Dear my fellow Odessa Residents,
During the recent PBS debates, a common theme emerged from the squad: “Look at everything we’re doing lately.” As Steve Thompson pointed out, this group has delayed the water treatment plant repairs for over two years. Now, they are finally ordering trash trucks and starting to fix roads. It’s hard to take these efforts seriously when they come so late in their tenure.
This situation reminds me of national leaders who only act before an election and claim success. Such as Biden and Harris on closing down the border just a few months ago. Sound familiar? The squad has only recently begun addressing Odessa’s needs—after four years of inaction. It’s clear that the leadership has chosen a city manager with no experience in maintaining and growing city staff, which is indicative of their overall approach.
It’s time to restore our city government to knowledgeable, ethical leaders who truly care about Odessa. I urge you to support candidates like Steve Thompson, Craig Stoker, Eddie Mitchell, and Cal Hendrick for Mayor. These individuals have deep roots in our community, having grown up here, worked here, and contributed significantly to Odessa. They, like their fathers, are committed to giving back to our city and understand the challenges we face.
In contrast, the current leadership has led to the departure of our city manager and numerous department heads, leaving a void in effective governance. They even hired a city manager without any prior experience, offering a bizarre three-year contract that sets a troubling precedent for Odessa.
As early voting begins on Monday, let’s seize this opportunity for change and vote for:
Steve Thompson in District 2
Eddie Mitchell in District 1
Craig Stoker for At-Large Council Member
Cal Hendrick for Mayor
These candidates promise to restore pride in our city, and I believe we can only move forward from here.
Kirk Edwards
Odessa
