Lacy's Lonestar Lowdown
In the weeks leading up to former U.S. Congressman John Ratcliffe’s inevitable confirmation after being tapped by President Donald J. Trump for Director of National Intelligence, the possibilities as to his replacement and the process of that replacement for the upcoming general election in November seemed riddled with contingency and excitement. Since Ratcliffe had already secured his place on the ballot, questions loomed. Would Governor Greg Abbott call a special election for Ratcliffe’s unexpired term? If not, how would Ratcliffe be replaced on the ballot? Would Atlanta’s mayor, Travis Ransom, consider throwing his hat in the ring?
Once Abbott removed the special-election variable, former Texas GOP Chairperson James Dickey outlined the process by which the candidate would be determined— via congressional district executive committee (CDEC), a body comprised of county and precinct chairs throughout congressional district four (CD4). Those interested in filling Ratcliffe’s vacant seat, including Ransom, began announcing their bids for candidacy. Instead of kissing babies and rallying support from voters like you and me, the candidates met with party chairs and attended county-level GOP conventions to shore up support for the first of its kind “election” in our district.
The process was heralded early on as a way to circumvent the pitfalls of a special election by limiting outside influence, rewarding low-level GOP elected officials for their years of hard work and activism, keeping the carpetbaggers at bay and diminishing the influence of special interests. It seemed too good to be true—because it was.
Largely respected in the community he serves; Ransom announced his candidacy at the end of May. Regardless of political affiliation, one would be hard-pressed to deny that having him hold a U.S. congressional seat in our district has value. He has been vocal about his opposition to the Marvin Nichols Reservoir project, a position shared by a majority of our citizens, and that few legislators, if any, have been willing to adopt since the project was first proposed decades ago. Many would benefit from fast, reliable internet service in rural Cass County—a large part of Ransom’s platform. His political ideology is in line with the conservative voter. But it is the accountability to Cass County that would have been of greatest value. We would have enjoyed the leverage that keeps him working for us and makes our vote matter. After all, it would be difficult to come back home, otherwise.
Documents received by the Journal-Sun in May indicated that a fight was on the Texas GOP’s hands if the CDEC moved forward. An opinion written by an attorney in CD4 whose name and location are redacted but obtained from a reliable source meticulously lays out an argument against the process claiming that Ratcliffe’s appointment to a non-elected position did not meet the eligibility requirement to invoke a vote by the committee. The threat of an injunction seemed to smolder just below the surface as if biding its time to rear its head depending on a particular outcome. Was this leveraged to the committee if the “right” candidate was not favored?
The argument that Ransom would not have won the coveted spot with Cass County votes alone is valid, but what were his chances to win the seat when his own county refused to unite in support of him?
When three Cass County precinct chairs chose to voice their nomination of Ransom’s opponents, two of whom do not live in CD4, it seemed to lend credibility to a theory floated by insiders and colleagues that this was a power grab by those who seldom have any, and though it would be short-lived and likely to never come again, it was enough to make them lose sight of the bigger picture and disregard a candidate who shares their values, over whom they could wield influence and demand accountability.
What were they promised for their unapologetic abandonment of a proven public servant, neighbor and friend?
Did Cass County chairs ask Pat Fallon when he was soliciting their votes where he stood on the Marvin Nichols Reservoir project? Did they know or care that Fallon has held elected office in the proposed service area for the Marvin Nichols Reservoir since 2013 and that those interests may conflict with their own?
One hundred forty-three delegates from CD4 voted privately and without accountability to their constituency to replace Ratcliffe—82 of them voted for Fallon, a candidate who has never served the people of our district. He has never asked for your vote and because he will likely win in November after he is parked on the ballot with an “R” by his name, has little reason to take a hard stance on issues that matter most to Cass County.
The CDEC voted on your behalf, privately, but the vote totals are revealing. These are people who laud accountability, term limits and “no more career politicians”, but when, for the first time in the district’s history, the Cass County GOP is given the power to make our county matter to the rest of CD4, they vote for a career politician who does not live in the district, made no disclosures about fundraising prior to the meeting, whose soon-to-be constituents in the western part of the district and current constituency would greatly benefit from the Marvin Nichols Reservoir, and with Rockwall County at his back, will never need your vote.