E-Interview: Kathi Thomas, SD 25

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[This is the first in a continuing series of E-Interviews with Democratic candidates for Texas House and Texas Senate.]

Kathi Thomas (D-Austin) [website•blog•$$$] is running for Texas Senate in Senate District 25. SD 25 includes all of Hays, Comal, Guadalupe and Kendall Counties, as well as southern Travis County (primarily between I-35 and MOPAC) and northern Bexar County (between I-35 and I-10 north of 410, dipping to pick up Alamo Heights, Terrill Hills and Olmas Park).
Thomas is running a tough race against Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), who currently holds the seat.

Here’s the Q&A:

Q: Could you please tell us a little about yourself, including education, employment, and previous public/civic service?

Answer:
· Attended public schools of Woodville, Texas, Grades 1-12;
· Sam Houston State University, 2 yr;
· Bachelor of Music, 1976, University of Texas (Austin);
· Taught band in Warren, Texas, ISD–Grades 6-12;
· Have been an employee at all levels and an owner/operator of small businesses in the nursery and floral design fields; now own and operate Kathi Thomas De-sign, an Event Planning & Design concern.
· Part time instructor at Austin Community College for three years.

Volunteer Pursuits

· Lifetime of proactive involvement in church work, beginning at Woodville United Methodist Church; now at Central Presbyterian Church (Austin), where I serve as Co-Leader of the Christian Education Team and as an Elder;
· Volunteer for Manos de Cristo (serving working poor of Austin);
· Member of Dripping Springs Elementary School PTA, Legislative Chair;
· Director, Hill Country Community Band;
· Organized/participated in two “Returning to Guatemala” Events, where families who have adopted Guatemalan children have returned there, once for a con-ference about the problems of life there; then, in the summer of 2006, to spend a week working on a home building project;
· Co-chaired Austin Adoption Fair (2 years);
· Public advocate for adoption,, primarily sharing the story of the joy our daughter Lettie, who was born in Guatemala, into the lives of my husband and me;
· Testified frequently on a variety of subjects at the Capitol, including changes needed for small proprietary schools and other small schools’ funding, HJR 6, and redistricting. (I have and will always treasure the pen that Gov. Ann Richards used to sign the bill for which TEA and I were fervent campaigners–around TEA’s offices, some people were generous enough to call it the “Kathi Thomas Small School Bill,” which I consider a very warm compliment).

Local Issues

Q: What do you see as the three or four most important issues to the voters in your dis-trict?

A: 1. Toll roads/ TTC
2. Water (availability in non-urban areas)
3. Schools: funding, TAKS, etc.
4. Tax Fairness.

Q: As a legislator, what would you do to ensure that these issues were properly ad-dressed?

A: I’ll introduce and/or vigorously support appropriate legislation:

1. TOLLS: We need to raise gas taxes and I have a plan to do that in a way that encourages gas conservation AND puts more revenue in our coffers.

The TTC must be STOPPED. It is a scheme–all about exporting jobs to Latin America and further and NOT about improving transportation for Texans.

Not only is there an issue about jobs we would lose, but there is a critical Na-tional Security issue: if the US is importing so much through Central America (by-passing good-paying jobs at American ports), then it stands to reason that a lot of companies will import that way, meaning that a heavy percentage of US imports could be entering this country on a single road. That road would naturally be a tempting, easy target for terrorists, especially since the containers won’t be checked until they get to the “Smart Port” in Kansas City!

1. WATER: I’ll introduce and battle for a bill that requires new construction to have rainwater only for outside use in rural areas with no surface water and gives incentives for homes which use rainwater exclusively. For surface water homes, outside water will be metered separately and charged at higher rate. The bill will also encourage relying on gray water (previously used) for landscaping pur-poses. If we fail to pay attention to water conservation now, we’ll be setting the stage for bitterly divisive, heartbreakingly litigious divisions in Texas’ future.

2. SCHOOL FUNDING: I’ll propose–and TRULY work for–a State Income Tax, as styled in our State Constitution by the Bullock Amendment. Only then will middle and lower income people no longer be paying too much in taxes; only then will our schools get the money they need; only then will Texas children get the first-rate education they ALL deserve and we need for them to receive. That means we will first pay down property tax (the first 2/3) and the remaining 1/3 will go into schools. I’ll work for good and meaningful training for teachers, for a raise that will bring Texas’ teachers at least up to the national average for teacher compen-sation, and to move the TAKS test to the fall, where it can be an effective evalua-tive tool, giving teachers information about the strengths and weaknesses of each student, so they can gear their teaching to students, not to a test.

Q: Do you believe that your opponent has adequately addressed these issues effectively?

A: No, he has not.

He has supported the TTC and tolls, in spite of the fact that the overwhelming major-ity of people in this district DO NOT support either. He has said that tolls are what we need because Perry won’t let us raise gas taxes. If he had guts, and if he really be-lieved that gas taxes should be raised, he should have at least submitted legislation for that, but he hasn’t. He has chosen the more restful option of rolling over and play-ing dead.

He hasn’t addressed water use at all. He’s way too busy carrying water, so to speak, for big developers. He does their bidding on more and more legislation allowing them to build and build and build, thus making water problems worse and worse and worse, because the legislation on which he partners with special interests never mentions water.

I’ve heard he is “for” a state income tax, but, true to his restful pattern, he’s never submitted a plan for it. Merely being in favor of something doesn’t accomplish any-thing if one’s support doesn’t include a willingness to fight for it and to spend political capital to achieve reform. I won’t be trying to set a record for longevity in the Texas Senate; I will be fiercely advocating the things we need to do for Texas’s future. Mark Twain said we need to have the “courage to do what is right, simply because it is right”, and I do have that courage.

I’m aware of nothing he’s done about TAKS testing.

Statewide Issues: Education

Q: School finance remains a major issue on the minds of Texas voters as the ‘reform’ issues of the most recent special session start to make an impact on the state budget and local school districts. Do you think the legislation passed during the most recent special session adequately addresses concerns related to public school finance in Texas? Why or why not?

A: No. It put ZERO new money into schools. It redistributed some funds slightly, but schools themselves got no real new money. Our teachers got a $2,000 raise, which really was less than $1,000 when one factors in the insurance stipend was taken away from them and re-labeled “salary,” meaning it becomes taxable income, costing Texas teachers and Texas schools more money. Until we have a state income tax, we’ll not be able to fairly fund all schools in our state. All Perry and his cronies cared about was cutting property taxes, but with the rising appraisals, most people will see little to no “cut” in their property taxes. What the Governor and his motley crew did would make a three-card-monte scam artist green with envy.

Q: Standardized testing is a cornerstone of public school education in Texas today. Do you believe too much or not enough emphasis is placed on standardized testing and why?

A: Far too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing. When students take a test that says “All the homework you turned did, all the classes you attended, all the tests you passed, all the special projects over which you sweated—none of it matters. The whole ball game is passing this one test. If you fail this single test, you may not advance to the next grade,” it is wrong! I’d like to see the test moved to the fall, as an assessment test, and then used as just a small portion of their final grade, if at all.

If the current plan were working, Texas SAT scores wouldn’t be below the national average. Of course, the current plan isn’t based on practicality, it’s based on emo-tion and on the cynical notion that the public won’t understand an educational system that cannot be spelled out on a bumper sticker. I believe the public cares about excellence, not ideology, when they make decisions about schools.

Q: Merit-based teacher pay (tied most likely to standardized testing scores) is something Republicans in Texas have pushed for several years. Do you believe merit-based teacher pay is a good concept to institute in Texas? Why or why not?

A: I would like to see a combination of time and merit. Teachers who teach at least 5 years should get a bonus (provided they’ve met some minimal other standards), and every 5 years thereafter should trigger an additional bonus. We’re losing too many teachers after 5 years, because at that point, their pay has fallen too far behind what they could make in the private sector. The bottom line is that we can’t afford to lose good teachers at the rate we do now! Merit pay based on how well students do on the TAKS test is a recipe for disaster and I will oppose it every step of the way. It would become an incentive for good teachers to refuse assignments where they are, perhaps, most desperately needed

The majority of teachers are terrific, but, everyone knows there is a small number who aren’t. Teachers who work in “hard to place” schools ought to be rewarded with higher salaries; mentoring teachers (who spend extra time with younger teachers) should be paid more and those who do an outstanding job should earn more. Teachers don’t go into this for the money, but it is only fair to reward those who go above and beyond expectations. The biggest problem with merit pay is who decides what constitutes “merit.”

If it is solely the principal, you create at least the possibility that “kissing up” will sometimes count for more than excellence in working with kids. I want any merit pay system to be based on measurable goals, with input from parents and students in setting the goals and in determining who has delivered with excellence.

Q: What is your position on school vouchers?

A: As long as private schools do not have to accept all students and need not follow all the rules that public schools do (including transparency and accountability), I will not even consider them. I do believe that students should be able to transfer to other public schools (in district or out), if their school is below average. Public tax money being used in religious schools is a real problem.

Q: Since the Legislature deregulated tuition costs at the state’s public colleges and uni-versities, tuition has skyrocketed at many institutions of higher education. Do you favor allowing tuition deregulation to continue? Why or why not?

A: Absolutely not! We got our daughter into the Texas Tomorrow Fund not long be-fore it closed and I favor all families having that opportunity. The Legislature should step up and do its job, which includes both funding higher education AND regulating tuition so a college education is affordable.

Q: What are your thoughts on making higher education more accessible to more Texas youths?

A: Texas needs to figure out a way to do what Georgia is doing, which, if I under-stand it correctly, is that any student who graduates with a B average or better may attend state colleges & universities tuition-free. We also need to increase grants and scholarships for middle class students, and reopen the Texas Tomorrow Fund back.

Q: The “top ten percent” rule has come under attack by Republicans in recent months. Do you favor the “top ten percent” rule? Why or why not?

A: I prefer a modified version. When the bill was written, it was a great idea and the thought was that students would go to all the state colleges & universities. The problem has been that the overwhelming majority want to go to UT, which leaves UT with little room for anyone else, say a very talented music student who might not be in the top 10%. I’d like to see a cap on the number of top 10% students that must be accepted into a particular state school. The cap at UT would likely be reached early, but the students will still be accepted into another state school. I am also concerned that the top 10% rule might encourage students not to take challenging courses, especially during their last couple of years in high school, because they want to be assured of making the top 10%. Some weight should given to students to do take Advanced Placement or even college level courses while in high school.

It is a very complex issue, and I think it needs to be revisited from time to time to be cer-tain we are accomplishing what we hoped.

Q: What are some other ideas or thoughts you have about secondary and higher education in Texas?

A: Give teachers more freedom to teach. They chose to be teachers because they love children and/or their subject. When they must “teach to the test,” they’re too lim-ited in what they can accomplish.

Make “in-service” days more meaningful. For example, have all a region’s teachers of particular subjects meet together and participate in a seminar that applies to their area of responsibility.

I’d like for Texas to explore the costs of the TAKS tests, which I know is not fully funded. Wisconsin has passed a bill to require that all parts of “No Child Left Behind:” (NCLB) be paid ONLY with Federal funds, no state funds can be used, as have several other states (see: Washington Post article)
I don’t have the staff to crunch these numbers, but one of the first things I’ll ask for once in office is an accounting of the costs of sticking with the Federal program versus with opting out it.

We need to work to find ways to get more parents involved, especially in the lower socio-economic families. If that means having PTA meetings on Sundays after church in the local church halls, let’s do that.

I favor more funding for Vo-Tech classes. With the new 4 years of math & science law, we’ll have even more dropouts–all students are not college bound! Those who are will take those extra classes–the legislature shouldn’t be mandating them, espe-cially since they didn’t provide extra funding for the increased number of science labs that will be needed nor to remedy the present shortage of math and science teach-ers. Students who are interested in a Vo-Tech type career should have a path in high school to prepare for this. It’s one way we can reduce the number of dropouts.

In some states, the 3rd grade reading levels are used to determine how many prison beds will be needed in the future. That is an outrage- if we can use it to determine the number of prison beds, then why can’t we determine that we will stop it, and put the effort into making sure our kids are reading at grade level so they will stay in school, and our prison population will decline.

For college prep students, more classes in more subjects should be available, with credits awarded for both high school and colleges. In more rural areas, this means more on-line courses. Online courses taken by high school students should be free to them. Having some hours already earned for college credit will encourage more students to think of attending college as feasible. We need more grants and scholar-ships for middle class families.

State Parks

Q: State Parks has become sort of the ‘sleeper’ issue of this election cycle. What is your assessment of the current situation of Texas’ state park system?

A: It is a mess. Parks are a “quality of life” issue and, as such, an economic develop-ment issue–people want to live where they’ve got access to good parks.

Q: Do you favor legislation reallocating the Sporting Goods Tax so that all of the revenue generated from the tax goes to fund state parks, instead of a large portion of it going to the general fund?

A: Absolutely!

Q: What are your thoughts on the sale of public lands designated for state parks or natural preserves, such as those at Eagle Mountain Lake and in the Black Gap area, by the state instead of developing the land as parks or recreation areas?

A. It is WRONG. The word “lame” is perfect for the idea of selling some parks to pay for upkeep in others. Allocating all of the Sporting Goods Tax to the state parks is the answer, not selling parks.

The Environment

Q: Coal power plants have become a major issue in this election cycle as TXU and other energy providers seek to build 17 new power plants, mostly in East and Central Texas. Obviously, this is a double-edged sword. These plants will provide needed en-ergy and boost the economies of the areas in which they are constructed by providing more jobs and increasing the tax base. However, they will also cause a significant amount of pollution. In your view, how should the legislature work to balance the competing interests of need for electricity versus concern for the environment?

A: We need to give incentives to clean, renewable energy generation- wind farms and solar are two that should be relatively easy to do here. We’ve subsidized so much in the past, subsidizing these new, non-polluting forms to help them get started and be afford-able seems like the proverbial no-brainer. The opposition to it comes from certain companies who are upset with us for not agreeing that they own the sun.

Q: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been heavily criticized as not doing as much as possible to protect the environment in Texas. What are your thoughts on this agency and environmental regulation in Texas?

A: They have too few inspectors, and, of course, this Governor has done everything possible to keep them from doing their job. He is way more concerned about money from the big guys than protecting the environment. There are actually now college degrees awarded in “sustainable business.” Businesses are discovering it’s not only a good PR move, but can actually saves them money in the long haul to be a good neighbor environmentally. TCEQ needs to be strengthened, with more inspectors and with commissioners who care more about the environment than short-term money.

Q: What kinds of incentives (tax breaks, etc.) would you support to increase the produc-tion of alternative fuels and/or increase the use of alternative sources of energy in Texas?

A: Property tax breaks, and some of Perry’s “business slush fund” money for them to get up and running.

Q: Water remains a major issue in Texas, as it has for over a century. Do you believe the state has an acceptable long-range plan with regard to both surface water and groundwater use as we head further into the 21st century?

A: No. In state law, there is actually no plan for running rivers, which I find appalling. Using surface or ground water does not encourage conservation unless we make it prohibitively expensive for all but the wealthy. Then, we would be treated to the spectacle of those who can afford it continuing to water their acres of San Augustine lawns.

Q: The question of groundwater versus surface water is one that haunts rural and urban Texas. Urban areas frequently need more water, and look to man-made lakes—usually constructed in rural areas—for that water. What action should the Legislature take, if any, to balance the needs of urban residence [SIC] with the needs of rural residents when it comes to water issues?

A: All new construction should require a new look at outside water use:

1. in rural areas w/o surface water, all new construction should require rainwater for all outside hook-ups and incentives for full rainwater systems;
2. in urban areas, outside water should have a separate meter and should carry a much higher rate;
3. gray water plumbing should be encouraged, so that this water can be used in irrigation for outside;
4. pools & “vanity lakes” in rural areas without surface water should be required to use water trucks; filling them with ground water should be illegal.
5. So much of our water use, especially in the summer, is used in landscape watering. People need to be encouraged to put in appropriate landscaping. I can see incentives (property tax breaks from the county) for people that, for example, choose mulch rather than grass for their yards and who put in plants that are appropriate to the area. The reason that counties would then be able to afford property tax breaks is that water not used on lawns is water than doesn’t have to be replaced by importing new supplies from elsewhere.
6. Give all groundwater districts full power to regulate private water wells. For example, in our Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, a builder might come to the District and say “we want to build 500 homes and dig two wells that will draw 25,000 gallons a day.” The HTGCD would look at the area, realize that there is not enough water for that and say “no, you can’t do that.” At present, the builder can then turn around, build anyway and have each of the 500 home owners drill their own wells, which does the same harm (or worse) as 2 large wells. That’s happening right now in Hays County and there is nothing that the HTGCD can do about the private wells. They should have the power to permit or forbid even individual wells, for the best conservation methods. No one is saying these people can’t build, only that they’ll need to find other water, such as rainwater, so that those who are already there will not have their water interrupted.

Transportation

Q: The Trans Texas Corridor is one of the key issues in this year’s election cycle. Regardless of whether the TTC will directly impact your district through construction within its boundaries, what is your position on the Trans Texas Corridor?

A: It is a land grab of the worst kind and it must be stopped. As I wrote in an earlier reply to this questionnaire: The TTC must be STOPPED. It is a scheme–all about exporting jobs to other countries and NOT about improving transpor-tation for Texans.

Not only is there an issue about jobs we would lose, but there is a critical National Security issue: if the US is importing so much through Central America (by-passing good-paying jobs at American ports), then it stands to reason that a lot of companies will import that way, meaning that a heavy percentage of US imports could be entering this country on a single road. That road would naturally be a tempting, easy target for terrorists, espcially since the containers won’t be checked until they get to the “Smart Port” in Kansas City!

It is ONLY about rapacious corporate greed and we must stop it.

That this has been leased to a foreign company, not responsible to Texas taxpayers, but only to their shareholders, is also very, very wrong. A lot of the profits will be leaving Texas.

Q: What is your position on toll roads?

A: Existing roads should not be upgraded so they can be turned into toll roads- especially when many were funded and paid for with our gas taxes.I do not have a problem with building entirely new roads that are demonstrably necessary and making them toll roads until they are paid for.

Q: Do you believe there was adequate transparency in the bid process for the first parts of the Trans Texas Corridor?

A: No! That CINTRA and Zachry are fighting to keep the details of their contract secret dramatically shows how wrong this whole thing is.

Q: As with many issues, the Trans Texas Corridor elicits different feelings from urban voters than from rural voters. How does Texas develop a transportation policy for the next 50 years that keeps up with the demands of our state’s rapidly expanding urban and suburban populations while also respecting the property rights and lifestyles of rural Texans?

A: Again, the TTC isn’t about moving Texans, in spite of the “spin” that Perry is trying to give it. It’s about moving freight from Central America (much of which started in Asia) into the “heartland” of the US. When people realize that, they’ll understand how wrong this is. Yes, we need to expand IH 35, but not to this degree. I can see IH 35 becoming a double deck highway through urban areas and spreading out a bit more in suburban/rural areas, but this monstrosity–several football fields wide with tracks for more train freight–is not what Texans need.

Taxation & Taxation Policy

Q: Do you believe the “tax relief” that has occurred as a result of the special session this past spring is adequate? Please explain.

A: No. Tax reform is needed, but what we got was pure window dressing. For example, our own property tax appraisal went up over $30,0000, so even with the lowering of the school property tax rates, we’ll be lucky if we see any savings. Our superintendent told me that most folks will see a slight increase, in fact.That the cut was not balanced by enough new income is also a concern. Already, other state agencies have been told to plan for a 10% cut.It is pretty clear that this is more of the pinheaded plan to strangle government services to the point that they don’t work for anyone but the very rich. One noted national Republican called it “getting the baby (the government) down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” The plan matches the elegance of his words.

Q: The concepts of “property tax relief” and “tax relief” have been on the lips of Texas politicians for more than a decade. How can the legislature actually bring the people of Texas either property tax relief or general tax relief? Is this an impossible task in the pre-sent economic and budgetary environment in our state?

A: Four words: “Texas style income tax.” (see above) 60% of us will pay less when we have this Texas style income tax; 1% will pay more and about 39% will pay about the same. That’s so much fairer and it is true reform! It is NOT an add-on tax. It’s a replacement tax and each of us will pay more when we can best afford to and pay less when we don’t have income. (And, please, use the term “tax reform, not “relief.”)

Q: Texas’ general fund, funding for education, etc., are supported by a myriad of taxes: from ‘by the drink’ taxes to the ‘sporting goods tax’ to the sales tax. What is your opinion of the structure of taxation in Texas and how our state government is funded?

A: It is a mess, but I doubt that any other state has anything less messy. In addition, the State charges fees to pay for services we think should be paid for by those who create the need for them or (less often) by those who benefit from them. The tax structures of Texas and of the 49 lesser states will always be complicated because our reasons for each tax are complicated. We charge higher “sin” taxes on items that we believe would be better if no one used, but people keep using them anyway.

Q: Do you believe that Texas now needs an income tax? Why or why not?

A: Yes, yes, yes! It is the fairest way to tax. (see earlier answers)

Health & Human Services

Q: From the Accenture contract debacle to being severely understaffed, health and human services in Texas appear to be in a crisis mode. Do you agree with this assess-ment? Why or why not?

A: Yes, it is indeed a debacle. The neo-Republican model is to privatize everything, because they can’t stomach a profit not being made on everything. The problem is when a private company is in charge, they must make a profit. There are fixed costs they can’t control, so they tend to make the profit on the backs of labor–paying less, training less and delivering less in the way of services. It is very wrong for basic human services to be farmed out for profit. Our government has a re-sponsibility to care of these things. It goes back to the preamble to the US Consti-tution: “and to provide for the general welfare.” I can’t say it more eloquently.

Q: Do you favor allowing private sub-contractors to handle health and human services casework?

A: No. The profit mandate destroys this, if it is done to “save money.” The private firms don’t have the mandate of care; they will put their shareholders ahead of those they serve—every time. Those with a certain ideology have decided that everything can be done better by private enterprise. That’s not true and it never was.

Q: Do you believe the current level of funding for the state’s health and human services are adequate? Please explain.

A: Not even close. There are 70,000 children still not on CHIPS, MHMR has been cut, Early Childhood Intervention has been cut, every social service has been cut, funding to local health and human services has been cut .We’re just throwing our most vulnerable people out to the lions on this, to satisfy the requirements of a greedy ideology.

Social Issues

Q: The 2003 and 2005 sessions of the Texas legislature spent a significant amount of time and effort on what could aptly be called ‘social’ legislation, such as banning gay marriage, tightening restrictions on abortion and other measures such as the ‘moment of silence’ in public schools legislation. Regardless of your personal beliefs on any of these issues, do you believe that the legislature should be spending so much of its time and effort on issues of this nature when other pressing issues like the budget and education must be addressed?

A: These divisive issues should NOT be on the agenda, especially when we’ve got real problems. They are there solely to energize the radical right Republican base.

Q: This November, voters in South Dakota will get to vote on a measure passed by their state legislature and signed by their governor that basically outlawed all abortion proce-dures in that state (which was put on the ballot by voter initiative after it was signed into law). It has been said that Texas will soon follow suit with similar legislation. Would you support a total ban on abortion in Texas?

A: No. I support doing all we can—much, much more–to cut the number of un-wanted pregnancies, including real sex education–i.e. “Abstinence Plus.” If “Absti-nence Only” worked, we wouldn’t have the 2nd highest number of teen pregnancies in the country!

Closing

Q: Other than some of the issues we’ve discussed so far, what are other issues that are of importance in your campaign, and what are your positions on those?

A: Access to healthcare. It not only saves lives, it saves money. That we don’t offer the least preventive healthcare in our state is immoral.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: We’ve got to get the word out. We need everyone to move slightly out of his or her comfort zone and talk to their neighbors. When they’ve got Republican friends, they need to say “you’re a good person, please explain why you vote Republican.” When they answer with “guns, God, and gays,” here’s how to answer:

Guns. You don’t need an AK47 to shoot deer and doves. My daddy was an avid hunter and he would have never considered something like that. Those guns are made to kill people as fast as possible, not “sport” shooting.

God. If you read the Democratic platform, it reads like a missive from the social justice of Jesus. We don’t want to take anyone’s Bible away from him or her—in fact, I suggest folks read their Bibles, including what Jesus is reported to have said and done. It makes it hard for me to believe he would have been welcome in a lot of these Conservative churches. Jesus said to “follow” him, not to worship him. There‘s a big difference.

Gays. According to the Bible, Jesus NEVER spoke a single word about homosexuality– good, bad or indifferent. If it is the “scourge” that conservatives say it is, I have to believe He might have at least mentioned it in passing. He did talk about how hard it was for rich people to get to heaven, but there is no mention of homosexuality.

Just For Fun
Q: During your time on the campaign trail, or in public office, what’s the funniest, craziest, or silliest thing that’s ever happened to you?

A. I was at water meeting, and someone mentioned how the air stinks when the wind from the paper mill blows towards her home in SE Texas. I asked her where in SE Texas (I’m from Woodville & when the wind blows from the SE, we could smell the paper mill at Evadale). Turns out her home was in Woodville (over 200 miles from here.) Afterwards, I asked her where the house is and she started describing it. It sounded familiar. When she said, “it was my grandfather’s. He was a president of Gulf Oil and retired there,” I jumped in: “Not Dr. MacAfee?”

And indeed it was. As a child, I spent many a Sunday afternoon at his farm, while my parents had lunch with him. I bought my first horse from Janey’s sister—so, it is a small world indeed.

My momma used to tell me to “always be nice- even if you don’t know someone, someone who knows someone who knows you will be there”, and she was right.

The State Senate will be my first elective office and indeed, this is my first try for public office. The idea of people I have never met or who I have encountered only briefly in the course of the campaign sending me money or offering encouragement still seems wild and crazy and wonderful to me. It shows that people still have hope, in the face of all that we’ve seen, they still have hope. When someone says, “I’m going to vote for you,” I’ll admit I feel giddy, but I also feel determined to never violate their trust.

Written by Vince Leibowitz

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Vince Leibowitz posted this article under 2006 Texas Elections, E-Interviews, Uncategorized on Monday, September 18th, 2006 at 8:30 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed. View Technorati Linkbacks.