Derrick Nelson for Azle

ool in 1994. I played football all four years of high school, where we were the first ever Azle football team to win District in back-to-back seasons! I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science, followed by a doctoral degree from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. I have been practicing veterinary medicine ever since. My parents transplanted us from rural South Dakota in 1990. I followed suit and brought my family home to Azle in 2016 after a brief stint in the metroplex, and we all love living here. We chose Azle as our permanent home because of the small town charm, but with the realization that it is rapidly growing along with the rest of central Texas. I’ve always known that Azle had potential, but over the years I’ve been disappointed time and time again with the direction the growth has taken us. I decided to run for city council shortly after driving along Stewart Street and Ash. I traveled this route countless times in high school, and was always impressed by the “tunnel” that the giant trees provided. It was one of my favorite drives. Now, instead of awe, I’m horrified at the destruction of those thousands of historical trees. That should never have happened, and a great asset of our beautiful town was ruined for generations to come. Wooded green spaces are becoming more and more scarce, and I realized that I needed to do something to prevent further damage to our town while still promoting its growth. We need a specific plan to manage Azle's growth. To do this, we need dignity, attention, and purposeful planning to foster the rise in population while maintaining and respecting the natural aspects of our town. Azle has great potential, but the difference between it becoming an overrun extension of the metroplex or transitioning into one of Texas’ quaint small-town gems hangs in the balance of decisions made in our immediate future. Azle can continue to “react” to the circumstances that show no sign of slowing down, or we can choose a plan that is best for us as citizens and for the surrounding scenery that is unique to this part of Texas. I bought Town & Country Veterinary Clinic in River Oaks, TX in 2011. When I bought it, it was a small, one doctor practice. My plan all along was to grow it into a multi-doctor practice. Now, we are a 3 doctor practice, and are open until 10:00 PM four days a week, serving the public as an alternative solution to high-cost emergency clinics. I can assure you, there was an epic amount of planning that went into my business to become what it is today. I’ve started other businesses from scratch based on careful and purposeful planning. Strategy and “big-picture” thinking are among my strongest God-given talents. I will put my experience and talents to work for the city of Azle. Winston Churchill once said: “He who fails to plan, is planning to fail.” His words apply to individuals, businesses, and cities alike. I hope you’ll join me in voting on May 7th, 2022. And I hope you’ll consider all of the amazing things Azle has to offer not only our community, but our entire state. Together, we can help Azle maintain its rich history and resources while transitioning gracefully into one of Texas’ best small towns!