The Jacksboro Herald-Gazette provided the candidates in the upcoming March primary election, in races in which there is more than one candidate, with questionnaires to fill out to let the citizens know a little more about their choices.
Each candidate received the same questionnaire via email, and their answers are provided below in ballot order.
Answers were limited to 200 words per question, and edited down if they exceeded that amount.
The city of Jacksboro signed an agreement with Crombie Properties to provide a 50% property tax abatement to promote local economic development.
A Chapter 380 agreement allows the city to provide incentives like grants, loans, infrastructure or tax rebates to businesses for economic development.
“This is a 380 agreement Crombie Properties is going to develop on Wichita Avenue and Archer Street,” City Manager Mike Smith said. “The 380 agreement essentially gives them a 1–year, 50% property tax abatement.”
In an effort to increase visibility and safety on residential roads, the city of Bryson has lowered its speed limit from 25 to 15 mph on residential roads.
Residential roads were defined as any public street or roadway within the city that primarily provides access to residential properties—including subdivisions and neighborhoods—and were not designated as an arterial or state highway.
Bryson held a town hall meeting in October of last year where Mayor Lutitia Ford asked residents about issues the city could work to improve.
Jack County Sheriff’s Office employees will see a change in the holiday and inclement weather compensation policy, breaking away from a shared holiday schedule with the county courthouse. The update was meant to improve staffing reliability while also supporting long-term leave liability at the sheriff’s office.
This comes as the courthouse was closed for a week in January following severe winter weather.
Local officials reinstated a ban on outdoor burning as fires ignited throughout Jack County following January’s winter storm.
The previous order, issued in October of last year, expired Sunday, Jan. 25 as the county was covered in a blanket of snow and ice. The sheriff’s office asked residents to “use good common sense” while also notifying dispatchers before burning.
But over the last few weeks Jack County Rural Fire Command responded to multiple fires that spread due to carelessness or inattention, and firefighters requested the ban be put back in place.
Jacksboro Police Department will implement a new public safety initiative designed to help law enforcement officers help individuals with cognitive, developmental, neurological or medical conditions find their way home if lost or reported missing.
The Take Me Home program, spearheaded by Chief Jerry Penny and Officer Doc Wigington, could improve officer preparedness, reduce search times and give caregivers peace of mind—especially if they live outside of Jacksboro.
After reviewing the impact of a Chapter 313 agreement between Bryson ISD and Hecate Energy Longhorn Solar LLC in December of last year, BISD school board trustees were now in a position to consider calling for a bond election or a series of small bond elections to make improvements across the district.
In December 2025, Municipal Market Advisor John Blackburn with Live Oak Public Finance in Fredericksburg referred to the series of small bonds as maintenance bonds, able to address the district’s needs for the foreseeable future.
The city of Jacksboro agreed to abandon a portion of north Jack Street, restricting thru traffic and allowing the future development of property.
The Jacksboro Church of Christ and Jacksboro Grace Baptist Church petitioned the city in December 2025 to abandon the 100-block of north Jack Street. The city sent out letters in early January to nearby residents who may be affected by the change but received no response either for or in opposition of the request.
The city of Jacksboro enacted a new ordinance that would require police officers to carry the same type of handgun—a measure meant to increase handgun training efficiency while also saving the department money on the purchase of ammunition.
Jacksboro City Council approved the ordinance Monday, Jan. 26 after Police Chief Jerry Penny raised concerns to the city earlier this month.
