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Public fills courtroom to hear candidates
By Mary Madewell
Published February 5, 2010
Republicans packed the Lamar County District Courtroom Thursday to hear GOP primary candidates and to tout gains the party has made into Lamar County, a long-time Democratic stronghold.
“We seated three Republicans in the last election,” said Jimmie Kruntorad, president of the sponsoring Association of Lamar County Republicans. She predicted more wins this election cycle, forging the way for a two-party system in Lamar County.
The candidate forum featured District 3 state representative candidates Holland Harper of Paris and Erwin Cain of Como along with unopposed Lamar County candidates Keith Mitchell, in the Precinct 4 commissioner race, and Bill Harris in the race for Lamar County Court at Law judge.
Candidates for the District 4 U.S. House of Representatives race also pitched their campaigns. (See accompanying story.)
Harper, a Paris native and general manager of We Pack Logistics, emphasized his business experience, his military service and dedication to conservative values — God, family, freedom and free enterprise.
Following a return to Paris from a tour of duty in Iraq, Harper said he realized “we have something very, very special in Northeast Texas — freedom.”
“Right now our government, both federal and state is taking away those freedoms,” Harper said. He said because of the support of his wife, his family, his friends and his church community he decided to run for state representative.
“My race and my running is about jobs in Northeast Texas,” Harper said. “We have lost more than 900 jobs and my goal is to put people back to work and empower them.”
He pledged to continue the fight for voter identification.
“The right to vote is sacred,” Harper said. “We need to work on illegal immigration not only at the border but also at the employer.”
Harper said he has a special skills set.
“I am a manufacturer; been in construction; I am a leader, a soldier and a father; and I am going to take all those things together and serve House District 3,” Harper said.
Cain, a small businessman and attorney from Como and former Hopkins County Republican chairman, said Texas is at a crossroad.
“To the left is big government; to the right is liberty. We can veer left and increase spending, taxes and failure, or we can steer right into a path toward more freedom and free enterprise and continue to prosper.”
Cain issued a warning.
“Remember, government can only give you what it takes away from someone else,” he said.
The candidate pledged to address jobs, taxes, spending and education among other things.
“No matter how important these are, they pale in significance to a more overriding piece — the simple fact is this: big government is incompatible with freedom.
“We need a strong conservative to whom freedom is first and foremost — so strong that they won’t give in to the prevailing political winds,” Cain said. “I have shown that I won’t do that and I have the credentials, the experience and the training to fight the fight.”
Prior to the presentations by Holland and Cain, the two unopposed Lamar County candidates took to the microphone.
Keith Mitchell of Blossom, candidate for Precinct 4 commissioner, is retired from the Texas Department of Transportation.
“My experience as a candidate comes from my lengthy service with TxDOT — 29 years, 10 months with 15 of those years in a supervisory capacity,” Mitchell said. “I had the opportunity to learn state government and what it means to local people here. My experience is varied, working with a large state agency.”
Court at Law candidate Bill Harris currently serves as an assistant in the Lamar County/District Attorney’s Office.
“I feel it is important for the citizens of Lamar County to have a voice in government that reflects the values of what I consider to be the majority of Lamar County citizens,” Harris said.
He noted in 2008 the GOP elected three candidates to office — a district judge, a county commissioner and a county constable.
“I think it is important to give people a choice,” Harris said.
Although Harris said he does not believe politics should have a place in judicial races, he chooses to run as a Republican because “I believe smaller government; supporting law enforcement; and personal and fiscal responsibility should be the hallmark of any candidate and any leader in Lamar County.
“I believe the proper vehicle for that is to run as a Republican,” Harris said.
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