Boyter seeks Fleming's seat
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

Boyter

With early voting set to begin next week, Bullard-area residents are watching one race carefully - the precinct 1 commissioner's seat being vacated by JoAnn Fleming.

And while signs are cropping up everywhere for his two opponents - Mike Boyter has kept his campaign low key - much like his personality.

"I'm not a politician," Boyter said. "I just look at issues, weigh them and make decisions."

And while he said he's got a lot of respect for those running against him - Jeff Warr and Derrell Cooper, he's clear on one point: "I'm the best candidate for the job."

He enumerated the reasons point by point.

"I've got the best educa- -tional background - an MBA, as good as or better record of service to the community, a history of being objective and I've had to make tough decisions and live with the consequences - good or bad," Boyter said.

But public service has always been his passion.

"It's so important and vital for a healthy community to have choices at the poll," the 45-year-old businessman said. "And I think it's great that this is a contested race."

He said government should be guided by sound business principles.

"County government should be operated as a business, and with my education and experience, I want to help do that," he said. "And I want to help foster cohesiveness with the commissioners.

"Smith County has a reputation of divisiveness, and that doesn't need to be the case. It's OK to disagree, but it can be done and should be done in a professional manner."

Boyter does have a clear set of goals he'd like to see if elected.

"We need to continue to look at the county's Roadmap," he said. The Roadmap - a master plan for Smith County - was commissioned a few years ago, but Boyter feels it's not realizing it's potential.

"It's a living, breathing document - not just a study to be put away," he said. "It needs to be utilized."

He would also - just like his opponents like to see Smith County pass a jail bond - but one that the voters have more input on.

"I think it's fairly obvious by now that voters aren't happy with the plans set before them, and we need to listen to them," Boyter said. "It may have to be done in pieces - but I think we're close to a good plan.

"We just need to see what the voters will support, and town-hall meetings - with voter input at those meetings is key to the success of any longrange and expensive project."

Boyter earned his MBA from The University of Texas at Tyler. He served in the U.S. Army from 1983-85 and began working in the financial services industry in 1987. He opened Boyter Financial Planning in Tyler in 1995.

Boyter has served as a board member for Meals on Wheels, Tyler Community Concerts, Leadership Tyler and Camp Fire Boys and Girls.

He is a past president of Smith County Young Republicans and a precinct chairman for the Smith County Republican Party. He's also been a delegate to the state Republican convention.

But whatever the outcome, Boyter is just happy to be in the race.

"I think I've already won just being on the ballot," he said.

Boyter is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, and serves as a Sunday morning Bible study teacher.

He's also president of the Hogg Middle School PTA, and his wife is a third-grade teacher.

For more information on the other candidates, see the archives section of bullardnews. com.

There is no Democratic candidate for the commissioner seat. Early voting gets under way Feb. 19 with election day on March 4.