In Montgomery County, we believe that government exists to serve the people, not to hinder them. And we certainly believe that adult disagreements over paperwork should never, ever come at the expense of our children.
This August, we faced a situation that was as baffling as it was infuriating. Just days before hundreds of excited students were set to walk through the doors of the brand-new Calfee Middle School in Willis ISD, the water was shut off.
Not because of a drought. Not because of a broken pipe. But because of bureaucratic red tape and administrative overreach by the City of Conroe.
As your County Judge, I refused to let our students be used as bargaining chips.
The Crisis: Bureaucrats vs. Students
The situation was dire. With the first day of school looming, unelected city staff in Conroe made the unilateral decision to cut off water service to the new campus over a dispute regarding permitting and impact fees.
Let’s be clear about what this meant: No clean water for drinking. No functioning restrooms. And critically, no fire suppression system.
The school could not pass its final safety inspections. Orientation was canceled. Parents were left in limbo, wondering if they would have to scramble for childcare, and teachers were locked out of their classrooms.
It was a classic case of the “administrative state” losing sight of its purpose. They prioritized leverage and fees over the safety and education of our children.
Taking a Stand
When I received the call, I knew we couldn’t just file a motion and wait for a court date three months down the road. We needed immediate action.
I took the fight directly to the public and to the city leadership. I made it clear that Montgomery County would not tolerate what amounted to extortion – holding a taxpayer-funded school hostage for millions in disputed fees.
We exposed the fact that the City had already accepted permit fees for a project they later claimed they had no jurisdiction over. We called out the hypocrisy of creating a public safety hazard by disabling the fire sprinklers in a relentless pursuit of revenue.
My message was simple: Turn the water back on, or face the full weight of Montgomery County’s legal and political pressure.
The Victory: School Starts on Time
Thanks to the pressure from our office, the hard work of the Willis ISD Board, and the outrage of parents across the county, common sense prevailed.
We cut through the red tape. The water was restored, and I immediately directed the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office to prioritize the school’s safety inspections. Our teams worked around the clock to ensure every code was met so that the Certificate of Occupancy could be issued without delay.
On the first day of school, the doors at Calfee Middle School opened on time. The hallways were filled with students, not lawyers.
A Lesson in Conservative Leadership
This victory reminds us why local elections matter.
Conservatism is about vigilance. It is about understanding that if left unchecked, government bureaucracies will naturally expand their power and lose touch with the people they serve. It takes strong, elected leadership to stand in the gap and say, “Enough.”
I was proud to fight for the families of Willis ISD, and I will always stand ready to fight for any taxpayer in Montgomery County who is being bullied by big government – whether that government is in Washington D.C. or right down the street.
To the students and staff of Calfee Middle School: Have a great school year!
