Editor’s Note: Stephen Crowell has authorized the Sabine County Reporter to announce his candidacy for County Judge. As a participant in the newspaper’s Political Calendar, following is a statement issued by Crowell.

I am STEPHEN CROWELL, running to be your next Sabine County Judge. I will be fair, unbiased, transparent and will treat everyone with respect.

Background: I was born and raised in Sabine County, graduated from Hemphill ISD K-12, College Undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Finance. I served on the HISD Board of Trustees for 12 years and I currently serve as Mayor of Hemphill. Serving Sabine County has been a very important part of my life. I have served a total of 14 years in elected, unpaid positions. I have earned my living working in Sabine County as a banker for 17 years and as a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser for the past 10 years. I am a past president of the Hemphill Lions Club and the Sabine County Chamber of Commerce. My experience in business, banking, school board member, and mayor have prepared me to lead the county forward.

Conservative Financial Management: I have many years of budget experience. There is a difference between private company budgets and governmental entity budgets. Private company budgets are looking to maximize profits and report to owners/shareholders. Governmental budgets are about providing services to the citizens of Sabine County and are based upon tax revenue and other sources. Profit motive does not enter governmental budgets. I have experience in both types of budgeting. Judge Melton has done a good job conservatively managing our money and I will do the same. We are a small county where managing our limited resources is very important.

Grants: These are very important to the county. I have experience as Mayor working to receive grants and I will work extremely hard to locate and win grants for the county.

Economic Development: This will be a key part of my job. We need growth in all parts of the county. I want everyone to know that the county is welcoming to any business wanting to start-up or relocate to our county. I will do everything in my power to encourage business development. Economic development is more than trying to bring in new businesses. We need to spend our money locally and support our existing businesses.

Tourism: I will work with a tourism director to increase tourism and bring in much needed revenue to our local community. The Sabine River Authority is spending millions of dollars developing new parks on Toledo Bend Lake. I will work closely with the SRA to make the county an effective partner in developing tourism. As mayor I have worked with the city council to design a new sign advertising Hemphill as the “Bass Fishing Capital of Texas” to welcome visitors to our community.

I am the right person to lead Sabine County forward. I have the experience, education, love for Sabine County and will work hard to achieve these goals. We all need to work together to make Sabine County Great! I humbly ask for your vote on March 3, Early voting starts February 17.

Sincerely Stephen Crowell Political Ad Paid for by Stephen Crowell