Paul Searl looks to help keep Pampa moving in the right direction

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Incumbent City Commissioner for Ward 1 Gary Winton has decided to not seek re-election and now Pam Martin and Paul Searl are running for his place.

Paul Searl, who has lived his entire life in Pampa, felt like the timing was right for him to throw his name in the ring. Searl is a Class of 1978 graduate of Pampa High School.

“I had thought about it when Gary ran last time but the timing wasn’t right for me,” Searl said. “I’m ready now and I’ve always had a heart for Pampa. I’ve lived in every ward there is here. I’ve raised two daughters here and they are raising their two daughters here. I would just like to see Pampa continue to be the good place I’ve always called home.”

Searl said a lot of the concerns he has heard are in regards to the property neglect in every ward.

“It might not be by the people living there,” Searl said. “It might be a vacant lot owned by someone who doesn’t live here and doesn’t keep up with it.”

After reviewing some of the ordinances, Searl said it would be beneficial for citizens to be reminded and re-educated on some of the ordinances.

“After brushing up on the ordinances, it may be as a Commission and as a community we may need to re-educate people on them,” Searl said. “(It would help to review) some or all of the ordinances that affect the livelihood here in Pampa.”

In regards to “cleaning up Pampa,” Searl said the Operation Community Pride app is a great tool that many in the public aren’t aware of.

“I’ve used it and it worked out wonderful for me in my moving process,” Searl said. “There’s still some people out there that don’t know about it. We could really use a push on it.”

Searl added some property owners who don’t follow the ordinances need to be held accountable.

“We need to give them a certain time where we re-educate them on their ordinances and hold their feet to the fire,” Searl said. “Give them a grace period to take care of their business and then enforce it.”

Searl called on the community to pull together to clean Pampa.

“Several years ago there were groups who would go around and fix up properties,” Searl said. “They received donations from several businesses and it did a lot of good. A community is only as good as the citizens in it.”

Part of being a good community for Searl is having a positive mindset.

“Part of the positive mindset is coming up with new ways and innovation to fix old problems,” Searl said. “Look at streets. When I was a kid growing up we had a street-sweeper and that was preventative maintenance. We didn’t have the cracks with grass growing through as I was growing up. But as a property-owner now, I see it. Maybe something like that can be re-visited. I’m not going in there with an ax to grind, I think I bring some new ideas and would like to work with the Mayor and City Administration.”

Moving away from Covid and after seeing so many new businesses come to Pampa, Searl would like to see some growth with the businesses already in Pampa.

“The Pampa Economic Development Corporation did a good job bringing those new businesses in here,” Searl said. “But as they continue to have their focus on bringing in new businesses, I would like to see them go through and see if any of the businesses that are already here need any help.”

As the call for economic diversification continues, Searl has seen that need first-hand.

“I went through five lay-offs through the oil crunch in the 1980s,” Searl said.

As a result, Searl spent 20 years with Texas Department of Criminal Justice working at the Jordan-Baten Unit before retiring as lieutenant in 2013. He has spent the last eight years as the head of security at Pampa Regional Medical Center.

Searl added it’s his experience that he can bring to the City Commission.

“I’ve worked in several different careers before TDCJ,” Searl said. “I’ve dealt with budgets. There was a time when I was with TDCJ that I worked in property/supply, and we had a budget so I know what it’s like to fashion an operating budget. 

“I’ve been here all of my life (62 years) and come from a family who was very well incorporated into public service. My mother was a nurse until she was 83 years old; and my dad couldn’t stand not working after he retired from Phillips so he became the first driver for Panhandle Transit in Pampa.”

Searl would like to see Pampa become more innovative, continue to move forward and have a bigger sense of community.

“I would like see more family-friendly community functions,” Searl said. “We’ve had several things but I would like to see more of them back where people would visit Pampa because of these functions. I would like to see us continually look for a way to prosper with businesses and help the ones that are here.”

More than anything, Searl said he will listen and ask the question, “Is this good for Pampa?”

“I don’t care what ward I live in,” Searl said. “I think it should be for everybody and always for advice from others.”

Searl attends Highland Baptist Church and serves as interim music director for the First Baptist Church in Claude. Searl has been married to his wife of 40 years, Linda, and the pair have two children and four grandchildren.

“I’d work for all of the people in Pampa,” Searl said. “I’m a hometown boy who would like to see everyone else raise their kids and grandkids here.”

The last day to register to vote is April 1, 2021.

Early voting locations will be weekdays April 19 through April 27 at the Pampa ISD Administration building, 1233 N. Hobart.

Election day, May 1, Voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. MK Brown Auditorium 1000 N Sumner