Why so serious???

(Editorial by J Sharp)

Circle of Trust

Jasper City Council, JEDCO’s legitimacy, those for it, those against it, bylaws and city charters… what does it all mean? To those who’ve called for accountability, I applaud you!  Reformation and replacement mixed with conspiracy & truth has made for a cocktail of Kool-Aid we are all getting to taste right now. A spoon full of sugar helps the arsenic go down. A little bitter at first, but the pain will soon be over. I, for one, appreciate the insistence for accountability. I do not believe that individuals wake up in the morning saying, “I am going to be evil today.”  Naive? Yes, but I do believe most people are trying to do what is right for the causes they can see and most try to correct the injustices they believe exist from an honest place in their heart, as volunteers. Don’t get me wrong, the wicked ones do exist and there are those who like to do that bidding, but overall, most are trying to get through the day as honestly as they can. When given a chance to see a truth, most will adjust their position to honor what is “right” for the whole.

A City Charter for a city is like the Constitution for the State of Texas. What does it matter? Why is this so serious? The Charter is the base line of powers and functions in a city. When violations of the charter occur, do we let it go? If so, why have one in the first place. I believe that if you are a preacher and you thump your Bible about indiscretions of the masses… you better have a good explanation for your own indiscretions when levied in the town square.

Which brings us to an interesting conundrum.

Jasper City Charter states in very specific terms about the qualifications of a candidate in Section 3.02 Qualifications – “The mayor and each member of the city council shall have been a resident citizen of the City of Jasper for a period of not less than six (6) months immediately preceding the date of his or her election, shall be a qualified voter of the State of Texas, and shall not be indebted to the City of Jasper.

The Charter is CLEAR, and this poses big problems:

1. New council members were sworn into office on May 6th, 2025.

2. According to the county website https://jaspercotxtax.com, Mami Horn owed the City of Jasper tax monies until August 13th, 2025. Horn owed the City of Jasper tax money from years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2024. The taxes were paid after the buzzing of the social media beehive came to life a few days prior. If Horn was in violation of this clause on the day she was sworn in and thus NOT a qualified person for a seat on the council. Deductive reasoning says that all of Horn’s 2025 votes and appointments are NOW in question.

3. Documents (on the stated county website) show that two checks # 2219 & # 2220, were paid in the amount of $10,000 each to take care of her school, city, county and ESD taxes. Since then, rumors persist about WHO paid the taxes for Horn and multiple sources reference one of Horn’s appointees to JEDCO. But nobody knows who? And if nobody should come forward to tell the tale. Then nobody saw the checks, and nobody copied those checks. And if nobody kept the checks in their files then nobody kicks up dust if nobody comes forward. And if nobody comes forward to say these checks paid Horn’s taxes on August 13^th, then nobody would listen to a nobody… Right?

(DON’T Forget – Recently, there was a legal opinion, provided at a city council meeting that stated, Demarcus Holme’s vote and appointments did not count from the prior meeting because the audience was not able to see or hear him on the cell phone that was being used for the video conferencing. Which I agree with! Forcing a special called meeting to have Holmes attend through video conference where all in attendance could verify his votes and hear his statements. If we are splitting hairs about video conference etiquette at Jasper City Council meetings, which IS NOT clearly outlined in the charter, maybe the council can forgo any legal opinion this time… when its clearly written in the charter that a Qualified Candidate - shall not be indebted to the City of Jasper)

4. Every council person appointed 3 individuals to the JEDCO Board. Horn appointed three individuals herself: Ray Lewis, Bill Grant & Maureen Bidwell. The fact is that Bill Grant has now been voted in as JEDCO President at JEDCO’s Special Called meeting. If Horn’s votes are in question, her appointments MUST BE considered in question as well.

Some would say that even Ray Charles could see what’s going on here, but in case you missed it:

> Horn sworn in on May 6th, 2025

> Horn owed the City of Jasper until August 13th, 2025

> Horn owed taxes from 2018 - 2024

> Horn was NOT QUALIFIED for the District 1 seat according to the City Charter from May 6th to August 12^th

> All of Horn’s votes and appointments to the JEDCO board during that time should be in question

If you see the truth, what will you do with it? The people of District 1, what will you do with it?  The Jasper City Council has a duty to uphold City Charter. If this falls on deaf ears, you do not have a City Charter, you have a City Suggestion, so, be done with any legal opinions and make it up as you go. Everyone who champions the ideas of accountability do not need to forget that with accountability comes real responsibility, real duty and real action. It’s your duty to do what is right for Jasper and its citizens. The sword cuts both ways.

Like my father always said from the pulpit… “In closing…” The talk of the town has been that the Jasper City Council has been dysfunctional and fractured for years, and the current council is no different. Makes you wonder… Who is controlling this? Who is the narrator? Who is the “Wizard of OZ?” Are we all the munchkins? Are you the cowardly lion, tinman or strawman. That’s the interesting thing about strawmen… Fire makes quick work when you show up with straw.  So, let’s ignite a little fire…

The faces, individuals and names change through the years, but who or what remains the constant players in the background of Jasper? Can you follow the yellow brick road? It’s funny how the phrases “king makers” and “puppeteers” elicits a few people who think the curtain has them hidden like a Facebook warrior. Who in Jasper deals like a drug dealer running this divisiveness? Who in Jasper is pulling the levers behind the scenes like a middle-aged drunken divorcee slumped over the slots at L’Auberge? Follow the money? Follow the power? Who profits from dramas like a 1990’s sit-com? Who gains power from descension here? Not descension in Kirbyville, Buna, Rayburn or Dam B… who gains from descension here??? in Jasper, Texas??? It’s an easy riddle and once you discover the answer, you can’t unsee it and you can’t unhear it… You might consider that the snow sprinkling on you while you sleep is actually asbestos fibers. You might consider that you are a puppet in a long line of puppets in the same tired ol’ show. New puppets volunteer and the old ones are packed away in the history of this town. You might consider that if you buck the system that placed you, they will discard you too.

Then again, don’t consider a thing I’ve said with any great seriousness. You might consider this to be the drunken ramblings of a guy with an axe to grind. So… Cheers! Disregard and keep moving. Remember the scene from Braveheart, William Wallace, blue paint and all, chasing down the enemy and at last he realized he had been betrayed by someone he called a friend.