Kirkpatrick recalls first 14 months in office

Says accounting on forefront of concerns 

In the March 4, 2014, primary election, Judge Don Kirkpatrick defeated incumbent Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches and captured over 68 percent of the votes.

With no democratic opponent in the November 2014 election Kirkpatrick was set to take office in January 2015.

Judge Koches resigned Aug. 1, 2014, and Kirkpatrick was sworn into office Aug. 4, 2014, to fill the unexpired term of Koches and also to begin his four year term.

 When asked to describe his first 14 months on the job in one word, Kirkpatrick said it had to be “challenging.”

One of Kirkpatrick’s campaign promises was to take Van Zandt County in a different direction.

“In my campaign, I explained the problems and issues facing Van Zandt County and the situation that we were currently in. When I was sworn in Aug. 4, 2014, VZC was $8.7 million dollars in debt and I promised the citizens and 68 percent of them agreed with me that we needed a different direction for VZC,” said Kirkpatrick. 

Progress has been made under Kirkpatrick’s leadership, as the county has shaved off a portion of the $8.7 million debt.

"We are making progress. In fact, as of Oct. 1 2015, we will have reduced the debt to $6,911,000. So, we are headed in the right direction. We have been able to do that by not raising taxes and controlling expenses. 

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