Saturday, October 31, 1998

Republican and Democrat ag and business leaders display Stenholm support

By J.T. SMITH

Farm Editor

Some drove for hours to make a 3-minute talk.

Key ag and business leaders -- Republican and Democrat -- were packed like sardines in the Taylor County Farm Bureau office in Abilene Friday in a show of unwavering support for U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm in next Tuesday's 17th District Congressional election.

Some of the staunchest support for Democrat Stenholm actually came from hard-line Republicans.

Jerry Harris, past chairman of the Texas State Farm Service Agency, USDA, under both the Reagan/Bush and the Bush/Quayle administrations, held nothing back.

"I'm a very partisan Republican -- I doubt one person in this room has deeper Republican credentials than I do," Harris said. "But this (Congressional) election is not about partisanship. It's about the survival of agriculture. Only the very uninformed voter would vote for Congressman Stenholm's opponent."

Leland Robinson, president of the Taylor County Farm Bureau and retired longtime Cooper High agriscience teacher, said he went to college with Stenholm at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where Stenholm earned both his bachelor and masters degrees.

"Charlie Stenholm is a fine Christian man -- in all the years I've known him, I've never heard him say one word of profanity. How many men can you say that about? We have the best Congressman in the world -- we just need to keep him."

James Snyder, widely known Callahan County rancher of Baird, said Republicans like U.S. Rep. Larry Combest of Lubbock respect Stenholm's knowledge and wisdom.

"I know Combest well," Snyder said. "And he praises Charlie. We can't be partisan in agriculture. We must remind people of Abilene of what Charlie has done -- not just for agriculture, but oil and gas and other industries."

Joe Crawford, president of Abilene Aero, said for Dyess Air Force Base, banking and health industries, "Charlie Stenholm has been the right man for the job."

John S. Rike III, president of Rolling Plains Production Credit Association, grew up with Stenholm and has known him for more than 50 years since their youth.

"We have a congressman in Charlie Stenholm who is straight through and through," Rike said. "Charlie Stenholm thinks in mountains, not molehills. Not only the 17th District, but the nation needs Charlie Stenholm."

Bob Traweek, an Erath County dairyman for 40 years and a peanut raiser, said Stenholm commands national respect.

Stenholm's supporters went beyond direct farmers and ranchers.

Jere Lawrence of Lawrence Bros. and Fiesta Foods sent a statement to the meeting.

"I am in the grocery store business, and when farmers don't do well, I don't do well," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the same goes for the auto dealers, implement businesses, clothing stores and other businesses.

"You are all aware Charlie is ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee," Lawrence said. "Given his knowledge and expertise, we can't afford to lose him in Washington."

Woody Anderson, chairman of the Texas State FSA committee, said that without Stenholm's seniority and savvy in Washington, it is highly likely Texas crop losses from devastating 1998 drought would not have been considered.

But for those who don't realize the crucial role of agriculture in the region's economy, Harris was more direct.

"You can say what you want -- but (U.S. Rep.) Dick Armey would have closed Dyess Air Force Base," Harris said. "Although a lot of my Republican friends would like to take the credit, Charlie Stenholm kept Dyess from being closed."

Harry Holt, 84, ag journalist for 64 years, Abilene was appalled over criticism of Stenholm having served 20 years in Congress.

"U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, a Republican, has been in Washington 20 years," Holt said. "So he has absolutely no right bad-mouthing Charlie about 20 years and term limits."

SDA has been consolidating offices throughout the nation in its streamlining efforts to make the U.S. Agriculture Department more efficient. Abilene is one of the cities -- especially with its central location and diverse agriculture -- being considered to put USDA's three state agencies under one roof.

If Abilene became home for the three agencies, the FSA state office in College Station, along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and also the state Rural Development office -- both in Temple -- all would be housed here. It would mean hundreds more professionals to Abilene.

Again, from his many years of experience in Washington and Austin -- and as chairman of the Texas State FSA committee under both the Reagan and Bush administrations -- Harris was extremely blunt about Abilene's chances for the USDA offices.

"Abilene is in the running now," Harris said. "But without Charlie Stenholm, it wouldn't have a prayer of a chance."