Focus Daily News: What elected official seat do you sit in?
Hud Hartson: Midlothian City Council, Place 6.
FDN: How long have you been in this seat?
HH: I first won this seat in November of 2020 and again in May of 2021. My current term expires in May of 2024.
FDN: What is your main goal as a city council member during this term?
HH: My priorities when I was elected were (1) to promote fiscal conservative decisions related to the growth and overall operation of our city; (2) work diligently to keep taxes low; (3) protect property rights; (4) strive for transparency and trust; and (5) help maintain our cities small town feel by protecting its historic buildings as well as promoting responsible new growth.
FDN: What made you decide to get into politics?
HH: I love Midlothian. This is where I am from, where I live and where I plan to always live. When I decided to run, I felt the next few years and elections would greatly shape how our great city would evolve. Being from Midlothian, I felt that I knew where we came from and had a vision of where we needed to go in the future.
FDN: What have been some of the surprises?
HH: I can’t say that I’ve really been surprised by anything after going to all of the council meetings the year before my first election and seeking the advice from city elders like former Mayor Maurice Osborn, former City Councilman Mike Rodgers and Ellis County Commission Paul Perry.
FDN: What have been your challenges?
HH: Balancing my work as a police officer, small business owner, my love of the outdoors and my family time. Another challenge has been accepting that when you do the right thing with the citizens best interest at heart, you are still only one vote out of seven on the council.
FDN: Where do you see the city going in the next few years and how will you contribute to that?
HH: As I stated when I was running for this seat, our city is on the verge of tremendous growth. As 1/7 of the city council my job is to represent the public, come to meetings prepared and make responsible/transparent decisions that are accountable to the voters. I’m hopeful that we can continue to stay ahead of our growth by maintaining our roads, widening other roads to prevent heavy traffic, and correcting some roadway design flaws. Midlothian has a bright future ahead of it and I hope to just play my part in that bright future as a public servant.
