In recent newspaper ads purchased by the incumbent commissioner of Precinct #3 (Burleson Star, February 10, 2008), he states that he has "Proven to Keep County Roads Safe" through "Consistent road maintenance programs based on systematic review of traffic counts and safety concerns on each county road".

On February 11, 2008, an open records request was made to the incumbent commissioner requesting "a copy of his described maintenance program, including the review of traffic counts to which he referred on each of the county roads in Precinct #3, and a description of each of the safety concerns to which he referred on each of the county roads in Precinct #3. The time period I would like covered would be the period of the entire fiscal year 2006-2007, as well as fiscal year 2007-2008 from the beginning of the year to the last reporting date. In the event that there are no reports during these periods, I would accept the last reports that are available".

On February 21, 2008, the results of that open records request were received. The report consisted of:

1. A blank "sample" of a Daily Work Assignment Sheet
2. A blank "sample" of a Daily Work Record form
3. A blank "sample" of a Pct #3 Road Critique
4. A list of 401 county roads in Precinct #3 totaling 272.78 miles
5. A list of "Precinct Three Road Traffic Counts" that listed traffic counts for 53 roads, only 45 of which were actually in precinct #3.

There was nothing indicated in any of the report information that covered any "road maintenance program". There was no report of any kind indicating any type of "systematic review" of anything. The traffic counts were only on 11% of the roads and not "each county road" as the commissioner advertised. Most importantly, there was not a single "safety concern" listed on any county road.

Our Precinct #3 County Commissioner has gone public stating that he has "Consistent road maintenance programs based on systematic review of traffic counts and safety concerns on each county road".

What do you think?