"Christina Drewry signs the official filing document after being sworn in as Precinct 1 Commissioner on Jan. 2. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Precinct 1 Commissioner Christina Drewry stepped into the political arena in 2020 and began attending Smith County Commissioners Court meetings. What she saw left her frustrated with the lack of transparency from elected officials, pushing her to take action.

“It turned out to be something I felt like I needed to do after sitting in court for three years every Tuesday. I had so many questions and had to file public information requests to get that information,” Drewry said. “That’s just not how the government’s supposed to run.”

Drewry was sworn in on Jan. 2 after receiving 95 more votes than incumbent Pam Frederick in the March primary. With the margin under 10%, Frederick requested a recount but later conceded.

County meetings should help the public understand how their money is being spent, Drewry said. When residents leave with more questions than answers, it creates barriers to public input. People can’t effectively comment on agenda items when they don’t have details about costs, contracts, or background information.

Improving transparency, she said, is key to helping the public stay informed and engaged. Drewry said she hopes to work with the county judge and other commissioners to adjust the agenda process by adding a fiscal note. She pointed to the legislature’s requirement for fiscal notes on bills that cost taxpayer money, saying a similar approach is essential for transparency.

Transparency promotes accountability, which in turn drives efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

“Watching [the commissioners court meetings] and having all these questions…The people don’t know what’s going on,” Drewry said. “The general public has absolutely no idea what a county commissioner does, and I’m going to work on that.”

Drewry’s campaign for commissioner centered on transparency and accountability. She wanted to ensure the public knew where their tax dollars were being spent and made it a priority to make that information accessible.

She explained that, as a public community member, she often found it difficult to determine the true cost of certain county projects or agenda items. Upon investigation, she would discover funds allocated to certain areas while other needs, which she felt were more urgent, went underfunded or denied. This, she believes, reflects a reactive rather than proactive approach to budgeting and planning.

She acknowledged the good work of the county’s facility services director, Ed Nichols, but stressed the importance of addressing underlying issues and taking a more strategic approach to the county’s financial planning.

Another concern she heard from constituents, even in other commissioners’ districts, was the difficulty in reaching their elected officials. Drewry stressed the importance of being accessible to the people and making sure their voices are heard.

“We should be accessible to the public all the time,” Drewry said. “When people know what’s going on, then they can hold people accountable. If you don’t know what’s going on, you have no idea who’s doing a good job and who’s not.”

Drewry has been an advocate for election integrity, volunteering to support Sen. Bob Hall’s efforts to strengthen the election system. She worked closely with him to share information and educate the public on potential changes, such as eliminating machines in favor of hand-counting ballots.

Drewry spoke about the need for adjustments to several parts of the election code to restore faith in the election process and ensure its security and transparency.

She discussed the various aspects of her background and how they prepared her for the county commissioner role. She explained that throughout her life, she has been the person who steps into chaotic environments and brings order.

“When I see a problem, I want to go in there and help fix it,” Drewry said.

Drewry has experience restructuring organizations and managing finances, including her family’s investments and major purchases. As PTO president, she recruited 92 volunteers, raised over $50,000 for the school, and helped teachers by arranging after-school support.

Her financial expertise, including managing investments and planning for retirement, will support her work as a county commissioner.

“Eventually I got into politics,” Drewry said.

Drewry’s political involvement grew through grassroots efforts, including serving as a precinct chair for the Republican Party and advocating for legislative priorities with the True Texas Project. She also joined Gun Owners of America, supporting Second Amendment rights and opposing bills that threatened those freedoms.

Her interest in politics grew after discovering the Texas Nationalist Movement, sparked by concerns over unelected bureaucrats and high taxes. Inspired by the Texas Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, she became active in the movement, helping educate people about Texas independence and its potential implications.

She explained the movement is about informing citizens on what independence could mean, and then allowing them to decide through a vote. The movement has worked to pass legislation to allow voters to explore the idea further, a process that would take several years. Drewry believes the movement is misunderstood by many: “It’s putting Texas first.”

Drewry values citizen engagement and the impact that active involvement has on strengthening the community. She expressed her desire to listen to the people and shared her commitment to holding town halls and hosting “Coffee with a Commissioner” every Wednesday at Blakeney Hardware.

“I know what it feels like to not be heard,” Drewry said. “I can only do one small part, but if we can give them a little bit more faith in their institutions, then I think we’ve met the challenge here, and maybe it spreads.”

She encouraged citizens to attend meetings, stay informed, and pay attention to local issues, noting that their involvement and feedback are crucial. Drewry believes the power to effect change lies with the people, not just the elected officials. She stressed the country was founded on the consent of the governed, not the consent of politicians, and that it’s the duty of elected officials to protect citizens’ God-given rights.

“I’m a grassroots advocate for the citizens. I’m a regular citizen that has a title. I’m here to serve the people,” Drewry said. “I want people to be able to come to my office, to call me. I’ll meet them where they are, listen to their issues, and try and fix them the best I can. If we can’t, I’m gonna give it my very best shot to find something that we can do.”