Having made a good choice for the State Senate, the Express News follows it up with a good choice for US Senate.
Paul Sadler
Former state Rep. Paul Sadler is unequivocally the right choice on the Nov. 6 ballot to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.
Sadler has a strong record as an effective legislator who understands the need to work with both sides of the aisle.
The Democrat is best known for his impressive work teaming up with former Republican state Sen. Bill Ratliff to rewrite the state’s education code in 1995 in a bipartisan effort.
A legislator for six terms from 1991-2003, Sadler rose in the Texas House to be chairman of the House Public Education Committee and was named one of Texas Monthly’s 10 best legislators four times.
Sadler is a pragmatic problem-solver, who advocates a balanced approach to ending the national deficit and comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants, a work visa program and the DREAM Act.
Republican nominee Ted Cruz, a tea party favorite and a former state solicitor general, is touting troubling policy proposals that would not serve the state well.
If a grasp of policy is a factor in these editorial board interviews, Sadler ought to sweep the endorsements, much like Keith Hampton deserves to do. Cruz lives in a fantasy world, with a fairy-tale understanding of economics, foreign policy, and government in general. Assuming he wins, and he is certainly the overwhelming favorite to do so, you have to figure there are two ways for his term in office to go. One, he comes to learn the facts of life, and puts himself in position to be labeled just another sellout RINO by the ever-insatiable GOP primary base, or he remains steadfast in his delusions, and becomes the Senate version of someone like Michelle Bachmann, a sideshow freak who eventually exits elected office with few if any actual accomplishments to show for it. One wonders what his 2018 re-election campaign might look like under the latter scenario. Will whatever remains of the GOP establishment that actually likes getting stuff done – you know, building roads, steering defense contracts to the state’s military bases, that sort of thing – do something to derail him, or will they just accept their fate and bend over when called upon? I’d rather not find out, but I suspect it’ll be the latter if it comes down to it.
Meanwhile, the Texas Parent PAC, which has now begun making additional endorsements for the November election, announced that Ann Johnson was one of the first recipients of their recommendation. From their press release:
Ann Johnson
“Ann Johnson is a proven and effective advocate for children and families, and she will be a respected leader at the state Capitol,” said Darci Hubbard of Houston, a member of the Texas Parent PAC board of directors. “Ann will put kids before politics.” Hubbard said Johnson will seek permanent solutions for public school finance and work for meaningful tax relief for property owners.
Texas Parent PAC was created in 2005 by parents who joined together to elect state legislators who will stand up for schoolchildren. It is recognized as one of the state’s most successful political action committees.
Johnson is an attorney in private practice who represents children, including child victims of harassment and bullying in schools. Her practice includes representation in the newly created alternative courts: Growing Independence Restoring Lives (GIRLS) Court and the Harris County Mental Health Court. In addition, Johnson has been an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law for 10 years. Earlier in her career, she was a Harris County prosecutor.
Johnson grew up in Houston, and she is carrying on her family’s tradition of public service. Her father, attorney Jake Johnson, was formerly a state representative, U.S. Marine Corps pilot, and teacher at Jones High School. Her mother, former Civil District Judge Carolyn Marks Johnson, taught at Alvin Community College, the University of Houston, and South Texas College of Law.
“Houston families deserve a legislator of Ann Johnson’s caliber,” said Texas Parent PAC Chair Carolyn Boyle. “She is an authentic leader with a unique combination of knowledge, experience, and personal gifts unmatched in the legislature.”
And unlike her opponent, who voted for the House budget that would have cut $10 billion from public education, Ann Johnson is a genuine advocate for public ed. So it all makes sense. In the meantime, take a look at what her former colleague with the Harris County DA’s office, Murray Newman has to say about her.
i want to say that i am a strong supporter of sarah davis and concerned with the positions of ann johnson,now i myself being the draft author of city code 2005-245 which made it a crime to smoke cigarettes at all”covered” metro bus stops and park and ride locations as well as all paded rail sites i know a thing or two about good legislation and can reconize a candidate that is profit motivated,ann johnson is looking for a “easy in” with out doing the work-in houston it doesnt work like that-when your asking the voters to vote for you, you must stand on your own merits-a johnson is looking for a free pass to austin,houstonians dont give out free passes ,you have to earn the peoples vote,and its clear that sarah davis has done this,hands down,with my ordinance that i pushed the city of houston to pass-it saved and extended the lives of tens of thousands of people, i ask that you join me in the support of sarah davis .
on the merits, joshua ben bullard
Sunday NYT had an article about this race–their contention is that the positions of the candidates are essentially the same–only the party designation is different. However, Ms. Davis did vote to “slash money for state-subsidized contraception and cancer screenings and to exclude Planned Parenthood from state family-planning programs”, so apparently she may talk the talk on women’s health, but doesn’t walk the walk.
Sorry, Joshua, Ms. Davis isn’t good for Texas women or families, no matter your convoluted defense of a smoking ordinance vote.
I have known Sarah Davis for some years, believe she balances and reflects the interest of her diverse district well, and expect her to win in this somewhat competitive district.
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