Neal seeks third term as Nueces County Judge

Sept. 28--CORPUS CHRISTI -- Amid the chatter of the crowd at the Putting With Your Politicians fundraiser on Padre Island, Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal moved easily between groups from both political parties. He shook hands, traded jokes and tried for a hole-in-one alongside Commissioner-elect Brent Chesney -- all while standing head-and-shoulders above some in his signature wire-rimmed glasses.

Neal and his supporters said his ability to work with people from different backgrounds in the commissioners courtroom is one of the things that made the Republican an effective leader worthy of a third four-year term. He is facing Democratic challenger Mary Helen Berlanga, an attorney and former State Board of Education member, in the Nov. 4 general election.

"There's a great balance of understanding, I think," he said. "Understanding the relationships in the county took some time. I'm not going to say I have all the answers, but I'm a lot further along then I was eight years ago."

Neal, a former Corpus Christi mayor, is running for re-election on some of the goals he has reiterated during his tenure: keeping the tax rate low, investing in technology and people, and paying down debt. But he said he still has work to do, including addressing the county's water needs, overseeing the county's role in funding the new Harbor Bridge and right of way for Interstate 69 construction. He also is involved in pushing for Texas windstorm insurance reform and against potential impact to the Corpus Christi Army Depot and Naval Air Station amid federal cuts to the Department of Defense.

Neal led the Commissioners Court this month on a vote approving the demolition of the aging Memorial hospital in favor of a primary care clinic. Christus Spohn will foot the $325 million bill for construction, which includes expanding its hospital on Shoreline Boulevard. Neal said to not push the deal would push the cost onto taxpayers' backs.

"Anyone who needs access to quality health care is going to be affected by that," he said. "I did not see the benefit to a year, political or nonpolitical, of dragging this issue out. It (wouldn't be) fair to Christus Spohn or the Hospital District or anyone else."

Neal talks often during Commissioners Court meetings of keeping strictly within the county's budget. When he was elected in 2007, he said the county was in the middle of what he diplomatically called "a lot of stuff." It was paying for Robstown fairground construction and road and bridge repairs with certificates of obligation, loans for which officials don't need voter approval.

The county also was footing too large a bill on court-appointed defense attorneys, he said.

Neal said his focus was reigning in spending and added that the county has paid off $40 million in principal debt.

"He has solid business credentials (and) hates spending money unless it's necessary. He's the perfect county judge in that regard," said Nueces County Republican Party Chairman Michael Bergsma, who also lauded Neal's community involvement. "He got spending under control, and no cronyism involved."

While the county property tax rate has gone down, overall tax revenue has gone up.

Neal stressed the county's investments in technology upgrades for offices including the district clerk and county clerk, which helped the state mandated transition to electronic document filing. The county also passed cost-of-living and experience pay increases, and Neal touted leaders in offices like emergency management services and veterans services as some of the best the county has hired.

Though the Commissioners Court controls the budget, it's the taxpayers who are the bosses, Neal said, and building good relationships with department heads is a priority.

"Sometimes I appear to be harder than people believe I need to be," he said. "All of them would like to have more people and money, but we're not going to do that if we have to raise the tax rate. It works because we want to make it work."

Some of the speculation over whether Neal would seek a third term centered around his neurological disorder, myasthenia gravis. He announced his candidacy in June 2013 with "an excellent doctors report," he said in a news release, and was prepared to take on the county judgeship again.

Among Neal's supporters are trucking company owner and friend David Ainsworth, who also attended last week's putt-putt fundraiser.

"He's sincere in every aspect ... and that means a lot," Ainsworth said. "Watching him through the years, all of his decisions he's made (for) Corpus Christi or Nueces County have always been is best for us."

Twitter: @CallerNadia

Editor's Note: This corrects an earlier version of the article that incorrectly stated where the Putting with Your Politicians event occurred.

SAMUEL 'LOYD' NEAL JR.

Age: 77

Occupation: Nueces County judge

Political experience:

Mayor of Corpus Christi for four terms, 1997-2005

Nueces County judge for two terms, 2007-2014

Why should you hold the office you are running for:

I am completing

my second term as Nueces County judge. I believe I am qualified based on my education and experience in the office, and my knowledge and understanding of county government, and the requirements of the job of county judge. As county judge, I am the chief elected official in the county for emergency operations. I take this responsibility very seriously.

What are your top priorities if you win:

-- Manage county government to ensure the lowest possible county property tax rate

-- Continue to invest in technology for the county to improve productivity in the operations of all county departments

-- Continue to invest in county employee training, compensation and benefits to enhance employee productivity and job performance

-- Continue to reduce county debt principal, to reduce cost of government and improve cash balances for general fund

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