The Progressive Alternative In Texas CD-13

I have written many times before about how the Texas Panhandle is probably the reddest part of a very red state.  The Panhandle, although a pretty large area, is completely in only one U.S. Congressional District -- Congressional District #13 (which is at least 300 miles long and includes many of the state's counties). The district has been represented by Republican Mac Thornberry for many years now, and he has won so easily in recent years that the Democrats couldn't even find a candidate to run against him this year. That's right. There is NO DEMOCRAT running for the Congressional District #13 seat this year!

But that does not mean there is no progressive candidate running for the seat. The Green Party has come to the rescue this year for those of us who simply cannot vote for a Republican or a Libertarian (the other two parties with candidates in the congressional race). Keith Houston, from Randall County, is running against Thornberry on the Green Party ticket. Houston is a prosecutor who graduated from the Texas Wesleyan School of Law. He is also a novelist who published his first novel in 2011 (The Next Amendment). He is also married (for 13 years) and the parent of two girls. Here is what he lists as his primary goals if elected:

• Make elections fairer by pushing for open primaries and full disclosure of campaign advertising;
• Promote clean energy, specifically the Wind Power in the Texas Panhandle, by modernizing America's energy infrastructure;
• Responsible use of natural resources by ensuring companies taking advantage of the resources clean up after themselves and not pass that responsibility to tax payers ;
• Push for government reform by combining redundant agencies and reducing wasteful spending;
• Promoting policies that provide a safety net for those that need help getting on their feet;
• Push diplomacy over war by following the advice of Teddy Roosevelt who said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

I urge CD-13 Democrats to vote for Mr. Houston. Don't leave that race blank on your ballot just because there is no Democrat in the race. Show Thornberry your disapproval of his support for teabagger values (like privatizing Social Security and abolishing Medicare and giving more tax cuts to the rich). Vote for the only progressive in the race, Keith Houston. And you can rest assured that he will vote with the Democrats in Congress most (if not all of the time).