Posted on 05/28/2003 7:08:11 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Congressional candidates air similar views Area chambers hold forum
By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The two candidates for District 19 U.S. representative struck a similar chord Tuesday in a live television forum, each one sounding like a conservative Republican with interests in agriculture, energy and job creation.
Both Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Mike Conaway, R-Midland, came away sounding knowledgable but also in agreement on issues of taxation, local control over water and education, homeland security and other issues.
The candidates competing to succeed U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, appeared at a forum featuring one panelist each from the Lubbock, Midland, Odessa and Big Spring chambers of commerce.
The forums will be replayed on stations throughout the district later in the week.
Neither candidate referred to his opponent by name, nor did either challenge or question the other's responses.
Both candidates said creating jobs is the most important issue facing the district, which spans from Crane County in the south to Parmer County in the north.
Conaway said, "The most important issue is this economy and jobs. District 19 will prosper if we can get new jobs into this district. Those kind of jobs are created by the private sector. The private sector jobs add wealth, add tax base to the district and that's the idea.
"... The role of the federal government (is) to create a structure in which small business can prosper. That means appropriate tax structure (and) appropriate regulatory structure in which they can operate and function and prosper under those rules," he said.
"It's for those of us individual citizens within the district that are responsible for the actual job creation itself, but it's the federal government's role to create an environment to let that happen and, in effect, get out of the way."
Neugebauer said, "Jobs for West Texas families is one of the most important issues facing the people of District 19, and small business is the primary creator of ... jobs in West Texas. We're really not fortunate (to) have a lot of very large employers in West Texas, so that the people that create jobs in West Texas for West Texas families are small business.
"One of the things we have to make sure in America is that we have an environment where small business can flourish and thrive, and certainly tax cuts is one way to do that. Because the ability for business to build their capital up is based on the amount of retained earnings that they have and retaining their income so that they can reinvest that in their communities," Neugebauer said.
"... The other thing the federal government needs to do is get out of small business' way so that they can continue to create the jobs that they've done for so many years," he said.
Conaway declared himself "the best candidate to represent you in Congress," based on what he said is a long history of serving his community, the state and nation.
Conaway, 54, is a certified public accountant and worked as chief financial officer in an energy business with President Bush before Bush became governor of Texas. Conaway said he remains friends with Bush, but his responsibility to constituents comes first.
Neugebauer, a 53-year-old real estate developer, said the next congressman from District 19 likely will be on an airplane June 4 — the day after the runoff election — to be sworn into office.
"This election is really about leadership and experience, and when you look at those two issues, Randy Neugebauer has the leadership skills and the experience to hit the ground running from day one."
He said he has worked in Washington with Combest on legislation, particularly the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor initiative to build a highway from Mexico to Colorado.
Neugebauer and Conaway emerged from a special election on May 3 from a field of 17 candidates.
Neugebauer finished first with 13,029 votes, or 22.4 percent, and Conaway finished second with 12,254 votes, or 21.1 percent.
Combest, who served 18 years, will retire May 31 to spend time with his family.
jfuquay@lubbockonline.com 766-8722
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