The independent, non-Big Money endorsements in the House District 150 primary race are circulating on social media and through email. In his endorsement letter, former long-time Republican Precinct Chair John Haessly correctly points (IMHO) to State Representative Debbie Riddle’s fierce and verifiable opposition to unscrupulous low-income housing developers who are attracted to grant money given by the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs to build Section 8 housing.
John Haessly letter:
These developments typically receive a county appraisal district valuation for tax purposes that is LESS than developments that do not have this type of taxpayer-subsidized incentive.
This means more of the burden to pay the school taxes shifts to YOU, the residential homeowner.
However, don’t believe me—read the letter of opposition to one low-income housing development written by Lamar CISD Superintendent Thomas Randle.
Here’s the money quote:
“Also we are concerned that this type of development receives a valuation for tax purposes below the level of developments that do not receive incentives. We cannot support any development whereby school taxes are less than what would be received for a regular development.”
Too bad Fort Bend County residential homeowners cannot rely on their elected officials to oppose these developments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srWoeu0BFs8
Received in response to an open records request was this letter of neutrality from State Representative Rick Miller who chose to vote “PRESENT” and not take a firm opposing nor supportive stance on the Lafayette Park Apartments.
In this October 2014 BJP article I published the letters written by theFort Bend Chamber of Crony Commerce and the Central Fort Bend Crony Chamber Alliance in support of The Greens at Brentford apartment complex.
The Greens at Brentford was also supported by State Representative John Zerwas and Fort Bend County Commissioners Court.
Maybe someone else will have better luck at getting Riddle to return her candidate survey than we did. It didn’t seem to be a problem for Swanson and Zolli. http://www.campaignforliberty.org/surveys2/?id=280
Looks more like a hit piece rather than a questionnaire.
Not sure how asking candidates if they oppose fees and taxes and if they would support constitutional carry and a red light camera ban is a hit piece.. Especially when some of the questions are on their party platform. I guess if they feel that their answers might hurt them in their election they might want to dodge going on the record.
Rep. Riddle’s VOTING RECORD is THE ISSUE. She started off her legislative career with one of the best. I have supported her ALL ALONG THE WAY although somewhat reluctantly last cycle since there was no credible challenger. RIddle’s record, both fiscally and socially, has deteriorated to the point she (as known by her voting record) is barely recognizable from how she started. To wit:
1. She effectively killed THE priority Texas Right to Life bill that would have lowered YOUR insurance costs by making abortion coverage optional.
2. She personally and intentionally KILLED the anti-Sharia law bill, after she and her husband had a nice dinner with one of the chief liberal lobbyists in Austin, who sided with CAIR when hearings on the same bill were held in the Senate.
3. She voted with the Dems AGAINST the Rs to let a $15/hr bill out of calendars–clearly against the GOP platform and common sense–that the Dems planned to use and did use to “chub”–run the clock out on other good conservative legislation (like the ProLife bill).
4. She voted WITH THE DEMS AGAINST the majority of the Rs on Gov Greg Abbott’s signature Ethics and Transparency bill that had been passed UNANIMOUSLY in the Senate (both Ds and Rs) and instead voted for a ridiculously unconstitutional substitute. In the 83rd she had also opposed a similar transparency bill saying at the time that taxpayers had no business knowing what her relatives were involved in related to government contracts, etc.
5. In the 83rd, she voted for and championed a budget that the Wall Street Journal wrote about on its editorial page in an article titled “Texas Goes Sacramento” due to a whopping 26{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} budget increase, and lated considered retracting since they could not find a similarly massive increase in California’s budget.
6. She accepted FAR MORE money from Austin and outside the state lobbyists than from her district. The anti-ALAC lobbyists above ALONE gave over 50{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} MORE money to her than her ENTIRE DISTRICT according to the TEC.
7. She voted against parental rights and against a priority parental rights protection bill championed by the venerable Texas Homeschool Coalition.
…and on and on and one…
In contrast, http://www.ValoreeSwanson.com accomplishments for conservatives span her entire adult lifetime. She was recognized for this as “Volunteer of the Year” for Senate District 7 just a few months ago. Her endorsement list…both conservative watchdog groups and well known individuals, is one of the most impressive I’ve EVER seen for a challenger to a long-time establishment incumbent. A massive number of Harris County Precinct Chairs (and notably, a majority of District 150 Precinct Chairs) endorse Valoree Swanson. Just the MAJOR groups include:
Texas Right to Life
Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Values
The Texas Conservative View
Conservative Coalition of Harris County
Texas Patriot PAC
C Club
Empower Texans/Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Eagle Forum
Concerned Women for America (both “national” and “Texas”)
Kingwood Tea Party
Dr. Robin Armstrong
Operation Rescue
Liberty Institute
Barbara Cargill (SBOE member and former chair)
JoAnn Fleming
July McCarty
….and HUNDREDS more…
Very notably, the vast majority of these endorsing organizations and individuals, including myself, FORMERLY endorsed and even campaigned for Rep. Riddle.
We’ve reached the breaking point. It is past time for Ms. Riddle to retire and spend more time with her grandchildren.
More information on Valoree, her endorsements, and Ms Riddle’s record is at http://www.valoreeswanson.com or at Valoree Swanson for Texas Faceboook.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Mark Ramsey
SREC SD7, Resolutions Committee Chair