STRAWN—There’s only one contested race in Palo Pinto County for the May 3 General Election and it’s in Strawn.
Three candidates are running to fill two, two-year terms on the Strawn City Council: Alan Alison, Dewaine Lee and Brenda Orsini.
The Palo Pinto Press reached out to all of the contenders with the same questions so readers could get to know them better. Alison was the only one to respond.
Name: Alan W. Alison
Age: 52
Occupation: PGA Golf Professional and Southwest Regional Sales Manager, Range Servant, USA
Family: I have been married for 32 years to Tamara Alison, Lead Dyslexia Specialist for Aledo ISD. We have two adult sons who are married to their high school sweethearts from Strawn, who have given us four beautiful grandchildren. Along with the grandchildren, we enjoy spoiling our three dogs.
Educational Background: Hutchinson Community College and Kansas State University
Campaign Website or Page: N/A
What Position Running For: Alderman
Why I Am Running for the Board:
I am seeking re-election to the City Council to help navigate the effects of the unprecedented growth in North Texas, as it is increasingly impacting Strawn. As we prepare for the opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park next year—dubbed “The Metroplex’s Playground”—Strawn must effectively manage the influx of visitors and the accompanying need for new businesses, housing, and infrastructure to support sustainable growth. Too many small cities fall victim to urban sprawl due to a lack of vision and planning. My experience, leadership, and networking abilities uniquely equip me to rise to this challenge.
Tenure on City Council:
I have served as an Alderman for the City of Strawn since 2012, with a strong track record of community involvement beginning in 2007. My roles have included organizing events focusing on planning, marketing, and execution to promote community spirit and engagement. Additionally, I have contributed to educational programs through the Strawn ISD Scholarship Programs and played a pivotal role in revitalizing local infrastructure. I currently serve on the Strawn Area Chamber and have been involved with the Development Corporation of Strawn and the Texas Midwest Community Network.
My extensive experience, including my tenure as an Alderman, demonstrates my commitment to serving Strawn. I understand the importance of effective governance and have proactively implemented financial initiatives, such as the Hotel Motel Tax, which has secured essential revenue for our city and the Chamber of Commerce. Unlike my opponents, I do more than attend monthly meetings. I put the time and effort into the work between sessions. I have consistently proposed actionable projects and solutions to promote Strawn’s growth and development. I have assisted in the planning and completion of multiple infrastructure projects, including our new water line from Desdemona, the Texas Department of Agriculture Planning Grant, the Downtown Revitalization Grant, and the Texas Community Development Block Grant. I also collaborated on a project with Palo Pinto Mountains State Park to provide water and wastewater services. Through a partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the city extended a water line from the baseball field directly to the park, allowing water from Strawn’s wells in Desdemona to supply the facility without passing through the Strawn Water Treatment Plant.
Additionally, we have extended the wastewater line from a service line at West Oak Street and Roosevelt to the State Park. Despite our original contractors facing bankruptcy midway through the project, the city council elected to have city employees complete this phase, allowing us to divert funds to meet grant-matching requirements for the projects above. I led the motion for the Texas Water Development Board to award the city funding for significant updates to the Water Treatment Plant. This includes $1,228,900 in loan forgiveness or grants, as well as a 30-year, 0% interest loan of $773,000. These funds will replace the existing multimedia gravity water filters with a package plant system, significantly improving water quality and reducing turbidity. The remaining funds will support updates to our automated monitoring system (SCADA) and the installation of generators to ensure operational continuity during power outages. Any surplus will be allocated to freeze-proof our water well site in Desdemona and install digital water meters throughout our system, ensuring the viability of our water treatment plant for decades to come. I have also been working closely with two new housing developments in the Strawn area: Big Bear Mountain development, south of Strawn, and Ranger Ridge, north of Strawn. I am currently collaborating with the new property owners and developer of Big Bear Travel Plaza, which will be situated at the intersection of Highway 16 and I-20. I am hoping to annex this property into Strawn’s city limits. This annexation would provide future job opportunities, as well as secure much-needed property and sales tax revenues for our community.
The City’s Biggest Challenge and My Proposed Solutions:
We are in exciting times for Strawn, particularly with the upcoming opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, which is anticipated to enrich our community with more visitors, businesses, jobs, and housing. However, our most significant challenge will be to develop new affordable housing for residents drawn to Strawn. As a community, we will need to take advantage of funding sources and work proactively with builders to add housing that adds to our family-focused community. While we have secured a short-term source of water through our well project in Desdemona, it will remain essential for Strawn to continue securing additional wells to support future growth. We owe it to our current citizens to manage this growth thoughtfully, ensuring Strawn’s success in the coming years.
Additional Information for Voters:
As your alderman candidate, I bring deep local connections and a proven track record of effectively mobilizing resources from our community, county, state, and federal levels. This unique blend of experience and dedication equips me to tackle the challenges we face head-on while ensuring our voices are heard at every level of government.
My commitment to serving you is rooted in a profound respect for Strawn’s rich history. I believe that, together, we can honor our past while forging a dynamic and sustainable path forward. I am passionate about creating a thriving community for ALL and focused on innovative solutions that empower our residents to create and sustain the best quality of life for this community.
When you vote for me, you’re choosing a candidate who is not only invested in the present but also, values the traditions of this community’s past and is genuinely committed to building a bright future for Strawn. Let’s work together for the past, present, and future of Strawn. Thank you for being so supportive!
