State Senator Kirk Watson
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Last Tuesday you may have developed an odd twitch a strange compulsion to walk into a small confined area and twirl a dial or press a button or (for some a tiny bit older) pull on a lever.
March 6 was supposed to be Primary Election Day in Texas. But since nothings ever easy our states elections have been on ice for a few months (for some of the gory details check out
this write-up from a couple of months back).
Well were finally getting some clarity. The filing deadline for the elections was last Friday. That was the day folks who want to run for an office had to officially file documents saying they would do so. As the dust settles I see that Ill have a Republican opponent when we go to the polls on November 6.
Job interviews for candidates
I take every campaign Im in seriously.
Its not just that you dont necessarily know how things will go and you cant take anything for granted (although you dont and you cant).
Its more that this process our democracy is important. Elections matter. Theyre necessary and important job interviews that candidates need to go through so that voters can evaluate and compare our priorities plans and accomplishments.
Im looking forward to the campaign to represent District 14 (which covers about three-fourths of Travis County and all of Bastrop County) in the Texas Senate. To see a map
click on this link. And to see the statewide Senate map
click here.
Our priorities
Im excited to talk about the
Honesty Agenda my effort last session to reform state government by requiring officials to be more open honest and transparent about how they collect manage and spend your money. We had real success last session but more reform is needed. (Just this weekend my work was noted in an
editorial about Sunshine Week and the need for open government.)
Im looking forward to discussing my work to make Texas the national leader in new clean 21st Century
renewable energy just as we are in the traditional oil-and-gas field.
Im glad for the chance to keep talking and working with
small business owners to make sure the state respects the huge role they play in our economy and shows them at least as much support as it does big corporations.
Im ready for the hard work itll take to find a
permanent solution to the school funding crisis and create the great schools that Texas kids deserve.
And I relish the fight to restore the necessities for our seniors kids and neighbors that the legislature wrongly cut away in the
last session and to make the common-sense investments in kids and college students that Texas future demands.
My record
Im also looking forward to talking about my record of working with folks from both parties and all persuasions to do better for Texas children its seniors its economy and its future.
That record has been recognized by Texas Monthly magazine which has honored me for my work in each of my three sessions: naming me the states legislative Rookie of the Year one of Texas 10 Best Legislators and giving me a big shout out last year for my work on the Honesty Agenda.
Just in the past few months I was honored to be recognized for my legislative accomplishments by:
- The Texas Municipal League which named me a Legislator of the Year;
- The Texas League of Conservation Voters which named me one of Texas Best Conservation Legislators;
- The Texas Nature Conservancy which gave me its Texas Legislative Leadership Award;
- The states Border Prosecution Unit which presented me with its Border Champion award;
- Texas Impact which gave me its Legislative Leadership Award; and
- The Texas Homeless Network which named me Outstanding State Senator.
More than just the awards themselves Im honored by the diversity of folks whove supported our agenda and work. It demonstrates the success Ive had in building new and different constituencies one of the principles thats been a cornerstone of my time in
public service.
And Ill continue working to bring folks together both during this campaign and in the next legislative session around solutions that will build a better Texas.
