2008 Woodie Awards
7 candidates vie for District 31 seat
By: By Rolando Garcia
Seven Republican candidates are vying for the newly created District 31, which stretches from West Houston to Round Rock and includes the Bryan-College Station area. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the March 12 primary, the top two finishers will compete in an April 9 runoff. The winner will face Democrat David Bagley in November.
\n\n\n\nAs a service to our readers, each candidate will be profiled this week. The Battalion will also select a candidate to endorse.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlynn Adcock
\n\n\n\nCutting taxes and reforming Social Security are at the top of Flynn Adock's agenda.
\n\n\n\nAdcock, a 37-year-old trade economist at A&M, said he wants to accelerate President Bush's tax cuts by implementing them over five or six years instead of 10. The estate tax should be permanently eliminated and the capital gains tax should be reduced, Adcock said.
\n\n\n\nIn addition to stimulating the economy, he said, lower taxes will actually increase government revenue by strengthening the economy.
\n\n\n\nAdcock said the government should close special interest tax loopholes and eventually move to a single income tax rate of approximately 18 percent.
\n\n\n\n\"That will do away with all the games and gimmicks in the tax code,\" Adcock said.
\n\n\n\nWith the Social Security program currently running a small surplus, Congress should begin to gradually reform the system before it goes bankrupt in 30 years, Adcock said. Benefits should stay the same for those who have already paid into the system for 20 years, but younger workers should have the option of putting two percent of their paycheck (out of the 12 percent Social Security tax) into a private investment account.
\n\n\n\nAdcock, a 1986 A&M graduate, said he has both the policy expertise and the local roots to effectively represent District 31. As an economist and policy researcher, he will be able to analyze the complex provisions and the economic implications of legislation, Adcock said.
\n\n\n\nAdcock also said he would support lifting America's trade embargo on Cuba, because it would benefit Texas agriculture. However, critics of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro say increased trade will only strengthen a communist regime notorious for human rights abuses.
\n\n\n\n\"I represent the people of Texas, not south Florida,\" Adcock said.
\n\n\n\nThe federal government should leave elementary and secondary education to the states but should remain actively involved in higher education by providng funds for research.
\n\n\n\nAdcock worked for President George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign and for the Republican National Committee before returning to A&M and earning master's degrees in economics and finance.
\n\n\n\n\n\nBrad Barton
\n\n\n\nStudents may be forgiven for thinking Brad Barton is running for yell leader -- his sales pitch to students has been light on political substance but heavy on Aggie credentials.
\n\n\n\nBarton, a businessman who moved to College Station from the Dallas area to run for Congress, has sent campaign literature to students promoting his \"pro-Bonfire\" stance and urging students not to vote for his \"t-sip\" opponent, Peter Wareing. Barton, 31, a 1993 A&M graduate, said he is hoping to get more students involved in the political process.
\n\n\n\n\"A lot of candidates ignore students because of the assumption that they don't care and don't vote. I steadfastly refuse to believe that,\" Barton said. \"If you provide a compelling reason, they will vote.\"
\n\n\n\nBarton said his top priority is tax cuts. Accelerating President Bush's tax cuts will help stimulate an economy slipping into recession, Barton said. In addition to lowering income tax rates across the board, Barton said he wants to eliminate the estate tax. Although the government is spending more to fight the war on terrorism, Barton said the increased revenue generated by a growing economy will head off budget deficits.
\n\n\n\nOne of the district's most pressing problems is inadequate transportation infrastructure, and Barton said he would ask to be placed on the transportation committee, where he will be in a strong position to fight for central Texas' fair shair of transportation infrastructure funding. Bryan-College Station needs a four lane divided highway linking it to major traffic hubs, and alternative routes are needed in the Austin area to relieve the congestion on Interstate 35, Barton said.
\n\n\n\n
Although he resided in College Station for only four years as a student and a few years as a child, Barton said he understands the needs of rural and suburban areas like those of District 31 and feels at home in small town Texas.
\n\n\n\nBarton, the son of Texas Congressman Joe Barton, who represented Brazos County in the 1980s, said his familiarity with the ways of Washington will help him be an effective advocate for the district's interests despite his lack of seniority.
\n\n\n\n\"I can make an impact from day 1,\" Barton said. \"I have strong relationships in Washington and I know what it takes to be a great representative.\"
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Carter
\n\n\n\nWisdom, experience and maturity are what separate John Carter from a field of political novices, the candidate said, and at a time of crisis, America needs proven leaders.
\n\n\n\nCarter, 60, retired last year after serving 20 years as a state district judge in Williamson County and said he is the only candidate with an extensive public track record. Carter touts his court's reputation as a stern dispenser of justice to violent criminals.
\n\n\n\n\"I promised to give them (Williamson County residents) a safe place to raise their kids,\" Carter said. \"We worked with law enforcement to get tough on crime and now we have the lowest crime rate of the top 50 counties in Texas,\" Carter said.
\n\n\n\nCarter criticized two other candidates, Peter Wareing and Brad Barton, for moving into the district to run for Congress. With his deep roots in central Texas, Carter said he shares the conservative values and life experiences of his constituents.
\n\n\n\n\"People here don't want a guy who lives in a mansion in River Oaks or a real estate developer from Dallas to represent them,\" Carter said.
\n\nTo stimulate the economy, Carter said he supports accelerating President Bush's tax cuts, eliminating the estate tax and reducing the capital gains tax.
\n\n\n\n\"When you die, your children, not the federal government, should get your money,\" Carter said.
\n\n\n\nCarter said he would also fight for additional transportation funding to relieve the traffic congestion on Interstate 35.
\n\n\n\nCarter said his work as a judge -- listening to both sides and making a decision -- will help him be an effective congressman. During his career he has presided over several high profile cases and death sentence verdicts.
\n\n\n\nCarter said he opposes abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother.
\n\n\n\n\"I have a history of making tough decisions, doing what's right, and I'm not afraid to take the heat,\" Carter said.
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