Posted 11:03 pm Sunday, September 21, 2008
East Texas Political Happenings
Rep. Louie Gohmert Receives Endorsement
The Texas Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund (AGFUND), Inc. has endorsed incumbent U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, in his re-election bid to represent the 1st District of Texas.
"Texas is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and East Texans are fortunate that Congressman Gohmert sites on the House Committee on Resources," said Texas Farm Bureau and AFGUND President Kenneth Dierschke in a prepared statement. "He works to ensure wise use of our resources while providing jobs for Texas."
Gohmert serves on the Energy and Mineral Resources and Water and Power subcommittees of the Committee on Resources. He was appointed by the Chairman to serve as a member of the National Environmental Protection task force.
He was elected to his first term in 2004. Independent Roger Owen opposes Gohmert during the 2008 election.
AGFUND is Texas Farm Bureau's political action fund.
Wind Coalition Recognizes Leo Berman
The Wind Coalition recognized Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, with an Outstanding Supporter award for his support of the wind industry in Texas, now the largest in the nation.
Wind generated energy is becoming competitive with other energy and renewable sources, WC executive director Paul Sadler said. Growth would not be possible without support from Berman.
Berman said he is honored to receive the award, and he encourages the development of American oil supplies to drive energy costs, especially gas prices, down.
"These awards reflect the fact that the wind industry is a major contributor to our economy, and our state's energy needs," he said in a statement. "We have achieved more than any state in the union, and yet there is so much more potential in a state like Texas with almost unlimited wind resources."
Berman To Hold Town-Hall Meeting
State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, announced he will hold a town-hall meeting in Tyler on Oct. 1 to unveil the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC) legislative agenda for the coming legislative session.
Since the conclusion of the 80th Legislature in 2007, TCC has held town-hall meetings across the state and drafted a legislative agenda based on their constituents' feedback.
Berman, in a release, called the agenda "a renewed commitment by conservatives to tackle the toughest challenges facing our state, including illegal immigration, high property taxes, and the burden imposed on families by high health care costs."
TCC President Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, said conservative legislators accomplished many things over the past five years and that the agenda was designed to refocus and re-energize fellow conservative legislators to get behind policy ideas. Berman said Texas is the best state in the nation to raise a family and start a business and bold steps are necessary to keep it that way.
"With our agenda, we pledge to continue to fight for conservative, limited government solutions to the issue our fellow Texans face," Berman said.
The meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 1, in the Smith County Courthouse Annex Court Room, 200 E. Ferguson. All citizens are welcome.
Pro Jail Bond Action Group Announces Formation
The "Finally! A Jail Plan We Can Afford Committee" will hold a news conference announcing the formation of its action group in support of the Smith County Jail Bond proposed Nov. 4.
Former jail opposition leader Bobby Curtis and past jail proposition supporter Herb Buie, along with Treasurer Harold Beaird and Campaign Manager Sharon Guthrie make up the committee that will lobby for the passage of the $59 million jail bond.
The press conference will take place inside the Smith County Annex Building Court Room at 200 E. Ferguson 11 a.m. on Monday.
Rusk Democratic Club Meeting
The public is invited to attend the Rusk County Democratic club meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters, 103 N. Marshall St., in Henderson.
Registration Drives Scheduled
Voter registration drives will be held at the Downtown Exchange, 222 S. Bolton St., and the Cherokee County Republican Party Headquarters, 1650 S. Jackson St., in Jacksonville from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Registration is also available from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday .
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. CDT
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. CDT
