John Burnett spoke to a group of supporters this week and announced for re-election to the Bonham City Council, Ward 1. He has always worked to save money for the taxpayers of Bonham and endeavored to make sure that funds were spent wisely, saving Bonham citizens over $17M in the last four years.
Burnett was instrumental in saving the taxpayers $1M on our current garbage contract by insisting that several proposals be submitted to the city. Along with other council members, he was responsible for getting the North Texas Water District to build a state-of-the-art, $16M, six-million-gallons-a-day water treatment plant at no cost to the citizens of Bonham. This was due mainly to the rapport he had built up over the years with the key individuals. Burnett is especially adept at working with people not only in Bonham, but those from across the state and the nation.
“Before I vote, I ask one question: What’s best for Bonham?” Burnett stated.
He is well-versed in the ways of City Hall and not afraid to stand up and demand what is best for Bonham. In each of the last four years, Burnett has voted against raising property taxes and has voted against wasteful spending.
He further stated that his “NO” votes have saved the taxpayers millions of dollars. He said that he “endeavors to manage city business the same way he manages his own business.”
Experts are predicting that Bonham will experience a water shortage by 2017, just eight short years from now. Burnett has worked and is working now to secure safe, clean, and plentiful water for the future. Solving the problem of having sufficient water for Bonham and Fannin County has become a personal goal for Burnett.
“The only thing more important than water is air and we already have clean air in Bonham,” he explains.
Along with other councilmen, Burnett is negotiating to save $750,000 on the operation of the sewer treatment plant. He is also working with other councilmen to lower the ISO insurance rating, which will result in a significant reduction of insurance premiums on residential and commercial properties in Bonham.
Burnett is running for re-election in order to continue working on these and other projects to save taxpayer money.
“The need for an animal shelter in Fannin County is of the utmost importance,” Burnett stated.
He and other councilmen are working closely with the county commissioners toward this end. He feels the need for a county shelter rather than a city shelter because only citizens within Bonham could use a city facility, but a county shelter would be available to all of Fannin County residents.
Burnett has always worked hard for the city of Bonham and for Fannin County. He has served on the BISD School Board; Bonham City Council; Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce Board; Habitat for Humanity of Fannin County, Texas Board; Kiwanis Club of Bonham Board; Fannin County Tax Appraisal District Board; BEDCO Board; and Multi-Purpose Center Board.
Burnett grew up in Randolph, Texas, and currently serves on the Randolph Cemetery Trust Board and the Randolph Cemetery Association board.
He has worked with local youth in sporting events over the years and continues to do so with his grandson, Ryan Burnett.
Burnett was named Citizen of the Year in 2007.
Burnett has been married to the former Kay Towery of Bonham for thirty-nine years, and they have two sons: Chad who has taken over Red River Tire in Bonham from his father; and Jeff who is a professor at Fort Hayes State University in Kansas. They have two grandchildren, Ryan, age 10, and Victoria, age eleven months.
John retired from his Red River Tire business after more than twenty years, and Kay is retired from the Texas Department of Human Services. John and Kay have both lived in Bonham for most of the past forty-two years, and are members of the First Baptist Church in Bonham.
Burnett said, “I have more ideas on how to save tax dollars. For one thing, we must all work together to help make Bonham grow and prosper and become an even better place in which to live, work, and rear our children This in turn assures that each and every citizen of Bonham prospers in the coming years.”
If you have any questions or want to help with John Burnett’s campaign, please call him at 903.583.8656.