Things are moving so fast, we can hardly keep up

Another busy weekend found Dan block walking in New Braunfels Saturday. It's a great way to meet lots of voters and get a feel for their needs. Later, he attended the largest Cajun Festival in Texas in Lake Hills, and a benefit for the Public Library in Boerne (at the Hungry Horse Restaurant - great music, too) - and it was their 25th anniversary celebration, - and a really well attended, successful event, with delicious food.

Later there was the White Hat Gala, benefitting the Bulverde-Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce, at the Johnson Ranch (where Dan donated a stay at his bed and breakfast in San Antonio). It was a restaurant tasting party - with different wineries, shops and restaurants providing all the food (more to come on all those involved!).

Sunday Dan was off to Fredericksburg for the Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living fair. Lots of folks to meet and things to learn about going green!

Stay tuned....

Busy grass roots week - WHEW!

This was the week without rest. Dan started in Bandera, where he led a grass-roots block-walking tour, knocking on doors and meeting dozens of residents. Later, Boone met with customers at popular local restaurants: Turks Deli in Lake Hills, where owner Gwen Smith generously hosted voters who wanted to ask questions of Boone; and Brick’s River Café on the Medina River, where Boone was warmly welcomed to speak with local residents. Like Dan always says, local government is about the people who live here.

Thanks to both Gwen and Brick. Check out their restaurant websites and go have lunch with them! www.turksdeli.com and www.bricksrivercafe.com.

In Bulverde, Dan was invited to speak to the city council Tuesday. He addressed local issues including the proposed toll road, education, and water issues. Another issue Dan says we have to tackle, is how to get the burden of school funding off the backs of property owners. "We must find alternative ways to fund our schools."

Last Sunday, September 21, more than 300 voters turned out to hear Boone and other Democratic candidates at a rally in Landa Park. Boone joined representatives for presidential candidate Barack Obama and U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega, who was away with his National Guard unit. Also joining the rally were Comal County Commissioners Court candidates Larry Horton and Ramon Chapa, Jr. and numerous other democratic candidates. Boone told attendees that he wants to protect the Texas Hill Country by giving county governments more power to guide growth and manage water and other resources.

Dan is on top of issues concerning New Braunfels citizens. He shares their concerns about quarries, the proposed outer loop, water resources, and educational issues, Boone said, “I believe elected officials should represent the people they serve, not special interests. I can best carry your voice to Austin by personally listening to your concerns.”

What a week Dan! You go boy!

Democratic Rally in New Braunfels This Sunday

Sunday Afternoon, September 21, at 3 -- Big Rally

Spread the Word! Democrats are Alive & Well in Comal County!
Our Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama will be well represented at the rally, as will Rick Noriega, Candidate for the U.S. Senate, whose National Guard unit has been called to help with hurricane relief efforts. Among the Candidates attending the rally will be Mark Thompson, Railroad Commissioner; Susan Strawn, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3; J. R. Molina, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4; Woodie Jones, Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals; Daniel Boone, Texas House District 73; Larry Horton, Comal County Commissioner, District 1; Ramon Chapa, Jr., Comal County Commissioner, District 3; and Sandy Morales, Incumbent Constable, District 3. We proudly note that the last four on the list are also loyal Members of The DoCC. All of these candidates have juggled their schedules just to meet you. We hope you'll be able to return the honor. It's important!

Music, food, and beverages, will be available after 2. Candidates will begin to address the crowd at 3. It'll all be happening at Picnic Area #11, in Landa Park in New Braunfels.

http://www.boonefortexas.com

Interview with Dan for the Times Guardian

This is a copy of an interview with Dan back in February before we had the blog up. We though it would be of interest for those that want to get to know him better.


JS: Let’s start by getting the name thing straight. What about Daniel Boone? Are you related?
DB: Yes, I am a descendent of ole Daniel a fifth, great grandson, I have been told. My family is out of Tennessee and had a farm in Kentucky – though I have loved Texas since I was a small child.
JS: I see you are a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force and that you have a PhD in Experimental Psychology and Clinical Psychology. Tell me about that

DB: I am proud to have served in the United States Military for more than 26 years. First I started out as a young enlisted troop in the Navy. After a shore battery accident in which I was injured and honorably discharged, I recovered and enlisted in the Army. After obtaining enough G.I. Bill credits, I began to work on my college degree. I finished with a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology and then, went into the US Air Force when they offered me additional training in clinical psychology. My Internship was served at Waco’s Veteran VA Hospital in Waco.
Coming from poverty, it was the military that enabled me to successfully complete my education. The military has been a large part of the American dream for many of us and I feel strongly about backing our troops, providing care for our wounded - wounds that can be seen and those that are more difficult to diagnose. Vietnam Vets living under bridges is a national scandal. We must take care of our veterans.

JS: May I call you “Dan”?
DB: I really prefer to be called “Dan”. I have had that title the longest. Doctor is a little ostentatious outside the clinical setting.

JS: How did your military career prepare you for public service? As Robbi, my wife and terrific partner and I say, “nothing we do in life is every wasted”. I understand the needs of us ordinary folk and am fortunate enough to have years of training and the skills to listen to folks, mediate differences and reach agreement on tough issues. That’s what this election is about – dealing with our hill country issues.

JS: Tell me more about why are you running for the District 73 legislative seat?
DB: This campaign is about Hill Country Issues – and about getting things done in Austin. It’s about protecting our children’s education, providing adequate water for our great grandchildren and preserving our public roads.
This election is not a question of Republican versus Democrat. It is about independent thinkers taking back our government for the people it serves. You know, I ran as a write in candidate in 2006 after the upset of Carter Casteel in the primary. Someone had to step forward to oppose the huge amount of money brought into Comal County to buy this seat. This time, the Democrats asked me to run on their ticket.

JS: What do you see as the overriding thrust of your service if you win the election?
DB: There are good people on both sides of the isle and our goal is not winning at any price but working together to solve problems and get things done. We must say what we mean and mean what we say. People deserve a responsive legislator – one who listens to them and reflects their views in the legislature. This business as usual and “go along to get along” must end.

JS: Do you think that is possible given the political atmosphere at present?
DB: Yes I do. We may be Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent but our common goal is the same - to do what is best for the people, not the political organization. Of course we have diverse views of how to go about solving problems, but it is only when we come together to share those views and talk together, in good faith, that we can come to solutions I truly believe this is true for our state and our country. We must work together to regain our honor and the respect of all the people. Maybe that sounds like a politician talking but that is what I truly believe.

JS: You refer to specific problems that need to be solved. What are the issues that you feel must be addressed in the next legislative session?

DB: Well, remember I am running to represent my Hill Country District. I am very concerned about how we handle the huge explosion of growth in our district. The population of Texas is forecast to double during the same time our hill country population will quadruple.
While we are glad folks are recognizing that this is the best place to live, we must be sure that this growth contributes to our way of life here in the Hill Country, not destroy it. That demands we have the local means to make sure that we do not get houses are crammed so close together that they become blight. To maintain our personal property rights we must act now.

JS: You have said that Education is a high priority for you. Please explain your position on education.
DB: Yes, it is one of the top four major issues I consider of highest priority. It is important that our public education system be one of excellence. We must evaluate what we are currently doing and using the best models available, provide for our children to learn and grow into productive adults. Our children must have the opportunity to realize their full potential.
It is also important here, to realize that we taxpayers are carrying the major burden in our education system whereas the state is only 44th in support of our schools. One way in which we can lessen the tax burden on citizens, is to require the state to put the money promised to education into funding for education. This would allow a tax reduction for citizens and still improve the funding for schools.

JS: You said you had four major issues. What other issues do you consider priorities?
DB: Yes. The most pressing issues all follow from the issue of growth in the Hill Country. They are protecting our water resources for the present and into the future for our children, grandchildren and beyond. Remember, if you turn on the faucet and nothing comes out, it makes no difference if you are Republican or Democrat- you are out of water. There are solutions to insuring our water supply. It just means that our legislature has to be proactive rather than wait for the next drought. We can’t sit around meeting, conferring, jawboning and doing nothing to eternity. We must implement solutions that are easily available now and be innovative too, to insure our water supply.

JS: That’s two issues. What else do you consider important?
DB: Well, of course there are many issues that are important and must be addressed in the next session. However, I will combine the third and forth issues because they relate to our system of transportation. Of prime interest to me and to many of us here is the hill country is that we must not let our public roads be converted to toll roads. It even seems that it may unconstitutional because we have already paid for these roads. To convert them to toll roads is simply double taxation.

Actually there is money for our road system, and TxDOT appears to have been playing a shell game about running out of money. We as citizens should not allow this to happen and we should have a full and clear understanding of just where and how our tax money is being spent on our roads and we must end secret sweetheart deals for foreigners. How about this money going to Texans, we know how to build roads?

The second part of this issue is the Trans Texas Corridor. I see this as one of the worst ideas pushed on the citizens of Texas in living memory. In meetings I have attended in Austin, the Governor has heard from folks all over the state that the people of Texas do not want the Trans Texas Corridor.

Austin’s response has been that the Governor wants to spend nine million of our tax dollars for advertising - to try to sell the people of Texas on the idea that this is a good thing. It isn’t and the people of Texas know it and have told him so.

JS: Well, you seem quite intense about that. Is there anything else that you would to add?

DB: I would like for your readers to know that during the last years of my military career, I had the opportunity to work in contract solicitation, evaluation and management of contracts ranging from two million to twenty million dollars. I believe these experiences and my last 14 years of experience as a small businessman here in Texas give me perspective on how we should be overseeing how our tax dollars are spent. My training as a professional psychologist gives me a perspective on how the differences in approaches to problem solving can result in the coming together of differing positions into a successful and meaningful solution to issues.

One last thing- I do strongly hold the idea that the government belongs to the people, not that the people are simply a resource for government spending. If the people insist on that truth and the Legislature recognizes that fact; with us all working together, Texas has a very bright future.

JS: Thank you Dan. This has been very informative.
Daniel Boone can be reached through his website at www.BooneforTexas.com and at his ranch 210-240-6565.

http://www.boonefortexas.com

Guest Artical, Ground Water Area 9 August Meeting

This article was published in the Bulverde Standard on September 10th.

The Hill Country's Groundwater Management Area #9 (GMA 9) Counties met on Friday, 29 August in Kerrville, to discuss scientific methods relating to sustainable vs. non-sustainable water use in conservation districts throughout the region.

In 2005, the State's 79th Legislature passed House Bill 1763 which required individual groundwater conservation districts within GMA's to meet on a regular basis and to scientifically determine the "desired future conditions " (DFC) for their groundwater resources.

Comal County, while included in the State's designated priority groundwater management area and inside the GMA 9, is the only county in the area that does not have a groundwater district and therefore, is not officially represented on this important panel. I attended this meeting as a Comal County resident and to my knowledge, was the only Comal County citizen present at the meeting.

This meeting was of particular interest as it included discussion concerning computer models on the effect of drawing down the aquifers by as much as 33 feet. The districts are considering varying drought conditions of recent years along with current and speculated future pumping to arrive at a negotiated "managed available groundwater" (MAG). The results of this modeling effort will be the basis of a report to be submitted to the Texas Water Development Board in 2010. The purpose of this modeling effort is to report on the "Desired Future Condition"of our aquifers and what we need to do regarding support of property rights and the water needs of our population.

I suggested, along with others attending the meeting, that the "drought of record" between 1950 and 1957 should also be included in the data base for the model as that will provide a realistic outlook for future expectations and planning. Several attending the meeting also suggested that the model include the projected population increases in the Hill Country by the year 2050.

With the lack of authority given counties by the legislature to manage growth, a drought of record model is highly desirable to show state and local governments what effects can be expected during moderate and severe droughts, taking all these factors into account. Realities,
such as limited surface and groundwater resources, should precipitate action by the Texas Legislature. The results of this study will provide information demonstrating the need for additional regulatory authority for county water conservation districts and commissioners courts.

The GMA panel discussed the fact that inclusion of the drought of record would severely skew the model in a direction that was totally unacceptable in considering any additional drawdown of the aquifers (how much more water can be pumped out). The panel suggested that multiple factors such as high density subdivision developments and population growth is going to make it all but impossible to sustainably maintain the aquifer. One panel member said that future pumping as is being allowed now is "going to be a disaster", but then also argued against using the drought of record model run because of fears that its findings would cause restrictions to selling land and future growth.

Finally, another panel member said that due to such a strong public insistence, along with assurances from the Texas Water Development Board that such a model run would provide valuable information, the model run should be done . As this additional information could protect Hill Country spring flows, it was suggested that it would be wise for the GMA
9 panel to ask for a TWDB Drought of Record model run. The Drought of record model run should be done before the panel decides on "managed available water" in a desired future condition.

At that point, a panel member said he would not agree to it and that his County would vote "no". Another member joined with him and the idea of a drought of record model was postponed until another meeting.

I suggest all Hill Country residents become aware of the crucial work being done by the GMA 9 panel and ask that citizens take part in solving the problems facing us for both near term and future water needs. I believe that the GMA 9 panel appreciates input from citizens and believes participation from communities is the best way to find solutions to the substantial water and growth issues facing us.

Daniel Boone
http://www.boonefortexas.com

From New Braunfels ChamberTrade Show to Longhorn Cafe in Harper

The New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Trade Show was, once again, a first rate event. Held in the newly expanded and beautifully designed Civic Center in downtown New Braunfels, the preview evening featured good food, great booths and friendly people.
Heading out to Harper the next morning, my wife, Robbi and I again enjoyed viewing the beauty of our Texas land. Untouched by large commercial signs, this part of the hill country is just a pleasure to drive. Voicing your Views -where I travel the district listening to the people -was held during lunch in the Longhorn Cafe. This Harper restaurant proved to be a real treat. Their grilled cheese sandwiches are thick, crisp and delicious while the burgers received the review, "best to date on the campaign trail."
I was graciously welcomed by locals who are very interested in water and schools - subjects that seem to concern all us Texans these days. After a very interesting conversation we headed to Fredericksburg - though the advertised Voicing your Views at the Altdorf Biergarten had to be moved. The home furnishings shop and wine bar next door, House.Wine. welcomed us. Owner Todd and manager Bruce made us welcome and we drank the world's best sangria - a sparkling white wine potion with a sexy name. Try it next time you are on Main Street in Fredericksburg. This cool oasis is just the perfect spot to hang out - but be careful or you will end up buying gorgeous furniture and accessories at the same time.
The Kendall County Retired Teachers sponsored a candidate forum for the HD73 race on Thursday. This active group of active professionals had specific questions and seemed very responsive to my message. As they know, I began my run for office because of public education. Effectively taking a 24% pay cut over the last eight years due to no cost of living raises, these folks have my support.
We also discussed the GPO (Government Pension Offset) and WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision). The group consensus was that those "in the trenches"- the classroom teachers need support, time, authority and meaningful testing - eliminating the TEKS and returning to academic subject testing before and after each grade. To attract and hold high quality classroom teachers demands the will of Texans to treat teachers as professionals - expecting professional behavior and providing professional status and pay.

Yes, I am originally from TN, lived for a time on the family farm in KY, and am a great, great, great, etc. great grandson of Daniel. I am finding many distant relatives as I tour House Distric 73. Pat Boone and Debbie Boone are distant kin, too.
Saw "Daniel Boone" coonskin caps today for sale in Fredericksburg at Dooley's great store. Even the manufacturers are now confusing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. Occasionally, volunteers even show up wearing one.
Though I was stationed all over while in the military for 26 years, I have also lived in many Texas cities including San Antonio, Canyon Lake, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Austin and Houston as well as in a fire tower, my car (short while as a student) and a trailer. There are lots of us who were born poor, but have worked hard and have had great opportunity in this wonderful country of ours.

Fredericksburg Texas Monday

Great time today in Fredericksburg. Met many friendly folks at several events. Everyone is tuned into the coming election and are concerned about water, growth, education and keeping the beauty of the hill country. We must preserve the beauty of this land and keep it intact for those who follow us.
While wind and solar energy sources in West Texas are great, we cannot afford to deface this area with transmission towers cutting through ranches, dividing land and ruining the views. What is wrong with running lines along areas such as along I-10? Scenic Texas is busy fighting the huge commerical signs (often lighted) coming into rural areas - maybe they will choose to add transmission towers to their mission.

This coming week

Monday - Fredericksburg - Rotary Club Luncheon
Tuesday - New Braunfels - Chamber of Commerce Trade Show Preview
Wednesday - Harper - 12 to 1:00 pm, Voice Your Views, Longhorn Cafe 23624 W. Hwy 290
Wednesday - Fredericksburg - 3 to 4:00 pm, Voice your Views, Altdorf Biergarten, 201 Ease Main Street
Thursday, Boerne, -Retired Teachers HD 73 Candidates Forum 11 to 1:00 pm Contact figling@gvtc.com for details and reservation
Thursday - 4 to 6:00 pm, New Braunfels - Lemonade and Cookies, private home, call 210240-6565 to reserve
Friday - New Braunfels - Voice your Views, Crosswalk Coffeehouse and Cafe, 489 Main Plaza, across from the County Courthouse
Friday - New Braunfels - Voice your Views, Chili's Restaurant, 1254 N Ih-35 (South of HOme Depot)
Friday - 4:00 - 6:00 pm, San Antonio - Salute to Legislators, Guenther Hotel
Saturday - 10 - 11:00 am, Boerne - Voice your Views , Denny's 435 Bandera
Rd.
Saturday - 1 - 2:00 pm, Boerne - Voice your views, El Chapparel Mexican Restaurant, 707 South Main Street
Saturday - Boerne - 3 - 5:00 pm, Reception at private home, call for invitation.

The weekend, and alternative energy

What a great weekend. Saturday started with a Voicing your Views listening session at the Tapatio Springs Club House Restaurant in Tapatio Springs. There was quite a crowd from the Cornerstone Baptist Church and a retired Navy pilot’s reunion at lunch time that was all very welcoming and friendly. From there we drove over to the Boerne Middle School for the Kendall County Democrats Candidate Forum. County Chairman John Weir introduced all of us including Rep. Rick Noriega, our US Senate candidate and many of the judicial candidates.
Sam Houston and I joked about getting together at the Alamo soon. While Sam is not related to his famous namesake, I actually am a great, great, great, great, etc. grandson of ole Daniel. While we are both serious candidates, with professional background for public service, it is fun to be carrying a famous name during an election as voter recognition is so important.
People often confuse Daniel Boone with Davy Crockett and ask, “Where is your coonskin cap.” The reality is they did not even live at the same time, and it is Davy who really wore the cap. The original Daniel Boone wore a brimmed felt hat. However, in history “by the movies”, Fess Parker played both roles and we Americans have both characters bound up into one.
After the candidate forum, we headed to the reception of the Stonewall Democrats in downtown San Antonio. There was a great crowd and many local and state wide candidates were present. Carla Vela, Bexar County Chair and Larry Romo were among the illustrious guests.
Sunday brought services and a friendly ice cream social in New Braunfels along with a heap of reading and writing. A quick swim and pizza finished off a great weekend.

In the past, oil created wealth for Texas. Now the future of Texas is bound up with alternative energy. Currently leading the nation in wind energy, Texas is positioned perfectly to be the United States – and even a world - leader in the production of solar power. Out in west Texas, where even the rattlers and armadillos carry canteens, solar can rebuild the struggling economy, provide countless jobs and make us energy independent.
The realities of energy demand we take action now if we want to create the next Texas boom. I believe in alternative energy and will work to see it expanded in the next session of the legislature. At the same time, we must be sensitive to retaining the beauty of our rural land, use common sense and respect the views of our people.

Water meeting, endorsement, parades and more

What a week for the campaign! On the heels of the Democracy for American endorsement came another one. This time, the endorsement is from Independent Texans. I am both appreciative of this support and grateful for their endorsement.
Independent Texans understand that I am running for the HD73 seat in the legislature for our Texas Hill Country; water and growth issues being among the most important problems faced by our state - and that I am independent in my thinking, valuing everyone's ideas and suggestions. Water does not know the name of a politcial party. If we turn the tap and nothing comes out, it affects us all equally. And - I intend to operate the same way in the Texas House. No person or party has all the good ideas. We can all benefit by talking and reaching accord so that we can actually address the issues that the people want dealt with by our legislature.

After this excitement, I met many Republicans and Democrats alike at the joint Bulverde Spring Branch, Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce autumn kickoff meeting held at the GVTC Auditorium in Spring Branch. After the apathy of years past, it is a joy to see people engaged in our political process and interested in discussing the decisions we will all have to make. Voting is what makes our democracy strong and I respect everyone's right to make a personal decision.

A very important meeting I attended was the GMA9 (Groundwater Management Area 9) meeting held on Friday in Kerrville. Though Comal County does not have a water district, I was welcomed as a private citizen to participate in the meeting. To my knowledge, I was the only Comal County citizen present.
Attended by about 100 of the most water knowledgable folks in the area, this meeting discussed planning for the presentation to be made to the 2010 Texas Legislature.
I suggested, along with several others, that the drought of record" (DOR) beginning with 1950, be included in the computer model. Including this drought will provide the "worst case scenario" that we can expect with droughts of the future. The board discussed the fact that inclusion of the DOR would severly skew the model in a direction that is unacceptable in considering any additional drawdown (how much water can be withdrawn) from the aquifer.
The board also determined that including other multiple factors such as expected population growth without the ability of county commissioners to manage this growth is possible and will require significant adjustment to the model and substantial time and resources.
In what I believe was a wise and prudent decision, the board will included a DOR model run as well as less stressful drought model runs. I congratulate the DMA9 Board on their decision. This willl provide valuable data regarding actions that must be taken before and during the next DOR.
By the way, I suggest that hill country residents become aware of the good work being done by the GMA9 Board - and - ask you to take part in solving these water need problems. This board appreciates input from citizens. They believe input from the communities is the best way to find solutions to the substantial water issue facing us.

After this serious meeting, the Labor Day festivities really began in earnest. The Kendall County Fair Parade kicked off on Saturday morning. Enthusiasm and a positive response greeted me and our Booone volunteers in Boerne. Then we drove to Gillespie County. First we were in Harper for their 5:00 pm parade. This was followed by the delicious fried fish dinner put on by the Doss Volunteer Fire Department. Also in Gillespie County, Doss, last year , served over 3,000 people at the annual Fish Fry and they believe that this year will total even higher. Our hats are off to all the VFD folks throughtout our state. What a job they do for us all!

IN addition, great volunteers manned our entry in the Bandera parade as it was impossible for me to be in two places at once. I sure enjoyed the postive reaction in Bandera during their Frontier Days parade in Bandera last May. I was sorry to miss the excitement this time, as Bandera folks really know how to party.

I will try to post new additions to this site often. I expect to discuss pressing Texas issue each time I blog here. Please let me know if there are specific topics you want to talk about.

Dan's Videos

Be sure to check out the Daniel Boone video on the Myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/boonefortexas
Daniel Boone


Here he is addressing the Gun Owners Caucus