LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Petitioners just want to vote Editor, the Leader-News:

Earlier this week, I spoke before El Campo City Council on behalf of the group of people that are trying to send the recent annexation ordinances to a public vote. Neither I, nor the group of people are against annexation or against the City of El Campo growing, like recently accused by Mayor Spenrath. Like many who signed the petition(s), we just want the ordinances to go to a public vote.

In a recent interview on KULP, Mayor Spenrath stated that several petitioners were forced into signing the petition in fear of losing business. Between my wife and I we probably collected more than 65 percent of the signatures and at no time was anyone forced into signing the petition or given reason to believe that by not signing they would lose any business. In fact, we both had to turn people away from signing the petition because they did not meet the requirements of residing inside the El Campo city limits and being a registered voter.

However, completely opposite of what Mayor Spenrath says, I found several people that would not sign the petition because they were in fear of losing business or even their jobs if they were to have signed it. Citizens should not have to fear speaking their own opinions in any situation.

I have also heard that some of the people that signed the petition are scared because they have heard that they personally will be held liable for any costs that the city will incur due to the pending lawsuit. Some are also fearful that they will be sued for expenses that the city will spend on outside attorney fees and the possible increase of the cost for delaying the progress of the newly annexed areas.

I don't know where this was heard from, but this is NOT true. No one can personally be held responsible just for signing a petition.

Again, we are not against annexation or the City of El Campo growing, we just want to practice our constitutional right to vote. A right that many people, past, present and future have fought and died for.

We live in the greatest country in the world; a country where it is not only our right but our responsibility to question our leaders. I hope the citizens of El Campo remember this when they step into the ballot box in May. I also hope that the results of that vote will bring better and brighter days for the citizens of El Campo.

Sincerely, Clayton Ryan