Fannin County Citizens: January 14, 2026
This is the time of year we find ourselves reflecting over the past. I have found myself reflecting over one experience that most caught my attention. The experience not only surprised me, but it left me thinking just how easy it is to normalize the unthinkable which left me with hope, admiration and concern. My thoughts are focused on the day when all four men, our hard-working Fannin County Commissioners stood tall and walked out of the courtroom with their heads held high, not in egotistical indignation but in a united stand of individual self-respect for themselves and for all the people of Fannin County they honored that day.
Exactly, what is the required number of self-serving toxic experiences that one must endure by an out-of-control elected official, just how many. We have experienced at will, unleashed outbursts, childish temper tantrums and attention seeking grandstanding dialogues all while during the proceedings of an official Commissioner Court Meeting. The negative behaviors all point to a lack of leadership and absolute immaturity. The demanding outbursts are to control, overpower and silence the thoughts, ideas, opinions and concerns of other participating individuals.
The act of silencing participation in a legal government public forum, or any public forum for that matter, is the absolute rejection of a beneficial shared understanding. The demand from the experience and understanding of just one, narrows the complete and possible full understanding and the options of choice for all. A choice that no one person could ever be reasonably responsible for producing himself. It is the single act of closing all the doors and shielding all the light into darkness from that one single light beam at the end of the tunnel. In short, it is the absolute rejection of all future possibilities that we have yet to experience or acknowledge.
The procedure of humiliating people at will who seek guidance from their local government is a perfect example of a complete failure in all forms of all communications. There are no Texas State Statutes that identifies a requirement for character assassination if you happen to disagree with someone during Commissioners Court Meetings.
The basic point of the public forum of Commissioners Court is to handle required county public business, answer questions and help people who need assistance. Advise and assist with the needs of the county by working and reaching out to the community to understand what those needs are and to work to fulfill the required needs. Set goals and guide the county on a productive positive path into the future to meet set goals and to represent all citizens as our senior liaison to the world. Most importantly, listen to understand instead of just responding. Speak with clarity and consideration.
These are just a few basic thoughts of concern to me that I feel currently are being overlooked.
The Commissioner’s Court is governed by Texas State Laws, rules and guidelines to achieve a respectful decorum for the legal representation of all. Disrespectful outbursts and destructive behaviors are obstructing that required decorum. The courthouse is where each citizen of Fannin County has a right to enter and engage in public affairs if they wish to do so without harm or undue negative influence. No one has the right to speak or act disrespectfully during a public forum that prevents the administration of legal public business. Individuals acting disrespectfully in a courthouse are individuals who are acting disrespectfully not only to themselves but to all citizens of the state of Texas, no exception.
The citizens of Fannin County deserve change. Change is long overdue. Change would be welcomed tomorrow morning if it arrived on our doorstep. There are other candidates for Fannin County Judge that need to be considered and carefully evaluated. The elected position of County Judge is stressful, no question. It requires whoever is elected to be focused on what is best for the citizens and what is best for the county.
Not everyone is well suited for this commitment. Our Texas County Judge acts as our representative to the world on our behalf on all matters of business. The elected Fannin County Judge offers the world a mirrored image reflection of who we are as a collective unit of people of what we value and what we believe to be important. The bottom line is real straight forward. Do you want to receive obstruction or do you want to receive cooperation. This may or may not be a representation of your own views. The question at hand is, how do you want to be received, and how do you want to be represented?
The County Judge may influence businesses within the county. This ability to influence businesses has a direct influence on what businesses and healthcare facilities we have available. The impact is not directly noticed; however, it does have an indirect impact on our quality of life. Therefore, it is imperative that our County Judge both evaluates and honors the concerns of all citizens while interacting on our behalf as our Fannin County Judge. It is a wise man who holds a basic understanding of a broad range of concepts before him for ideas, concerns and experiences regarding the needs of the citizens whom he is responsible for. Let us never forget we are all equals working together to achieve the same goal. The taxpaying citizens need to be listened to, not disrespected. It is the tax dollar of each citizen that is being spent to support our local government therefore the needs of the tax paying citizen must be understood, met and respected.
It is the important mission of all elected officials to hold our faith through open-shared dialogue within our local government to understand what the needs are of the taxpaying citizens, for what we believe in and what we care for to forge a positive future that we may all work toward and all benefit from. This is not about politics of who is right or who is wrong. This is about the lack of quality leadership of our current elected official. It is not only reasonable, but it is also the right of each taxpaying citizen as a collective unit of people within our society to have our concerns listened to, understood, organized and implemented into action, if possible and within reason. This is about the cumulative body of voiceless individuals who are ignored and constantly overlooked. If we want to be better, we must open our eyes and do better.
Our County Judge needs to honor, respect, support and represent the citizens of Fannin County. We need to reestablish trust and we need to reestablish reliability back into our Commissioners Court. The citizens of Fannin County need confidence in our government that we support. Fannin County citizens need a positive change today, right now. We need a new County Judge with a respectable mature attitude who has strong leadership skills to move the county forward into the future.
Beth Anne Knox
