Dingus files suit

by: Bill Dingus

Thu May 15, 2008 at 09:31 AM CDT

Why it is necessary that I sue the Texas Democratic Party.

From the beginning of this campaign, I have said that I am running to give the people of House District 82 a choice in who represents them in the Texas House.

And from the beginning, the Republican Party - with Tom Craddick operating in the background - has worked to deny the voters a choice.

As you may recall, when I filed to run for State Representative an attorney advised me that I could continue to serve on the Midland City Council because a federal court ruling superseded provisions of the state constitution.  However, a federal judge later issued an order counter to this attorney's advice.  The judge's ruling did not remove me from the ballot, but it has left my campaign in legal limbo.

After the ruling came out, the Texas Republican Party issued a press release crowing about its "victory." In my book, denying the voters a choice is not a victory, but a suppression of democracy.

Believing the judge in error, the Texas Democratic Party appealed that decision last Friday.  However, my campaign is still in limbo and it is now clear that I can only resolve this issue by going to court.

I must act quickly, as there is a deadline looming - August 22.  If the Republican leaders were to succeed in kicking me off the ballot after that date, the Democratic Party would be unable to replace me, and the Republican Party will have succeeded in denying the people a choice.

I am not going to let that happen.  

We filed this suit yesterday in Travis County District Court.  I anticipate our case will be heard soon and that we will resolve this situation once and for all.

This battle illustrates much of what is wrong in Austin where self-serving, entrenched politicians are acting against the rights and needs of the people.

It's simply un-American.  And I feel honor-bound to stand up for what is right.

We will fight them not only in the courts but also on the campaign trail.  We're working hard, and every day I meet Texans who are hungry for change in Austin.  They want a new kind of leader who works for the people's interest, not for the special interests.

Like so many other Texans, they want better-funded public schools and full enrollment of CHIP.  They oppose allowing a Spanish corporation to skim profits from the Trans-Texas Corridor.  And their anger grows every day as they find out about the growing tax burden Texas small businesses are now forced to carry.

I hope this message makes it clear that I stand with the people of Texas.  We are going to fight this thing.  And we're going to win - first in the courts and then in November.

Please visit our website at www.billdingus.com.

Thank you,
Bill Dingus