Toss out the labels The Race Is On
By Kirk Watson State Senator District 14
Theres one New Years Resolution I wont have any trouble with this year. Ill be running. Plenty ... For re-election at least. Yeah for those keeping track Im also registered to run my first half marathon of the year on January 24th. But its the running for re-election that has me focused right now.
Last Monday was the deadline to file for a slot on the 2010 election ballots. Im proud and honored that Im unopposed in the March Democratic primary.
But Ill face two opponents in the November election.
The Record
It would be great seriously great if that election came down to my record over my first term.
We could review our significant and vocal fight to create a truly open and honest state budget and our successful effort to put a spotlight on the inappropriate diversion of dedicated state funds.
We could talk about our environmental successes from the electronic recycling program we created in 2007 to the first ever piece of statewide climate change legislation which we passed in 2009.
We could highlight how we passed through the Senate a landmark solar energy bill which would have created great jobs in Texas.
We could revisit victories that reformed Capital Metro funded work seeking to cure cancer helped fix school accountability started the process to increase the number of Tier 1 universities in Texas and defeated efforts to seriously cripple scientific research.
Heck as long as were at it we could recount how Texas Monthly named me Rookie of the Year in my first legislative session and then after my second session listed me as one of the states 10 Best Legislators. Id even be willing to talk about the other recognitions and awards Ive been pleased to receive.
(Im not going to lie to you. Ego being what it is Id really really like to spend the next 11 months talking about this stuff. Weve worked hard and its paid off because its been a phenomenal three years.)
What 2010 is really about
But this election shouldnt just be about my record as proud as I am of it. Its not about the past; its about the future. We should spend the next 11 months talking about visions for Texas and where this great state needs to be when the next generation gets here.
We shouldnt accept any candidates effort to make us believe that this is as good as it gets. We shouldnt allow candidates to politicize the issues and challenges facing everyday Texans.
Instead we should require a real defense by those who have supported and enshrined budget gimmicks diversions and political tricks. We should debate real
solutions to ensure that our budgets arent balanced on the backs of small business owners school kids commuters college students and hard-working parents.
And we must reject the notion that if you want to improve things if you want to raise Texas sights leave a legacy and fix whats broken then you just arent proud of Texas.
We know the truth. We know that were all proud of Texas. And we want to be proud of the people who lead Texas.
Toss out the labels
This election has to be about something more than Democrats versus Republicans or Progressives versus Conservatives or any other set of labels.
We Texans have so much that unites us. We all want good jobs. We all want affordable insurance and electric bills. We all want a tax system that makes sense. We all want better schools better universities and better health coverage for our kids.
But more than even all of those things we want a Texas that aspires even as it achieves. We want to build Texas into the oasis of opportunity for our kids and grandkids that it was when our parents and grandparents were building it up for us.
We want to create our own heritage of 21st Century jobs schools universities health care consumer protections roads rail and utilities that ensures our children and grandchildren wont be forced to build the things theyll need to prosper.
And we want to change the way state government does business. We want to budget past a budget cycle govern beyond an election and treat our state as something more than an inheritance to spend without responsibility.
Its your turn
None of this will be easy. It will take an enormous amount of work from so many Texans. And though our mission is much larger than Senate District 14 for so many of us it starts here.
And thats why Im asking for your help. I need you to be actively engaged.
Please go to
www.kirkwatson.com. Send your friends there. Get folks to sign up for the Watson Wire so they can learn about the campaign and whats going on around the state. And please sign up as a follower of my Twitter page too.
Also make sure you and your friends have signed up as supporters on my Facebook page. Send us a note if youd like to learn about the campaign.
Times are tough right now I know. But they wont get really fundamentally better until we can communicate with all voters not just our friends about the stakes in this election and our vision for Texas future.
And it will be a very bright future once we make investments and reforms to help todays Texans and the many more who are coming.
Lets come together and build the Texas that Texans deserve.
solutions to ensure that our budgets arent balanced on the backs of small business owners school kids commuters college students and hard-working parents.
And we must reject the notion that if you want to improve things if you want to raise Texas sights leave a legacy and fix whats broken then you just arent proud of Texas.
We know the truth. We know that were all proud of Texas. And we want to be proud of the people who lead Texas.
Toss out the labels
This election has to be about something more than Democrats versus Republicans or Progressives versus Conservatives or any other set of labels.
We Texans have so much that unites us. We all want good jobs. We all want affordable insurance and electric bills. We all want a tax system that makes sense. We all want better schools better universities and better health coverage for our kids.
But more than even all of those things we want a Texas that aspires even as it achieves. We want to build Texas into the oasis of opportunity for our kids and grandkids that it was when our parents and grandparents were building it up for us.
We want to create our own heritage of 21st Century jobs schools universities health care consumer protections roads rail and utilities that ensures our children and grandchildren wont be forced to build the things theyll need to prosper.
And we want to change the way state government does business. We want to budget past a budget cycle govern beyond an election and treat our state as something more than an inheritance to spend without responsibility.
Its your turn
None of this will be easy. It will take an enormous amount of work from so many Texans. And though our mission is much larger than Senate District 14 for so many of us it starts here.
And thats why Im asking for your help. I need you to be actively engaged.
