An Opinion By Nisie
Fort Worth, TX: Evoking confusion amongst your constituents is an obvious misstep by lawmakers and political leaders, but some use the power of manipulation to control the narrative and, in turn, to control voters. Commissioner Alyssa Simmons of District 2 has not been silent about the blatant lies Tim O’Hare and his supporters tell voters to sway public opinion. In a statement released by Commissioner Simmons, she expressed her disappointment with O’Hare and other city leaders, “I was disappointed but not surprised that the mayors of the northeast Tarrant County cities of Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, and North Richland Hills succumbed to pressure and are advancing the lies of County Judge Tim O’Hare. I respect the offices they hold, but they are badly misinformed. None of the points made in their letter are accurate.” But in today’s political climate, truth and lies are a fallacy.
The old phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” can easily be retooled for the modern age to say, “Reality is in the eye of the beholder”. Because now, with both sides living in their perfectly curated echo chambers of information, you can easily choose what reality you prefer. Facts quickly fall by the wayside to make room for conjecture, opinions, and even emotion. This is not a brand-new concept, but this concept might be leading small towns and counties into complete disarray and economic failure. Tim O’Hare’s chosen reality might push Tarrant County into financial disaster.
Judge O’Hare has openly stated that his goal in the redistricting is to increase the Republican majority on the Commissioners Court, saying he believes Republican leadership will better serve Tarrant County. But a mid-decade redistricting will not come cheap. The total known cost to Tarrant County for the redistricting process so far is potentially up to $280,000, this is the combined cost of the 30k initially approved a contract for up to $30,000 with the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) to provide advice and consulting services regarding the redistricting process, and an additional 250,000, to defend the county in court for the subsequent lawsuit following the court’s decision to move forward with redistricting. LULAC Council 4568 (I am a member of this council) has joined the lawsuit against the Republican- led commissioners court. Of course, the cost will continue to rise as the court proceedings continue. However, the negative economic impact won’t stop there for Tarrant County. Tim O’Hare risks losing the confidence of business owners looking to start up in Tarrant County by creating an unpredictable political environment. At $450 an hour, the lawsuit O’Hare and the commissioner’s court could continue to siphon money from the county budget. It may lead to a decline in investments in infrastructure, education, or other areas that support a thriving business environment. Big lies can cost big money. Can the county budget handle this kind of pressure?
According to the Lone Star Project, Tim Ohare cost farmers branch over 7 million dollars in legal fees for what some would say was another racially motivated scheme to hurt minority populations.
The new map disenfranchises a significant number of Black and Latino adults in Tarrant County and forces over 150,000 residents who were set to vote in 2026 to wait until 2028, effectively abridging their voting rights based on racial lines. This new scheme, powered by lies, will only hurt Tarrant County. Judge Tim O’Hare will only hurt Tarrant County.