Citizens For A Responsible Government -- Hypocrisy -- Hastings

"If you are interested in living or working in Midlothian, let me be the first to tell you it is a great place to be!"

The preceding line was taken from the city's website, from city manager Don Hastings's page. If Mr. Hastings thinks Midlothian is such a great place to live, we have to ask:

Many cities require the city manager to reside in the city*. That way, the manager is a part of the community he/she serves, and experiences it every day. While driving to and from work, and to the market, the manager can see the city and any needs. Pot holes, street lights, signage -- the city manager should be experiencing it every day, just like the rest of us. But, our city manager doesn't.

"If you are looking for a new home, a place to visit, open a new business or simply be in the company of really fine people, you've come to the right place!"

"But, of course, I chose to live in the country, and I don't want to live around those who pay my salary"

How can he possibly make informed decisions with our interests at heart when he isn't even a citizen of our city? If he wants to be in the company of really fine people, and he doesn't want to live in the city of Midlothian, what does that tell us about what he thinks of those of us who are paying his salary?

* All the following cities confirmed in March, 2008, that their city managers live within the city limits:

On the right is a map of southwestern Midlothian. You can click it for a larger image.

The light brown area is already within the city limits. The orange area is the next area to be annexed. You'll notice it fills in most of the area out to the ETJ (bold black line), except the area to the left, where Jordan Street is. Guess who lives on Jordan? You're right! Don Hastings, the city manager (and his wife's animals)!

What kind of person forces others (RCAA) to be annexed while using his power as city manager to leave his own area untouched?

One who is afraid of his wife, that's who. Rumor is that she has a donkey that she couldn't keep if annexed, so while it's okay for Hastings to tell the RCAA people what to do, he surely isn't going to mess with his own wife.

His $90,000 annual salary, not including benefits, is almost 2 1/2 times the Midlothian median male income of $37,151, and over 3 times the median female income of $27,209.

Ladies of Midlothian, is the city manager worth 3 times as much as you are in the workforce?

The luxurious Hastings Chateau is located on 5 acres in the exclusive Jordan Ranch Estates. With an appraised value of almost 1/4 million dollars, Mr. Hastings apparently prefers to live in the country instead of with us -- the citizens he is supposed to be serving.