FROM THE CAMPAIGN ARCHIVE
A Record of Service
Souli’s original campaign letter outlines the work of his first term as Edwards County Judge. The letter describes county partnerships, restored facilities, financial reforms, and efforts to make county government more accessible. Explore the accomplishments he reported at that time, or read the original six-page letter.
Source: 2014 campaign letter · 6 pages · 824 KB
A RECORD IN ITS OWN TIME
Accomplishments reported in 2014.
These summaries reflect Souli’s account in his 2014 re-election letter. They are historical campaign statements, not a current audit. Election dates, officeholders, program descriptions, and financial figures belong to that period. The letter’s nearly $3 million grant total and FY2014–2015 budget discussion should not be treated as current totals. The original six-page document is preserved unchanged, including its historical mailing information and payer statement.
The list below follows items A–L in the letter. It is edited for readability; the original PDF preserves Souli’s complete wording.
A. A stronger Hill Country legislative connection
The letter describes the county’s move from the 74th to the 53rd Legislative District, aligning Edwards County with other Hill Country counties. Souli credits Commissioners’ Court with supporting the opportunity.
2014 letter · page 1B. Joining the 452nd Judicial District
The letter reports that Edwards County moved through the 198th Judicial District and into the newly formed 452nd Judicial District. Souli reported a reduced court docket and faster adjudication at that time.
2014 letter · page 1C. Joining the Concho Valley Council of Governments
Commissioners’ Court voted unanimously to leave the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments and petition to join CVCOG. The letter describes CVCOG changing its bylaws to admit Edwards County and the Governor approving the move, creating a regional partnership with communities facing similar rural needs.
2014 letter · page 2D. A rural voice for mental health services
Souli reported serving as the rural representative on the Hill Country MHMR board, bringing the concerns of Edwards, Kimble, Menard, Mason, Sutton, Crockett, and Schleicher counties to the table, including veterans’ and residents’ mental health needs. Hill Country MHMR is the organization name used in the historical letter.
2014 letter · page 2E. Establishing a local medical clinic
The letter describes an agreement among Doctor Todd, Edwards County, and the Sonora Hospital District to maintain local medical care. The county leased the former Nutrition Center to the hospital district and used designated existing funds for remodeling; Souli reported no cost to Edwards County taxpayers for that remodel.
2014 letter · page 2F. Helping establish regional transportation
Souli reported becoming a founding director of SWART, the Southwest Area Regional Transportation district. He emphasized transparency, board training, and three transparency recognitions received during the organization’s early years.
2014 letter · page 2G. Protecting county finances from capital-case defense costs
The letter describes obtaining Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases coverage. It gives an example in which the program paid for a defendant’s defense while the county’s reported policy cost was less than $3,000.
2014 letter · page 3H. Completing the courthouse restoration without new debt
Souli reported that the restoration, begun as a project in 2007 with construction in 2012, was completed in 2014. The letter credits state support and local/private contributions with covering the county’s share and completing the renovation debt-free. This statement concerns the courthouse project, not all county debt.
2014 letter · page 3I. Strengthening homeland security coordination
The letter reports a northern regional homeland security alignment connecting Edwards County with Sutton and Crockett counties.
2014 letter · page 3J. Putting outside financial recommendations into practice
The county obtained a Texas Comptroller financial review, followed by Texas Association of Counties review and training. Souli reported implementing recommendations that fit Edwards County to improve budgeting, financial efficiency, and savings, helping produce a balanced FY2014–2015 budget.
2014 letter · page 3K. Separating road and bridge funds
Acting on advice from the auditor, Comptroller’s office, and TAC, the county created a separate road-department account. The letter reports improved tracking and cash purchases of a Challenger tractor, a rock crusher, and two blades, without borrowing for those purchases.
2014 letter · page 4L. Expanding transparency and accountability
The letter reports meeting records and transcriptions on the county Facebook page and adoption of a county website intended to explain county finances, departmental budgets, salaries, income, and expenditures. It also says an ethics policy for Commissioners’ Court was being considered. These are the practices and plans described in 2014.
2014 letter · page 4
Other service described in the letter.
Reducing office costs
Souli said he cut his own salary and reduced his office budget by $100,000 to help balance the county budget. The $100,000 figure refers to the office-budget reduction.
2014 letter · page 5Paying his own travel and training costs
He said he personally paid county-related travel and mandatory education expenses, including Austin trips, meals, and lodging, without submitting reimbursement receipts to the County Treasurer.
2014 letter · page 5Moving county criminal cases forward
The letter reports a 90% completion record for county criminal cases at that time. This is a historical figure reported by the candidate.
2014 letter · page 5Working with regional partners
Souli described working with counties sharing legislative, judicial, CVCOG, and TxDOT districts to address water issues, property rights, and unfunded mandates.
2014 letter · page 5Nearly $3 million in grants during the first term
The letter reports nearly $3 million in grants over the first three years and nine months, supporting roads, baseball-field bathrooms, Sheriff’s Department vehicles, Barksdale and Colonia infrastructure, and the courthouse. This is the historical total reported in the 2014 letter.
2014 letter · page 5Preparing for the next financial steps
In 2014, Souli described paying off the Annex debt and building reserves as future work. The letter therefore distinguishes a debt-free courthouse restoration from the county’s broader financial position at that time.
2014 letter · page 5Continuing his education
Souli said he had taken four times the legally required amount of education courses during each year in office, as of the letter.
2014 letter · page 6Serving the whole county
The closing emphasizes representing all Edwards County citizens, truthful communication, and public service from the heart.
2014 letter · page 6
Reading the original document
The original letter is reproduced unchanged, including its historical campaign statements, mailing address, and payer disclosure. Those details belong to the 2014 document. The current campaign’s disclosure appears in this website’s footer.
The letter’s “$3 million” grant figure refers to the period covered in 2014. It is not added to the later grant-summary total. Plans described in the letter remain labeled as plans at that time.