Civic Insights with David Billings
Let’s start with a simple premise: we all have our own truths, but only one set of facts exists. As James Madison warned in Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 49, “The passions… may not always coincide with the public good.”
As I drive through Rockwall County, it’s impossible not to notice the signs that campaign season has arrived. Political yard signs line our roads. Text messages buzz nonstop. Videos pop up on every screen. And, of course, those dreaded direct-mail pieces keep landing in our mailboxes. All of it signals the same thing: election season is in full swing.
The “As I Drive Through Rockwall” series? They’re… interesting. We’ll come back to that.
I know from experience that a few people may get upset by what follows. That usually happens when uncomfortable questions are asked, questions that encourage voters to look past canned messaging and examine the facts behind a candidate’s positions.
Unfortunately, many party-sponsored forums and debate sessions haven’t helped. Too often, they skim the surface, rely on friendly or biased moderators, and avoid serious exploration of real policy differences.
The consultant class, after all, is very good at crafting ten-to fifteen-second sound bites. And candidates have become even better at delivering them.
That brings us back to the “As I Drive Through Rockwall” videos. They try to tell a compelling story, but they’re heavy on narrative and light on facts. Listen closely and you’ll notice that many of the arguments lack grounding in real-world constraints how government actually works, how infrastructure is planned, and how funding really flows.
To be fair, I can point to many instances of misleading claims packaged inside many polished, professional campaign videos. And honestly, they’re well produced.
But that’s not unique to Rockwall County. It’s how modern campaigns increasingly operate in a polarized, social-media-driven environment with few guardrails and a largely passive local press.
Rather than argue over slogans and sound bites, let’s look at something tangible. Given the road congestion Rockwall County will face over the next four to six years, our road network is a good place to start.
Take Trip 21, the $150 million voter-approved bond passed in May 2021. It has been described by some as funding “engineering” rather than road construction. But TxDOT funding for Rockwall County Road projects have been included in the long-term Unified Transportation Program for many years.
Consider State Highway 205. It has been part of the Road Consortium plan since 2015 and has been in active planning and construction phases for years. The SH 205 Middle project began in 2015 and received $2 million from the county’s 2008 bond long before any of the current elected officials took office. I do realize the North Texas Council of Government provided $8.8M in additional funding for SH 205 Middle project.
Then there’s State Highway 66, one of my personal favorites. Widening SH 66 has been discussed for well over 15 years. Yet in 2024, just as we finally had a plan to update several intersections across Rockwall County, that planning effort was halted in May 2025, with no funding allocated to move forward.
One last thought on roading. The voter approved 2008 and the 2021 bond was $150M, so we have had significant road funding for many years.
Which brings me to my favorite recurring campaign talking point: “fixing” the TxDOT funding model.
TxDOT funding is not discretionary or flexible. It is governed by constitutional dedications, state statutes, funding-category restrictions, federal mandates, and legislative appropriations. Projects must be planned years in advance, placed into the Unified Transportation Program, aligned with specific funding categories, and supported by available cash flow. Local officials do have input, but they do not control the plan.
A local elected official has no authority to redesign or reimagine the TxDOT funding model. Any meaningful change would require action by the Texas Legislature and the Governor. Local officials can advocate, meet with TxDOT, and work with state representatives but structural changes must be led at the state level.
Keep that in mind as you listen to campaign speeches.
One of my favorite voices on LinkedIn, Dr. Brooks Williams, puts it best:
“You do not get to pretend the work of governing a community is simple. If you think public professionals are ‘all idiots,’ but still expect services to work, water to be safe, emergency response to be there, and budgets to balance you are not offering critique. You are taking shots while other people carry the consequences.”
“Have opinions. Ask hard questions. Push for better”.
“But if your understanding of government is built in the comment section and your contribution is contempt delivered with confidence you are part of what keeps public trust from ever recovering”.
Facts still matter. Voters should insist on them. Better yet, candidates should lead with the facts during their campaigns before a single question is asked.
About the Author
David Billings, former Mayor of Fate, has served the community for over a decade. A longtime business leader in the telecommunication industry, Navy veteran, and resident of Rockwall County, he brings both professional and civic experience to his writing on government, budgeting, and local economics. He is a graduate of Leadership Rockwall, North Texas Commission Leadership Program, active in several Rockwall County non-profits boards, and the American Legion.
He is passionate about civic involvement in local government, maintaining transparent governance and thoughtful strategic planning to preserve a bright future for the regions.
