Considering my experience since January 1999, I have found our County to be a raging torrent of activity. Just the work it takes to set policy for and manage the health and justice portions of County government, let alone the myriad of other important aspects of County government is a real challenge. And that is a perspective from a person that has a thirty-one year history of loving and being acquainted with the inner workings of government.

      As we close out yet another year, I thought it would be helpful to survey the territory of issues before us that should give rise to a list of resolutions for the new year. In alphabetical order, they are:

• Air Quality, cleaning up the dirty air that has grown over the years.
• Arena construction
• Courts, new county court at law and district ((8 in all)
• Detention, the proper management of our jail's population
• Economic development
• Elections, making them more user-friendly, sensible, valuing those that administer them for us.
• Fire Departments, volunteer
• Health, The University Health System and all of its satellite locations, including the Texas Diabetes Center are in search of a new Chief Executive Officer
• History, the Bexar County archives given over to the University of Texas in 1899 which need interpretation, archiving and proper sharing with the world that awaits this information on early Texas.
• Juvenile justice
• Neighborhoods
• Recycling (as connected to solid waste among other things)
• Salado & Cibolo Creeks
• San Antonio River
• Solid waste
• Subdivision regulations in the County
• Tax vigil
• Transportation
• Veteran's issues
• Y2k ( year2000) issues

      These are only the major issues and I am sure that others are worthy of inclusion. As a Court, we address countless additional items. The new year holds much hope but it will not be the same without your input and advice. Please join me and give us your insights. After all it's your County!