Proactive Approach Drives Commissioner’s Personal, Public Life
Presidio County Commissioner David Beebe has never been one to sit on the sidelines and wonder “what if?” Take, for instance, the evening he heard Marfa legend Primo Carrasco play Ranchera style music on his acoustic guitar.
Beebe had been playing instruments on stage since he was about 16 years old. However, he had never played Texas/Mexican border music.
“I think I could do that!” he said to himself, so he approached Carrasco and asked if he could play.
Fast forward to today, and Beebe and Carrasco have two full-length releases available on all digital platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.
This same proactive mentality was at play when Beebe looked into converting a former business into a music venue back in 2007. When Beebe hit a roadblock at city hall, he started attending city council meetings to educate himself on zoning and other business-related matters. As Beebe attended more meetings, he decided to launch a blog and described it as follows: “My online journal of information pertinent to local and regional government in Presidio County and along the Texas border.”
The mayor and council members grew used to seeing Beebe in the audience and fielding his questions; they were also well aware of his blog. Some nine months after Beebe started attending both city and county government meetings, the mayor approached him.
“Have you ever thought about running?” the mayor asked. “You seem interested, and I’d rather have you on the council!”
Fast forward to election day, and the mayor who initially tangled with Beebe supported him at the polls.
“I won 206-204,” Beebe recalled. “I beat the incumbent, who was nice enough to give me his Texas Local Government Code book.”
Beebe served three two-year terms on the Marfa City Council, May 2008-May 2014, where he was able to address some of the issues that led him to city hall years earlier including consistent enforcement of regulations and transparency.
“If you work from within, you have a voice,” he explained.
During his time on the city council, Beebe facilitated communication between the city of Marfa and the Presidio County Commissioners Court regarding interlocal agreements.
“I began attending Commissioners Court meetings so I could understand these agreements and share the concerns of the county officials with my fellow city council members,” Beebe detailed. “This led to more trust between the two bodies.”
Beebe was eventually asked to run for justice of the peace, an office he held from January 2015-December 2022. During that time, he attended meetings and learned more about the broad responsibilities of county government and the inner-workings of his own courthouse. Beebe also learned Spanish; by the end of his term, he was able to hear cases in both his Marfa and Presidio precincts in English as well as in Spanish, and he was able to perform most hearings at the jail in Spanish without assistance.
Presidio County was dealing with challenges that many small counties face including lack of resources and infrastructure decline, Beebe recalled. Seeing possibilities, including long-range planning, Beebe decided to once again get in the game. He resigned as justice of the peace and ran for County Commissioner, taking office in January 2023.
While government can seem to move slowly, Beebe said he is happy with progress so far, which includes adopting a proactive approach when it comes to maintenance schedules and policy development and review.
“If you want to do a job well, you have to confront things that are easier left as status quo,” Beebe observed.
The Joy of the Job
While serving as justice of the peace, Beebe represented a larger portion of the community than he does as a County Commissioner. However, just as he did back then, Beebe travels the full county to support community events, especially those that promote broad fellowship.
“One of the things I need to continue working on is making sure to go out of my way to see people when I can,” Beebe shared. “I try to use all of the different things I engage in, whether as a County Commissioner, a radio DJ, a musician, or now as a parent, to meet people.”
For example, the last day in May found Beebe at the courthouse in the morning honoring the U.S. Border Patrol and at a high school graduation that same evening applauding local students.
“What a cool day in #marfa yesterday!” Beebe posted on his Facebook page. “It was an honor to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. Border Patrol #CBP at the courthouse. The ceremony featured a parade complete with drums and bagpipes. The border patrol, in my experience as former justice of the peace, saves lives left and right and rarely is recognized for it. I’m proud to support them. Then I got to attend the Marfa class of 2024 #graduation at Martin Field! This year’s senior class was outstanding, and these students are on their way to greatness. I’m proud of them and proud to be a part of this community.”
Engaging with the community helps build bridges, Beebe emphasized, whether attending a church picnic, supporting a chamber of commerce event, or celebrating the local culture.
Beebe especially loves when music is involved!
“Music and food are two of those bridges that transcend any political divide, especially if you do it in a fun way,” Beebe elaborated. “These are winning concepts that bring people together automatically. I try to be engaged in community events that transcend my precinct and even my county. It’s been wonderful and so much fun!”