A Case Against Mark Shelton

by: Matt Glazer

Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 00:00 PM CST

We have already raised $764 of our $1200 goal and we still have until Wednesday to raise the rest.  But don't support Dan because we tell you, let's talk about the race for House District 97 in Fort Worth. The importance of this runoff extends far beyond the districts boundaries.

Mark Shelton is Tom Craddick's guy.  A candidate willing to sacrifice the needs of his district to protect a man who believes the Speaker has absolute power over the House.  Just last Thursday, Tom Craddick had an afternoon fundraiser for Shelton at the Austin Club.  While we are raising small donations from every Texan, Shelton only seems to be raising large donations from Republican lobbyists ready to pay to play.

As if to show the stark differences between the candidates, the United Educators Association has already endorsed Dan Barrett.  So Shelton has support from one of the most corrupt Speakers in Texas history and Barrett has the support of Texas teachers. The release puts it simply:

The United Educators Association announced today their endorsement of Dan Barrett for Texas House of Representatives in District 97.  The United Educators Association is an independent association representing more than 16,000 Texas public school employees in North Texas.

"Dan Barrett earned the endorsement of UEA through his commitment to the students, teachers and the Texas public education system" said Executive Director of UEA Larry Shaw.

Democrat Dan Barrett was the top vote getter in the November 6th Special Election to replace retiring State Representative Anna Mowery. He is facing Republican Mark Shelton in a run-off election expected to be held December 11th.  Support of public education is expected to be a major issue in the election, with Barrett supporting public education and opposing vouchers and Shelton endorsing the use of public tax dollars to support a voucher program for private unregulated schools.

"We have to improve our public education system so it is second to none," stated Barrett whose mother was a secretary in the public school system for many years.

Other groups appear to be lining up to support Barrett as well.  Rumors are circulating that many big name PACs, unions and organizations will be joining TexBlog PAC and UEA once the Election Date is set.

While education groups are lining up to support Barrett in the Fort Worth special election, Dr. Mark Shelton shows how naïve he is about public policy and his own profession.  In a recent forum, Shelton talks about chips… not sure what chips is (other than what I eat during the game on Thanksgiving).  As a doctor and a pediatrician, you would think Shelton would know that SCHIP (not chips) is a program designed to help uninsured children get the medical attention they need.  Shelton opposes the State Children's Insurance Program saying the incentives are "wrong and perverse".

This is one of the few times you really need to click a link. So please watch the League of Women Voters forum here.

Here are some of the highlights that show that Shelton is just plain wrong:

• That he has it exactly backwards, CHIP creates incentives for children to see their doctor before getting so sick they end up in the emergency room;


• That CHIP has nothing to do with Medicaid, principally because working families (who can't afford private insurance) are actually buying insurance while Medicaid is a benefit for the needy;


• That the man he backs for Speaker is behind all the cuts and mismanagement that cost 200,000 children their access to health care;


• That it's amazing, of all people, a pediatrician is, as he might put it, so "wrong in the perverse."

Shelton is clearly bad for his district and the state of Texas.  He plays dirty political tricks to win elections and has no clue about the biggest issues of our day.

There is something you can do about it.  Donate to Dan Barrett today and help take back the Texas House.