John Raney is the solid choice for District 14

Eagle Editorial Board

Unlike the Republican race for the White House which provides a richness of embarrassments, the local race for the 14th Texas House District offers an embarrassment of riches. Three Republicans, one Democrat and a Libertarian are seeking to fill out the term of state Rep. Fred Brown, who resigned earlier this year and moved to Salado.

Fortunately for voters, all five candidates are serious, intelligent people who would represent the people of Bryan-College Station well.

The Nov. 8 election is for a term of little more than a year, one in which the Legislature is not likely to meet. The seat will be up for election for a regular two-year term in November 2012.

That doesn't mean the person elected next month won't have work to do. He or she can spend the time listening to the people of this district, learning their priorities and needs. The new representative can assemble a staff to handle constituent issues. And, whomever is elected will become a voice for this community and for its driving force, Texas A&M University.

All five candidates will be listed, with their party affiliation, on one ballot. The winner must receive 50 percent plus one vote. With five candidates, including three members of one party, that might not happen, so a run-off between the top two vote-getters is probable.

The five candidates are Democrat Judy LeUnes, Republicans Rebecca Boenigk, John Raney and Bob Yancy, and Libertarian Joshua Baker. Three of them -- Yancy, Raney and LeUnes -- are graduates of Texas A&M University. Raney, Boenigk, LeUnes and Yancy started and operate their own business, while Baker is a manager for a local chain store. None of them has held elective political office.

As a Libertarian, Baker favors limited government, calling for reducing the size and scope of government at every level. At the same time, he favors returning state education funding to the levels they were before the budget cuts enacted in this year's legislative session. He said, however, the state must work to make education more efficient and said teachers must be held accountable for their performance.

LeUnes taught elementary school in Hearne and, for 26 years, in College Station. Since retiring, she has started her own school consulting business, helping other districts deal with a variety of education issues. As president of the College Station Education Association, LeUnes encouraged teachers to become more politically involved, for the first time making endorsements in College Station school board elections.

Education obviously is LeUnes' number one concern, calling it the heart of almost every other issue facing the Legislature. She said this year's budget cuts have devastated school districts across the state, saying the state must spend more on education.

LeUnes' ranks creating jobs as her second priority. She said the country must secure its borders, but opposes constructing a wall between Texas and Mexico. She calls for a system or work cards for people coming here for jobs.

An Air Force veteran, Yancy started and runs a unique business that helps medical facilities save money on purchases. The procurement system he developed with his business should be applied to state government, saving millions of dollars annually, Yancy said. Applying those methods would reduce health care costs significantly, he said.

Yancy describes himself as a "mainstream, pro-business, Ronald Reagan conservative" and stresses family in his campaign material.

He said he wants "to put the independent back in independent school districts." Yancy he would end unfunded mandates the Legislature frequently places on school districts. He said the state is failing to fund education efficiently, adding that the way the state funds education is too complicated and needs to be reformed.

Boenigk started Neutral Posture with her mother the garage in 1989, using chair designs developed by her father. Since then, it has grown into a multi-million dollar business and had received numerous awards. She said the experience she has gained, particularly in the tough business environment of the past few years, would help her deal with the state's budget crisis. While she said she would work to make sure the right legislation is passed, she said she would work equally hard to keep the wrong legislation from passing.

One fix she would push is to put Medicaid on a sliding scale, with payments based on income. That alone, Boenigk said, would save the state millions of dollars that could be used in other areas.

Boenigk was surprised to learn that education accounts for 56 percent of state spending. She said problems with education are not due to underfunding, but rather because state education money is not spent wisely. She said there are no incentives for greatness.

Raney served six years in the Army National Guard after graduating from Texas A&M in 1969, the year he opened the Aggieland Bookstore. He was elected chairman of the Brazos County Republican Party two years later, a position he used to begin the party on its march to dominance today.

Raney says his integrity is paramount in this race, noting that he would not participate in any legislation dealing with textbook issues. He said he would not sign any campaign pledges that would bind him to vote a certain way if elected.

He termed the state budget the biggest issue in this race, saying he would not raise taxes, although the state should look at broadening the sales tax. Raney said he would work to create a business-friendly environment in the state. He has worked with the Legislature on business and textbook issues in the past, During the most recent session when he helped with the Mainstreet Fairness Bill, which would require online retailers to pay state taxes on items shipped to Texas addresses.

Raney said education would be a top priority for him, with transportation next. He said Texas needs to train more people for technical jobs.

He said he would work to change the culture in Austin. "Now, the bureaucracy leads, not lawmakers," he said.

As we said, voters of the 14th House District have several outstanding candidates from whom to choose. Some are spending a lot of money and effort to win a job that pays $7,200 a year, and that does give pause, but all seen motivated by a desire to do good.

The decision is tough, but John Raney's solid, steady background, couple with his experience working with the Legislature in the past gives him an edge.

The Eagle recommends a vote for John Raney in the Nov. 8 special election for the 14th Texas House District seat.