Posted 2:31 pm Friday, September 04, 2009
Hutchison Continues Gubernatorial Campaign In East Texas
By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer
Gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, stopped in Longview to gather support from local business and civic leaders during her second East Texas tour within a month.
Staff Writer
Gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, stopped in Longview to gather support from local business and civic leaders during her second East Texas tour within a month.
The self-proclaimed "East Texas girl," who stopped in Tyler and other regional towns in mid-August, continued her campaign to dethrone the longest-serving governor in Texas history, Rick Perry. Sen. Hutchison said, "we are treading water better than any state that is moving ahead, but that is not good enough."
The senator assured attendees that she is no stranger to the region and its needs.
"I have been here many times, and I know the issues of East Texas and will certainly be a representative of this area because I know it so well," Mrs. Hutchison said.
Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said the gubernatorial candidate's presence shows the region will be a key for statewide office-seekers.
"East Texas is important," he said. "I think these statewide candidates are starting to see just how important East Texas is, and we are proud of that fact."
Sen. Hutchison said for the state to advance, it must maintain a "good business climate" by keeping taxes low, produce a prepared workforce, address property taxes and appraisals at local levels and solve the health care and transportation needs of Texans.
She said there are many opportunities for the state to invest in its future workforce by supporting education initiatives throughout the community college or trade school levels. Sen. Hutchison said Texas needs to produce welders, electricians and nurses to "take the state to another level."
"Instead of the highest dropout rate in America, which is unfortunately what we are looking at now, we can have the best-educated workforce in America," she said. "That's what I want to do as governor."
Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, said Hutchison has been pro-small business and has encouraged entrepreneurial pursuits. He said the senator has "always been on the leading edge, a visionary" on topics from high-speed rail to oil and gas exploration and that her reputation in Washington will allow her to fight for Texas as governor on regional, statewide and national levels. He said he will ask that both Perry and Sen. Hutchison, as governor, "fight the good fight for all of Texas." The senator said she wants to "build the Rep-ublican Party." She said Perry has become too narrow-minded and partisan and that "cronyism" has become prevalent during his terms in office.
"I want people to believe in limited government, lower taxes, a strong business environment and protection of private property rights. I want them to be Republican. I want them to come in and help us rebuild our party in the grass roots," she said. "I want to be worthy to govern Texas and have real conservatism."
Sen. Hutchison promised that after her duties as senator are completed she will campaign to make sure the state is planning for a future where Texans have "a solid education system," "access to health care" and the best "multi-modal (transportation) system for our whole state from the bottom up."
