by Don Sumners, CPA
Candidate for re-election as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
As the Republican primaries move toward a conclusion, it looks more and more like an anti-establishment candidate will be the Republican Party’s nominee. To date, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have dominated the primaries. Jeb Bush, the establishment favorite, who was going to win the nomination without the votes of grassroots conservatives, failed miserably in his presidential bid and has withdrawn from the campaign. After the March 1, SEC primary, almost certainly one more candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, will withdraw. He should have withdrawn along with Jeb Bush.
Although Rubio supposedly has become the default favorite of the establishment, if he moves away from his current positions to cater to the establishment he will ruin his chance of being the party nominee. He already has problems explaining his being one of the ‘gang of eight.’ who favored legislation granting amnesty to illegal aliens. Primary voters are just not in the mood to support a candidate who exhibits establishment leanings. And now that Rubio has become the establishment favorite, Donald Trump can be expected to unload on him for his pro amnesty leadership. And, Trump should be far more effective at criticizing Rubio for his pro amnesty position than Cruz has been.
Regardless of who is the eventual nominee, everything points to a dramatic loss for the embedded republican establishment. Not since the nomination and election of Ronald Reagan has the republican establishment been prevented from nominating their candidate. Stopping them has been a long time coming. But, by willfully ignoring the wishes of the voters that elected them and failing to fight the democrat agenda, instead caving-in to them, the establishment republicans deserve the humiliating defeat coming to them.
So far, this year promises to be a truly great year in national politics for grassroots republicans. But, Washington’s elected officials are not the only elected officials defying the will of the people. Now let’s dedicate ourselves to having the same success at the state and local level.
I suggest pressing for property tax reform is a great place to start. Acting as your taxpayer watchdog, I am ready to continue my fight against high property taxes in the county and at the state legislature. All I ask of you is that you re-elect me, Don Sumners, CPA, as your Tax Assessor-Collector.
My opponent, Mike Sullivan, openly states it is not his job to be an advocate for tax reform; he repeatedly says his job is only to be an administrator. With property taxes rising at 10{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}+ per year, can you really afford to throw away your vote on Sullivan who refuses to be your advocate? A vote for Sullivan is a wasted vote.
Don Sumners
1726 Creek Dr. Houston, TX 77055
713-973-7808
[email protected]
David Vargha says
Sorry to disagree with you, but Marco Rubio is an establishment Republican. Sure, he’s not Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney, but is that the standard now? Notice how the establishment has already coalesced around him.
Don Sumners says
To the two Davids: By traditional standards Rubio is not an establishment candidate. His pw
Don Sumners says
To the two Davids: Excuse my computers hiccup. Continuing my statement, Rubio’s current positions are not much different than Trump or Cruz. The establishment had no other choice than Rubio. Trump can’t be pressured without his retaliation and Cruz won’t deviate from his principles and the constitution. No doubt the establishment hopes they can turn Rubio if he wins and they have his participation in the gang of eight as evidence. If you think he is an establishment candidate because he can’t be trusted to follow the desires of his voters, you may be right. But, the voters have the same risk with Trump and he is definitely not establishment. Right now the establishment has control of the party apparatus and the donors and little else. Rejoice.
david jennings says
If I am one of the Davids, I can assure you that I do not think that Marco Rubio is an “establishment” candidate. In fact, I don’t even think there is such a thing as “the establishment”.
DJ
David Vargha says
I think Rubio is definitely “establishment”. Of course, we all have to define our terms, otherwise we will be arguing definitions rather than policy. I consider Trump to be a classic populist, and one without a cohesive framework of beliefs. Full disclosure: I already voted in the Texas Primary for Ted Cruz.