Voters to choose two
For Munday City Council

by Bunny Norville

On May 10 Munday voters will go to the polls to choose two new city council members.
Three names will appear on the ballot, giving voters one extra choice in their voting privileges. Exa Lee Martinez, Durwood Thigpen and David Walsh have declared their candidacy for the soon-to-be vacant slots on the council.

The Munday City Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 P.M.. Mayor Bob Bowen said the meetings are open to the public and public input is welcome. Bowen and the council encourages everyone to get out and vote in this important election.

The city council is the governing body of the city of Munday. The council is elected by the people of Munday to represent the people at council meetings. Mayor Bowen presides over the meetings and city manager, Dwayne Bearden, prepares an agenda for the meetings and introduces business details for the council to act on. New business can be introduced following the resolution of old business. Anyone who desires a place on the agenda must call the city secretary a week in advance of the council.meeting.

Exa Lee Martinez is a native of Munday, a Munday High School graduate, and a returnee to Munday. Martinez lived and worked for a while in Mexico. She later moved to Dallas where she worked several years for the Internal Revenue Service. Exa Lee has become a regular attender at council meetings. She has a conviction that every citizen should attend the council meetings in order to learn first hand what council meetings are all about. She also has a desire to see Munday grow in population and businesses to support that growth.

Other areas of interest for Martinez are: a complete police force, in line with our population; repair the "old" Marquee and use it again for public announcements; and she would like to see dog owners abide by the dog ordinance for the safety of their dogs, children who play in the streets and drivers. Martinez also wants to congratulate those who chose to return to Munday following their graduation from college. "Thank you for keeping Munday going."

Durwood Thigpen is a native of Munday, a Munday High School graduate and is also a returnee to Munday. A Southern gentleman, Thigpen has worked in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. He has worked for small companies and large companies for over 40 years as a purchasing director. Most of his experience was with companies whose business were farm-related or oil field-related. Thigpen hopes to use his experience and knowledge of purchasing to help save money for the city. He stands behind the principle of shopping around to find and to purchase items at the best price. Durwood also recommends using a purchase order system of buying. Related to his purchasing experience, he adds, "It is imperative to get at least three bids on repairs and other work to be done from outside the city work force."

Thigpen says, "Above all, it is important to make the best with what we have."

David Walsh, the youngest of the three candidates, is also a Munday native, a Munday High School graduate, and is a continuous resident of Munday. David is assistant manager at Lawrence Brothers Food Store. At 47, David has the most experience as a Munday resident of the three candidates. He has seen the changes as they occurred over the years. He has seen countless people come and go as well as witness the heartbreaking closure of many businesses.
Walsh wants to help better the Munday community through his service on the city council. "I’m not a yes man," he says, "and I have no axe to grind. I only want to work for the betterment of Munday." He will vote his convictions on the council.

May the best men win.