On his way out, Brady offers suggestions for City Hall

Billy Bob Brady A saddened Billy Bob Brady sat at his dining room table Friday afternoon, looking over the resignation he planned to submit to city officials later that day.

“I firmly believe some good will come out of this,” he said.

Brady surprised other city leaders and residents last Tuesday when he announced his intentions of resigning from the Kilgore City Commission. After his announcement, he shook City Manager Jeff Howell’s hand, wished him the best and walked away from the meeting.

Although physically no longer a part of the city commission, Brady still has deep feelings for the city he’s served for nearly five years.

“I’m not bitter, just disappointed,” he said. “But I really do have a different vision concerning Kilgore’s economic development.”

Brady said he feels those on the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation board “are as committed to their beliefs as I am to mine.”

That’s the reason Brady is walking away form the city commission.

“I knew several weeks ago when the city commission did not approve a resolution that would allow the taxpayers to decide how their tax money is used for economic development that I had to do something,” Brady said. “I’m resigning because of the economic development corporation’s policy and the voters not being allowed to vote on it.”

Brady said his resignation was not personal.

“I want to apologize for the comments I made (last Tuesday) about economic development on a personal note,” Brady said. “I should not have responded the way I did and I hope everyone will accept my apology. This is about issues, not personalities.”

Brady said he feels strongly that taxpayers should have a say in how their money is spent.

“The emphasis is on ‘their’ money and it’s a considerable sum,” he said.

Brady said all he wants is more openness in the government and to give the citizens the right to voice their opinion on matters.

“We need to show them that this is not a cloak-and-dagger operation,” he said. “It’s important for anyone dealing with taxpayers’ money to be prudent with it and remember they (the taxpayers) are trusting us with their money.”

Brady said he “always tried to do that.”

Brady said city leaders need to be innovative in their thinking. He said that when the economic development corporation was first formed, there was only one way the money could be used – 4A – and Kilgore voters adopted it. Later, the state passed the 4B provision that allows for ‘quality of life’ projects.

He suggested Kilgore voters be given the opportunity vote on whether Kilgore should convert its economic development corporation to a 4B corporation.

“I feel they should take advantage of that and capitalize on other methods of obtaining tax monies,” Brady said. “I feel the proper way to address the issue once and for all was to allow all the people whose money it is to decide on how their money is used.”

Brady said that if the A-B proposition had made it to the ballot and citizens allowed to make the choice, he would have lived with that decision.

“I would have lived with the people’s decision,” he said, “because it (would have been) their decision, and I would probably still be on the city commission.”

Brady said, “You know, when an official wins an election, he feels those are the smartest voters out there because they put him in office. I still think they are smart and I trust them to vote on how they want us to spend their money.

“I really believe the B plan is the best and I didn’t just jump to that decision” he said. “I’ve looked into the matter and my decision is not based on any one person’s information. I’ve talked to many people.”

Brady said he attended a workshop at this year’s Texas Municipal League’s Convention that featured Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber discussing Tyler’s success with their economic development program.

“We have a city 26 miles down the road that gets state recognition and I’m the only one from Kilgore there to hear the secrets of their success.”

Brady said the first thing Seeber said was that many economic development people would think what Tyler is doing is illegal but it isn’t.

“We should take advantage of what they’ve learned,” Brady said. “I may be right, I may be wrong ... some say the current system is the best, but I believe that when it comes down to it, it’s a voters choice. I believe in the right to vote.”

Brady said his decision to resign was not based solely on his feelings about economic development.

“It was an accumulation of a lot of things,” he said, “and after something this controversial, someone needs to go and the logical choice is me.”

Brady said city officials need to be patient and prudent when making decisions.

“If I can offer a little advice, then it would be for the economic development corporation to start taking bids on projects, to be more conservative and be more open – some things that are addressed in executive session could be handled in open session,” he said.

As for the whole ordeal, Brady wants to move on.

“This is over and done with and I hope there are not ugly emails or calls about this going around,” he said. “It’s time to move on.”