State rep, Jared Paterson, opens satellite location

By Abigail Allen

Managing Editor

Residents in the U.S. 377 Corridor have a new place they can go to talk to state Rep. Jared Patterson—the Sanger Area Chamber of Commerce office.

The two entities partnered together for Patterson to have a satellite office for constituents to come to so they can speak with him one-on-one.

“I’m so proud to have this office here,” he said before snipping the ribbon on Sept. 9. “We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

He also expressed the chance to share the Chamber’s office building.

“We’re so proud to be able to be here ever so often to meet with the community in private and discuss legislative concerns and bill ideas,” Patterson said.

Chamber Administrator Debbie Reaves sees this opportunity as a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“I just like the fact that it’s an opportunity for the community to meet him,” she said. “As much as we’re growing, there’s a lot of people that don’t even know who Jared Patterson is.”

Patterson and District Director Melanie Marx plan to be at the Sanger office at least monthly to discuss issues and concerns with area constituents.

“Our state senator, Drew Springer, will be at our luncheon speaking this month,” Reaves added.

The Chamber strives to connect community members to resources and businesses in the area and also “what’s going on around them,” she said.

“It helps the Chamber grow,” Reaves said. “We’re small—we only have 140 members. … We’re trying to be very active and have events and stuff like that to get the community involved.”

Promoting connection also helps Sanger retain its identity and character.

Amanda Gibson, who sits on the Chamber Board of Directors, echoed Reaves’ statement.

“It kind of serves us both twofold, because the Chamber is really there for the commerce of the city, which gives back to the city of course, but being able to bring in everyday folks to talk to him gives us an opportunity, too, to shine,” she said.

Janie Mcleod, who moved to Sanger also said she appreciates Patterson opening a satellite office in Sanger.

Members of the Sanger community and representatives from Nortex Communications, as well as Patterson, Marx and Patterson’s chief of staff Jeffrey Waldock were in attendance at the ribbon cutting on Friday afternoon.

Patterson has served District 106 since 2018.

While speaking with Mayor Pro Tem Gary Bilyeu, Patterson explained that he wanted to get an office set up in Sanger after verifying he would continue serving the city following redistricting.

“I’ve been meeting a lot of people at coffee shops … whenever they want to meet, but it’s not as private and it doesn’t allow me to really set a schedule,” Patterson said. “So, for people in Sanger and Pilot Point and Aubrey, [it allows for] a place where I can say, ‘We’re going to be here from this hour to this hour.’”

The Sanger Area Chamber of Commerce is at 300 Bolivar in Sanger.