Underwood's ideas, energy fit for Senate
Greg Underwood is on the right side of the issues in his campaign for the District 30 Texas Senate seat, and he also brings an energetic commitment to serve the people of this 36-county territory, which includes part of Abilene.
A few years back, the label "conservative Democrat" was recognized in Texas as a badge of honor and welcomed with respect. Underwood, 59, represents the best aspect of that image. His refreshing candor and straight talk accompany a deep belief in the conservative values the people of West Texas hold dear.
The attorney, onetime oilman and former mayor of Bowie is running against Republican state Sen. Tom Haywood of Wichita Falls, and Underwood comes out better on the three key issues in this race: public education, state budget management and redrawing the Senate district lines around Abilene.
Committed to the value of public education, Underwood opposes school voucher programs, which Haywood backs. Underwood terms school vouchers "out-and-out theft, taking public money and giving it to private education," and warns that the idea - driven by big political contributors who want to build private schools - is "capable of destroying public education." Voters should listen. He knows what he's talking about.
Second, Underwood takes issue with Haywood's proposed across-the-board cut of 5 percent in all areas of state spending, calling such an approach simplistic and irresponsible. Teacher salaries are already too low to take a 5 percent cut, to cite but one obvious example.
Third, the winner of this race will be in the Senate that determines how district boundary lines are redrawn after the 2000 census. For years, Abilene's influence in the Senate has been diluted between two districts. Haywood thinks that's fine. But Underwood says Abilene deserves its own Senate district, that's it's an important enough city to have its own, strong voice in state policy. Three cheers for that!
Finally, Haywood's health is a legitimate concern. He suffers from Parkinson's disease, a progressive illness, and speaks very slowly. At recent public gatherings, his speech has also seemed slurred, and the rigors of public life appear to be challenging. His infirmities don't make him less valuable as a person. But they do impact his effectiveness as an advocate for his district in the Legislature.
Greg Underwood would provide quality representation that would raise the profile of District 30 in the Texas Senate. We urge his election.