Citizens For A Responsible Government was formed by citizens within the Midlothian Independent School District to monitor expenditures and government by the MISD.  However, we have been "distracted" from our original mission by the actions by Mayor Whatley, so our immediate focus will be on the city.  Following are our opinions of the current situation.

What's Going On?

Everyone knows of the annexation fight between our city council and the group RCAA.  Instead of our city's leaders working with the areas to be annexed, they handled them with an iron glove.  Many don't oppose the annexation itself, but the way in which this annexation has been mishandled by Mayor Whatley.

What most of us don't realize is the impact this group of people can have on our everyday way of life.

What Will Happen?

Midlothian will annex Tracts A and Tracts B;  Whatley has made it plain that nothing is going to stop it.  Unless the other council members stand up for what's right, this is a "done deal."  For Midlothian, this could literally be "the beginning of the end."

The RCAA group has over 800 registered voters.  That will be enough to sway any election we have for the next 10 - 20 years.  They will immediately take over the city council, and then control our city.

The "City" View

Some condemn the RCAA for not having a "city view."  They do not live in the city, nor do they want to, so why should they have a "city view?"  Why would Oklahoma expect to care what Texas wants?  Would Midlothian be willing to give up it's way of life because Waxahachie told us to?  Would we plant crepe myrtles and change our homes to ginger bread just because they asked us?  To expect them to love Midlothian like we do is arrogant, unrealistic, and short-sighted.

The city leaders think these people will simply blend in, just like "Dusty" Fryer of the R. I. G. H. T. group.  After fighting annexation with extremely good arguments, Mr. Fryer "joined" the city after annexation, but his group was not treated like the RCAA group.  RCAA is a determined, hostile group, and this is going to be a shotgun wedding that never should have happened.  The RCAA will no more learn to love our city than a violated woman learns to love her attacker.

Like the Nazi annexation of Austria by Germany, there will be long-term effects, hard feelings that will last for years (just like this website, if necessary).

Impact on Our Economy

Earlier this year, the RCAA resolved to no longer shop in our city because of Whatley's complaints about them driving on our streets.  At the July 8th council meeting, we were told of the first-ever total revenue decrease in our city, and that there was no increase anticipated in sales tax revenue.  He also stated services will be decreased.  Way to go, Whatley;  you sure know how to mis-manage our city.

Whatley blamed the economy and bragged about what a good job he was doing;  Is it the economy's fault?  Read the article in the Waxahachie Daily Light about their expanding business base.  The Gingerbread City is expanding, while we die on the vine.  Mr. Whatley, quit killing our city.  (Click here to read more on Whatley's economy.)

Why Do We Care?

After taking over the council, the RCAA is expected to immediately fire Don Hastings, who we feel to be a very good city manager (if Whatley would let him do his job).  After that, there are two courses of action they may take:

(1)  They could have an election to modify the city charter to prohibit forced annexation, and then de-annex themselves.  Since the charter could be changed again, and they could be annexed again, this is an unlikely move.

(2)  They could de-annex most of Midlothian, giving it to Waxahachie, and leave themselves to be the "new" Midlothian.  Keeping major industry along the 67 corridor, the tax base upon residences would be negligent, and they would be protected against annexation since they would be their own city -- OUR city!  The bulk of our city would be given to Waxahachie, where they would no-doubt combine the functions of government, resulting in massive lay-offs of Midlothian city workers.  Waxahachie would jump at the chance, as that would give them complete control over our airport.  Did you catch this?  The annexed area would be the "new" Midlothian -- thanks to Whatley giving it to them on a silver platter -- while most of us would become a part of "The Gingerbread City."

(3)  The RCAA website, and this one as well, are not good for business for the city.  We feel CFARG.com is a necessary tool to identify and resolve problems.  We want to focus on the MISD, but our website will remain up for as many days -- or years -- or decades -- as it takes to turn our wonderful city around, and we suspect the RCAA people feel the same way.

Either course would have an adverse effect on the future of our city, but it's a "necessary evil."  Midlothian cannot survive and thrive until these problem areas are rectified.

What Should the City Council Do?

The city council has the answer, and it's simple:  Let the RCAA vote on whether to be annexed, and do it right now before the situation gets worse.  If a majority of the area votes to be annexed, those opposing have already said they'll quit fighting.  If the vote loses, the Midlothian council can re-consider it's position, and, if our leaders decide to put the area back on an annexation track, we can do it by working WITH our new neighbors instead of AGAINST them.

The city would become the "heroes," as they would be the peacemakers.  The RCAA website (which allowed us to see how effective a website can be), which certainly doesn't help the city attract citizens and new businesses, would hopefully disappear.  And, we could go back to assisting the MISD in seeing the light.  (MISD -- you should thank Whatley for distracting us.  You're next.)

Unfortunately, the egos of Whatley and Fryer will never let this happen.  They will fight to the end, and will go down in history as the two who destroyed Midlothian.  (Does Whatley own a fiddle?)

What Can You Do?

Call or write to your elected officials, and write letters to the editor, encouraging the city council to become the heroes and allow a vote.  Tell Whatley to watch his mouth and to leave Ken Chambers alone!  Otherwise, get ready to butter your gingerbread.