TOMS' BLOG

I want to say THANK YOU TO ALL MY SUPPORTERS It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as you Councilman for Place 5 for the last three terms(6 years). GOD BE WITH YOU ALL. The best part of the day was always going to be when I got to pull up all those dog gone signs with my son (real dad time) who will go home to A&M in a few days and start his new job and continue his education.

What a great kid.

Congratulations Greg. I wish you the best of luck. God bless you and God please continue blessing Springtown..

Everything I do and every decision I make for my personal self or for the City of Springtown is done to honor and glorify our God who I know wants Springtown to thrive. I’m not perfect I’m still a work in progress and I fail every day, but I am really trying and I need your help. (Philippians 3:13-14).

If you are a homeowner, landowner or business owner in or around Springtown this should matter to you. We all should support the person running for city council or any elected office, who has our best economic interest at heart. And is working to help everyone see a return on thier investment in Springtown. Anything else is just bad business and helps noone economically and will cost us all in the long run. We all what to do better, the only way that is going to happen is to support the canidate for Springtown City Council in Place 5 who has worked for the last six years to help everyone invested in Springtown prosper and see a positive return now and in the future on thier investment in Springtown.  A vote for Tom Clayton is a vote for yourself and your economic future. Why would'nt you support the one who has been trying to help you and all citizens of Springtown enjoy a better quality of life all along?

Vote for yourself, Vote to RE-ELECT TOM CLAYTON Springtown City Council Place 5 Early Vote @ Springtown City Hall April 30-May8 On Election Day May 12, 2012 go to Springtown City Hall, where you pay your waterbill, and RE-ELECT TOM CLAYTON to the Springtown City Council and let me keep working for you. 

If you look at my history in Springtown I have always had my hand up when other people would'nt , willing to volunteer to work with anyone who wanted to work towards improving the quality of life for Springtown citizens. I have always been willing to reach across the aisle to those who disagreed with me and try to find common ground that would be in the best interest of Springtown citizens. Where not in high school anymore. This election is not to elect a class president. It is to elect a qualified person with a proven track record of accomplishment and success in improving the quality of life in the City of Springtown. In that regard, if you think that the quality of life in Springtown is better today than it was before I was first elected to the city council six years ago, if you think I have done a good job in my three terms as your City Councilman , I ask you to allow me to continue to serve as your City Councilman in Place 5 on Saturday May 12 , 2012 don’t stay home and allow a select few decide your future and the future of Springtown On Saturday May 12, Go to Springtown City Hall and Vote to re-elect Tom Clayton for City Council Place 5 and allow me and this council to continuing working for you and for our plans of continuous improvements to our city, and support for every homeowner, business owner or land owner for a prosperous economic future, No matter who you are, if you’ve invested in Springtown, improving your bottom line is this is my number one goal. My votes on the city council for the past six years prove this fact. My proven economic plan for the future of Springtown makes this happen for everyone invested in Springtown. The work this council has started is not finished; I want to serve long enough to complete what We started. I am asking you to allow me to do just that.
                                                 “If It Aint Broke Don’t Fix It”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS Election Day Saturday May 12 At Springtown City Hall. Early Vote At Springtown City Hall April 30 thru May 8 2012 At Springtown City Hall.

#1  

   I am a longtime Springtown resident I grew up within ten miles of Springtown, left when I was 16 saw a lot of the world and different walks of life and different ways of doing things, served overseas and discharged honorably from the military, worked and traveled around America and came home 21 years later in that time, and in part, I owned and ran my own successful office supply company, found Jesus looking after me and became a parent.  I earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science- University of Nevada. Attended the University Of Nevada College Of Business earning a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning with an emphasis on administrative law, policy and budgetary creation and implementation. I am your current three term Springtown City Councilman-reelected in 2008 & 2010. I served as your Mayor Pro Tem City of Springtown 2007-2008 I was Appointed City of Springtown Planning and Zoning Commission / City of Springtown Impact Fee Advisory Board 2003-2006. I was Appointed Mayor Sign Committee for City of Springtown 2004 I served as a Board Member Springtown Farmers Market 2003-2005I served as the Secretary/Treasurer Springtown Farmers Market 2003-2005.I am experienced in Economic Development. I am Current on governmental issues facing Springtown and Parker County ;Current on Texas Statutes; Texas Government Code, Texas Local Government Code I was appointed by Mayor Hughes to the Mayors' Task Force on Communications serving the City of Springtown (New Verizon DSL Service) 2006-present.I was appointed by Mayor Hughes to the Mayors' Task Force on Transportation serving  the City of Springtown and Mayors Springtown Transportation Board 2006-present - (New Lake Street Road and Bridge Project giving a new North-South artery through Springtown, Springtown East and West Loop Projects, over six miles of new and asphalt rehabbed roadway in Springtown. Two new East-West arteries in Springtown, 5th and 9th streets. Currently serving as a Board Member North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Transportation Stakeholders Roundtable working to solve transportation issues for the future of North Central Texas including Parker County And Springtown. Served by request on the Texas Municipal League Legislative Council- 2009-2010- deciding which state legislation pertaining to cities to support, which to fight, and which to author.

#2 As you City Councilman for place five for the last three terms I have always worked very hard with the City Council and our partners the Springtown ISD and the Springtown Chamber of Commerce as a team player, including everyone and inviting all opinions and gone far above the call of duty to serve and represent all Springtown citizens equally and fairly with years of voluntary service to the City of Springtown. And, if elected as your new Mayor, I enthusiastically look forward to continue working with all our special interest like the Springtown ISD and the Springtown Chamber of Commerce in planning for the future of Springtown. I recognize,  as you might , at this particular point and time in our Springtown history, with all the improvements that we have made to the City and surrounding area since I was first elected to the Springtown City Council years ago and the momentum we have built up for progress since first elected to the City Council, I realize that the City is in dire need and the time is right now to continue the progressive move forward  with a new Mayor with that progressive vision for the future that’s brought us this far and if elected I will  be that full time Mayor devoting my city councils’ focus and energy on securing the future prosperity, financial security  and positive controlled growth plan that will ensure that Springtown will thrive and prosper in the near and distant future while retaining that small town atmosphere we all moved here for. Like many of you, I wasn’t born here or attended elementary school here. I chose to live in Springtown. Springtown is my home and I care for Springtown just as much as someone who has lived here all their lives. This should be obvious to everyone who knows me by my years of volunteerism for the City, always a smile and always willing to help with a “can-do enthusiastic” attitude. Like you, I chose to build here, invested my money in my home and property inside the City just like you and sent my son to graduate from Springtown schools just like you did. After living in my home for a period of years I do expect my property values to go up and to get a nice return on my investment if I chose to and in that respect, I’m am just like you too. But, these things are only going to happen if the City elects a new Mayor with an enlightened, team oriented, forward thinking vision for unifying Springtown, who is not afraid to act to do the right thing, even if he is the only one. Elect someone who will fight for you. Our work on the City Council proves I am not afraid to speak up and do what has to be done even when it is not popular always acting it is in the best interest of all Springtown citizens. I’m on your side. My work on the City Council is not near finished, my job title just needs to change in order to be able to do the best job possible for the citizens of Springtown and the best way to do that and continue brining progress to Springtown is to be your Mayor. If elected, this decision will remove many roadblocks to progress the City has had to endure since I began serving as your City Councilman trying to move the City forward and improve and enhance our quality of life. And any elected official who wants to be reelected must be able to run on not only a vision for the future but, a record of accomplishments for the City.  Acknowledging all the improvements to the Springtown area that I have either initiated on my own or played a role in getting accomplished around Springtown in the last five years (Verizon DSL, New Walnut Creek Road and Bridge Project, new additional ambulance service from the Hospital District, East and West loops around Springtown) I know, if you let me, I can do so much more for you and the City as your Mayor.  I’m running on a proven vision for the future and an established record of accomplishments for the citizens of Springtown since being elected years ago and I am confident that if elected I can and will do more for the citizens of Springtown as your new Mayor.  For years I have worked very hard as your councilman this fact is undeniable by anyone, now let me work just as hard for you and Springtown as your new Mayor.  Fact. The City of Springtown has seen some significant growth in the last 10 years and I believe that the next 10 years will surely be just as significant. In 1990 the census counted 1746 citizens in Springtown; in 2000 the count was 2062 citizens in Springtown. In 2010 the census counted more than 3000 citizens living in Springtown that is about a 1000 person increase in about ten years and over 1300 in 20 years that have moved to Springtown. The majority of growth has come in the last 10 years. These numbers verify that significant growth has already arrived here and more predicted coming in our near future.  I have witnessed, recognized and worked to prepare for this fact since I have lived here. My job, if elected as your mayor, is not to try to stop the coming growth to our small town, but to welcome and embrace it, you can’t stop folks from moving here as much as you may want to and a city can’t be as close to a major metropolitan area as Springtown is to Dallas-Fort Worth and not grow, we must prepare ahead of time by controlling the coming growth with my vision for the future serving as your mayor of Springtown. That includes, in part, a well prepared and thought-out 20 year economic development and master plan using innovation, creativity and sound planning technics for designed and controlled residential and commercial growth throughout our city, continuance and enhancement of the city’s infrastructure maintenance program the city council started when i was first elected to the city council as I promised when I ran for election at that time. Continued improvement and planning for long term future water and sewer needs of Springtown citizens, continued new road construction throughout the city and the extra territorial jurisdiction, as I promised when I was first elected,  making it even easier to navigate through Springtown and the surrounding area. With the coming growth we are going to need these new arteries throughout our area. These things cannot be accomplished by sitting on your tail and being afraid to do anything, or ignoring the facts of our situation hoping they will go away or taking a wait and see attitude, by then we will be far behind on capital improvements and commercial development in Springtown. All the problems of Springtowns’ future will not have a black and white solution this is why Springtown needs a new Mayor who understands difficult governmental issues and will be open minded to and encourage new ideas using ingenuity and creativity to solve problems and raise funds for the city. We must prepare now. These are serious times in need for a serious person in the Mayors’ office. Springtown deserves to have a politically active, motivated and determined mayor with a persistent but cautious and positive can-do attitude and personality. Most of you who already know and have worked with me know that I have just described Springtown City Councilman Tom Clayton. My plan, if elected is to be a Mayor who is capable of being a full time accessible Mayor who already has years of experience serving the citizens of Springtown, with a proven ability to work as a team player and to solve difficult problems and get the job done thinking outside the box, an undeniable desire to see Springtown thrive and continue moving forward, an extensive education in government (Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning- University of Nevada) many years serving the City of Springtown, and working in the private sector and owning my own sales business. Combined, this is twenty seven years of real world, formal, and practical hands-on experience giving me the tools and skills the City will need to solve serious problems at an executive level along with the people skills and sales ability to know how to bring to the City the types of business and entertainment that would complement and be acceptable to our Springtown culture. Businesses and entertainment that Springtown folks want to have here. To make the quality of life around Springtown even better, there is always room to improve. These things a city must plan for ahead of time or if ignored and we don’t follow this plan you get what you get and you may not like what moves here. The City can’t discriminate we have to make room for everybody. I remember why I moved to Springtown and as your new Mayor and I will do everything I can to keep the small town atmosphere we all love while trying to provide more...

I understand your disgust with your water rates. I am a water customer too. The cause of most of all this is what I have discussed through this web site and why I am running. And that is the lack of commercial business in Springtown. All Towns and cities raise funds in the same ways. The city gets money from your property taxes, your water, sewer, trash bill. The city gets funds from fees and fines and grants when available. The one thing that keeps all the other things I just mentioned low or at least reasonable is sales tax revenue from commercial and industrial business. I’m not talking about a few restaurants around town and one grocery store. Obviously that is not enough business in Springtown to level the playing field between residential customers and commercial business customers.  When you have a situation like this, lack of sales tax revenue, the greater burden of paying for services (water, sewer, trash p/u, police, roads, libraries and other amenities we don’t have) in Springtown falls onto the residential costumer. Springtown MUST follow the plan that I have laid out or the city will have no choice but to raise property taxes and water rates just to keep up and pay for the level of service that you have now. Services cost money and the user of that service must pay. Just what you pay depends on how many and what kind of customers a city has. Residential, commercial, or industrial customers all have different rates. Commercial and industrial are higher rates because they use more and put more of a burden on the system leading one to conclude that the more commercial and industrial business a city has the less the residents have to pay just to live in Springtown. Historically, most of leaders of previous administrations in Springtown have run off every real commercial or industrial company because they didn’t want anyone else moving here.  I am not of that mindset. I and this council have inherited problem within Springtown with our water plant, sewer plant unmaintained roads and other things that should have been handled by previous administrations. I’m not complaining I’m just trying to address the problems. Some of these problems took many years of a lack of maintenance and neglect of the cities infrastructure.  Since I have been on the council we have invested 1.2 million upgrading the water plant and another 900,000 upgrading the wastewater treatment plane and about to invest another 3 to 5 million into the wastewater treatment planet. It cost so must because of the precious years of neglect and lack of regular maintenance.  Your water is safe to drink out of the facet. I drink it every day. But, I understand why you feel the way you do. The issue we had with the water plant where the city was mandated by the TCEQ to send you notices has been fixed. But, by TCEQ rules the city must continue to send notices out to all water customers for one year after the TCEQ has approved the cities water supply, and they did.  I also understand the many times that we had to reverse call you and tell you to boil your water because of a water break. We are mandated by the state to notify you to boil your water when we have a water break and anything gets into the lines. This gets back to old water lines and lack of maintenance and replacement where needed and over time. Today we are playing catch up and it going to take some time and a fair amount of money. This is where the commercial business comes back into play. Where we can get more sales tax revenue to pay for these things the less we have to take from you. Your property taxes for the city of Springtown are .060 per one hundred dollar value. In Lake Worth they pay, the last time I looked, .038 per one hundred dollar valuation. It’s all because of the large amount of commercial business. Lake Worth can afford to keep taxes and water bills low. But they also have a higher crime rate than we do but the businesses are paying for the extra police and security, there’s always a tradeoff.  If elected your new mayor on May 14 I will do everything I can to keep the service rates and fees for residential customers in Springtown from increasing by using the Mayors’ office to bring the needed commercial and industrial business to Springtown. I hope I have addressed your question to you satisfaction If not let me know and I would be glad to sit down with you and go over anything you want about the city in more detail at your convenience. And would be glad to hear any suggestion that you have on how the city could improve how we do business.   Tom Clayton

Vote to Elect Tom W. Clayton Mayor of Springtown May 14, 2001 @ Springtown City Hall.  Vote Early May 2 thru May 10 @ Springtown City Hall