Why I support Jonathan Stickland for District 92 State Representative

Why I support Jonathan Stickland for District 92 State Representative
By
James Scott Trimm

Stickland is a Social Conservative

A recent article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Sept. 29th 2015) casts the upcoming Republican primary election for State Representative of District 92 as a conflict between Stickland as a "Tea Party Conservative" and his challenger as a "Social Conservative".   The article then says:

Tea Party conservatives tend to prioritize lower taxes and reducing the size and influence of government, while social conservatives tend to prioritize values related issues,…

The implication made by the Star Telegram is that Jonathan Stickland is not a social conservative, or is weak on social conservative issues.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Stickland describes himself as a   "Conservative Christian Republican" and has always stood strong for such social conservative issues as the right to life and supporting traditional marriage.  In fact, even the Dallas Observer has admitted:

"Considering Stickland's bona fides, it's hard to see much room for Fisher to attack the state representative from the right." (Oct. 2nd 2015)

In fact Jonathan Stickland recently received the "Pro-Life Champion" award from Texas Right to Life, for his work protecting life in the 84th legislature.

 

When Planned Parenthood came to Austin to lobby for money to murder babies in the womb, Stickland put a sign on his office door identifying himself as a former fetus, drawing the anger of the Austin establishment.

And Stickland's support for traditional marriage and family values in general is well known.



Stickland stands for Personal Freedom and Limited Government

Stickland's challenger is courting law enforcement groups and seems to be seeking an endorsement from the law enforcement lobby (such as the TMPA).  Stickland has drawn the ire of some law enforcement organizations because of his support for the second amendment, the fourth amendment and our personal freedom in general.  Too often the law enforcement lobby supports legislation that unduly restricts personal freedom, and/or restricts privacy rights as well as the right to bear arms.

Jonathan Stickland has resisted these lobbyists and stood a strong for protecting our personal freedoms, including our second and fourth amendment rights, rights that are too often squandered by public officials in back room deals, or sacrificed to the law enforcement lobby in the name of security.  As Benjamin Franklin said:

Those who give up their liberty for more security neither deserve liberty nor security.

Jonathan Stickland stands by this principle of the framers and defends our liberty.


Stickland Opposes Redistribution of Wealth

The same recent Star-Telegram article on the race for district 92 indicated that Stickland's challenger might "support an active role for the state in select areas, especially in providing for the poor, disabled and others with great needs," in contrast to Stickland.  

As the husband of a disabled wife, I can tell you that any suggestion that Jonathan Stickland wants to take benefits away from disabled Texans is completely false. 

Stickland does not support redistribution of wealth and he has said that he believes there should be a greater role for faith based organizations in assisting the poor.  This is in keeping with the famous words of Margret Thatcher:

The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.

This is not to say Jonathan Stickland lacks compassion in his approach.  To the contrary Stickland supported a bill that provided better health care and nutrition for pregnant women in the Texas Prison system.  And Stickland has said that he would be willing to support spending more money in areas that would make it easier for woman to choose life for their unborn babies.


Stickland is the Maverick of the Texas House

Jonathan Stickland has represented District 92 better than any State Representative we have had in my memory, and my memory stretches all the way back to Representative Charles Evans in the 1970's and 80's!

A Plague I received from State Representative Charles Evans in 1982

We did not send Jonathan Stickland to Austin to join the good ole boys club and make back room deals.  We sent him to stand strong for our district.  We sent him to protect our freedoms and rights and to restrain government.   Jonathan Stickland has done that well, and have the voting record to prove it.  Stickland is to the Texas House what Ted Cruz in to the US Senate.    He has become the Maverick of the Texas House.  And sometimes he has represented us by being a voice on the microphone in the back of the House, telling it like it is!  The Dallas Observer has even reported:

Stickland aggravated House Speaker Joe Strauss and his allies so badly that at least two legislators saw Strauss ally Charlie Geren dangle a cookie on a string in front Strickland in a mocking attempt to lead him away from one of his frequent back-microphone stem-winders.
(Dallas Observer; Oct. 2nd 2015)

Personally I thank the Almighty that our District has a voice telling it like it is on the back-microphone in the House!  And because Stickland has stood up so strong against the establishment for conservative principles like limited government and personal freedom, the Austin establishment wants Stickland replaced.


These are the reasons that Jonathan Stickland has been endorsed by 28 precinct chairs in District 92 (including myself, Precinct Chair 3176 in Hurst).  In fact most of the precinct chairs in District 92 not endorsing Jonathan Stickland.... are vacant.

I hope you will all join me in supporting the re-election of Jonathan Stickland for the Texas House or Representatives in District 92.