Consistent. Principled. Action.

Friends,

Have you already voted? Great! Including the Sunday votes that have not yet been disseminated, over 10,000 votes have probably been cast through the first six days of early voting! The huge number continues to amaze!

Our work is not done.

The large numbers of votes means that many people are concerned about the explosion of government spending at the state and federal levels, they are now awake and energized, and they want to make a difference.

Now is the time to let everyone know that we have reined in government spending in Collin County. Now is the time to influence your networks of friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

I ask that even if you have personally voted, you continue to gather votes for our campaign in this important election. Many elections are won or lost in the last few days, and we will continue to work hard right through Election Day.

If you have some hours available to greet voters as they arrive at polling locations, please let me know. There are many opportunities to simply hold a sign and wave at folks as they pull up. Simple, but effective.

Thank you, each and every one, for your personal efforts on my behalf. You are doing a great job and we are hearing good results. Every vote counts!

Sincerely,
Keith

Friends, Happy President's Day!

You have read campaign mailers and listened to campaign debates. For those who are working in our campaign, thank you for what you have accomplished. You have worked, you called and walked, you have passed out brochures, you have put out signs, you have talked to your friends. I appreciate every effort - you have been wonderful to work with.

Now is the time to encourage your friends to actually vote. Now is the time to make sure that your friends and colleagues actually go to the polls. If they don't go to the polls, your efforts will be in vain. Double back to check with your friends again. Early voting locations are at http://public1.co.collin.tx.us/elections/polling_locations/early_voting/default.aspx .

Continue to campaign with honor, regardless of the tactics used against us. Just like the US Marine TV commercials, we will form a line across the county, standing with the taxpayers with honor.

You have a clear choice between two candidates for County Judge. One raised the Plano ISD tax rate twice in the last two years (including during the economic plunge of 2009). The six cent increase over the past two years is staggering, adding $150 every year to the tax bill on a $250,000 home.

During that same period, Collin County passed both a 5% homestead exemption and a tax rate decrease. The choice is clear.

By Election Day on March 2, I will have completed some 50 events, speaking directly to voters about my record over the past three years. That includes 34 coffees hosted in private homes, speaking to neighbors and friends invited by the hosts. I am grateful for so many friends opening their homes to our campaign.

The next two weeks are crucial to winning this election. Most voters are just now digging into the candidates' records and will make their decisions over the next few days. Now is the time to renew our efforts to personally reach out to voters.

We have received great conservative endorsements:

1) The Collin County Association of Realtors, who are the bellweather of the local economy - they know first what is happening in the housing market. I very much appreciate their confidence in our fiscally conservative policies.

2) Three State Representatives, who together represent every city in Collin County:

State Representative Jodie Laubenberg

State Representative Jerry Madden

State Representative Ken Paxton

3) Kelly Shackelford (for identification only: President/CEO of Free Market Foundation)

4) Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, through their Empower Texans organization.

5) Texas Home School Coalition

6) The Coalition for Better Government, a group of citizens who are working to identify candidates who "best represent the core values, integrity, and responsibilities of the next generation of Republican leaders in Collin County."

7) And I am TeaApproved. As everyone now realizes, the Tea Party is going to make a difference in this election.

This is an important election for Collin County. This election determines whether we return to the past when county government was invisible to you, the taxpayer; or we move forward with open and accessible government, committed to keeping your taxes low and county government focused on core functions.

Now is the time to stand together.

Standing with you,
Keith

Friends, I do not often respond directly to attacks, but the latest flyer and web site by our opponent is a scurillous attack that contains nothing but falsehoods and innuendo. I will respond quickly this evening, and more broadly over time.

My expenses for my one night trip to Florida were $203.31. The other $19,800 in expenses were spent by other elected officials and appointed officials. I had every opportunity to throw the other elected officials under the bus during that TV ambush, but did not.

I didn’t even have a rental car on this trip – the staff picked me up at the airport and dropped me off.

I had none of the recited expenses, lobster, valet parking, room service, etc. I will release my travel voucher as soon as possible.

In this mailer, my opponent references a democrat blog as a source of his information; a blog whose democratic author ran for commissioner 4 years ago.

In 2009, I traveled to Austin more than any commissioner during the legislative session. An excerpt from my blog of January 11, Keeping Discretionary Spending Down:

“In FY09, the county judge budget for the same three line items was $19,358.

I spent $6,921 in FY09, which included more travel to Austin to testify before the legislature. That works out to less than 36% of the authorized budget.”

Now, let me tell you what this is really about. Democrats who have fought to defeat Sam Johnson through the years have aligned themselves with my opponent. They have hosted a fundraiser for him, they have introduced him around, they are working hard to defeat me. We cannot let this group of tax and spenders win the leadership of the county with outright lies.

Stay the course with me. The truth will come out. We will fight every lie, every half-truth, and every innuendo, and we will fight vigorously.

If you have questions, please call me. I am at the Republican fundraiser, Lincoln Day Dinner, this evening, but I am available to you when you call after this evening.

I need you to pass this email to as many Republican voters as you can.

This is a call to arms. Join me on the front lines.

Sincerely,
Keith

Supporters,

We had a good week on the campaign trail.

As previously reported, we received the endorsement of the Collin County Association of Realtors.

Friday, we received the endorsement of the Empower Texans, the political arm of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, led by Michael Quinn Sullivan.

Mr. Sullivan states, "Your leadership in government transparency and accountability makes you an indispensible resource for the people of Collin County and all of Texas. As I have said about you in many places, "Keith Self has put into practice the conservative principles too many people simply talk about. Collin County, and all Texans, are fortunate to have him at the helm of one of the state’s fast growing counties.""

The web site for Texans for Fiscal Responsibility states, "Empower Texans exists to create and sustain a system of strong fiscal stewardship within all levels of Texas government."

I thank Michael Quinn Sullivan and Empower Texans for their support for our re-election campaign.

I am grateful that our transparency and fiscal policy efforts are gaining national and state-wide attention, first by the Governor during his State of the State address to the legislature (available on the lower right side of the web site at www.KeithSelf.com), then by recognition by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), and now by Empower Texans.

We have two great forums coming up on Monday and Tuesday. Monday is at the McKinney campus of Collin College, Tuesday is at the Spring Creek campus of the college. Check out the details at www.KeithSelf.com . See you there!

Sincerely,
Keith

Concerned citizens,

The Collin County Association of Realtors has endorsed me for re-election.

I am very grateful for their support.

Realtors are very sensitive to the economic climate. Uncertainty, unemployment, and job loss translate directly to their bottom line if our citizens struggle with their mortgages. Realtors have every reason to support low tax, business friendly policies. They realize that the best way for us to weather the economic storm is to maintain our low tax policies and reduce the growth of government, exactly as we did over the past three years since I took office.

Collin County maintained a steady unemployment rate in December while the State ticked up slightly. Collin County continues to do well when measured against other places in the State and nation; and our unemployment rate is now 10% better than the State.

The realtors will help us carry our pro-taxpayer message across the county.

Thank you for your support as we continue this experiment in open government.

I said that I would stand with the taxpayer, and I did.

Sincerely,
Keith

Supporters,

Dick Winters is the central officer character in "Band of Brothers", the World War II story of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Winters was a tremendous leader during the parachute assault on D-Day and throughout the drive across Northern Germany. He made a very telling comment to another officer, "Never put yourself in a position to take anything from these men (the men he led)."

I believe that principle applies to all leaders. I draw my salary, which has been frozen throughout my first term in office, and I receive reimbursement for travel and expenses. However, in Fiscal Year 2008, I spent less than 22% of my discretionary budget; in FY2009, I spent less than 36% during a legislative session. I'll explain.

Beyond the recent homestead exemption and tax cuts by the Commissioners Court, I believe there is another measure of how prudently an elected official spends taxpayer dollars, and that is how the public servant spends the tax dollars entrusted to that official to do his or her own job, the tax dollars under the elected official's personal control.

In my case, the primary budget lines over which I exercise personal control are travel, education and conference, and business meals for the office of the county judge. I am the only person covered by the county judge account.

Let's examine the last two years, Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) that did not include a legislative session and FY09 which did include a legislative session. When there is a legislative session, I travel to Austin more to testify and work with our legislators. These are the only two full fiscal years I have been in office.

Business meals include the food for the citizen breakfasts that I hold every two months with citizens randomly selected by county staff.

In FY08, the county judge budget for travel, education and conference, and business meals was $19,611. The general amount of these line items pre-dates my tenure, so I cannot give you the original justification for that amount.

I spent $4,259 in all three lines in FY08, including food for the citizen breakfasts. That works out to less than 22% of the authorized budget.

In FY09, the county judge budget for the same three line items was $19,358.

I spent $6,921 in FY09, which included more travel to Austin to testify before the legislature. That works out to less than 36% of the authorized budget.

I am not going to spend taxpayer dollars just because they are budgeted and available.

With this history, next year's budget for the county judge office can be cut to more accurately reflect what I spend.

I said that I would stand with the taxpayer, and I did. And I continue to do so.

Sincerely,
Keith

Concerned citizens,

Happy New Year! The next 60 days will be an exciting start to a new decade.

Less than 60 days! The Republican primary is less than 60 days from today. I am excited about what Samuel Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, called "the animating contest of freedom."

The rapid plunge of our nation into unthinkable spending and debt and away from liberty has awakened the electorate. Many citizens realize that we must make a stand for liberty and economic sanity in 2010; that we cannot continue down the road of crushing debt and ever-increasing entitlements while yielding our liberty.

I said that I would stand with you, the taxpayer ... and I did. The results are clear; freezing my salary for my 4-year term; our open and transparent county government; the slashing of county government growth rates; tax cuts in county property taxes; and my testimonies in defense of taxpayers before House and Senate committees in Austin over two legislative sessions.

The wisdom and relevance of Ronald Reagan’s words spoken in Dallas in 1984 resonate today, "The people told the liberal leadership in Washington, "Try shrinking the size of government before you shrink the size of our paychecks."" And in that same speech, "Four years ago we raised a banner of bold colors -- no pale pastels." Two great messages that I take to heart.

But there is more to do. The idea of higher taxes to fund every whim of government never dies, and requires constant vigilance. The idea of larger and larger government never dies, and requires constant vigilance. Even our actions over the past year to defend taxpayers have come under liberal criticism. Now is not the time to shirk our responsibilities to you.

I ask that you stand with me for four more years. I ask for your vote on March 2 to re-elect me as your County Judge.

Early voting starts just 43 days from today and Election Day is less than 60 days away. I ask for your help to continue this experiment in open and transparent government.

There are many ways to help out.

If you want to help me reach voters who do not get these emails, read my blog or follow me on Facebook, you can contribute a few dollars to help me reach more people with our transparency and fiscally responsible message. Go to http://www.keithself.com/donate.html to contribute on-line or mail in a check. If everyone contributes a little, together we can reach every voter.

Yard signs are being delivered. Go to http://www.keithself.com/contribute.html to request a yard sign and we will get it to you. If you have a location for a larger road sign, let me know.

There are other ways to introduce me to your friends and family. We are waging a grassroots campaign and I need every supporter to introduce me to other voters, friends and family. Go to the list of opportunities at http://www.keithself.com/contribute.html to tell me how you want to help out.

If you want open and transparent government and fiscal responsibility, please join me in this animating contest of freedom!

Please forward this email to all like-minded voters that you know. And together we will win.

Sincerely,
Keith

Concerned citizens,

1. The Collin County unemployment rate substantially decreased in November, dropping a full half percent from 7.7% in October to 7.2%.

Collin County's decrease is significant and welcome after our unemployment rate peaked in July at 7.9%.

The current 7.2% rate is the lowest since last May and the decrease translates into almost 2,000 fewer unemployed citizens than October's figure.

Collin County continues to do better than the state (8% unemployment) and much better than the nation in jobs and job creation. Jobs, not wealth redistribution, provide the best economic security of our citizens, and our low-tax, job-friendly policies contribute to our improving unemployment rate.

State figures taken from the Texas Workforce Commission web site at http://www.tracer2.com/admin/uploadedPublications/1826_pressrelease.pdf.

2. Tracy and I wish each of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May this season bring you joy with your family as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Sincerely,
Keith

Concerned citizens,

1. State of the County. The staff put together a great briefing on the current state of the county; a briefing that has generated quite a bit of interest when I presented it in several different venues. Because of that interest, I asked the Public Information office to put the briefing on-line for your review. You can find the briefing at http://www.collincountytx.gov/public_information/features/state_of_county_09.jsp. The figures are as current as possible. For instance, the national unemployment rate has changed slightly since the latest change to these slides, but the new local unemployment rate has not been released, so the last available same-date comparison is included.

2. Our re-election campaign is now underway in earnest. Primary election day is only 78 days away; early voting starts in just 64 days, right around the corner, especially given the Christmas break. This is a sprint. I appreciate every bit of support that you can give us.

Yard signs have arrived and we will start delivering them soon. If you have not ordered your yard sign, please go to http://www.keithself.com/contribute.html and sign up for a yard sign to be delivered to your door. We will not start delivery for another week or two, but they are available now if you want to put one out.

You will also find areas to volunteer to host a coffee or other activities to support our re-election campaign. I appreciate every effort on my behalf.

Our grassroots campaign will focus on identify those voters who appreciate the open and transparent government initiatives and the dramatically slashed growth of government that the Commissioners Court has supported during my first term in office.

Remember, I said that I would stand with the taxpayers……and I did.

Sincerely,
Keith

Citizens,

1. Our county unemployment rate inched down in October to 7.7%.

After going up almost 3% over a nine month stretch from September '08 through June '09, our last five months have changed very little at 7.7%, 7.9%, 7.7%, 7.8%, and 7.7%, meaning that the unemployment rate in Collin County has stabilized for the time being at half a percentage point below the state average and a full 2.5% below the current national average.

It is good news that unemployment stopped going up, not good news that it stabilized at a relatively high 7.7%. Jobs are crucial in order to continue to provide a beacon of success in the midst of the national economic downturn.

I know that federal government spending policies garner all the media attention, and the major issues that many of us are engaged in with our congressional delegation are vitally important. However, local fiscal policy and taxes pay a major role in our economic health relative to other states and even regions within Texas. Our low tax and business friendly policies play a part in keeping business doors open and attracting new businesses looking for a shelter in the storm.

2. I kept my word in my first term of office. I said that I would stand with the taxpayers - I did.

- Collin County has a more open and transparent government - webcasting commissioners court sessions and putting the county checkbook on-line for your review.

- The three budgets I participated in slashed the growth of county government from a 10+% per year average to a 1+% per year average.

- The Commissioners Court cut your county property taxes. The Commissioners Court cut your taxes - we are not taking credit for something the legislature did - we actually cut your taxes ourselves. More on this later.

These conservative fiscal policies play a role in the success of this county in maintaining a relatively good employment rate. And they will play a role in building jobs for the future as our population continues to grow as people flee high-tax states and counties.

3. Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner. I am grateful every day for each of the blessings that I enjoy, including the great honor of serving you.

Sincerely,
Keith