Chamber VP speaks to Bach’s government class

Special to the News-Register

Joe Putnam, Mike Eastland, Paul Walden, Jeff Binford, Steve McCullough and Chris Wallace, taught government students about intricacies of city hall administration and the importance of political participation.

“It’s essential that we use our right to vote and you can vote on May 3rd in city elections,” said Mayor Putnam.

Kim Dillon, director and vice president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the Board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area Tourism Council, was a guest in Dr. Bach’s evening classes where students were exposed to the crucial factor of local government’s economic development.

Dillon explained why tourism is a key component in a city’s budget. Texas is the second most traveled tourism destination in the U.S. It is the fourth largest industry in Texas, generating $398 billion in 2001, as well as the fifth largest employer in Texas, directly employing over 468,000 Texans in 2001.

“Texas has the highest hotel occupancy tax rates in the country and yet, Texas hotel occupancy levels are at historic lows in major cities, due to the economic slowdown and the onset of war,” said Dillon.

She lobbied Texas legislators in Austin this spring against eliminating the Texas Tourism Promotion budget and against increasing the Texas hotel occupancy tax rates. Recently her main responsibility was meeting with her legislators as the House and the Senate debated the fate of these issues.

“It is critical that in your business that you develop working relationships especially with your elected officials,” said Dillon.

She provided the students with handouts on how to contact and meet legislators, what to tell them with a list of dos and don’ts.

“Dillon perfectly complemented the guest speakers we had so far. Now, we know how important the economic development of local government is to us all,” said one government student.