Sheri Parsons: ‘I want an opportunity to serve’

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, i.e., age, job, hometown, family, hobbies, etc.?

I am 54 years old, and I have been in banking most of my life. I retired from banking in November 2019 to accept a position offered by my brother in Dallas for a company called “nTact” as their Administrative Supervisor. I have an office out of my home as well as an office in Dallas. I travel there about once a month. Cordell has been my hometown nearly all my life as well as most of my family. I have been married to Manny Parsons for 32 years and we raised three children in Cordell, Danny, Brittin and Gabbie, all of which still reside here and are raising their families here as well.

Why are you running for city council? What are things you hope to accomplish if elected?

I have always wanted to be a part of the city government. I enjoy being a part of something that could potentially make a positive difference in people’s lives. My banking career allowed me the opportunity to do that for many years. Now that I have closed that chapter, I am anxious to open another that will allow me the opportunity to be a part of something positive and great for our residents.

What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a city council member?

I have worked with the public since I was 15 ½ years old. I started out at the Loftonian Restaurant very eager to start getting a paycheck, but that was short lived. I was fired in less than a month! Waitressing was apparently not my skill set. I have admired waitresses ever since. My employment history has included retail stores, convenience stores and six different banks, all of which have given me different perspectives that I feel I have benefited from and can help me to see all of the needs brought before me from our community in a way that can be productive.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in Cordell?

I want to hear them, “them” being our residents.

A lot of residents are unhappy with the quality of the city’s water. What specific steps can you take as a city council member to help fix that issue?

I have to gain knowledge on the details of what our issues are. Then I have to be a part of a resolution that is feasible for our town as well as provides the solution for the problem. Until I know what those issues are, I really cannot give a specific step. I live here and I have the same water in my home as everyone, so this is a subject that I would like to see resolved as much as any other resident.

A lot of residents also are unhappy with the high price of electricity in Cordell. Yet, every month the council approves a rate increase. What will you do to specifically help fix this issue for residents?

The answer to this question goes along with my answer to the previous question. I honestly do not know what drives our rates and what makes them higher or lower. I will definitely make sure I know and understand how our electricity costs are generated in a way that I can explain to anyone who asks and if there is a way to lower those costs, I want to find it just as much as any other resident. I think the first step to solving any issue is understanding it first and then working together to find a resolution if possible. I work for a living just like everyone else, my paycheck is as valuable to me as is to all Cordell residents.

What are some of your favorite things about the town?

I love knowing the people. I love walking into a store and knowing most everyone by name. I love the way we rally to help people in need. I love our park. I love that we have the most amazing courthouse anywhere. I love that we live in a town where God’s name is spoken without shame or fear of offense. I love that we still have prayer in our city government. I could go on and on and on. This is my home and I love it here.

Why should you be elected to the city council?

I only want the best for our town. I want us to grow, and I want to be part of a city that people desire to live in. I want to hear people brag about being so fortunate to live here, not because everything is perfect, but because we care about our town and the people who are in it. I do not have my own personal agenda. I do not desire anything that will benefit just me or something or someone that pertains to me, nor do I want to do anything to tear down or discredit anyone or anything. My desire is to be a part of something that benefits our city as a whole and causes people to love Cordell as much as I do.

What else should people know about you or your candidacy?

My decision to run for city council was not because I felt like Vicky Dunlap was not doing an awesome job. I have known Vicky most of my life, and I think she is a wonderful person. It wouldn’t have mattered to me who I was running against. I just wanted an opportunity to serve. It had nothing to do with anything else. I am a solid woman of faith, and I am just wanting to be a part of something that could potentially be great.