parker County has been very rewarding, but “I’m excited about rejoining the private sector,” Roth exclaimed. Making a difference in local government was important to Roth; becoming a career politician was not.
Commissioner Roth is humbled and appreciative that the citizens of Precinct Three gave him the opportunity to serve Parker County. “Having a voice in the decision making of the county has been an honor and I hope the people are pleased with my relentless push of conservative values,” Roth said.
Since taking office in 2005, Roth was instrumental in the passage of a Certificate of Obligation bond to expand a critically overcrowded jail as well as a Transportation bond which has significantly improved county-wide travel. Pushing for technology advancements in county offices and improving public safety were high on Roth’s list of priorities as well. When asked what he has been most proud of, Roth didn’t hesitate, “Besides voting against tax rate increases, helping establish the H.E.A.T. (Heavy Equipment Assistance Team) is what brought the most satisfaction. We assisted our volunteer firefighters on numerous fires by cutting fire breaks with our dozers and blades which helped them save many properties.”
Precinct Three has made significant progress in the maintenance of over 350 miles of county roads under Roth’s leadership. “With the demands being placed on our roads, which were never built for the loads and volume they are experiencing, keeping them in good condition has been a daunting task,” Roth claims. Since Roth took office, Precinct Three has implemented numerous cost-saving ideas. When rebuilding a road, the material is ground up and reused instead of hauling off the old material and replacing it. They have also replaced many small-load zoned bridges with thick-wall railroad tankers which are faster to install and saved significant tax dollars. “We have also saved well over a million dollars on federal surplus equipment,” Roth says. “We have purchased great equipment for pennies on the dollar and have also accepted many hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment as a donation from the Feds.”
A few years ago, his precinct implemented a web-based application that documents citizen requests so that work orders can be prioritized and assigned. Commissioner Roth commends his staff and crew for their dedicated service and superior work ethic. “I’ll put my folks up against any around…they make me look good, but they deserve the credit,” Roth said.
When asked about his experiences at Commissioners Court, Roth noted “All in all I really enjoy it…even the times when the discussion gets a little lively. I study the issues, listen to the point of view of others, throw my thoughts out for mental consumption, and vote for what is right for the county and the people.”
Roth is available to talk with anyone who is interested in serving as County Commissioner. “I am willing to show those who are considering the job what it entails…anything I can do to help,” he said.
When asked if he was through with public service, Roth said “You never know what the future may hold.”
