“… The person who will guide & protect our great state.”
By Sonja Harris
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – There are three Republicans running for 
nomination of Texas Attorney General: Dan Branch, Ken Paxton, and Barry Smitherman.
The Attorney General plays a significant role in our Texas government. We look to this person to defend our rights from abuse and tyranny. This person should have credentials that transcend the average candidate.
Sincerity, integrity, knowledge of our laws, empathy and a fierce awareness of evil are critical to the person who will guide and protect our great state and its citizens from aggressors and wrong doing.
Ken Paxton was first elected as a Texas State Representative in 2002 in House District 70, and served until 2012 when he was elected as a Texas State Senator from District 8. He and his wife, Angela, have four children, three daughters and one son. He graduated from Baylor University and went on to The University of Virginia to receive his J.D. He has been practicing law for the last 22 years in Texas.
I personally have met Ken and his lovely wife, and there was an immediate connection. What drew me to this conservative couple was their sincere and humble demeanor. It was so refreshing to meet and visit with them because they are not afraid of being who they are. There was no ‘pretend’ mode as I have experienced so many 
times with other candidates.
In a recent blog by David Bellow, there were some preposterous and even laughable attacks on Paxton concerning the Smart Meters. The Bills in question were HB2129 and HB3693.
- HB 2129 passed the House 146-0 (1 not voting,) and the Senate 31-0 (also in May 2005.)
- HB 3693 passed the House 140-2 (3 not voting,) in May 2007, and then passed 30-0 in the Senate.
The claim states that Paxton and Dan Branch ‘forced’ the ‘Smart Meters’ on Texans. That Paxton and Branch were totally responsible for the implementation of the Smart Meters.
In essence, it was the Texas Legislature, House and the Senate that voted unanimously “to better manage energy use and control costs and to facilitate demand response initiatives.” It is the responsibility of Public Utilities Commission to devise the programs.
Smitherman was a member of PUC and Chairman from November 14, 2007 until July 2011. It was during his tenure that the ‘Smart Meters” became an item of interest. Smitherman not only championed the ‘Smart 
Meters’ until they became a reality but considered ‘Smart Meters’ a ‘high point’ during his stay at PUC.
In an interview for ‘Fuel Fix’ Tom Fowler asked Smitherman:
Q: What were some of the high points of your tenure at the PUC? Public Utilities Commission
A: The last thing I’d say is we’re about half way to deploying 6 million in advanced meters. The smart meters are incredibly important for empowering customers to know what their consumption is and giving them some control over it. We’re beginning to see some really interesting products as a result, such as if you have a smart meter and a cell phone you can get a prepaid product with no deposit that could be cheaper than the traditional billing rate.
Mr. Smitherman travelled to Washington, D.C. to brief the Obama Administration on how ‘Smart Meters’ work. Smitherman became part of the Obama Administration when he was appointed by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to the Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC).
Interesting fact: When an idea seems to be a great one, there is always someone ready to take the credit. But when an idea goes sour, no one wants to claim that they had anything to do with it. It’s funny how this 
information was left out of the attack article.
Ken Paxton has:
- Been endorsed by the Right to Life PAC for his untiring efforts in standing for Life
- He has a solid voting record on our 2nd Amendment Rights, and has a consistent ‘A’ rating from the NRA and TSRA
- He has been named ‘Taxpayer Champion’ by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and
- ‘Champion of Free Enterprise’ by the Texas Association of Business
- He is considered to be one of the most conservative of our legislators.
Texans deserve a man of integrity to continue the fight with the Obama Administration and those who might harm Texas. Ken Paxton does not need a political ad touting his conservatism, because he has proven it over and over again.
Please stand with Ken Paxton as he seeks the nomination for Texas Attorney General. We have to work together to accomplish this!
Sonja Harris of San Antonio, Texas blogs for Conservatives in Action under the name of Red Sonja. She welcomes feed back at libertyphoto@att.net
