Joey Dauben, the 30-something-year-old publisher of Freedom of the Press Group and its six-year-old flagship Website, elliscountyobserver.com, monitors the operations of some 40 city governments from his home office on Cedar Creek Lake. Championing the causes of the cities' residents, he taxes the patience of government officials who condemn his aggressive news-gathering style and question his motives. A born-again Torah-observant Messianic Christian who espouses liberal social views, Dauben also wants to promote his conservative Republican political agenda. He has made it well known that his greatest ambition is to run for and win the office of President of the U.S. CCL.com: Why do you like living and working on Cedar Creek Lake? Dauben: It's actually a very peaceful area; not too big, not too small. We're used to seeing so many Dallasites. It's almost like a resort area for DFW. I like that aspect. CCL.com: What kind of job do you think civic leaders are doing in managing the maintenance and development of Cedar Creek Lake's communities and resources? Dauben: Well, I had this concept of "Cedar Creek Cohesion" for the various towns and communities to work more like a region and not so much like a collection of towns. I haven't really taken the time to really immerse myself in the mechanics of the area, but I hear all the time that it's hard to get people on one page. CCL.com: What type of changes would you like to see occuring in the operation of local governments? Dauben: The Cedar Creek Coalition of Cities is a concept that could be employed to maximize the potential of this area. We have too many towns that operate in their own jurisdiction. Where are the visionaries that see this area as a regional goldmine? CCL.com: What type of new business developments do you think would be good for Cedar Creek Lake. Dauben: Cedar Creek Lake really needs a lighthouse. That's merely a symbolic structure designed to direct people and investment here. Just in the last 10 years this place has exploded. The Hideout will be good, maybe something like Rockwall's Harbor District? I would loved it if my friends who own the Galaxy Drive In theatre would put a screen or two on the edge of the lake. Can you imagine a development anchored by a lighthouse, a drive-in or boat-in theatre and other Kemah-like developments? Something like a regional town square. A central business district for Cedar Creek Lake. Maybe "The Lighthouse District?" CCL.com: Considering that you have great personal and professional aspirations, what sort of involvement do you see yourself having with Cedar Creek Lake in the coming decades? Dauben: I grew up here on the weekends, never really thought I would be living here. Some family established roots here in 1985, so I'm down here helping them and tending to those duties. I've got plans for getting a Cedar Creek Lake newspaper that would cover the towns I would like to push this "Cohesion" effort through. I'm involved with the Cedar Creek Lake Tea Party, so I'm trying to make the most of it. Time will tell.