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“In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.”  Abraham Lincoln

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     My wife is always asking me what I think about what is going on in the city.  Usually, I am like most people; I either don’t know, don’t care, or don’t think anyone wants to hear my opinion on the matter, whatever the matter may be.   Lately though, I have quite a few opinions, especially about city council because some of its members have actually captured my attention, something that only the History Channel and ESPN is typically capable of doing.  Folks like Tom Whitehurst of the Caller-Times can get my attention, too, when he gets on a rant.  I can’t think of a single time I’ve agreed with him, so his Magill and Vaughn bashing not only gets my attention, it makes me want to blurt out my thoughts.

      I live in Corpus Christi and pay taxes, so my opinion is about as important as anybody’s.  Here goes.  I don’t know if Chad Magill has all the answers; I just know he’s actively working to find answers.  He strikes me as the kind of person who wants to do what is right for the city, as does Carolyn Vaughn.  That’s a rare thing; people like that are special.  Most politicians don’t really care about their city or its citizens; they just use the office to make their own lives or the lives of the people who put them in office better, and we have a few of those. These two, along with Lucy Rubio, Rudy Garza, and Brian Rosas, genuinely seem to want to make life better for all of us by holding city staff accountable for the way they spend our hard earned money.  When I listen to Magill speak on Lago in the Morning or at council meetings, I get the idea that this man has a vision and a plan to go with it.  Is it the right plan?  I don’t know.  But, until somebody shows up with a better idea, I say give the guy a chance to prove that he knows what he’s talking about.  It can’t be any worse than what has been done in the past, and it might just be better.

     As he forges ahead – and he strikes me as the kind who will – he’ll have some council and staff who will support him wholeheartedly.  Some he’ll have to carry kickin’ and screamin’ all the way through it.  I wish there were more people like him who can look at a situation, identify the real problem, and fix it.  I know that’s what my customers expected of me when I was hired to repair brick or rock jobs someone else messed up. It’s part of good customer service.  Shouldn’t we expect – no, demand – good customer service from our city?

    And another thing, I really think that the dissenting four on council have to see the logic in Magill’s plans.  Surely they don’t really think that taxpayers should foot the bill for every kid to take swimming lessons.  I am fairly certain in their heart of hearts they know that the real destination is the beach, not the bayfront.  Of course, I could be wrong.  Maybe they really don’t get it.  That tells me what needs to happen in the next election.  Anybody got a rail?

    Yep, it’s my opinion that Magill is onto something, something that focuses on creating an environment where the citizens can thrive without being taxed to death.  I plan on giving him – and those who share his vision – a chance.  What’s more, I plan on sharing my opinion now that I have settled upon one.  Boy, will my wife be happy!