vol. 9 no. 10 Clear Creek Assoc. of Retired Teachers, Editorial Board: Ginny Darling, Vee & Frank Stansfield, Co-Chairs, James BaileyPaul Arnold / May. 8, 2012
Early Voting for Primaries begin May 19; End on the 25th
Early voting for the May 29 Party Primaries begin on May 19 go through the 25th. Absentee ballots can be requested immediately. Most voters have received registration cards but many have not. The announced deadline for counties to issue voter registration cards was April 25 but because of the splits precincts and new maps some CCART members won’t receive cards until later in May according the Galveston County Clerk’s Office. Not to worry; your expired card will be good through the May 29 primary election.
Runoff elections will be held on July 31, eight weeks later.
The contest between establishment Republicans and the more draconianTea Party Republicans has beenprickly and oftenspurious. My caveat emptor[buyer beware]caution of last month has been reiterated more humorously on Larry Taylor’s website:
“You may be noticing some negative political advertising in the coming weeks, most of it directed against me. I figure I must be doing something right because the personal injury trial lawyers have already started their attacks. They are probably fearful of having me in the Texas Senate and their fears would be well grounded.”
For most of this Legelog, Republicans will find a daunting array of choices for your May 29 Primary. If you get the impression that some of the candidates are running for reasons other than the chance to win office, you would likely be correct. Some may think so few voters will show at the polls that friends and relatives will somehow thrust them into a runoff in July.
For Democrats, your choices are almost non-existent. Indeed, Democrats have choices only at the state level, beyond the scope of this newsletter.
State Senate District 11
Three Republicans:
Larry Taylor (larrytaylor.com), Friendswood, has a website including endorsements from Sen. Dan Patrick, the mayors of League City, Kemah, Seabrook, La Porte, Clear Lake Shores, El Lago, Webster, Dickinson, Deer Park, Friendswood and Pearland as well as numerous conservative organizations.
Daniel McCool, (danielmccool.com), League City, has a website indicating that he has been endorsed by radio talk show host Michael Berry, several Tea Party groups, several Republican precinct chairs and three Harris County ethnically-labeled law enforcement groups:the Afro-American Sheriff Deputies' League, the Mexican-American Sheriff's Organization and the Caucasian Law Enforcement Association.
Dave Norman,(davenormanforsenate.com) Seabrook, His website indicates that he is the principal of Norman Insurance in Webster and a Clear Lake HS graduate. He is endorsed by United Republicans of Harris County and received an “A rating” from the Texas State Rifle Association
The Democrats have one uncontested candidate for State Senate District 11: Jacqueline Acquistapace, of Pearland. She has a website, (jacquelineacquistapace.com). On education she says, “I’m a mom with 2 kids attending public high school. I’m concerned about education. Teachers Need To Teach not be Crowd Control.”
State Representative District 129
Two Republicans:
John Davis (votejohndavis.com), Houston,is the incumbent and has website indicating that he is independent manufacturer representative for RPM, a roof and wall restoration company.
Mary Huls (electmaryhuls.com), Houston, has a website indicating she has been a financial research administrator and currently board member of the Clear Lake Tea Party. She is endorsed by the Clear lake Tea Party and the 911 Tea Party.
There are no Democratic candidates for the 129th State Rep district.
State Representative District 24
Three Republicans:
Greg Bonnen (drgregbonnen.com), Friendswood has a website indicating that he is a successful neurosurgeon, who has a campaign chest that “dwarfs” those of his opponents. He is endorsed by the Texas Alliance for Life,
the Texas Association of Realtors, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Right to Life, Texas Association of Manufacturers, the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas Medical Association.
Ryan Sitton(ryansitton.com),Friendswood,has a website indicating that he is the CEO of Pinnacle Asset Integrity Services in Pasadenaand active in Junior Achievement. On the topic of education, on his website he states “there is too much money spent on administration, which is driven by too many ineffective government mandates. While we do need some standards in place to gauge school and teacher performance, we must give our teachers and administrators more flexibility to teach.“
Heidi Theiss(heidifortexas.com), League City has a website indicating that she has the endorsement of the Clear Lake and Galveston Tea Parties and several Republican precinct chair,Veterans In Defense Of Liberty, Gun Owners of America, Texas Conservative Digest and Texas conservative Blogger GM Roper.
One Democrat:
Rusty Cates (rustycates.com), Dickinson, has a website that emphases full funding for public education and ending insurance company redlining. To read some of his columns, click on “Articles” and enjoy some very interesting viewpoints on history and current political issues.
State Representative District 23
Two Republicans:
Wayne Faircloth(votefaircloth.com) Texas City,has a website stating upfront that “Overtaxing prevents growth. Limiting business means limiting jobs” and support for public education. On education his website states “I support teachers everywhere. They have an awesome mandate, educating the masses. Any quandary presented in this arena should not question the validity or necessity of the classroom teacher.”
Bill Wallace (billwallacecampaign.com), MontBelvieu, has a website that indicates support for low taxes and limited regulations.
One Democrat:
Craig Eiland,(craigeiland.net)Galveston, has been a strong supporter of retired teachers for the past several sessions and has been recognized three times by Texas Monthly magazine, including one of the “Ten Best Legislators.” He is currently serving on the House Appropriations committee.
Congressional District 14
11 Republicans:
Tim Day, Galveston (timdayforuscongress.com)He says he is a BOI film maker and small business owner who pledges“to retain all of Ron Paul's current Congressional Staff” and refuse a Congressional pension.
John Gay, Dickinson (johngay.org )who says“Plan A is stop President Obama’s communistic, socialistic agenda for America and get our children’s children, their future back. Plan B is go back to Plan A.”
Robert Gonzalez, Friendswood (gonzalez2012.com)whose opening webpage says “Welcome Patriots”is endorsed by several Tea Party groups and the anti-immigration Immigration Reform Coalition.
George Harper, Brazoria (harper4congress.com)who says he helped initiate the Tea Party Movement in Brazoria County and as his first reform he wants a “mandatory national data base of all citizens to verify citizenship before anyone can be legally employed in the United States”.
Felicia Harris, Pearland (feliciaforcongress.com )whose theme on her website appears to be “Liberals in Congress do not understand that the government cannot spend our way intoprosperity.”
Mark Mansius, West Columbia[further data unavailable]
Jay Old, Beaumont (jayold.com) who favors limited government and low taxes and declares a 23-year ”legal career fighting lawsuits targeting our doctors, hospitals, building contractors.”
Bill Sargent, Galveston
(billsargent4congress.com )who says“we must get rid of the ‘magnets’ that draw illegal aliens. Things like free food stamps, free health care, and free education should be eliminated.”
Steve Stockman, (Friendswood) (facebook.com/pages/Steve-Stockman-for-Congress)served one term in Congress in the mid-90s. His website puts emphasis on gun owner’s rights.
Michael Truncale, Beaumont (michaeltruncale.com) whose theme seems to be“I will vote every issue like a taxpayer; not a politician.”
Randy Weber, Pearland (randyweber.org ) is a Pearland area state representative and is endorsed by Gov. Perry, the mayors of Alvin, League City, Friendswood, Pearland and Lake Jackson, Right to Life and the Texas Association of Business.
One Democrat:
Nick Lampson, Beaumont (lampson.com)during the latter years when he was in Congress he became one of the fiscally conservative “blue dogs.” His website is a mix of liberal and conservative issues. He says we should “crack down on employers hiring illegal immigrants” but decries that we have “substantially underfunded” education.
2 Libertarians:
Zach Grady, Alvin (zachgrady.com)
Amy Jacobellis, Beaumont
(amyjacobellisforcongress.com)
Congressional District 22
Two Republicans:
Pete Olson (olsonforcongress.com) is the incumbent Congressman and is a ’81 graduate of Clear Lake H.S., mentored by former Senator Phil Gramm and considered one of the most conservative of Congressmen.
Barbara Carlson (barbaracarlsonforuscongress.com) is a Sugarland insurance agent who has published a book, Face It, We’re Broken, emphasizing the need to stop healthcare reform and secure the borders. On her website she declares that she is “God-centered.”
Two Democrats:
K.P. George (kpgeorgeforcongress) is a Sugarland financial planner, a resident of Sugarland for 18 years and a naturalized Indian-American whose wife is a public school teacher. His website emphasizes opposition to special interest groups and protection for Medicare/Social Security. George is endorsed by the Fort Bend Democratic Party, Bay Area New Democrats, Katy Area Democrats and the Harris County Tejano Democrats.
Kesha Rogers(kesharogers.com)is a Stafford Lyndon LaRouche candidate. On her website she accuses Pres. Obama of being “a puppet of the bankrupt financial system” and advocates his impeachment.
Congressional District36
Nine Republicans:
Mike Jackson, La Porte, (mikejacksonforcongress.com) is currently our State Senator who has visited CCART many times over the years. The theme of his website appears to be that he has a “Proven Record as a Limited Government Conservative.”
Jerry L. Doyle, Baytown(jerrydoyleforcongress.com) The theme of his webpage seems to be supportive of the “Tea Party Patriots” and a pledge that he will work “to repeal and block Obama's overreaching health care plan.”
James K. Engstrand, Seabrook
(engstrandforcongress.com)Much of the website is very supportive of NASA andheis endorsed by the Clear Lake Tea Party and the fiscally conservative Combat Vererans PAC.
Ky D. Griffin, Jasper (kygriffin.com )is a funeral director whose website hasstrong themes of American exceptionalism and border security.
Kim Morrell, Seabrook (morrellforcongress.com)is a Seabrook City Council member who wants to
“Keep Medicare and Social Security benefits at current levels” and also “Repeal Obama Care.”
Lois Dickson Myers, Houston (loismyersforcongress.com) is a real-estate broker whose website theme is supportive of the oil industry and reigning in the EPA.
Stephen Takach, Baytown (ballotpedia.org)is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones who emphasizes lower taxes and smaller government.
Tim Wintill, Baytown (wintillforcongress.com) is a math teacher whose website indicates he is supportive of Social Security but opposed to “ObamaCare.”
Daniel Whitton, Buna (WhittonForCongress.com)whose website indicates he is a Young Republican activist who has taken “a ministry position at First Assembly in Buna” and fears that” religious freedoms are being snatched up” and the government has “an overabundance of regulation on businesses.”
One Democrat:
Max Martin (max4congress.com) is a professional pilot from Clear Lake City who believes that the 99% movement is mostly right on the issues and NASA/ JSC are national assets to be supported.
For those who haven’t quite grasped how extensive the new CD36 happens to be, here is a map:
The following entry is adapted from a much longer article in the spring 2012 issue of the Texas Association of School Administrators professional journalInsightand contained several footnotes documenting the observations and conclusions expressed. I encourage CCART members to go online( tasanet.org/communication/insight ) and read the full article on pages 19-20.TASA Journal Touts TRS Success
The spring 2012 edition of TASA’s professional journal Insight has proclaimed, “Today, TRS is recognized as one of the healthiest pension funds in the nation” and denounced the generic attack on all pension funds when several are in fine condition.
The TASA article by Amy Beneski and Beaman Floyd said the assertion that “defined benefits” were “inherently flawed” was “simply untrue.”
The authors provide an excellent brief history of the TRS carrying it to the reality of today when“of the 1,037 school districts in Texas only 17 contribute to social security for all employees and only 31 contribute to social security for auxiliary or part-time employees only.”
Beneski and Floyd ridicule the idea expressed by critics of the TRS that “the defined benefits administered by the system is a gift, or some sort of free grant of salary…. This, they say, is patently untrue.”
The authors conclude:
“As of June 30, 2011 the system’s net actuarial assets totaled more than $115 billion, up from $111 billion June of 2010. The market value of the system grew from more than $95 billion to over $107 billion during the same time period.
From 2010 to 2011, the most recent TRS actuarial report found that the assets outperformed the assumed rate of return of 8 percent, earning more than 15 percent net of expenses over the last year. This represents $7 billion in gains. In addition, liabilities grew slower than expected due to lower than projected salary increases. Unfortunately, during the recent legislative session, the legislature lowered the state’s contribution rate for both years of the current biennium after the fund’s actuaries recommended that they it increase by 1 percent.
Unlike some pension plans, the TRS plan is a sustainable well-funded program that is successfully weathering the recent major market declines and volatility. If all current contributions from the state, employers, and active employees remain constant and there are no benefit increases for retiree, the trust fund assets are sufficient to make benefit payments through 2075.”