An Open
Letter to District 1 Voters
Please vote
for Rick Bonart for El Paso City Council, District 1. He will be an
effective leader who will champion your concerns. Certainly I agree with all of
Rick’s platform and you can read more about his views online as well as in the mailers that
you have probably received. However, let me tell you why I esteem this man
personally and know that he will be a great City Council Representative.
Rick Bonart
is conscientious. He does his homework – thoroughly. He doesn’t skim through anything
regarding the important policy issues that matter to you. He delves into them.
He does so because he cares about people – taxpayers, ratepayers, citizens, people;
and he takes his fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.
Rick Bonart
has the courage of his convictions. He wants what is best for the people of
District 1 and all El Pasoans. He never backs down to those who put politics and
pettiness over caring and doing the right thing for people. More than ever we
the people of El Paso need a really strong advocate on City Council – someone who
knows that people come first and not special interests. He not only believes in
open government, he has paid personally for that belief. As the citizen
advocate on the Public Service Board, Rick was tireless as he looked out for
ratepayers. He even opened up the selection process to that board to the
public. For such transparency he was vilified by those who protect their power
over the interests of the people of El Paso and he was not re-elected by City
Council for a second term on the PSB in spite of the fact that he had been
designated as the number one choice by a selection committee.
Rick Bonart
is a doer and not just a talker. Many advocate for this thing or that. Rick
rolls up his sleeves and makes it happen. He has helped to create recreational
trails throughout the Franklins. He did the hard work to open El Paso’s first
complete trailhead at the Lost Dog Trail. He has been the leader for open space
and conservation for decades now. He was the first Chairman of the Open Space
Advisory Board. He was a leader in the successful effort to preserve 800 acres
of land in the northwest. He helped to
fashion the Open Space Master Plan and the stormwater utility including setting
aside 10% of the stormwater fee for purchasing needed open space. He worked with TxDOT and conservationists alike to develop a good plan for an entrance to the Tom Mays Unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. (That entrance is scheduled to be completed early next year.) On the Public Service Board he introduced the
need for potable reuse of water to continue to supply El Paso’s increasing need
for water. He fought hard for a pipeline to the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, a key
eco-tourist and local recreational wildlife preserve in El Paso. He always
stood strong for open, inclusive and transparent government.
Rick Bonart
built a very successful business (a veterinary clinic) from scratch and managed
it for 35 years. (I can tell you that he was one very knowledgeable and caring
vet because both of my cats were patients.) He recently retired which means he
can give 100% to serving you as your Representative. He won’t be part-time and
he will be wholehearted.
Rick Bonart
is honest and ethical some would say to a fault. But honesty, ethics and high
standards are the ingredients of his integrity. Rick doesn’t want the lowest
common denominator for El Paso. He wants the best.
Rick Bonart
is a friend. Yes, he is my friend but I’m not saying that you should vote for
him just because he is my friend. I’m saying that you will do well to vote for him
because he is a friend. He takes
people just as they are. He doesn’t hold a grudge. He’s never judgmental. He’s
not spiteful nor is he power-hungry. He strives to do the right thing and he
cares deeply about each individual person. He is passionate about his views.
Yet I’ve always known him to listen and to understand. In all matters he has a
great sense of humor and he has the humility not to take himself too seriously.
Early voting begins this Monday. For
sure there are some very good people running for District 1. Rick Bonart is
your best choice.
Jim Tolbert
P.S. Please see his web site and his Facebook page.
