NORTHEAST – With the election only a few weeks away, candidates and incumbents met with the public and members of the Houston Intercontinental Chamber last Tuesday, Sept. 18 to present their accomplishments and their goals for a new term.
Speaking were Congressman Gene Green, D. Texas 29th District Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, D. Texas 18th District Texas, Candidate for 2nd District Republican Jim Dougherty, and Candidate for 18th District Democrat Sean Seibert.
Also speaking were Texas State Representatives Senfronia Thompson, District 141, and Debbie Riddle, District 150.
Green spoke about his roots to the area, and serving on two important commitees in Congress, Energy and Healthcare. He is running with no opposition.
Jackson-Lee spoke about issues of concern to her, including housing, rail transportation, Homeland Security, disaster aid, youth programs and veterans services.
Candidate Jim Dougherty, a Democrat, is running to represent District 2 in Congress, a position now held by Ted Poe. He pointed out how the district boundaries have been “gerrymandered” this year, stretching from Aldine to the East. An attorney and CPA, he said he supports Obama in most of his policies, wants to invest more in education, and realign the tax code.
Candidate Sean Seibert, a Republican, is running for a seat from the 18th district against Jackson-Lee. He reviewed his career as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere. He says he is a fiscal conservative, wants fiscal responsibility and debt reduction, and strong border security and national defense.
Debbie Riddle spoke of her recent trip to Iraq and championing womens’ rights there. She spoke about being “blessed to live in Texas.”
State Representative Senfronia Thompson holds an important position as chair of the Local Calendar committee in the Texas Legislature. She said 90% of House bills must go through her committee, for action or approval. Some important issues are financing of public schools, human trafficking in its various manifestations, a new protective order against family violence. She said the state will have a surplus, perhaps $3-4 billion to allocate in the next session in 2013, an important opportunity.