There’s a primary runoff for various races to be held on April 13. Since primary runoffs are notoriously low-turnout affairs (especially this year, with the high-profile Governor’s primary over), I thought I would do some coverage of the three Republican runoffs I’ll be voting in:
- The Supreme Court of Texas Place 3 runoff between Rick Green and Debra Lehrmann
- The State Board of Education District 10 runoff between Marsha Farney and Brian Russell
- The Texas House District 52 runoff between Larry Gonzales and John Gordon
I want to address the last of these first. The results from the Texas House District 52 primary were:
John Gordon 4,454 (40.84%)
Larry Gonzales 4,091 (37.51%)
Stephen Casey 1,535 (14.07%)
Alyssa Eacono 825 (7.56%)
To start off, I’d like to do something a little different, and interview one of the losing candidates for the position, Stephen Casey. Casey earned my vote by being a staunch conservative, having some interesting ideas as to how to reform the tax system, and posted supporting quotations from The Federalist Papers on his issues page, something that warmed the cockles of my policy-wonkish heart. After coming in third, Casey endorsed Gonzales in the runoff.
I wanted to get Casey’s views on the race, as well as the election process in general, before moving on to Gonzales and Gordon. (I also wanted to get Alyssa Eacono’s views, but she’s already taken down her campaign website.) I sent Casey some questions via email, and he was kind enough to provide answers to them. My original questions are in italics below.
1. What prompted you to get into the race in the first place?
I was called to run; it is an internal prompting that, in light of the current political landscape, sought to restore the idea of “public servant” to this office. Too often people are elected and fill the office without making a significant difference to the district or state. I ran to change that.
2. Do you think the race received enough attention from local media outlets for voters to make an informed choice?
To a certain extent. The only drawback I see is that I ran an issues-based campaign and believe that local media does not offer enough time to discuss the issues in depth; rather it is short sound-byte type attention that “makes news” which gets printed.
3. Obviously Gonzales and Gordon had a significant fund-raising advantage over both you and Eacono. How did you go about raising money, and was the lack of it a significant hindrance to your campaign?
I believe I received what I needed to do what I was called to do. With any race, funding is important. I’m pleased to have come in third with the funding that I had. To receive 14% of the vote means that I had a strong vote/dollar ratio. This means the message has great value.
4. One of you major campaign proposals was to abolish a personal property tax and replace it with a consumption tax. How well was this proposal received, and do you think the voters and/or legislature is willing to consider such a huge tax system overhaul?
This proposal was received well and it is gaining momentum. It is hard to both campaign on an issue and “inform” voters on it at the same time. This was made a bit easier because it became an issue at the gubernatorial level and for good reason–it could help solve this upcoming budget shortfall if we truly grasped the boon to our economic cycle that would happen if we eliminated the property tax. We would be able to overcome, with fewer cuts, the upcoming projected
shortfall.
5. What was the main reason you endorsed Gonzales over Gordon?
I found Larry to have a personal approach, as well as a positive character and reputation community-wide that was friendly and personable even over
disagreeable issues. In addition, he has served people in a variety of capacities and done so with integrity.
6. If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently with your campaign?
Campaign infrastructure is important, and I learned a great deal. I still would lead with what I consider the most important question, “How Can I Serve You?”, but would ask more voters to volunteer time as well as contribute.
7. Any other thoughts you’d like to share with readers on the race, or politics in general?
First, thanks to everyone who was involved in any manner in these races, and a more specific thank you to those who supported me through prayer and action. Please turn out to support Larry Gonzales for this runoff.
We need to think deeply and act with conviction regarding representative government. This means understanding our state’s founders and our nation’s founders as well as what they read and believed. Be involved and take seriously the privilege of self-government as it will only last as long as our involvement.
Thanks to Stephen Casey for responding. I hope to interview both Gonzales and Gordon in future posts.