[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6268757,"mediaKeyId","3050217-dfef2b0ec0ee2253c7bebd2270f46aef","parentId",3050217,"title","Incumbent Teddy Reel and challenger Coy Smith outline roads, housing and revenue priorities at Commerce mayoral forum","audioSeconds",1465,"startMs",1710000,"endMs",3175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3050217-dfef2b0ec0ee2253c7bebd2270f46aef&start=1710&end=3175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3050217-dfef2b0ec0ee2253c7bebd2270f46aef/thumbnail_1710000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268757/Commerce/Hunt-County/Texas/Incumbent-Teddy-Reel-and-challenger-Coy-Smith-outline-roads-housing-and-revenue-priorities-at-Commerce-mayoral-forum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268757-83e98f96d3b8986a5f39cef742e4ca46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135163&Signature=FaBEDPfj4j~TE1vIsNMtuBL-c3LE9VM2jQfe4nr-wKE6shdTgV7QOFpS6fhDw0d0TsGLkhWD8FEFqcVnmSdiUGlAc2KbQVPSMTZ1aN-T3qRlu9Ahj18pDQ3EkHUfE1hP4SlGe-Qa-e5EUThYPrpaOvExS63IwjlIXM9Nfb0rLibc18JD9FUmBEZTtPBD~R2DvN0akNAh7IHGl1jX70Fp8IUO6d7foSu1uL9jxUc75b0Jt38kRHY0TQjJ12~9pYRtE2xbbLY2elDnR98WWRb58FKA868ewjCj6N79L6-REWxB7gVzMRP4nTDDubL03EWtOyvuZ8L2OU2oS9lQaKDMMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Commerce, Texas","date","2025-04-18T12:44:12.17Z","article","Incumbent Mayor Teddy Reel and challenger Coy Smith presented competing priorities for Commerce at a mayoral forum held at Commerce City Hall, focusing on road repair criteria, housing in the historically African American Norris neighborhood, strategies to offset tax-exempt university land and preparations for severe-weather emergencies.

On roads, Smith said the city had lacked adequate equipment until recently and recommended prioritizing major thoroughfares, routes to schools and high-traffic corridors; \"your your main pathways as far as public roads, roads going to and from major roadways and work, schools\" Smith said. Reel pointed to a completed traffic study and said the city should prioritize heavily traveled streets and streets that support new industry and growth.

Both candidates addressed the Norris community, where recent park upgrades were noted. Reel said the city has added equipment at Ivory Moore Park and recommended cautious housing development to avoid displacing long-term residents; \"A lot of those families have been there in these houses for generations, so it's got to be done very judiciously,\" he said. Smith emphasized pursuing home-repair grants and using programs that allow residents to fix or replace dilapidated homes before focusing on new construction.

Revenue strategy and the university relationship were central to the discussion. Reel said \"65% of the taxable property of commerce is owned by the University of the State of Texas,\" and described work with an economic development corporation that uses a half-percent sales-tax allocation and with a private firm called the Retail Coach to recruit businesses such as Starbucks and a planned Dairy Queen. He said the city is exploring festivals and other revenue-generating efforts. Smith said the city should focus on actions it is authorized to do and ‘‘push forward with the things that we can control versus the things we cannot.\"

Reel said the city must invest in infrastructure as it grows, citing the wastewater treatment plant as an example: \"We're gonna need to spend about $8,000,000 in order to get that up and running because we're just barely at capacity in the current shape that the wastewater treatment is.\" Both candidates supported stronger emergency-preparedness exercises; city staff recommended multi-agency drills that include the Commerce Police, university police, Commerce ISD police and the Commerce Emergency Corps so responsibilities are clear in a disaster.

On public safety, Reel described efforts to make police pay more competitive, add park lighting and recruit local officers through a civilian training program tied to academy attendance; he said local hires know the community and referenced the new police chief by name. Smith recommended strengthening neighborhood-watch-style communication so residents can act as more \"eyes\" for public safety.

The forum followed a timed format with opening and closing statements. Reel highlighted multi-decade ties to the city and described long-term projects completed during his term; Smith emphasized neighborliness and fresh perspective, saying he ran to support continued progress. After closing remarks the forum opened for attendees to speak one-on-one with the candidates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 Mayoral & School Board Candidate Forum- April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a Commerce City Hall forum, Mayor Teddy Reel and challenger Coy (Coy) Smith debated priorities including road repairs, housing in the Norris community, revenue strategies where the university owns a large tax-exempt share, emergency preparedness and policing.","taxTitle","Commerce, Hunt County, Texas","taxId",64417,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268760,"Commerce ISD Place 3 candidates oppose voucher-style education savings accounts, back partnership with Texas A&M-Commerce for child care and workforce pathways",1326,381000,1707000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3050217-dfef2b0ec0ee2253c7bebd2270f46aef&start=381&end=1707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3050217-dfef2b0ec0ee2253c7bebd2270f46aef/thumbnail_381000.jpg","/articles/6268760/Commerce/Hunt-County/Texas/Commerce-ISD-Place-3-candidates-oppose-voucher-style-education-savings-accounts-back-partnership-with-Texas-AM-Commerce-for-child-care-and-workforce-pathways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268760-79b7da48bb0670fca6ff60e05289b1e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135163&Signature=CIp1oX4~G3N5sfE58nMMkfnaTz4C5iNRS3xIQuO-DRN4M9f4m5YSGxNHugGpiiDNi4m9pPVH~zgA-~Q~E9lmlcRHUk~FO76RiL8Rdz~BZS7coU6TFVjH~mLuiuKzf~4EkxxKjmb8KaQSNK2mtY1F4TmdYIzWNOzQraYJYYBE5DH-pJhS6QngsROCSrvGqUAjyy4SXwPTTvAbe1FBMejVKvrYI1~~8ZuM6ERLfAndTWKlNpOcRFHzEvsUNlGgRJzEF2X~4QXSHoc0GKd-EEghxyc6Y9RbxHJ1u75aMdB9cL2awUylwilvCl7m8wuGlRXDlBxnqVO09Cuq8v2HA0jLvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Abby Harper and Henry Ross, candidates for Place 3 on the Commerce Independent School District board of trustees, told a candidate forum at Commerce City Hall that they oppose pending state measures to create education savings accounts and urged the district to expand partnerships with Texas A&M University–Commerce to support full-day pre-kindergarten and daycare services.

Both contenders framed the issues as threats to public education and as opportunities to strengthen local supports. \"I am very much opposed of, of that, that legislative, movement. I think it really hinders the the growth and the movement of public education,\" Harper said, adding that Commerce ISD should seek alternative revenue streams and be \"good stewards of our taxpayer dollars.\" Henry Ross said he also opposed vouchers and emphasized cooperating with the superintendent and board to protect programs and staff: \"I would not be opposed to those students who are homeschooled to, have the opportunity to participate in, educational opportunities within public school.\"

Why it matters: the Texas Legislature is considering education savings accounts that would route public dollars to private schooling, a shift that both candidates said would reduce funding and opportunities for public-school students in Commerce. Local implementation choices — from whether homeschooled or private-school students can participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities to how to use increased pre-K funding — would be made at the district level if the state changes law.

The candidates discussed how Commerce ISD could adapt if full-day pre-K funding becomes available. Harper said the district should partner with Texas A&M University–Commerce to create a lab school or daycare that would serve children of CISD families and university employees, calling Commerce \"a daycare desert\" and arguing the partnership would train future teachers. Ross agreed, saying he \"was thoroughly upset when the university closed its daycare center\" and would welcome collaboration and shared funding between the ISD and the university.

On extracurricular access and UIL play, both candidates said they would not favor banning student participation. Harper said UIL opportunities changed her life and that the district should ensure students without home support can access programs such as band and speech. Ross said public education should give students \"access to a wide variety of information\" and opposed book bans.

To address teacher recruitment and retention, the candidates urged \"growing our own\" teachers and creating clear pathways for paraprofessionals and local staff to obtain certification without leaving jobs or families. Harper recommended using state-funded teacher incentive allotments and expanding professional-development opportunities; Ross emphasized investing in local educators and supporting their advancement.

The forum followed a timed format of opening statements, a question-and-answer period and closing remarks. Both candidates highlighted their ties to Commerce: Harper said she is chief operating officer at Texas A&M University–Commerce and has led partnership work; Ross described himself as a retired professor and longtime educator who has taught at the university.

The forum closed with extended statements and an invitation for attendees to speak with candidates in person.","At a candidate forum at Commerce City Hall, Abby Harper and Henry Ross both said they oppose proposed education savings accounts and urged the district to expand partnerships with Texas A&M University–Commerce for full-day pre-K, daycare services and teacher pipelines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Incumbent Teddy Reel and challenger Coy Smith outline roads, housing and revenue priorities at Commerce mayoral forum

Commerce ISD Place 3 candidates oppose voucher-style education savings accounts, back partnership with Texas A&M-Commerce for child care and workforce pathways