Paris hosted its second congressional debate Tuesday as part of the Republican Women of the Red River Valley’s last-minute event, which saw multiple local candidates face off in debates.
The three-and-half-hour event was put together in just a week after incumbent Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver and challengers Dale Huls and Chris Spencer pulled out of a previously scheduled debate sponsored by the Lamar County Republican Party and its former chairman, Scott Hommel, who resigned.
kAmq67@C6 E96 42?5:52E6D DA@<6[ $96C:77 $4@EE r2DD D2:5 2 AC2J6C[ 2?5 yF586 q:== w2CC:D 2?5 r@F?EJ yF586 qC2?5@? q6== =65 E96 2F5:6?46 H:E9 E96 &]$] 2?5 %6I2D A=6586D[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
kAm|@56C2E@C z2E:6 q2CE=6EE 2D<65 E96 E9C66 #6AF3=:42?D D6G6? BF6DE:@?D AC6A2C65 3J 6G6?E @C82?:K6CD[ 2D H6== 2D D6G6C2= BF6DE:@?D 7C@> E96 2F5:6?46]k^Am
kAmr@?E6?E:@FD 2E E:>6D[ E96 E9C66 42?5:52E6D 6IA=2:?65 E96:C DE2?46D @? D6G6C2= E@A:4D[ :?4=F5:?8 D49@@= G@F496CD[ D@>6E9:?8 v@G] vC68 p33@EE >256 2 =68:D=2E:G6 AC:@C:EJ =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D H92E E9:D C246 😀 23@FE[” ‘2?s62G6C D2:5 @7 9:D G@E6 282:?DE D49@@= G@F496CD 5FC:?8 =2DE J62C’D =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?] “Wv@G] p33@EEX D2:5 96 H@F=5 7:?5 D@>63@5J E@ CF? 282:?DE >6[ 2?5 96 5:5]”k^Am
kAmq@E9 $A6?46C 2?5 wF=D D2:5 E96J DFAA@CE65 65F42E:@? D2G:?8D 244@F?ED[ E96 G@F496C\=:<6 DJDE6> DFAA@CE65 3J p33@EE]k^Am
kAm“{6E >6 E6== J@F[ D49@@= 49@:46 😀 2 EC2:? 8@:?8 5@H? E96 EC24<D] xE 😀 8@:?8 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 %6I2D 2?5 :E 😀 8@:?8 E@ A2DD[” $A6?46C D2:5]k^Am
kAmwF=D D2:5 :E H2D?’E @?=J 23@FE D49@@= 49@:46]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 >2?J @E96C E9:?8D[” 96 D2:5] “r=2DDC@@> 5:D4:A=:?6[ C6=:8:@FD 6I6>AE:@? 7@C E62496CD] %96C6’D D@ >2?J E9:?8D E92E H6 ?665 E@ 5@[ 3FE H92E E96J’G6 5@?6 😀 E96J’G6 E2<6? E9:D H9@=6 D49@@= 2C8F>6?E 2?5 E96? AFE :E E@ @?6 :DDF6]”k^Am
kAm~E96C BF6DE:@?D E@F4965 @? :DDF6D DF49 2D E96 3@C56C[ G@E:?8 5@H? A2CEJ =:?6D[ E6C> =:>:ED[ AC@A6CEJ E2I C6=:67[ 2==@H:?8 7@C6:8? 6?E:E:6D E@ @H? AC@A6CEJ 😕 %6I2D 2?5 4FCC6?E %6I2D $A62<6C @7 E96 w@FD6[ s256 !96=2?]k^Am
kAm“x’> ?@E 7@C 2 DA62<6C H9@ 2DD:8?65 2 D:?8=6 s6>@4C2E:4 492:C[” wF=D D2:5 @7 !96=2?[ H9@ 2AA@:?E65 6:89E s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D E@ w@FD6 4@>>:EE66D =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm$A6?46C D2:5 96 2=D@ 5:5 ?@E DFAA@CE !96=2?[ H9@ 92D 72465 42==D E@ C6D:8? D:?46 E96 2AA@:?E>6?ED]k^Am
kAm“%6I2D 😀 E96 @?=J DE2E6 😕 E96 ?2E:@? E92E 2AA@:?ED s6>@4C2E:4 492:CD H96? #6AF3=:42?D 4@?EC@= E96 =68:D=2EFC6[” 96 D2:5] “r2? J@F :>28:?6 |2I:?6 (2E6CD 😕 (2D9:?8E@? 36:?8 492:CA6CD@? @7 E96 u:?2?4:2= $6CG:46D r@>>:EE66n”k^Am
kAm’2?s62G6C D2:5 E9:D 😀 H96C6 E96 E9C66 >6? 5:776C[ D2J:?8 96’5 492==6?86 2?J@?6 E@ ?2>6 2 =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? >@C6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 E92? E96 A2DE EH@ !96=2? AC6D:565 @G6C]k^Am
kAm“*@F 42?’E ?2>6 2 D:?8=6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 AC:@C:EJ E92E 72:=65 3642FD6 @7 2 s6>@4C2E:4 492:C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 5632E6CD E9C6H @442D:@?2= G6C32= ;23D 2E @?6 2?@E96C[ 2== E9C66 42?5:52E6D C6>2:?65 C6DA64E7F= 2?5 D9@@< 92?5D 27E6C E96:C C@F89=J h_\>:?FE6 5632E6]k^Am
k9c 4=2DDlQA`QmpF5:6?46 962CD 7C@> 4@F?EJ @77:46 42?5:52E6Dk^9cm
k9d 4=2DDlQA`QmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmkDEC@?8mqJ |2CJ |256H6==k^DEC@?8mk^DA2?mk^9dm
kA 4=2DDlQAaQmp? 2F5:6?46 @7 2=>@DE `__ A6@A=6 962C5 7C@> 42?5:52E6D D66<:?8 A@D:E:@?D 2D {2>2C r@F?EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6C 😕 !C64:?4ED ` 2?5 b 2?5 7@C E96 4@F?EJ’D %2I pDD6DD@C^r@==64E@C 2E 2 7@CF> %F6D52J ?:89E DA@?D@C65 3J E96 #6AF3=:42? (@>6? @7 #65 #:G6C ‘2==6J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%96 6G6?E[ =2DE:?8 F?E:= `_ A]>][ 2=D@ 762EFC65 2 D@>6E:>6D 4@?E6?E:@FD 7@CF> H:E9 s:DEC:4E ` DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 42?5:52E6D :?4F>36?E v2CJ ‘2?s62G6C 2?5 492==6?86CD r9C:D $A6?46C 2?5 s2=6 wF=D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx? D6A2C2E6 7@CF>D[ >@56C2E@C z2E:6 q2C=6EE 2D<65 !C64:?4E ` :?4F>36?E p=2? $<:5>@C6 2?5 492==6?86C #2?5J q@C6? 2?5 :?4F>36?E #@?2=5 q2DD 2?5 492==6?86CD v6@C86 !C@4E@C 2?5 (:==:2> !FC46==2 AC6G:@FD=J AC6A2C65 BF6DE:@?D] %96C6 H6C6 ?@ BF6DE:@?D 7C@> E96 2F5:6?46]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm”F6DE:@?D E@F4965 @? E@A:4D E@ :?4=F56 E2I 232E6>6?ED 😕 86?6C2= 2?5 >@C6 DA64:7:42==J 7@C D@=2C 2?5 H:?5 EFC3:?6 72C>Dj AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 {2>2C r@F?EJ H:E9 2 AC@;64E65 A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9j E96 =2C86DE :DDF6 @C AC@3=6> 724:?8 E96 4@F?EJ 😕 E96 D9@CE E6C> 2?5 =@?8 E6C>j 2?5 9@H 6249 42?5:52E6 H@F=5 255C6DD E96 A6C46:G65 AC@3=6> @7 H2DE65 E2I 5@==2CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDcQm“%92E’D 2 E@F49J DF3;64E[” !C64:?4E b 42?5:52E6 !FC46==2 D2:5 23@FE H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 72C>D 255:?8[ “x’> ?@E 7@C E96> 2E 2==[ 3FE E96J 2C6 96C6 2?5 E96C6’D ?@E 2?JE9:?8 H6 42? 5@ 23@FE :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmq2DD A@:?E65 @FE E92E E2I 232E6>6?ED 8:G6 E96 4@F?EJ D@>6 C64@FCD6 H96? 4@>A2?:6D 52>286 4@F?EJ C@25D H9:=6 !C@4E@C G@:465 DEC@?8 @AA@D:E:@? E@ 2?J EJA6 E2I 232E6>6?E 7@C H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 72C>D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx? 2?DH6C E@ 2 BF6DE:@? 23@FE 9@H E@ AC6A2C6 E96 4@F?EJ 7@C 7FEFC6 8C@HE9[ q2DD DEC6DD65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 25G2?465 A=2??:?8 2?5 4@@A6C2E:@? H:E9 E96 4:EJ @7 !2C:D H9:=6 !C@4E@C 6>A92D:K65 {@@A age ?665D E@ 36 5@F3=6 564<65 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 EC277:4 2?5 2 4@F?EJ 6?8:?66C 9:C65 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 4@F?EJ C@25 4@?DECF4E:@? H9:=6 !FC46==2 D2:5 96 28C665 H:E9 E96 @E96C 42?5:52E6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%@ 2 BF6DE:@? 23@FE H92E 6249 4@?D:56C65 E96 =2C86DE :DDF6 @C AC@3=6> 724:?8 E96 4@F?EJ 😕 E96 D9@CE @C =@?8 E6C>[ !C@4E@C D2:5 C@25D 😕 E96 D9@CE E6C> 2?5 9@FD:?8 😕 E96 =@?8 E6C> 2=@?8 H:E9 2 ?665 7@C >@C6 >2;@C DE@C6D @FE 😕 E96 4@F?EJ H9:=6 !FC46==2 D2:5 96 >@DE=J 28C66D H:E9 !C@4E@C] q2DD D2:5 3642FD6 E96 4@F?EJ 92D 2 =:>:E65 2>@F?E @7 E2I 5@==2CD[ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 92G6 E@ >2<6 6G6CJ 5@==2C 4@F?E E9C@F89 H:D6 3F586ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDcQmp3@FE E96 A6C46:G65 AC@3=6> @7 H2DE65 E2I 5@==2CD[ !FC46==2 D2:5 2EE6?E:@? >FDE 36 A2:5 E@ >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 “86EE:?8 E9:?8D 5@?6 4962A6C” H9:=6 q2DD 6>A92D:K65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 4@>>:DD:@?6CD H@C<:?8 E@86E96C 2?5 D92C:?8 FA8C2565 C@25 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 FD:?8 7656C2= E2I 5@==2CD H96C6 A@DD:3=6 H9:=6 !C@4E@C D2:5 E96 FD6 @7 @FED:56 G6?5@CD E@ 7:I C@25D H@F=5 D2G6 E2IA2J6C 5@==2CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!C64:?4E ` 42?5:52E6D $<:5>@C6 2?5 q@C6? C6DA@?565 E@ E96 D2>6 BF6DE:@?D H:E9 $<:5>@C6 D2J:?8 E96 4@F?EJ 92D ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 72C>D 4@>:?8 96C6 3642FD6 =2?5@H?6CD 92G6 E96 C:89E E@ 5@ H92E E96J H2?E H:E9 E96 AC@A6CEJ H9:=6 q@C6? D2:5 wF?E 2?5 z2F7>2? 4@F?EJ DE@AA65 E96> 7C@> 4@>:?8 3J ?@E 8:G:?8 2 E2I 232E6>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDdQmx? 2?DH6C E@ E96 BF6DE:@? 23@FE AC6A2C2E:@?D 7@C 7FEFC6 8C@HE9[ q@C6? 28C665 7@FC =2?6D 4@>:?8 96C6 H:== 3C:?8 >@C6 EC277:4 2?5 4@?86DE:@?] %@ 86E AC6A2C65 7@C E96 7FEFC6[ q@C6? D2:5 E96 4@F?EJ ?665D E@ 3C:?8 😕 >@C6 :?5FDECJ H9:=6 $<:5>@C6 D2:5 :E 😀 :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96 4@F?EJ E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ H@C< @? 2 `_\ E@ `d\J62C A=2? H9:=6 >6?E:@?:?8 A=2?D 7@C E96 =2?5 AFC492D65 @? }@CE9 |2:? 2D 2 H2J E@ >@G6 E96 4@F?EJ 7@CH2C5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp?DH6C:?8 E96 BF6DE:@? 23@FE AC@3=6>D 724:?8 E96 4@F?EJ 😕 E96 D9@CE 2?5 =@?8 E6C>[ $<:5>@C6 >6?E:@?65 2 DE625:=J 5C@AA:?8 E2I C2E6 H9:=6 q@C6? >6?E:@?65 “E6CC:3=6” 4@F?EJ C@25D 2?5 H2DE67F= DA6?5:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%@ 2 BF6DE:@? 23@FE H2DE67F= DA6?5:?8[ q@C6? :DDF65 2? 2EE24< @? 4FCC6?E A=2?D 7@C E96 }@CE9 |2:? AC@A6CEJ 42==:?8 :E “H2DE67F= DA6?5:?8” 2D 96 D2:5 E92E >@?6J DA6?E @? 2 3F:=5:?8 E96C6 4@F=5 36 DA6?E @? 4@F?EJ C@25D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%2I pDD6DD@C^r@==64E@C 42?5:52E6D qC@@<6 w:== 2?5 r@=6 $2:? 6249 D92C65 E96:C <?@H=6586 @7 E2I 2DD6DD@C^4@==64E@C 5FE:6D H9:=6 w:== 6>A92D:K65 96C `a J62CD 6IA6C:6?46 😕 E96 E2I @77:46 r@=6 6>A92D:K65 9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 6IA6C:6?46 😕 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx? 2?DH6C E@ 2 BF6DE:@? 23@FE :>AC@G6>6?ED 6249 H@F=5 >2<6 😕 E96 @77:46[ 3@E9 42?5:52E6D D2:5 E96J H@F=5 6IA2?5 9@FCD 3J ?@E 4=@D:?8 7@C 2 =F?49 9@FC H9:=6 w:== D2:5 D96 H@F=5 >2<6 DFC6 96C DE277 😀 7C:6?5=J 2?5 96=A7F= 2?5 E92E 4FDE@>6CD 2C6 C6DA64E65 H9:=6 $2:? D2:5 96 H@F=5 >2<6 9:>D6=7 2G2:=23=6 E@ 4:E:K6?D 2?5 H@F=5 =:DE6? E@ E96:C 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmv6CCJ s@? w:?6D 😕 E96 !C64:?4E a r@?DE23=6 C246 2?5 7@C>6C !C64:?4E c r@?DE23=6 #:4< t2DE6CH@@5[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 9:D 8C2?5D@?[ %J=6C p?56CD@?[ DE2CE65 @77 E96 6G6?:?8 2D E96 EH@ >256 A:E496D 7@C E9@D6 EH@ C246D] ~E96C 42?5:52E6D 😕 E96 C246D 5:5 ?@E 2AA62C] %9@D6 42?5:52E6D :?4=F56 :?4F>36?E y6776CJ y@?6D 2?5 rFCE:D vC292> 😕 E96 !C64:?4E a C246 2?5 :?4F>36?E wF?E6C $2?56CD 😕 E96 !C64:?4E c C246]k^Am