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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Backus to challenge Rose in March primary for state rep


Patrick Rose is not new to the sweetheart deal. Earlier he persuaded the Legislature to create a MUD (Municipal Utility District) that benefited only the owners of the development then called True Ranch

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Ms. Hopson at hopsonbarbara@yahoo.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story


Note: Andrew Backus, former president and current member of the board of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, will challenge Patrick Rose in the March Democratic Primary election for State Representative, 45
th District. We'll have more details later on Mr. Backus's campaign plans and platform. Meanwhile, e-mails have been circulating on the upcoming state rep horse race, like the one below from Wimberleyite Barbara Hopson – an indication of the passions surrounding this race and the incumbent.

See this link for a summary run-down of Hays County candidates: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hays-county-election-run-down-168127.html?cxtype=ynews_rss


RoundUp Photo

Backus, far right, is one of the staunchest defenders of the Trinity Aquifer against waste and abuse. The Trinity is the main (and only) water source for an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 residents in western Hays County.


Subject:
ROSE TAX

Have you paid an additional sales tax when eating at the Salt Lick? If so, you can thank Patrick Rose, our State Representative. He proposed to the Legislature that they create a single-member taxing district in our area, and the Legislature obliged. That tax district contains only property belonging to the owners of the Salt Lick Restaurant, and the Salt Lick can happily use the sales tax they collect from us to enlarge their facilities and build homes on their property to sell and to suck up water from the aquifer.

Patrick Rose is not new to the sweetheart deal. Earlier he persuaded the Legislature to create a MUD (Municipal Utility District) that benefited only the owners of the development then called True Ranch.

If you don't want more Rose taxes and sweetheart deals, vote for Andrew Backus. He's running against Patrick Rose in the Democratic primary election for State Representative.

Barbara Hopson, Wimberley

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to hearing what Mr. Backus stands for besides the HTGCD. I'm not a big fan of one issue candidates.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to disappoint, but Andrew is going nowhere with his bid. Anybody who knows him sees that he is far too fact-driven and stubborn to join the good old boys. ;)

InTheKnow said...

Anyone keeping up with this mess knows the only reason Backus is running is to force Rose to spend money in a primary. Backus got his feelings hurt when Rose wouldn't support Ch. 36 for the HTGCD. Now Bakus is out to get even. I don't think he will even campaign in any serious fashion, he just wants to see Rose bleed a little. I thought that it was interesting that the same week Backus announced, Rose showed up to the HTGCD meeting claiming he, and Senator Wentworth, would support the findings of an "advisory group" designed to evaluate and post a recommendation for (or against) Ch 36 authority. Looks like a last-ditch effort from Rose to secure his nomination without a fight. These guys really are a pathetic bunch.

Anonymous said...

I find it laughable to watch the whole affair. Andrew is in it for Andrew. I agree with Anon # 3 who says he is just acting out of his tweaked pride that the local Dems (and even more embedded than that, a special interest group more interested in their own special interest and power) couldn't force their local golden-haired boy in the Leggie to agree with them and force property owners to pay still more taxes to an unaccountable group of half-wits who when they don't get their way go crying to the Commissioners Court to get funding for their little escapade.

Even funnier is now that it appears that the rag is off the bush - so to speak - that it turns out that Andrew's wife is Karen Ford's campaign treasurer and according to a good rumor best of friends. Could it be that the "good ole boy system of Russ and Jim" has been replaced by the good ole gal system of Karen and Liz? I would be more than happy to bet a solid good steak dinner that it is so. Why? Because human nature being what it is, Karen is no better than Russ, they are both human. Russ did in his first couple of terms good work on the behalf of his constituents; Karen has not done bad in her first term once she decided to represent more than just her narrow group of initial supporters. She is a decent person who seems to want for the most part to represent the broader majority of her constituents, whether or not they agree with her. She has in fact gone to bat for some of the locals when it came to developing their property. Congrats Karen, the pragmatic side of your personality has begun to show itself. Now just don't forget it once you win re-election (assuming that happens, this particular race looks to be a good race between the candidates at least their won't be much mudslinging, but watch out for their confidants and way out supporters!).

I tell you now that A.B. is so one-sided that he won't dare to let the truth out on his platform on other positions. He will turn out to represent the fringe left that is so liberal that most Dems wouldn't vote for him if he were truly a "blue dog".