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Swinford might face Democrat, Libertarian in 2010
Haslett: The Texas Panhandle is a Republican Party stronghold. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Panhandle voters chose John McCain over Barack Obama by roughly a three-to-one margin. That GOP dominance is reflected in the Texas House of Representatives, where the Republican trio of Warren Chisum, John Smithee and David Swinford have represented the Panhandle's three districts since the early 90s. In many recent elections, the incumbent Republican has run unopposed. David Swinford represents Carson, Moore, Potter and Sherman counties. He's been unopposed in six of the last eight elections and hasn't faced a Democrat since 2002. But in 2010, it looks as if a Democrat will take a shot at the 87th District. That candidate may well be Amarillo resident Abel Bosquez.
Bosquez: Representative Swinford's been in there too long; he's relaxed. I don't believe he's doing enough for citizens of District 87. What's unique about my campaign is- I'm a working man. The same issues that the working people in the area are going through, I'm going through, too.
Haslett: Bosquez is a Production Technician at B and W Pantex, where he's worked since 1982. Pantex is a High Plains Public Radio underwriter. Bosquez says he's running on a platform featuring three main areas of concern- jobs, education and health care. He also says that the first two issues overlap- because he sees education as the key to creating more skilled-position jobs in the Panhandle.
Bosquez: When I was in school, you know, you had electronics, auto mechanics, bricklaying- you had all these vocational classes that, when you got out of high school, you had the knowledge of jumping into one of these jobs. You know, not everybody is going to work a computer. Not everybody's going to college. If students come out of high school with the knowledge of some skill, that would be good.
Haslett: In addition to increasing funding for vocational programs in high schools, Bosquez also says he'd like to do something about the number of Panhandle residents without health insurance. However, he also says that the context for health care overhaul in Texas in 2011 will depend on what happens at the federal level before then. Meanwhile, another candidate has announced his intent to vie for Swinford's seat. That's James Hudspeth of Dumas, a Libertarian Party candidate. Hudspeth sells firearms at the Big R Store in Dumas- Big R is a Colorado-based retailer selling farm, ranch and home items. Hudspeth says his job has called his attention to what he sees as burdensome laws governing the sale of firearms.
Hudspeth: If I get elected, my first call would be the Texas State Rifle Association, and I'd ask them to copy Georgia's law with respect to interstate firearm commerce, adapt it for Texas ,and that would be the first bill I'd be advocating in the House of Representatives.
Haslett: Current Texas law restricts the sale of long guns such as rifles or shotguns to residents of certain states. Hudspeth says such guns should be available to all U-S citizens. That's just one example of the across-the-board rolling back of government that Hudspeth would like to see.
Hudspeth: The core of the Libertarian philosophy is the principle of self-ownership- that you are your own boss, that you are the only boss of you. Peaceful and honest transactions should be allowed between people without interference from any other coercive influence. Libertarians would describe the government as a necessary evil. The primary function, at least domestically, of the government should be to prevent force and fraud.
Haslett: Registration for party primaries begins today and continues through January 4th. Those who would challenge Swinford face a formidable opponent. The ten-term veteran of the Texas House won 85 percent of the vote in 2008. This is Mark Haslett, HPPR News.
© Copyright 2012, hppr
(2009-12-03)
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Haslett: The Texas Panhandle is a Republican Party stronghold. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Panhandle voters chose John McCain over Barack Obama by roughly a three-to-one margin. That GOP dominance is reflected in the Texas House of Representatives, where the Republican trio of Warren Chisum, John Smithee and David Swinford have represented the Panhandle's three districts since the early 90s. In many recent elections, the incumbent Republican has run unopposed. David Swinford represents Carson, Moore, Potter and Sherman counties. He's been unopposed in six of the last eight elections and hasn't faced a Democrat since 2002. But in 2010, it looks as if a Democrat will take a shot at the 87th District. That candidate may well be Amarillo resident Abel Bosquez.
Bosquez: Representative Swinford's been in there too long; he's relaxed. I don't believe he's doing enough for citizens of District 87. What's unique about my campaign is- I'm a working man. The same issues that the working people in the area are going through, I'm going through, too.
Haslett: Bosquez is a Production Technician at B and W Pantex, where he's worked since 1982. Pantex is a High Plains Public Radio underwriter. Bosquez says he's running on a platform featuring three main areas of concern- jobs, education and health care. He also says that the first two issues overlap- because he sees education as the key to creating more skilled-position jobs in the Panhandle.
Bosquez: When I was in school, you know, you had electronics, auto mechanics, bricklaying- you had all these vocational classes that, when you got out of high school, you had the knowledge of jumping into one of these jobs. You know, not everybody is going to work a computer. Not everybody's going to college. If students come out of high school with the knowledge of some skill, that would be good.
Haslett: In addition to increasing funding for vocational programs in high schools, Bosquez also says he'd like to do something about the number of Panhandle residents without health insurance. However, he also says that the context for health care overhaul in Texas in 2011 will depend on what happens at the federal level before then. Meanwhile, another candidate has announced his intent to vie for Swinford's seat. That's James Hudspeth of Dumas, a Libertarian Party candidate. Hudspeth sells firearms at the Big R Store in Dumas- Big R is a Colorado-based retailer selling farm, ranch and home items. Hudspeth says his job has called his attention to what he sees as burdensome laws governing the sale of firearms.
Hudspeth: If I get elected, my first call would be the Texas State Rifle Association, and I'd ask them to copy Georgia's law with respect to interstate firearm commerce, adapt it for Texas ,and that would be the first bill I'd be advocating in the House of Representatives.
Haslett: Current Texas law restricts the sale of long guns such as rifles or shotguns to residents of certain states. Hudspeth says such guns should be available to all U-S citizens. That's just one example of the across-the-board rolling back of government that Hudspeth would like to see.
Hudspeth: The core of the Libertarian philosophy is the principle of self-ownership- that you are your own boss, that you are the only boss of you. Peaceful and honest transactions should be allowed between people without interference from any other coercive influence. Libertarians would describe the government as a necessary evil. The primary function, at least domestically, of the government should be to prevent force and fraud.
Haslett: Registration for party primaries begins today and continues through January 4th. Those who would challenge Swinford face a formidable opponent. The ten-term veteran of the Texas House won 85 percent of the vote in 2008. This is Mark Haslett, HPPR News.
© Copyright 2012, hppr
