New Chester councilmember sworn-in

Chester Mayor Floyd Petri (R) swore in new councilman Wes Whitworth at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening, Dec. 6. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL G. MANESS)

By Michael G. Maness

CHESTER – Chester Mayor Floyd Petri swore in new councilman Wes Whitworth at their regularly scheduled meeting held on Monday evening, Dec. 6. 

Unusual circumstances and a bout with Covid kept Whitworth from being sworn in earlier after the election, and Petri then appointed to fill his own spot. 

Petri was thrilled to inform the council that as of 4 p.m. that very day, their specialists who had helped the city write the grant informed him that Chester had receive both the $350K general grant and the $70K infrastructure grant. That was such great news, and they will be working out soon what they will be able to do with those grants. 

Kim Glawson submitted a petition to the council to have Ashby to appear in Woodville

WOODVILLE – Rep Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) is inviting the public to come out and meet him next Monday, Dec. 13 at Magnolia Bar and Grill in Woodville.

At the meet and greet for Ashby, which is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., constituents have the opportunity to meet their new representative in the state House of Representatives. Ashby represents House District 9, which encompasses Tyler, Polk, Trinity, Houston, Angelina and San Augustine counties. 

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Tyler County was formerly a part of HD-19, which was represented by James White (R-Hillister), who is running for state agriculture commissioner in 2022. 

The recently drawn House and Senate districts have been signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The redistricting process happens every 10 years after new census data is released. The new districts will be used for the first time in next year’s primary and general elections, barring any court interventions.

A Lufkin area resident, Ashby has served in the lower chamber of the state legislature for five terms, which began in 2013. He currently serves as a member of the House Committees on Appropriations and Transportation. 

Ashby was recently named as one of the 10 best legislators in the state by Texas Monthly magazine, an honor which he shares with his predecessor, White, who was named to the list following the 86th legislature in 2019.

During the last legislative session, Ashby co-authored the broadband bill with Sen. Robert Nichols, which was prioritized as an emergency item and passed with near unanimous support in both the House and Senate.

Texas Monthly also noted Ashby’s priorities in the last session of creating new funding streams for drug courts and reducing regulations of water slides.

In the Texas Monthly profile of Ashby, it noted that his drive to work on issues such as rural broadband instead of “fighting about wedge issues such as transgender kids and abortion” set him apart from many GOP legislators.

The event at Magnolia is free to attend.