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....

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.