Jan. 11, 2006 is the most important meeting to date and it will be the most important meeting in determining the district's future for years to come.

We have a plan for those in attendance to review, we will have some rudimentary costs of various parts of the plan and when the public lets us know what direction to take, it will then be time to take it to the school board.

The budget committee felt that we should have some more reserve fund money (emergency or unanticipated expenditures) and added $32,000 to that line item.

It hasn't sunk in yet. It will when I don't have to go to practice.

I did not use my position on P&Z to better my company. And the only money I can ever remember receiving from Smith County was for jury duty. I think we all know there are very strict regulations on conflicts of interest. I don't intend to become county judge just so I can bid on county work.

This is not about who can be the best legal mind. It's about who can be the best business manager for this county. The most important job of the Smith County judge is being its chief executive officer and chief budget officer. My 32 years of business experience will serve me well in that capacity.