The Marshall News Messenger, Sunday, October 24, 2004

OUR VIEW

WE ENDORSE

For State Rep: Bryan Hughes, GOP

Two years ago at this time, we endorsed the incumbent in this race, Democrat Bob Glaze, over challenger Hughes. This time around we're also endorsing the incumbent, but this time that incumbent is Hughes, while the challenger is Glaze.

In endorsing Glaze two years ago, our primary reason was his track record that while, not flashy, was certainly worthy. We were impressed with Hughes, but he was still an unknown quantity.

This is not the case any longer. In the midst of an extremely tough session and the following special sessions, Hughes has distinguished himself as worthy of our support and yours, as well,

What impresses us about any elected official--Democrat or Republican--is not how well that person toes the party line. That is an easy thing to do. The difficulty comes when you must do what is right for your constituents and that is at odds with either the party line or its top leaders.

Party leaders have a great deal of power behind the scenes and can determine, among other things, what kinds of committee assignments you get and whether your bills get good calendar assignments.

So it is extremely risky for a freshman representative to buck the system. For that matter, we can look back and see how even a powerful senator such as Bill Ratliff was punished by his own party. It is not easy to do.

But Hughes had the courage to do it--and not just once, either. He told the truth when he spoke out against a congressional redistricting plan that simply isn't good for our part of Texas. He spoke out again when Gov. Rick Perry brought forth a school financing plan that included an expansion of gambling, which, again, is simply not good for Texas.

Of course, that is not all he did. He worked hard in numerous ways that belied his experience level. Often, representatives aren't able to do much in their first session. Bryan Hughes was.

And because of that record, we can be sure that Hughes will stand tall again when it comes to working out the difficult issues on school financing that will be facing this next session.

He may not side with the majority, but we feel he will side with the right course.

We have nothing bad to say about Bob Glaze, who has certainly done his part in service Texas during his years in the Legislature. He seems to us to be an honorable and decent man with good intentions.

But Bryan Hughes has earned our endorsement and your vote, which we urge on Nov. 2.