First week in October, still on the road

There are so many great events in the Hill Country that it is hard to keep up:
I spoke with many folks at the Living Green & Renewable Energy Roundup in Fredericksburg on the 29th of September.
Saw innovative and useful green items. Can’t wait until we have the time to install some of them here at the ranch. We listened to great presentations, especially one by Judith McGeary on NAIS. www.farmandranchfreedom.org People need to be aware of the restrictions, limitations and imposition that will be made on our small ranching businesses. Please help me lobby for “voluntary” participation in NAIS. Mandatory membership will put many local folks out of business. Best it should go away altogether.

Just one thought: what I have been told: large ranchers will be able to list an entire herd with one identification number while small operators will have to tag each animal – and account within 24 hours, of any change in their status. Ouch . . . we must act now.

Independent Texans, having endorsed me, are now helping with independent voters. They too are aware that while our issues are non partisan, they will affect all of us. Party names, like fraternities are fun, but we really need to look beyond labels.

KSAT filmed a great two minute piece that we will post here for you to watch. Let us know what you think. Not being a professional politician, I tend to speak from the heart.

My speech, along with many others, will be shown on air . . . . ..
Speaking of on air; Be watching for the KGNB radio forum with me and my opponent.
It will be on the radio October 17th, 5pm and October 18th 8am on KGNB and October 19th 9am on KNBT.

The Health Fair at Holy Name Church in New Braunfels was well attended. It offered a great 5K walk/run, entertainment and lots of very good health screening. Ramon Chapa, candidate for the New Braunfels commissioners’ court, Precinct 3 led this effort. Good going Ramon. Speaking of Ramon, he is being honored tonight at the La Prensa Gala (an interview will be broadcast on Fox News around 8:15 pm this evening).

The Bulverde, Spring Branch, Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce Trade Show was held last Saturday at the CRRC Building below the Dam near Canyon Lake. Talking with our locals showed lots of support, even among our strong Republicans. People are thinking about what concerns us all – water, growth and the future of the hill country. Thanks to everyone for a very successful chamber event.

Robbi and I attended the Garden Ridge Lion’s Club fundraiser, Fish Fry and Barbecue, last weekend. What a terrific event and great group of people. Welcoming and responsive, it is good to know these people. In addition to the usual silent auction, they had new furniture items for sale and a good live auction. In fact, Robbi picked up two chairs for our home. . .and I volunteered to be next year’s auctioneer (more about that later).
Mayor Jay F. Feibelman was welcoming, showed us around, introducing us to many. The Mayor is justifiably proud of the well designed civic center Garden Ridge built and owns without debt. We hope to have a candidate forum or debate there soon. Watch for more information soon.

The S.A.F.E Quarry meeting was held at The Old Barn on Solms. They had a great turnout – with many concerned people. Their issues include noise, dusk, traffic near the school, vast amounts of water used to keep the dust down, dust polluting the aquifer and so much more. Many of these people have lived here for years are finding their needs not being met. This is one more reason for getting legislation giving more control to county commissioners.

Why Send Daniel Boone USAF Lt Col (ret) to the Texas Legislature?

This election may well determine the future of our hill country. Our local population is forecast to quadruple by 2050, and this stresses our resources and infrastructure more each year. We have to get state functionaries out of our business and develop the best county level polices. I am also concerned relief from property and franchise taxes, public education and our roads. Eliminating waste while creating transparency and accountability in our state government will be top priorities when I am your representative. I do not take money from special interests; my only allegiance is to you and the hill country.

· Water: We must be true conservatives in protecting our water supplies for ourselves and our children. Water management is one of the most important issues. Currently, our water is not being adequately preserved and protected. With professional skills in statistical analysis, I know we must improve our computer modeling of groundwater availability and use for the 2020 report to State Water Development Board.

· Growth; 95% of our district is unincorporated and our county commissioners cannot help us manage growth due to state law. We need local management of growth so that we can continue to enjoy our special life style. I favor legislation that will enable our county commissioners to help locally as we see fit, right here at home. If we do nothing, we will have city style sprawl and the destruction of our hill country.

· Public Roads; I oppose double taxation and the conversion of our public roads into toll roads. Continuing this effort – and opposition to the Trans Texas Toll road are among my top priorities.

· Alternative Energy: Our legislature must promote the use of wind and solar development. Incentives now will create the new Texas boom – providing jobs and sustainable energy for generations. I will take bold steps in the legislature to insure leadership in this area.

· Education: We must reduce state bureaucratic restrictions and return control to the local district. All children deserve a superior education with both vocational and academic education accessible and respected. Eliminating the TEKS Test, keeping good teachers and taking care of retired teachers must be part of our goals. The tax monies we have must go directly into classrooms with local needs determining our priorities.

· NAIS; National Animal Identification System seems sensible upon first look. However, it must be defeated as it creates undue bureaucratic burden upon local operations and will grow a bigger government while limiting our personal freedoms.

I will work to curb development over the water recharge zones, and to ensure safe, pure drinking water for our children’s future. Current leadership has stood by as developers of high density growth, shopping centers and huge parking lots have spread across the Austin-San Antonio Corridor resulting in paved sprawl over the Edward's Contributing and Recharge Zones in Hays, Comal, Bexar and now spreading into Bandera, Kendall and Medina Counties. The EAA leadership has stated that when the water gets dirty, that they will "create treatment plants to clean it up." Who wants to be drinking reprocessed toilet water?. Do we want our representative to work for us, the people or to work behind the scenes, partnering with suburbia's water marketing importers?

I have done it all – grew up in poverty; picked cotton lived in a fire tower and sold cars. I enlisted in the Navy and Army and eventually went to college on the GI Bill, earning a PhD. Entering the Air Force as an officer, I was sent to Waco VA for an internship. Because, in addition to other professional experience, I have worked in negotiating contracts, managing multi-million dollar contracts and mediated contract disputes I have skills useful for a legislator.

I believe in the principle that the job of State Representative is to represent all the people and because I love the hill country, I am running for the HD73 seat and solicit your vote.

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....