How ‘Citizens to Free Ferris’ was born

FERRIS – Even today after the Political Action Committee known as Citizens to Free Ferris was successful in its campaign to put Tommy Scott and Michael Martinez into office, key member Len Baxley still doesn’t feel completely at ease.

That could be because the man, Bill Jordan, who necessitated his need to start the political action committee still sits behind his desk in Ferris as city manager.

Several candidates had even spoken out if elected they wanted to see Jordan gone, but remains to be seen.

However, the good news, at least in regard to Baxley’s passion for a changing of the guard, is the city does have a new animal control officer.  

And, the three dogs currently housed in the Ferris Animal Shelter are being properly taken care of now. 

“Citizens to Free Ferris is a political action committee was started by a group of people interested in bringing about a change in the city of Ferris, specifically the city council and also a few employees the former city council kept on the payroll, specifically, City Manager Bill Jordan, to name one,” Baxley said. 

“My specific interest started when I became aware of the animal shelter’s neglect specifically brought on by Bill Jordan firing the animal control officer more than a year ago.  

“I was made aware of the shelter’s neglect by an animal rights activist in the area. I visited the shelter with a camera and we took photos and video of the neglect.”

Even today, Baxley, owner of Texas Defensive Shooting Academy for the past 25 years, takes care of dogs in his facility as the animals are rescued and waiting for adoption.  

His current in-house count is seven. 

A member of the Ferris Animal Shelter Advisory Board, which should have been started 20-plus years ago – but was not, according to Baxley – he is the ONLY person on the fledgling board.  

He said now that there is a new Animal Control Officer in Ferris and a new city council, he is confident of change.

“It became obvious to me that improving the shelter meant changing the dynamic of the current City Council,” he said. 

“After an exhaustive search the Political Action Committee known as Citizens to Free Ferris chose Michael Martinez and Tommy Scott to support in the election. 

“As everyone knows both were successful in the election so the future of the animal control problem looks bright.”

Baxley said in the days and weeks to come an experienced team of animal activists will be working on and eventually publishing a comprehensive plan to turn the animal control issues in Ferris into a success story.  

“That story will be made known in a documentary over the next year,” Baxley concludes. “It is our hope that the documentary will be a roadmap to other cities facing the same problems. It is also important to note that the majority of the plan incorporates local volunteers, donations and state funding.”

If anyone is interested in helping you can follow the Ferris Animal Control website for more details: https://www.facebook.com/ferrisanimalshelter/