---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan Ridgway Garry <susan_garry@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Subject: ACRE: Dist. 52 Candidates on Corridor
To: "Garry, Susan" <susan_garry@hotmail.com>



ACRE:  Dist. 52 Candidates on Corridor

To:  ACRE (Anti-Corridor/Rail Expansion) email list
February 26, 2008

Dear Friends—
Monday night, the candidates running to replace Mike Krusee as Dist. 52 representative spoke to the Coupland Civic Organization.  In this race, there are four Republicans, one Democrat, and one Libertarian.

Philip Jankowski covered the meeting for the Taylor Daily Press.  You can see his report online at taylordailypress.net.

I am very happy to report that all these candidates have expressed opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor.  Below are some of their comments on the Corridor, toll roads, and eminent domain from the meeting.  I have included their websites so you can see their stands on other issues.

For an interesting report on donations to the Republicans, go to eyeonwilliamson.org and see the entry titled HD-52 8 Days Out Ethics Filings.

Early voting continues through Friday, February 29,  Election Day is March 4.

This is a volunteer email list.  Please let me know if you'd like to be removed.

Thank you,
Susan

The four REPUBLICANS are:

BRYAN DANIEL (Round Rock, bryandaniel.org)
He is endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau.  "I share their positions on landowner rights, property rights, and opposition to the TTC."  He wants "to protect our rural communities."  About the process that was used to produce the Corridor, he said we "need to operate in sunshine, not roll it out already done."  On eminent domain, he has concerns about the state taking a wide swath so they can decide about business along it, rather than the landowners deciding.  He believes "government is supposed to serve our interests."

About toll roads: He mentioned the "funding question," and questioned where the money really goes.  "Foreign ownership of toll roads concerns me.  It is a can of worms, a bad idea for the State."

JOHN GORDON (Round Rock, johngordon52.com)

He said, "I will not let another 2000 feet of right-of-way be taken for the Corridor."  Referring to SH 130, he said, "We have already got the Corridor between Round Rock and Hutto.  We need to use that and not have the Corridor come through here.  You have my pledge to do everything I can to stop the TTC from coming through this area."

DEE HOBBS (Hutto, deehobbs.com)

Referring to his family's land near Hutto, he said has fought over the years to protect his family's land.  He said, "I'll make sure our property rights are protected, and I'll guarantee you I'll do the same thing for you that I do for my family."  About SH 130 being part of the TTC, he said, "No more land needs to be taken up.  I'm already prepared to fight for that.  TxDOT needs to know what our needs are, and we tell them as a community what we're going to do."

About the procedure that produced the Corridor, "There was no real input at the meetings.  We need active input about what they are going to do in our community, and then hold them accountable."  He said the Corridor project through Williamson Co. needs to "stop at 130."

Re toll roads, Hobbs said we do not need any more toll roads here.  "45 and 130 are here.  That's enough.  Let TxDOT fulfill their other promises, and make TxDOT accountable for the funds."

VIV SULLIVAN (Round Rock, vivsullivan.org)

She said, "I don't believe in free roads being turned into toll roads.  We don't need any more toll roads.  I don't believe in government taking your land through eminent domain."  She helped stop the tolling of 183 in her area.

On the Corridor procedure, she said that the regional mobility authorities should have elected members, rather than appointed members.  She called the TTC an "abomination."  "TxDOT needs to be audited.  Funds meant for roads need to be used for roads."


DEMOCRAT DIANA MALDONADO (Round Rock, dianamaldonado.com)

She said, "I don't want a superhighway going from Mexico to Canada.  We need to hold TxDOT accountable.  Give control back to local communities.  Whatever roads are built should be what local people want."  About the Corridor process, she said that such a project "needs to come from the community.  That did not happen.  We need to serve our communities."

On the question of toll roads, she said TxDOT should be fiscally responsible and should work with local communities.  "Ask the voters what they want.  Their representatives should reflect their needs."  She called for better planning and protecting the environment.

LIBERTARIAN LILLIAN SIMMONS (Round Rock.  I couldn't find a website.)

She was represented by Patrick Barton, who said that Lillian Simmons is opposed to the TTC.  It is "abuse of eminent domain, which is rampant.  We believe our strength is in private property."  He also mentioned the inefficiency of toll roads in the matter of dollars per miles built.  "The way toll roads have been done is not right.  It's double taxation.  We're opposed to corporate welfare, and that's what TTC is."

He said that a problem was "how to control TxDOT.  If you involve government, they take things by force."  He said that Libertarians aren't opposed to toll roads per se, if a private entity buys the land from willing sellers.  "I don't see a problem with foreign countries owning it as long as it is the most efficient alternative."