Municipal elected officials are sworn to govern regarding issues related to the city or town.
A councilperson should focus on local, not state or national issues. Items such as water, wastewater, roads, employees, and issues related to the quality of life within the municipality. Time is of the essence, and any distractions to the business of what a municipality is directed to accomplish causes delays and a reduction in the standard of living for its citizens.
Local councils are not a platform for state and national issues. By treading into those laws governed by the state, a municipality may find itself entangled in a lawsuit by the attorney general of the state of Texas. For example, the decriminalization of marijuana in Austin has triggered a lawsuit that the citizens of Austin will have to pay for with their tax dollars.
Unfortunately, from time to time a city or town may find that there is someone on their council who is seeking to make a name for themselves at the state and/or national level. This causes a disruption in the council and within the community.
Alpine had such a disruption recently, and it has resurfaced over the last week. The community of Alpine overwhelming came out in support of the Lion’s Club and its annual gun show three months ago. Over 21 people spoke at a city council meeting supporting the continuation of this event, the Lion’s Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The Lion’s Club donates a substantial amount of money to the community throughout the year.
The community recognizes this type of behavior among its elected officials and realizes that a councilperson with these tactics is not acting on behalf of his or her constituents but instead is acting on behalf of their political aspirations.
Instead of focusing on the issues that the voters told the council they wanted them to focus on, the council is being distracted with state and national issues that further delay the priorities of the City of Alpine and which could entangle the city in lawsuits. Instead of missing budget workshops and workshops regarding attracting and retaining qualified employees, the councilperson entwined with such political ploys should focus on their constituents and their local needs.
Catherine Eaves
Mayor of Alpine
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Dear Editor,
SRSU, Alpine Lions Club Gun Show Violates State Law
After speaking to legal counsel at the Texas State University System, it’s crystal clear that the Big Bend Gun and Knife Show, planned for Labor Day weekend, will violate state gun laws and Sul Ross State University policy by inviting illegal carry events onto campus including open carry, unlicensed carry, and long gun, assault weapon carry. Since those events are banned on Texas college campuses, the gun show must be immediately canceled by SRSU administration. Further, if President Hernandez doesn’t act, the event will allow weapons of war, like the AR-15, to be sold to criminals in daylight. Only by mandating background checks can we prevent legal gun purchases to individuals who have raped, assaulted children or been convicted of other violent felonies. Still, the gun show in question isn’t legally allowed on campus in the first place.
In accordance with SB 11, only concealed carry of handguns by people or law enforcement who have a license to carry handguns in Texas are allowed on a university campus, and all private individuals’ handguns must remain appropriately, legally stored or concealed on any visit to the campus. State law punishes all open carry on campuses as a Class A misdemeanor for CDL license holders and a third-degree felony for non-license holders. As noted in SRSU policy, “The Campus Carry or Concealed Handgun Policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors; and individuals and organizations doing business on or on behalf of Sul Ross State University.” State law makes no exceptions.
These new findings come after I developed a resolution which, if passed, would have requested the Alpine Lion’s Club to require background checks at the annual event. The resolution was met by a MAGA gathering and Mayor Eaves who urged me to drop the issue because it’s too divisive. Now, I’m proud of a tenure that serves increasing public access, transparency, and civil discourse, and therefore, I will not stand idly by when leaders are willing to defend an illegal and dangerous event. Further, the Alpine mayor has floated that I’m doing this for fame or future political aspirations. I’ll remind her that I’ve been an advocate for marginalized communities for over 15 years. My heart and service to Alpine is grounded in facts, not personal attacks. This is about gun safety and common sense laws — an issue that many in Alpine have made clear as we near another West Texas mass shooting, tragic anniversary. Our leaders should stand for: Uvalde, May 24, 2022, 19 children and two teachers killed; El Paso, August 3, 2019, 23 killed, 22 injured; and Odessa, 8 killed, 25 injured.
Our leaders should follow state law, be on the right side of history.
Reagan Stone
Alpine City Councilor
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In the 8/8/24 Issue of The Big Bend Sentinel, I read about a proposed Dollar General near Study Butte and the pushback from locals and Alpine merchants who would lose business if the DG was approved.
I suggest the DG be located in Marathon, the best route to Big Bend. The Marathon community would benefit as well as the traveling public. To me it seems a solution to a simple problem!
Richard Stone
Austin
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