My picks for Angleton offices

Brandei Burridge (above) keeps time for another candidate as (from left) candidates Toby Davenport, running for Brazos River Harbor Navigation District Position 3, Patrick Thomas and Derrick Dees, running for Angleton City Council Position 4, and Davenport's opponent Ravi Singhania, wait at a table for candidates for their turn to speak.

The Angleton Chamber of Commerce candidate forum held Thursday at the Angleton Recreation Center highlighted how fortunate the city is, to have such a slate of good candidates for the two offices it must fill next month.

The meeting began with an introduction to new Angleton City Manager Greg Smith, who spoke briefly and let residents know he keeps an open-door policy.

The forum then provided each city candidate five minutes to outline their skills, experience, and plans for Angleton's future. Five minutes isn’t much, but it allowed me the opportunity to confirm my preferences.

Incumbent mayoral candidate Patrick Henry (right) emphasized his long association with city government, and with good reason. Henry was mayor pro tem during his last term, until former Mayor Matt Sebesta resigned to become the Precinct 2 County Commissioner, and Henry stepped up.

But Henry’s most recent term on City Council wasn’t his first. He was first elected to city council in 1991, and served until term limitations imposed a break in 2001. After the mandated break, Henry wasted no time before running again in 2002, and Angleton wasted no time before putting him back on the council.

Henry, who has taught special education at Angleton High School for 23 years, has a total of 16 years of service in Angleton government. He is the council’s liaison to the parks board and Keep Angleton Beautiful, and serves on the Comprehensive Plan Development Code and Angleton Better Living committees.

Henry’s opponent is Randy Rhyne (right), an administrative captain at the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department, who said he thinks the city needs a new direction. If Angleton had been going to hell in a handbasket, I might opt for change. But Angleton’s been running smoothly for some years now. You know what they say about things that ain’t broke.

I’m also concerned that, in a countywide disaster like the Rita evacuation, Rhyne’s attention would be divided between the city and the county.

Continuity and change can both be good, but Angleton’s already getting a healthy dose of change—it has a new city manager and will have a new council member, since term limits are forcing Councilman James Veselka to vacate his post. I think the city needs to hang onto Henry’s years of knowledge and experience.

Three worthy opponents have lined up for Veselka’s Position 4 council post. John Wright (above) is a financial analyst, Patrick Thomas (below right) a dentist and Derrick Dees, a financial adviser. The three of them form a terrific group from which to choose.

Each of the three acknowledged that Angleton’s going to be hit soon by the same growth that threatened to overwhelm Alvin, Pearland and Manvel.

Five minutes isn’t much time to tell people why you want a public office but in a nutshell, Thomas said he wants to encourage business and development in Angleton; Wright to increase the quality of life and preserve the area’s history; and Dees to represent the city as a whole.

That isn’t all that went into my decision to vote for Dees (above). The bottom line is, he seems to have the vision for Angleton that most closely matches my own—that is, to enjoy the growth and prosperity that’s coming, while working to control it so it doesn’t swamp small businesses and residents.

Those are my picks. Let the letters begin.

Early voting in the municipal election starts April 30. Election Day is May 12.