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Katy Citizen Watchdog$ |
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We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money. |
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Watchdog Commentary |
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THE KATY CITIZEN WATCHDOG$
Let me say again, that we are glad you found us, and hope you will consider joining us in our cause.
Before I plunge into the mission of the “Dogs”, I thought it might be useful to give you a bit of bio information on myself. My name is Chris Cottrell and I am one of the founding members of this new organization. I have been a resident of the Katy area since 1974. Only my college years at UT – Austin took me away from this area (BBA in PLM Class of 1983). I am a Katy High School graduate (Class of 1978). At that time there was only one (1) high school. I don’t have to tell you that there has been tremendous growth and change in our district in the 30+ years I have been here. Much of the change has been good but quite a bit has not.
I am married and have twin daughters who attend one of our local high schools. My wife is a CPA turned pre-school teacher at a local private pre-school in Katy. When I’m not being a Watchdog, I serve as a partner/investor and Vice President of Land & Marketing with a small independent oil and gas producer in Houston (Southern Bay Energy, L.L.C.). I am also President of my own small energy company (Cottrell Energy, L.L.C.)
I bet I’m a lot like you. For all these many years I have been “asleep” as to local KISD issues. I paid my taxes (unhappily), went to work and spent time with my family. My focus has been on raising my family and growing two (2) energy companies. And while those remain my priorities I stumbled into this task quite by accident. Now I don’t mind telling you that prior to organizing the Watchdog$ I was already an angry taxpayer. The more and more I learned the more I realized that I needed to quit complaining and actually try and effect change in the district. You have probably already read the statements on this website. Folks, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
I for one am tired of our local, state and federal governments spending money like “drunken sailors”. I am sick and tired of waste, fraud and corruption among our so-called local, state and federal representatives. Now I’m not fooling myself by thinking that the Watchdog$ are going to somehow magically change the current state of affairs in KISD. I know all too well that I am a tiny, tiny “David” which has decided to take on one of the largest local bureaucratic “Goliaths” ever; the KISD school system. I have only just started my group. They have had years to grow theirs.
Let me ask you a simple question. Do you believe that local government has the right to use your tax dollars as an entitlement program? We don’t. We think more money needs to be spent in the classroom and less on administration and extravagant construction.
We’d like the district to work with the Watchdog$ in trying to make some changes for the better in the district. However, I can tell you that from conversations I have had with the Superintendent and from hearing comments from the various board members at school board meetings, I’m not real optimistic that they will be interested in hearing what we have to say or work with us as to any issue. Remember, there has been very little change in the composition of the Board over these past many years. It’s my opinion that they are pretty much set in their ways.
Is this organization political? Of course we are. There is no way to separate the money issues from politics. As I stated in the interview I gave the Katy Times in July of 2005, we hope to put forth our own slate of candidates at future school board elections, or, at the very least we would like to support candidates that believe in what we believe in.
As I noted above, I don’t believe we are going to be able to effect change with the current Board that is in place. I feel that by having “like minded” Board members the Watchdog$ may be able to put forth some of its agenda. That is the great thing about our society; if we don’t like who’s running things we have the power to make a change. But let’s not forget; YOU HAVE TO VOTE TO EFFECT CHANGE!!
Anyway, I hope that you will check-in with us from time to time. Real power is in numbers so please consider joining us today. I can assure you that any contact information you give will be kept strictly confidential. This is especially important to those of you that are members of the KISD faculty. We want your input!! So don’t be shy. Contact us today.
Sincerely,
Chris Cottrell Co-Founder/Katy Citizen Watchdog$
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