Candidates get defensive at forum

Published Thursday, February 21, 2008

By Brandon Evans

State representative Phil King (R - Weatherford) defended his campaign donor list and lashed out at a recently aired televised attack ad.

"Quite a lot of talk has been going on as to how campaigns are funded," King said to a crowded room of Republicans in the Decatur Lions Club on Monday night.

Some recent media attention has highlighted the campaign donations King has received from utility companies. King serves as the chairman of the Texas House Committee on Regulated Industries.

King said he has received campaign donations from more groups than just energy companies.

"We have been funded by the National Rifle Association, Texas Right to Life, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, dental associates, local Realtors, veterinarians and more than 200 individuals living in the district," King said. "I receive support from those who support a free-market system."

King presented his remarks to a standing-room only crowd at a Republican forum hosted by the Wise County Republican Party. At least 60 people filled the seats lining four long tables in the room. In the back, about 40 more stood and watched Republican candidates present their platforms and answer questions submitted from the audience. A host of Republican candidates running in local and state races participated in the forum, but the race for house district 61 was the center of attention.

King also commented on a recent television ad attacking his work in the Texas House.

On Friday, a political action committee (PAC) called Texans for Economic Development began running a television ad opposing King's reelection. The ad accuses King of accepting thousands of dollars in contributions from utility companies, while at the same time electric rates in Texas rose by 56 percent.

The PAC running the ad is backed by several pro-gambling groups, including the Retama, a San Antonio racetrack, and the Texas Horsemen's Partnership.

"About two months ago I was approached by the chairman of (TED)," King said. "He told me they had raised $1.3 million to take on a handful of legislators that wouldn't support their legislation. I don't support casino-style gambling at race tracks, so I was high on their list.

"I told them I don't respond well to threats and to go away. If you can't say no to these types of things while campaigning, what can you say no to when you are in office?"

King said he contacted his opponent Joe Tison (R -Weatherford) about the gambling PAC.

"I talked to my opponent and told him he has to get in the middle of this and stop it," King said. "He said he would... On Friday, the commercial began to run."

King implied that Tison was possibly complicit in the attack ad.

"Would anyone really believe that they didn't approach Tison in the same manner?" King asked. "(That) they now pour money into his race without securing his support?"

Tison denied any involvement.

"You can check my contributions list and there are no funds from a gambling PAC," Tison said. "I was approached by them and I told them no. I don't support gambling."

According to the most recent campaign contributions list provided by the Texas Ethics Commission, Tison has received no funds from TED. His largest financial supporter is Texas Parent.

According to its Web site, Texas Parent is a bipartisan PAC that supports candidates that will "adequately invest in education to ensure prosperity in Texas."

Tison also spent a bit of time defending himself. He has been accused by some people of not being a true Republican.

"I've been accused of not being a Republican and now I know why," Tison said. "There is so much infighting. It is this infighting that makes us vulnerable to the Democratic Party. I want to change things in Austin and get people to work together. My first priority is to unite the party and deal with the issues that affect Wise and Parker counties."

"This is the top contested race in Texas this year," Tison said of the primary battle between him and King. "I believe this race will change Austin... I believe this race will be won in Wise County."

When it came time to fielding questions from the audience, King and Tison actually gave similar responses to some questions.

When asked about school vouchers, King said he supported the idea but not the method.

"I have yet to see a voucher program that I think would work," King said. "The idea is for the money to follow the child. It is conceptually good. But the problem is if the state money follows the child to a private school, so would the state mandates and regulations."

Tison also opposed school vouchers. He said the main problem in the Texas education system is funding per student.

"We rank 40th in the nation in funding per pupil," Tison said.

King said a laundry list of state mandates has prevented enough funds from reaching the classroom. He said out of the entire education budget, only about half goes to the classroom, while the rest is diverted to non-teaching positions and programs.

Editor's note: Comments from other candidates participating in the forum will be featured in Sunday's Wise County Messenger.