Commissioner Lee Groce Announces Re-election Bid HARDIN, December 2, 2009 - Lee Groce is announcing his candidacy for re-election to his seventh term as Liberty County Commissioner Pct. #2.

Groce has stated that he is a very conservative candidate with a proven record of hard work, dedication and accountability to the people he serves. His desire is to continue to bring more improvements and services to the residents of Liberty County.

Groce realizes that with a slow economy how important it is to make sound decisions on how our tax dollars are spent. The Commissioners Court has been successful in keeping the county solid with good fiscal management. The county is prepared for a slow economy and secure in the event of an emergency.

“Our tax rate is 4% lower than ten years ago. The court working together developed a plan of using Certificates of Obligation that were designated for much-needed road and bridge improvements throughout the county. This plan was developed to save taxpayers from any increase in taxes,” said Groce.

Groce stated that when he was first elected, Pct.#2 was in horrible condition. Many roads were unpaved; others were full of potholes large enough to destroy an automobile. The ditches were overgrown with trees and drains were blocked with trash. There were no drainage projects, no mowing program, and only broken down equipment. The Precinct had little money to have any services for the residents.

Groce said, “I worked hard on a plan for the future to improve Pct.#2. My plan was not perfect, but I worked hard by budgeting our funds wisely. Slowly the improvements began to show. I have stayed with the same plan and today we can see that with hard work, your input and good management Pct.#2 has seen great improvements. We have taken 108 miles of roads from dirt to asphalt. Precinct #2 employees have completed all the work. We do not have the luxury of contracting because precinct #2 is so large. We have very capable employees that really take pride in doing a good job. Roads are maintained and repaired and drainage is much improved. This was accomplished while our precinct received only 36% of the road and bridge budget.”

Pct.#2 is the largest precinct in Liberty County. The precinct consists of 337 miles of roads or 52% of the County. The precinct has 24 employees and two maintenance facilities. The commissioner’s office is located in Hardin, Texas.

Mr. Groce stated that he has used the Intermediate Sanction program that is approved by the District Judges and overseen by the Adult Probation Department for many years. This program allows probationers to clean rights of ways, mowing and assisting non-profit organizations in Liberty County. This program helps the community look better and saves tax dollars while helping many organizations in this precinct.

Groce also has inter-local agreements with each school district and incorporated areas within Pct.#2. The agreements allow the county to help these entities by using county equipment and labor while the entities furnish the necessary materials. These agreements help improve the entities and also save tax dollars for schools and cities.

Groce has been married to Linda, his wife, of 41 years. They have two adult sons, daughter-in-law and three grandsons. Lee and Linda are members of Rural Shade Baptist Church.

Groce has lived in Tarkington for 55 years. He graduated from Tarkington High School. Groce received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Sam Houston State University.

Groce has been active in the community for many years. He coached baseball, basketball and soccer. He served on the Tarkington I.S.D Board of Trustees, the Cleveland Livestock and Dairy Day Board and the Liberty TVE Board of Trustees. In 2000 Mr. Groce received the Community Builder Award from the Masons Hull Lodge #1193. Groce also received the Commissoiners Court Advanced Curriculum in 2006 by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, and has served on the Houston Galveston Area Council Board of Directors.

Groce said, “I do not believe in partisan politics. I think the people look and learn about each candidate and vote for the person they know or believe will do the best job for them. The people who have elected me are from both political parties. I feel it will always be a persons decision not a party decision who is elected. I also feel voters really study the candidates and always vote their conscience. I hope it will be this way in the 2010 Election.”

Groce stated, “I have been blessed by having been elected to serve the people of Pct.#2. Over the years we have worked together to make improvements in every area of our precinct. I hope the people will want to keep experience, hard working and dedicated people in office insuring that the precinct will continue to improve in the future.

I certainly realize that without your help I would never have been able to accomplish this much. I sincerely ask each one of you to give me your prayers, support and your vote in the 2010 election.

Sincerely,

Lee Groce
Commissioner Pct.#2.