07/16/2025
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Opinion column by Scott Brooks
Waxahachie’s Future Is Too Bright to Be Darkened by Small-Minded Politics
Waxahachie, Texas isn’t just another sleepy little dot on the map. Waxahachie is special. You can feel it. Drive down its historic streets, stand in the courthouse square, soak in the charm and the energy of a city alive with growth and possibility. That doesn’t happen by accident. That’s the result of vision, leadership, and a community willing to dream big.
And guess what? It’s working. Waxahachie is one of the 20 fastest-growing cities in America. Families are moving here. Businesses are investing here. People are planting roots here because Waxahachie has all the ingredients of greatness: location, beauty, culture - and until very recently - sound, steady leadership.
But here’s the thing about growth: it’s fragile. It’s not automatic. You don’t just set it in motion and walk away. It requires care. It requires wisdom. And above all, it requires leaders who understand that they are stewards of something much larger than their own political ambitions.
Which brings me to the Waxahachie City Council.
Last week, in a move that was as reckless as it was arrogant, this council ended the employment of longtime City Manager Michael Scott. They want you to believe it was clean, simple, and unanimous. But let’s cut through the spin: it wasn’t.
Mayor Billie Wallace reportedly claimed Scott resigned. If that report is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt it, then the mayor is misleading the people of Waxahachie. That’s not leadership. That’s political sleight of hand. And the citizens of this city deserve better. To be clear: Michael Scott did not resign. As we reported last Friday, he was forced out. Period.
As for that supposed 5-0 vote - don’t be fooled. It wasn’t 5-0 in spirit. It was 3-2, plain and simple. But the three ringleaders - Wallace, Smith, and Atkins – either leaned on the other two, Souter and Wright, to fall in line and create the illusion of unity or they, the three, misrepresented what the vote was actually about. I respect the work Souter and Wright have done in the past, but this time I am disappointed. They should have expressed their support for Scott. My guess? Both men wish now that they had.
Truth is, Michael Scott wasn’t just a good manager. He was an exceptional one. He understood Waxahachie’s delicate balance between growth and preservation, between progress and tradition. Under his leadership, Waxahachie didn’t just grow - it thrived. And by all accounts, mine included, he’s an even better man than he is a city manager.
So why toss him aside? Why cut loose the man who shepherded this city’s success?
Because, in my view, some members of this council have an insatiable need for power. Like toddlers grabbing at a toy - not because they know what to do with it, but because they can’t stand not being the one holding it. In removing Scott, they’ve shown immaturity, disrespect, and a staggering lack of awareness about how their actions reflect on Waxahachie’s reputation. They’ve revealed a level of immaturity and shortsightedness that should concern every citizen in Waxahachie. They’ve also put Waxahachie’s reputation on the line.
And reputation matters. It takes years to build and minutes to destroy. Business leaders notice instability. Investors notice it. And the caliber of candidate you’d want as your next city manager? They notice it too. Who would willingly step into a job where competence isn’t enough, and politics can end your career overnight?
This council thinks they’ve tightened their grip on the city. But what they’ve really done is weaken it. They’ve made Waxahachie look unstable, unpredictable, and unprofessional … and voters won’t forget.
Then there’s this: it is possible, maybe even likely, that a majority of this council will retaliate against the Waxahachie Sun - the one paper in town willing to call them out - by stripping it of its status as the “official city newspaper”. Oh sure, they’ll dress it up as some d***y “ordinance” or “fiscal responsibility,” but let’s be honest: it would be payback for what you are reading here. Pure and simple. A petty act of revenge by elected officials who can’t stand being criticized. To be sure, as publisher of the Sun, there’s not a chance in hell, or Auburn for you football folks, that I would look the other way and ignore this … regardless of the cost.
So let’s be clear: if this council chooses such a path, they’ll prove every single word you’re reading right now. They’ll expose themselves as petty, thin-skinned, and clueless about what a free press actually means in a thriving, healthy community. They’ll show you they care more about protecting their egos than serving the good people of Waxahachie.
Because here in America - yes, even right here in Waxahachie - a real, honest-to-God media outlet doesn’t exist to appease elected officials. It exists to hold them accountable. To shine a bright, searing light on their actions. Sometimes that light stings. Sometimes it burns. And, in cases where the answer to that light is retaliation, well then, they’ve told you everything you need to know about who they really are.
Some will say, “Come on, cities change managers all the time.” Yes, they do. But cities with momentum, cities like Waxahachie, don’t just toss aside proven leaders without a plan or a truthful explanation. Because when cities do, they send a dangerous signal: stability is gone, and politics reign supreme.
And make no mistake, Waxahachie will pay the price. Businesses looking to relocate will think twice. Talented candidates will hesitate. Why gamble on a city where leadership can’t get its own house in order?
But here’s the good news: Waxahachie’s future is bigger than this council’s missteps. You, the people of Waxahachie, are smart. You care deeply about this city. You understand what’s at stake.
So here’s my message: don’t let small-minded politics damage a great city. Demand better. Expect more. Hold your leaders accountable, not because you’re against them, but because you love Waxahachie too much to see it diminished.
And to the council, I say this: Prove me wrong. Admit this was a mistake. Show humility and remember that your job isn’t about control and power. It’s about serving others.
Waxahachie deserves nothing less.
Scott Brooks is publisher of The Waxahachie Sun and may be contacted at [email protected]. Scott’s national columns can be found on Substack.com/Grit & Good News. Scott can also be seen every Tuesday and Thursday from noon-1pm on the Sun's 'Grit and Good News’ livestream show. The show airs live on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch. You can also see video segments on TikTok under the 'Grit&GoodNews' brand.
