Ferris City Manager says he may run for governor

FERRIS – Ferris City Manager, Brooks Williams said late last week that, “People are tired of politics. They want results.”

To that end, Williams has declared he just might run for governor in the years ahead.

“I am beginning to think running for governor and indicting politics ‘as usual’ is the right move,” he said.

Williams was appalled at last week’s dealings in response to the unnecessary power outages that plagued Texas during the state’s unprecedented winter weather. 

To begin, Williams said, “Instead of talking about what those like Texas Governor Greg Abbott is or is not doing along with his Public Utility Commission appointees – let’s take action. In the wake of as many as 4.3-million Texans who had no power as of Tuesday morning, including residents in Ferris, I am saying let’s roll up our sleeves – let’s ask some questions.”

One point he said was causing him concern was Abbott’s announcement he would call for firings at ERCOT.

Oncor issued an emergency update early last week, stating due to ongoing record-low temperatures ERCOT had continued to direct Oncor and utilities across Texas to drop power load through maintained controlled outages. 

Williams said, “Equipment literally froze in the single digit temperature and stopped working.  

“Then, as reserves diminished, ERCOT asked transmission providers like Oncor to turn off large industrial users that had previously agreed to be shut down. 

“But, the situation deteriorated quickly, requiring rotating outages that have lasted days for many Texans.”

Last Wednesday, Gov. Abbott gave an update on the state’s response to the severe weather and power outages stating, “The State of Texas is working around the clock to provide the resources, assistance, and support that our communities need to respond to the impacts of this winter weather.”  

Williams explained over the last few years, Texas has taken its electrical generating capacity to the brink – to what some would call “the bleeding edge of chaos and disaster.” 

“The state has shuttered power plants at a greater rate than we have built them. We have shut down coal fired plants without bringing new natural gas or nuclear plants online to replace them. The wind turbines across West Texas are frozen.”  

While he said he loves his job as the City Manager of Ferris, Williams said he also loves Texas.

“In fact, wading into the realm of politics and what by some is considered an ugly nasty world is not an easy decision I would make, if not for lives are being affected severely even as I speak,” Williams concluded. 

“I would be going from a position where we are making a difference everyday and we have worked hard to remove the government inefficiency, into to realm of all things ineffective and inefficient.

“We urge you to contact your elected state officials and demand change. As a city, we have sent messages to our respective representatives, the Lt. Governor, and the Governor.”