Considering the policy's importance, I'm appalled that a Central Texas state representative does not have an opinion on water supply policy. Representative Tim Kleinschmidt, already having sold his own water rights, has made clear his opinions on his own water, but what about his constituents?
Democratic opponent Pati Jacbos hand-wrote a letter that was delivered 12 days ago:
While I am currently a candidate for the office you currently hold, today I am writing as a citizen and resident of Bastrop County. The purpose of this letter is the same as my motivation for running for public office - I am a concerned constituent of your district.
Water is very important to our district and, as I am sure you know, the latest recommended plan coming out of Region L is a 52-mile, 5 foot diameter pipeline to transport water from Lee and Bastrop counties to the San Marcos area.
As a rancher who owns and uses a shallow well, I understand that the large amounts of water proposed for transport are likely to affect my future ability to access the water under my land. I am very concerned, therefore, that such massive withdrawals of water could affect my neighbors and the surrounding rural communities.
It is for these reasons that I wholeheartedly stand opposed to the pipeline as a public policy issue which stands to disrupt the lives of our neighbors, and the economic base of our region.
I cannot find in your public statements an indication of where you stand specifically on this crucial issue. Could you tell me if you are for or against this project, and why?"
House District 17 is one in which water reclamation is on the minds of other public officials and citizens. It's also here in Central Texas, where almost every summer after summer we hear about the lack of rain. Except House District 17, which includes Bastrop but none of Austin proper, thrives a lot on ranching and farming. The need for water, therefore, might exceed even our own.
As some observers may remember, a Texas forest fire that matched those in California happened there just last year.
And Representative Kleinschmidt can't articulate a water policy? Or at least a position on the currently proposed plan? No wonder Texas Monthly listed him as Texas Lege furniture.
House Speaker Tom Craddick's disastrous handling of challenges to his leadership has heightened House races across the state, including several in Central Texas. Whether voters know it or not - and certainly most don't - House races on the Nov. 4 ballot are a referendum on Craddick's heavy-handed rule.
The Austin American Statesman sums up this election cycle perfectly. Tom Craddick is a failure in leadership. As November 4 approaches, Texans have a unique opportunity to get rid of the self proclaimed dictator of the Texas House.
With the Statesman's honest assessment on Texas legislative politics, its no surprise they endorsed three qualified Democrats- Donnie Dippel, Diana Maldonado, Patrick Rose.
District 52 Though both candidates are strong, we believe Democrat Diana Maldonado would best represent the district. Maldonado is a former president of the Round Rock school board and was an employee in the state comptroller's office until she was forced to resigned to run for this seat.
Maldonado, 45, has a reputation as a budget hawk who understands accounting. And she can be counted on to be an effective voice for education issues and public schools. She supports the law that grants college admission to the top 10 percent of the graduating class in Texas high schools and wants to reconsider having the Legislature set college tuition rates.
[...]
Maldonado knows the district and has served as an effective leader in her five years on the Round Rock school board. She should be elected in District 52.
District 17
This is another open seat, left vacant when Democrat Robby Cook decided against seeking re-election. Cook won a close victory in 2006, and Republicans are campaigning hard to win the district, which covers Burleson, Lee, Bastrop, Fayette and Colorado counties.
[...]
We believe Dippel would be best for the far-flung, largely rural district.
Dippel, 57, a consultant who worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 14 years, opposes voucher programs for schools, selling water to buyers outside the district and the Trans-Texas Corridor. He supports more vocational education and is concerned about health care, particularly in rural areas.
The Statesman also endorsed Patrick Rose in his bid for re-election. The paper summed up Rep. Rose's legislative history.
Rose has voted his district, and his list of accomplishments includes road improvements, funding for Texas State University and support for local schools. In a district of independent-minded voters, Rose has gained their support by voting their interests, not either party's.
In the tightest open race in Texas, Democrat Donnie Dippel is trying to hold onto the race left vacant by retiring Democrat Rep. Robby Cook. Kleinschmidt narrowly lost to Cook in 2006.
For this race, we actually have several diaries from our readers that provide excellent coverage:
The long and short of the race is simple: this is a race where a considerable amount of the vote is in Bastrop County, where Democrats are well organized and poised to over-perform. The remainder of the district is, like Bastrop, very rural -- but Dippel has the expertise:
Meanwhile, long-time Fayette County rancher and ag consultant Donnie Dippel (who would the cows really support, Tim?) is running on a sound platform that speaks to the actual issues affecting working families of the 17th District: fully funding our public schools and bringing back vocational training programs(strengthening the rural labor force), support for rural health care services like CHIP and local hospitals, support for volunteer fire departments and rural law enforcement, repealing the Republican-enacted small business tax, (back to those "small town values" again) , protecting our water resources (as Kleinschmidt sells his water out of the District!) and encouraging economic development in HD-17, with it's mix of rural and exurban communities.
It is a close race because of Kleinschmidt's previous campaigning in the district in 2006 and his fundraising totals. But Dippel is running a smart campaign, and at the end of the day he has a much more concrete plan on where to get the votes to win.
Here are some other links that previous coverage of the race on Burnt Orange Report:
Democrats Diana Maldonado and Donnie Dippel received endorsements in their open races for the Texas House from the Austin American-Statesman. I'm surprised -- pleased, and surprised to see the Statesman give the nod to the two Democrats.
Maldonado, 45, has a reputation as a budget hawk who understands accounting. And she can be counted on to be an effective voice for education issues and public schools. [snip] Maldonado knows the district and has served as an effective leader in her five years on the Round Rock school board. She should be elected in District 52.
Dippel, 57, a consultant who worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 14 years, opposes voucher programs for schools, selling water to buyers outside the district and the Trans-Texas Corridor. He supports more vocational education and is concerned about health care, particularly in rural areas.
[Kleinschmidt] is not a sure vote against the disreputable GOP leadership in the House. Dippel wins our endorsement in District 17.
(This is a seat we need to hold. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
While the Presidential race continues to suck a lot of the air out of the Texas political atmosphere, vitally important down-ballot races are kicking into high gear as early voting approaches. The race for HD-17 (Bastrop, Fayette, Lee, Burleson, Colorado counties)is heating up as the GOP looks to pick up the seat vacated by Robby Cook (D-Eagle Lake) and Donnie Dippel works hard to keep it in the Democratic column.
Rick Perry tool Tim Kleinschmidt has been spending gobs of PAC and lobbyist money (much of it from the likes of TLR, TX Oil and Gas PAC, and Bob Perry) trying to discredit Dippel and press hot buttons like he's done with his insidious mailers. The latest one I received (thanks, Tim!) touts his "plan to secure our borders" by spending state funds on border enforcement and requiring photo I.D. to vote. Apparently the cookie-cutters who designed his campaign neglected to tell Tim that border security is a FEDERAL issue and that photo I.D. for voting is an unconstitutional imposition akin to a poll tax.
Needless to say, Tim is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Kleinschmidt was recently busted for paying his daughter with campaign funds in direct violation of state election laws, and also apparently tried to film his campaign commercials during a non-partisan public forum in Bastrop recently. Later that week, at another candidate forum in Colorado County (in which the parties had agreed to no candidate cameras), Kleinschmidt failed to even show up and sent a surrogate instead. Clearly he's not interested in talking about the issues, since he's apparently confused about a number of them: Kleinschmidt mentions "supporting local schools" but also supports private school vouchers (which is it, Tim?), and claims to oppose toll roads and the TTC ( a new position from 2006...) while having fundraisers hosted by the Godfathers of the Toll Road Lobby like Perry and Mike Toomey. But despite his many ties with big insurance, big oil, and various other anti-labor and anti-working family forces that have made the Capitol and Guv's Mansion their personal playground for the last 10+ years - Tim claims he's an "independent voice" for rural Texas "values" !
Meanwhile, long-time Fayette County rancher and ag consultant Donnie Dippel (who would the cows really support, Tim?) is running on a sound platform that speaks to the actual issues affecting working families of the 17th District: fully funding our public schools and bringing back vocational training programs(strengthening the rural labor force), support for rural health care services like CHIP and local hospitals, support for volunteer fire departments and rural law enforcement, repealing the Republican-enacted small business tax, (back to those "small town values" again) , protecting our water resources (as Kleinschmidt sells his water out of the District!) and encouraging economic development in HD-17, with it's mix of rural and exurban communities.
(Sounds like a blast this weekend. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Some people talk about putting the Democratic Party back on Main Street - the determined troops of Bastrop County are actually doing it! Heads up for those interested in getting OUT of Austin during what should be a bustling weekend:
Come out and support our candidates in important swing races with the Bastrop County Democratic Party this Saturday (9/27, 11am-3pm) as we hold our Precinct 4 Tailgate Rally in Veteran's Memorial Park (a.k.a Elgin City Park), at Main and Depot Streets in historic downtown Elgin . In addition to local vendors hawking our famous hot sausage, drinks and homemade treats, we'll have live local music and fun for the kids - and of course, the chance hear and meet face-to-face with Democratic candidates on the Bastrop County ballot this November.
In response to the influx of visitors fleeing natural disasters of late, we're also asking folks to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Elgin and Bastrop Food Pantries who have done heroic work assisting evacuees and their hosts, and need supplies replenished.
Headliners are Larry Joe Doherty (CD-10) & Donnie Dippel (HD-17). Plus everyone's favorite regional down-ballot judicial candidate, the venerable Woodie Jones (for 3rd Ct. Appeals), and the extremely bright, hard-working Chris Duggan (for 423rd Dist. Judge). Sheriff candidate Wayne Smith along with Dock Jackson (for Pct 1 Commissioner) round out the confirmed list of local office-seekers.
Loyal local yellowdawgs Ernie Bogart (longtime Elgin attorney) and Lee Dildy (Pct 4 Comm.) will serve as Honorary Hosts for this event.
Folks are encouraged to bring coolers, chairs and TVs, and set up camp next to the park for Texas-Arkansas game-watching after the rally activities finish just about kick-off time.
(Another great post in this series on HD-17, and important open Democratic seat we need to hold. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
In many ways it is easier to be well informed about national political candidates than it is local candidates, and that is especially true of some Texas State House of Representative candidates. How the electorate judges candidates is many times based off of their records in public offices. Many times candidates that are campaigning for state offices have served at the local level, such as city council or as mayor. This type of political hierarchy is not uncommon, as candidates will move up from local to state and many times national public office.
However, in the 17th State House District of Texas none of the candidates running have ever held a position as an elected official in public office. Then the process of determining the most qualified candidates and the candidate that best suites each voter's preferences and ideals becomes more complicated. When a state house race is in a largely rural portion of the state, the exposure to the candidates becomes limited. However, many times voters may actually have an opportunity to meet the candidates face to face, and word of mouth becomes very important.
So who are the candidates campaigning for the State House Representative in District 17?
(I missed this earlier this week. Neat! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
The Texas House of Representatives District 17 is on the western edge of the Brazos Valley and the eastern edge of the Texas hill country. The district encompasses the counties of Colorado, Fayette, Bastrop, Lee, Burleson, and a curious part of Brazos. It is a rural area populated with towns like La Grange, Bastrop, Giddings, and Caldwell. It is the countryside that Aggies and Longhorns drive through to watch the Lone Star Showdown at Kyle Field or Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium. However, another showdown for control of the Texas House of Representative may be taking place in that same countryside.
In 1996 Robert Cook, Mayor of Eagle Lake, won 54.9% of the vote in District 28 taking the seat by 3,924 votes against Republican Chip Rayburn. In 1998 Representative Cook won reelection by 64.6% of the vote, beating Republican Michael Franks by 9,451 votes. In 2000 Cook defeated Republican Phil Stephenson with 63.3% of the vote, besting Stephenson by 12,616 votes.
In 2002 Representative Cook won District 17 with 56.4% of the vote as the Republican challenger Jean Killgore finished 5,608 votes behind. Two years later, in 2004, Cook won with 53.7% of the vote as the Republican challenger Jean Killgore finished 5,247 votes behind.
In 2006 Representative Cook won by just 415 votes capturing 48.9% of the vote with 19,640 voters while Republican Tim Kleinschmidt took 47.9% of the vote and 19,225 votes. A Libertarian candidate, Roderick Gibbs, may have been a key to the Democratic victory as he took 1,283 votes (3.19%) that many of which may have gone to the Republican.
Democrat Robby Cook is retiring after twelve years as the Representative for House District 17, and now the seat is up for grabs. There are three candidates grasping for the open seat: Democrat Donnie Dippel, Republican Tim Kleinschmidt, and Libertarian Alan W. Duesterhoft.
Republican Tim Kleinschmidt is showing the voters of House District 17 the stark contrast between him and Democrat Donnie Dippel. House District 17 is an open seat since Rep. Cook is not seeking re-election.
This Thursday, Time Kleinschmidt will be joining Rick Perry and Mike Toomey to meet and talk big money.
Donnie Dippel be on the other hand will be meeting with ranchers and farmers in House District 17.
On Thursday, the difference between Donnie Dippel and Tim Kleinschmidt will become abundantly clear.
From noon to 2 p.m., Kleinschmidt will join Rick Perry for a fundraiser in Mike Toomey's top-floor Capital Center office, which just happens to provide a wonderful view looking down on the Capitol.
A lot of Perry's buddies - lobbyists for the Trans-Texas Corridor, private school vouchers, and other sweetheart government giveaways - will surely attend. Toomey will likely bring in his corporate clients too and maybe even his buddy Tom Craddick.
With the Governor willing to host an event, why did Kleinschmidt hold it outside district? Why is it in an Austin building that's probably taller than anything in District 17?
Maybe it's because Kleinschmidt doesn't want the voters in District 17 to know that the #1 backer of the Trans-Texas Corridor is raising money for him.
Maybe it's because Kleinschmidt doesn't want to answer questions from voters in the District about Perry's Texas Education Agency trying to bypass the Legislature and give tax dollars to private schools.
Maybe it's because Governor 39% is Governor 32% in District 17, where he ran only 2 points ahead of the vastly under-funded Chris Bell.
A few hours after Kleinschmidt is done raking in special interest cash, Donnie Dippel is holding a get-together in the district at a ranch just west of Bastrop. Everyone is invited to come meet Donnie, talk about the issues, and have a hot dog or hamburger.
Rancher Pati Jacobs, who promotes and markets certified grass-fed beef, is the host, and other area farmers and ranchers are coming by. If you'd like to attend, here are the details:
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Home of Pati and Cleve Jacobs Address: 510 Hwy. 304, located west of Bastrop, 2 miles south of the Hwy 304-Hwy. 71 intersection
More Info: 979-246-4676
Sometime we lose sight of the contrast between our rural D's and their Republican counterparts. We can't do that. Dippel is a good man and great Democrat and we must hold House District 17 if we stand a chance at taking back the Texas House. Would you rather have Rick Perry's candidate or the people's candidate?
To say it caused a stir would be an understatement.
Some questioned the validity of some of the claims we made. Some wondered where the actual documents were. Others just threatened me.
Rather than asking you to blindly take my word, I have taken the time to scan all of the appropriate documents in pdf form and add them to our files.
When you click the link you will find see the 6 arrest reports including the final one that shows Mrs. Cooke spent time in jail after having her probation revoked. You will see the documents showing that she didn't live in the district as of November 14 (ten days after the cut off to be eligible for the ballot). You will one of the half dozen reports showing Cooke claiming she has evaded her property taxes. These documents also show her marriage to two men at the same time-- lying on government documents.
Truth is an absolute defense and we are ready to defend our claims. These are just the top pages of over 100 pages of research.
House District 17 could be the seat that determines whether we take control of the Texas House this cycle. We won with about 500 votes in 2006, and nominating a fatally flawed candidate to take on Kleinschmidt is a losing proposition.
