Even as we start voting in important local and constitutional elections, the 2014 primaries are barreling toward us. This is especially true of the race for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Because the train of this race has left the station and already seems at times to be on a course that could derail the entire Republican ticket next fall, people who care deeply about the future of our party and this State must start to express their preferences in order to try to avoid such a derailment.
It is in this spirit that I have decided to make my endorsement for Lieutenant Governor now, and to explain the basis for it.
Before I do so, though, I want to make a few preliminary points:
- All four men running for the GOP nomination are competent to run the Texas Senate based on their experiences of serving in, or running the Senate. Moreover, at least three of these men have the temperament required to manage the Senate. If any of the three men who have both the competence and temperament to be Lieutenant Governor win the primary, I promise to actively support that candidate next fall; if the fourth candidate wins the primary, I will support the Republican ticket, but I will take no active role in support of that candidate.
- My normal rule for primary races involving an incumbent is that the challenger bears the burden to prove to voters that he or she is not only competent to serve in the office, but also that the incumbent does not deserve re-election and the challenger would be the better choice. I held myself to that standard when I ran for office, and I expect other challengers to meet this burden as well. However, I cannot apply this rule to this race. To do so would require an endorsement of the status quo in Austin for four more years, because, as my friend David Jennings continually reminds me, David Dewhurst has been a good Lieutenant Governor. But this election gives voters the first opportunity in almost 12 years to bring new thinking and approaches to applying our conservative principles to Texas government, so I cannot just blindly embrace the status quo and forgo this opportunity. Therefore, in reaching my decision I have treated this office as if it were open with no incumbent running, so as to review each candidate on a level field to determine which one would make the best Lieutenant Governor going forward.
- Consistent with what I wrote in my last post, this endorsement is personal and does not reflect the thinking of any organization of which I am a member, officer, or board member. By making this endorsement, I am choosing to recuse myself from the evaluation and endorsement process for this race conducted by United Republicans of Harris County. This decision was not easy to make, and I doubt that I will make another such statewide endorsement before United Republicans completes and publishes its endorsements; but I believe this race is important enough to make this exception.
With these points in mind, I am making my endorsement based on a saying attributed to Andrew Jackson:
One man with courage makes a majority.
Specifically, I am looking for a candidate who has the knowledge and experience to understand the current and long-term issues facing Texas, the courage to address these issues, and the humility and wisdom to build a majority of Texans and Texas Senators in support of effective solutions based on conservative principles. I believe the one candidate who has shown that he has these necessary qualities is Jerry Patterson. A retired Marine officer and aviator who served his country in war and peace, Jerry has at least twice shown me that he has the courage I am looking for in the next Lieutenant Governor.
In the mid-1990s, when many Texas neighborhoods and businesses were suffering from an explosion of violent crime and many people here and across the country were clamoring for more gun control, Jerry stepped forward and instead called for Texans to be able to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms in response to these developments by advocating for a concealed-carry law. At the time, the chattering class (including many Republicans) was skeptical of Jerry’s idea, and he faced a daunting task to pass such legislation while serving in the minority party in the both houses of the Legislature. But, he had the courage to build support for this landmark legislation with the public and among legislators from both parties. With the passage of Texas’ law, a movement for such laws spread across the country together with a movement for clarifying and strengthening the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In the almost twenty years that have passed since Jerry took his stand, the Supreme Court has twice ruled that the right to bear arms is an individual right, and many locales and states have passed concealed-carry laws. As further vindication of Jerry’s pioneering efforts, credible studies show that locales and states where such laws have been implemented have experienced a statistically significant greater drop in violent crime than locales and states that have retained or increased restrictive gun control laws.
Then, in 2012, Jerry—alone among our statewide elected officials—not only recognized the need to change our party’s rhetoric and approach to immigration reform, he exhibited the courage to act on this need in a wise and measured way. When he stood and addressed the delegates of the 2012 convention of the Republican Party of Texas to support the “Texas Solution” contained in the new proposed platform plank, he showed immense political courage—courage that helped forge an overwhelming majority vote in favor of the new plank—when he knew that many of those delegates had entered the convention hall pre-disposed to oppose the new plank. In the end, Jerry helped create a majority of delegates willing to direct our party to take a new and better approach to immigration reform, and to lead a new national discussion on this important issue.
Go to Jerry’s website, http://votepatterson.com, and browse the “Issues” he has analyzed and addressed in detail, and I believe you will see evidence of a serious mind with the courage to address the issues we are facing with a fresh approach based on conservative principles. Whether it is education, water, transportation, immigration and border security, or state finances, Jerry is showing the courage needed to build a conservative majority to address these issues with long-term solutions, rather than by broadcasting or preaching to a vocal faction of the base of the party with worn-out slogans. It is clear that Jerry is ready to help govern Texas into the future, rather than keep us mired in the tired dogmas of the past, which too often have impaired our ability to apply real, timeless conservative principles to the problems facing Texas.
I know that I will not always agree with Jerry. But, I trust that he always will show the courage to present and debate his ideas candidly, and will use humility and wisdom to listen to others as he works to build a majority around conservative solutions.
This type of courage was once the hallmark of our greatest Republican leaders, including Lincoln and Reagan. And those leaders also shared another gift that Jerry possesses: the gift to be able to communicate his arguments clearly and with humor—humor that helps to engage and persuade. Use of such humor is not—as one of his opponents alleges—a personality flaw or a sign of a lack of seriousness. Instead, it is a gift that our leaders desperately need as we work to persuade a new and diverse generation of Texans to support and implement conservative public policies. Show me a man who disparages the use of humor in the public square, and I’ll show you a man who takes himself and his “cause” too seriously to be trusted with the power of elected office in a democracy.
It is because I trust Jerry Patterson to be a courageous conservative reformer, that I whole-heartedly endorse his candidacy to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Texas. I hope you will support him, too.
Rhymes W. Right says
You've got it right, Ed Hubbard — Jerry Patterson is the best candidate of the bunch. And not just because he is not Dan Patrick — because Jerry Patterson has shown an ability to build a conservative consensus rather than engaging in destructive rhetoric. What's more, he does not the sort of politician who can easily stand on either side of an issue depending on the direction the wind is blowing like our current Lt. Governor has done over his career.
Tomi Wilkey Porterfield says
Great comments, Ed!
big boy says
Sorry but with the atrocities Patterson has committed with giving away our open beaches and the debacle with public housing in Galveston, there is no way I could vote for this man. The measure of one’s character is not by a couple of his deeds but by the sum of his deeds and their effect. Patterson has shown the people of Galveston that disaster funds for the State are more important than the desires of the Galveston community or the best interest of the poor people allegedly benefited by public housing. And again the giving away of our public and open beaches to create a beach system like that in New York is against the interest of all Texans. I strongly urge all voters to research both of these issues as well as how the Land Office is currently deciding how developers obtain low income tax credits for their developments and whether Mr. Patterson takes into account the desires of the communities affected. If you do, then you will realize that for tough decisions you cannot count on Patterson to look out for the interest of the average Joe but that of the establishment and large developers.
Ed Hubbard says
“big boy”: I am not quite sure of all the details of the issue you are referencing, but I think you are blaming Jerry for the effects of a much-criticized Texas Supreme Court decision after Ike, which favored private landowners’ and developers’ interest in the beach fronts over the public’s interest and access, and which limited the ability of the Land Office and other state agencies to fix some of the damage and erosion caused by the storm. In fact, Jerry fought at the time for the public’s interest in those beaches in order to save them. What you are seeing now as favoritism to private owners and developers is really the effect of those legal decisions, not Jerry’s original plan.
texas coastie says
I’m glad someone else is seeing what Jerry Patterson is doing to Galveston, both city and county. Another issue follows.
Some reference sites (I don’t know your link policy):
– guidrynews .com has a letter from Councilman Pappous regarding Patterson’s actions and character; and other articles regarding Rollover Pass;
– rolloverpasstexas .com has links to the federal lawsuit now in the 5th District Court, Galveston, whereby Patterson, the GLO, and the US Army Corps of Engineers are being sued by private property owners the Gulf Coast Rod, Reel and Gun Club and Gilchrist Community Association. One point is, Patterson has falsely claimed ownership of private property to obtain a permit from the USACOE to destroy Rollover Pass, a Texas Historical Site and nationally known family fishing destination with superb handicap access.
– crystalbeachlocalnews .com has many articles and letters from Ted Vega and Wayne Stupka (GCA and GCRRGC, respectively) regarding the GLO takeover of Rollover Pass; and
– change .org has a petition to Galveston County Judge Mark Henry and Commissioners (Ryan Dennard is the commish for the area) signed by nearly 2000 citizens protesting potential eminent domain action against Rollover Pass.
Approximately 6 million dollars has been allocated by the 81st Legislature to fill in the Pass (no pier funds included) (SB 2043 and previously failed HB 3986). The Pass is an easement granted to the state by the property owners and it is a cut of water joining the Gulf and East Galveston Bay, specifically for fish to travel into their breeding areas. The owners have, for the last 50 plus years, allowed the public to fish and enjoy family gatherings for FREE until they had to request a small parking fee that goes to the legal defense fund.
This allocation of funds is based on skewed and suppressed information, in my opinion. A study by a Florida engineering firm (FLORIDA?? Don’t we have smart people in Texas??) and paid for by the GLO, interestingly supports the GLO’s position. Although the property owners are willing and able to work with the state, even submitting plans to renovate the area and alleviate the alleged issues of erosion and siltation, the GLO has flat out refused any compromise or alternate methods to address the issues.
It appears that the detail of condemnation of private property was not presented to the legislators during the discussion. In all fairness, however, one legistator (Joan Huffman) did attempt to modify the bill to allow alternate options but that was rejected.
Now the GLO has coerced Galveston County (October 2013) via reimbursement of up to 1.5 million dollars to take the property by any means necessary, including eminent domain. Judge Mark Henry signed the MOU, which is visible online.
Let’s step back a little and examine the source of any elected official’s authority: the people, outlined in the Constitution’s guidelines. (I refer primarily to the United States Constitution.) Judge Mark Henry and Commissioner Ryan Dennard DO NOT WORK FOR JERRY PATTERSON. They work for the people WHO ELECTED THEM! Isn’t it interesting that Ryan Dennard is a Houston real estate lawyer? Hmmm, do you sense a conflict of interest here? Some ethical questions?
Jerry Patterson has his foot on the neck of the little community of Gilchrist and the surrounding Bolivar peninsula area, still struggling to recover from Ike. Progress is slow, but they’re a scrappy bunch who won’t back down from bullying. Remember the photo, the “Last House Standing?” That’s exactly who is being hurt. The homeowner, Warren Adams, has built a restaurant across the street to serve the hungry visitors at Rollover Pass. There are other businesses in the area, specifically because of the unique fishing offered at the Pass, which will wither and die if the Pass is closed. No other park or pier will replace the intangible magic that happens at the Pass. It may not look like much, but the human synergy is palpable.
Jerry Patterson doesn’t have a clue.
—
Izzy says
well said texas coastie, thanks
Ed Hubbard says
texas coastie: As I said in my response to “big boy,” I am not aware of all the details about what is happening along the Galveston County coast, but as a resident of an inland coastal community along the Galveston Bay/Houston Ship Channel/Clear Lake waterways, I am generally aware of many of the issues at play. Unfortunately, the damage created by Ike along Galveston Island and Bolivar, coupled with the cost of repair from hurricanes in the Gulf over the last decade, have created havoc for communities, states, the federal government, the public’s access to beaches and private landowners–all of whom have legitimate, constitutional interests in the preservation and use of our coastlines, which often conflict. Add to these conflicting legitimate interests the problems related to windstorm insurance availability and coverage, the limitation of the public interest in beachfront property recently imposed by the Texas Supreme Court, the impact of the Biggers-Waters legislation on coastal floodplains and insurance premiums, and the state and federal responsiblity to fight coastal ersosion and maintain and protect coastal waterways and ports, and you have the ingredients of a mess where nobody can be made happy.
And looking at your and big boy’s comments from two different perspectives, it appears that nobody along the Galveston coast is happy with how the Land Office is having to manuever among these problems and interests to try and meet its responsibility to protect the coastline. From my perspective, whoever would be running the Land Office under these present circumstances would be open to criticism because there is no way everybody’s interests could be completely satisfied.
What all of this calls for is a more comprehensive plan to address these problems and conflicting interests. I would rather have someone at the head of the Senate in 2015 who understands these problems–both as a former Senator representing communities in the affected area, and as the Land Commissioner who faced these issues in the aftermath of Ike and understands the predicament it has created for all involved–then someone who would be more inclined to support the pre-Ike status quo or to champion only one of the competing interests over the other legitimate interests. Rather than not having a clue, I believe Jerry would be in the best position to help create legislation to address the problems residents along the coast are facing.
gtotracker says
I’m not saying it should be filled in but Rollover pass was cut in 1955. Filling it in would actually return it to it’s historical state. Patterson is not the cause of erosion but the results can not just be ignored.
http://texascoastgeology.com/passes/rollover.html
Jim says
I am disappointed by the comments here leveled against a candidate for his “temperament.” We need to be aligning ourselves behind the most conservative in the race who is going to push hardest for the conservative reforms that we need. Conservatives can clearly see that David Dewhurst is not that man as he has worked behind the scenes to reject conservative bills (TSA anti-groping bill) and has failed to push hard enough to get good bills passed (pro life legislation). The other 3 candidates are all improvements, and I really like Patterson, but Patrick is clearly the most conservative in the race, so he should get our support. BTW, I met him recently, and was impressed by his temperament.
Austin Wildcatter (@atxwildcatter) says
Temperament matters in a lieutenant governor. You need someone who is steady on his feet, level-headed and collected in potentially messy situations. You need someone who doesn’t have an “you are either with me or against me” attitude, shutting out opposing positions at all costs. You need someone who is willing to stand up and fight for the right thing without trampling others to get there. Dan Patrick has never shown these things in his temperament. Jerry Patterson has. No one can question either one’s conservatism, in my opinion – but in terms of getting things done, accomplishing their goals, and fostering relationships that build the movement instead of tear it in half, Patterson has Patrick beat by a country mile and more.
texas coastie says
With all due respect, Ed, I suggest you become VERY familiar with the issues presented because they involve state AND federal money. My money. Your money. Money shuffled between state agencies without the taxpayers’ or licenseholders’ knowledge. Money that flows to projects in a never-ending spiral of well-meaning, good-sounding presentations that overlook or deliberately ignore the laws which trump every man-made law in existence: the laws of nature’s Creator. That includes gravity, which is pulling sand down into the ocean.
The beach is not Jerry Patterson’s private sandbox. The coast will NEVER be stable. And a barrier island protects the mainland, not to be considered needing protection itself.
Do we continually support those who, Quote; “…like a foolish man who builds his house on shifting sand,” (Matthew) and if so, I’ll hand you the nails while you build my beach house. But only if YOU pay for it, not anyone else.
fabricelaroucheBig Boy says
Ed you just blew off the comments about public housing and low income tax credits and the horrible handling and positions taken by Patterson – which all 100{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} land at his feet and can not be swept under the fault of others such as Texas Sp. Ct. state or federal legislatures, etc. I strongly people educate themselves by at least searching out inofrmation on these topics and Patterson via the internet versus taking your or my comments. Thanks Ed.
Ed Hubbard says
fabricelaroucheBigBoy:
I did not intend to “blow off” the comment about the public housing/low-income tax credit issue. Frankly, this is an issue that is not specifically related to the handling of the public v. private property rights related to the post-Ike coastal preservation needs along Galveston Island and Bolivar, and is an issue that is shared with many states and localities that have been forced to address replacement of aging or damaged public housing complexes. Again, although I have not followed all of the details of this issue since shortly after the storm, I will give you my own general take on this issue.
During the 1950s and 1960s this country started addressing the needs of housing for our urban poor by building residential apartment complexes for the poor, the scale of which depended on the size and need of the community involved. By the late 1980s/early 1990s a rare political consensus emerged that these complexes—ranging from the Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini Green in Chicago, to Allen Parkway Village in Houston, to apartment complexes in New Orleans and Galveston—had made conditions for the urban poor worse by creating segregated warehouses in which cycles of out-of-wedlock births, crime, unemployment and under-education overwhelmed the families living in these complexes and perpetuated and deepened their economic hardship. With the help of the federal government, incentives were created to do away with these complexes as their useful life ended, and to replace them with privately-developed public housing dispersed throughout the larger community in order to break-up these pockets of perpetual poverty, and to integrate poor families into the larger community in order to provide them with more educational and economic opportunities.
It is my understanding that since Ike (like the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans, the decision taken in Chicago to replace the Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini Green, and the decision taken in Houston under Mayor Lanier over Allen Parkway Village) the decision for public housing in Galveston has been not to repair the damaged public housing complexes that had existed, but, instead to implement development of new, dispersed public housing. Like other transitions, the implementation of this re-development has supporters and detractors, and both the prior beneficiaries of the old model of public housing, and the neighbors of the new developments distrust the change that is being implemented. Additionally, any delay or disruption in the process of replacing the old housing creates animosity. Moreover, any private developers who appear to profit from the tax incentives are immediately suspect because of the old narrative that some people embrace that such developer’s profit-seeking is merely greed, and that a policy that allows such people to profit from public-housing re-development is wrong.
Although I cannot speak to the details of how the program since Ike is being administered, I happen to agree with the replacement of these old, failed complexes, and with the effort to engage poor families in the larger communities, as a better public-housing strategy. Thankfully, Jerry Patterson doesn’t buy into the old narratives that helped perpetuate these complexes, which is one reason why I am supporting him for Lieutenant Governor.
As for the other issues related to the preservation work along the coast and in Rollover Pass, I asked Jerry to provide his own response to the comments to this post, and here are his own words that he authorized me to share:
“This issue has been studied for years, practically since the pass was opened in the 1950s. Rollover Pass is not natural, it is man made, and the pass causes erosion and damage to private property owners in the area. While the fishing is free there are costs; loss of property for land owners in the area, increased damages during hurricanes that increase private and pubic recovery costs, and the tax dollars used to dredge the GIWW.
This is a difficult decision and one that has angered many fishermen and those who have used Rollover Pass for many years, and I understand these frustrations. This is why I am committed to working with the County to build a new park and fishing pier. I know that this is not a popular decision with everyone, but it is the right thing to do for private property owners in the area and the right thing to do for Bolivar Peninsula.
I’m willing to go forward on the advice of none other than the first president of Texas, Sam Houston: ‘Do right and risk the consequences.’
As for giving away our public beaches, I have fought at every turn to keep our Texas beaches open to the public. When Carol Severance, a California investor, sued the state, I fought this case at every turn, including asking for and receiving a rare re-hearing at the Texas Supreme Court on the Severance case. The outcome of that case was to the detriment of our beaches but I have continued to fight to keep our rolling public easement in place and protect public access.”
loren smith says
Mr. Patterson,
Should Cedar Bayou be opened? Surely you are aware of the issue. Thanks
Izzy
http://www.restorecedarbayou.org/benefits/
Big Boy says
Ed on public housing and Patterson’s position and involvement you are flat out wrong. This is a matter of HUD and the State fighting over recovery monies and forcing the City of Galveston to rebuild the old projects which does not affirmatively further fair housing as the law requires but does get money released. You really need to do some basic research on this one. You might let Patterson opine – he will probably just say it is sour grapes.
texas coastie says
Ed, you have a grest grasp of the background of public housing. Now to help everyone out, PLEASE at least read these remarks by Councilman Pappous.
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000051290.
Then go ahead and give him a call.
When you’re done with that, we’ll address Rollover Pass and you can call Ted Vega, GCA Prez.
Fair is fair, I’m sure they would both also like to respond to these comments.
Thank you.
texas coastie (but not limited to the coast) says
Well, we’ve had our election, now back to our regularly sceduled programing.
While Ed is researching the HUD/Galveston fiasco, this turns up from Jerry Patterson’s protege Ryan Dennard — a letter telling private citizens that if they don’t play nice with the GLO, 18+ million dollars for Bolivar plus “tens of millions” of dollars for the entire county of Galveston will be jeopardized.
If the Beach Triton would have updated their site I would have referenced directly.
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=387711678028884&id=183918001741587&set=pb.183918001741587.-2207520000.1383877805.&source=42
See a pattern here?
texas coastie (but not limited to the coast) says
“scheduled”
texas coastie says
Ed, hope you’ve rested since the elections. Now let’s get back to our discussion.
The Ike funding/GLO/Galveston/HUD fiasco showed Patterson’s style as outlined in Councilman Pappous’ remarks of April 13, 2013. A similar M.O. is being exhibited by Commissioner Ryan Dennard regarding Rollover Pass, as related in a letter published in the Beach Triton, November edition. (It is also on another Facebook site owned by a small business at Rollover Pass.)
The letter states that 18+ million for Bolivar and “tens of millions” for Galveston County will be in jeopardy if the private property owners of Rollover Pass try to keep it open.
This identical technique cannot be a coincidence. Truth does matter.