[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s hard to know what to make of Congressman Lamar Smith, one of three U.S. congressmen who split parts of Hays County.

By all accounts the congressman has worked well with the Hays County Commissioners Court. A staunch conservative, an outspoken critic of President Obama, he no doubt represents the feelings of many in his district, which stretches from suburban San Antonio through the precincts west of Buda and Kyle.

Indeed, from time to time he pays visits to this news...