Nov. 2 election Recommendation: Chet Edwards in U.S. House District 17
The efforts of Republican Bill Flores in the U.S. House District 17 race to paint U.S. Rep. Chet Edward as a Nancy Pelosi clone are designed to inflame conservative voters. How unfortunate for Texas if this inaccurate tactic works.
Edwards 58 of Waco has been a consistently moderate Democrat throughout the 10 terms he has represented Central Texas.
His commitment to military and veterans is visible throughout his district -- and beyond. Thanks in part to Edwards service as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds Veterans Affairs the VA next month will open the largest outpatient clinic in the country in south Fort Worth to serve veterans from Hill Johnson Hood Somervell Parker and Tarrant counties.
Voters in this conservative district which runs from Johnson and Hood counties southeast to Brazos County know what Edwards has done for military families. They saw it in the bill he carried to grant scholarships to the children who have lost a parent in battle.
Voters in this conservative district know Edwards was a vocal supporter of the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that the Second Amendments guarantee of an individual right to bear arms applies to state and local gun control laws.
I believe that the Second Amendment protects the individual rights of all Americans to own and bear arms and the ruling ensures that right extends to all lawful gun owners regardless of where they live Edwards said.
Unlike his Republican challenger who has spent little time in the northern portion of the district that abuts Tarrant County and Fort Worth Edwards understands that the interconnectivity of North Texas counties is crucial as the area continues to grow. Tarrant may not be in his district but Edwards is aware of the importance of strong working relationships with Tarrant Countys congressional delegation on major projects like the Trinity River Vision.
Edwards commitment to strengthening local business is evident through his efforts in Johnson and Somervell counties. Edwards joined forces with 14 other House members and two senators to reach a contract agreement between General Electric and Greenbrier Rail Services of Lake Oswego Ore. that saved about 100 jobs in Cleburne.
As vice chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Edwards made sure the Comanche Peak nuclear facilities had federal loan guarantees needed to add two new reactors -- and up to 5000 jobs.
Republican Bill Flores 56 of Bryan is a retired energy company executive with no record of public service whose rhetoric against federal spending to prop up failing companies doesnt match his own business history. As a vice president of Marine Rig 2000 Inc. Flores led the company through a bankruptcy that allowed it to avoid a $7.5 million debt to the U.S. government according to a report in The Dallas Morning News.
Early in the campaign Flores said he was against the same kind of federal loan guarantees that helped Comanche Peak. Hes since backed off the position.
Libertarian Richard Kelly 53 a nuclear health physics technician from Morgan also is running for U.S House District 17.
Edwards is a quiet steadfast and independent champion of the nations military personnel small business and open government.
The Star-Telegram recommends Chet Edwards in U.S. House District 17.
