Ron Paul to make White House run

Congressman Ron Paul

By Luke Hales
Congressman Ron Paul, representative for much of the Barbers Hill area, announced recently that he will be giving up his seat in the 14th Congressional District, leaving a wide-open race and numerous hopefuls vying for the opportunity.
Paul’s announcement was made public July 12 via Facebook, where he wrote “Big news! I have decided not to seek re-election for my House seat in 2012 and will focus all of my energy on winning the Presidency.”
Paul, a veteran, medical doctor and author, served five terms in the House of Representatives, retiring briefly in 1984. He made his first bid for the presidency in 1988 on the Libertarian ticket, and then came back to Congress in 1996. He was a brief contender for the Republican nomination in 2004.
Senator John Cornyn congratulated Paul Monday with a statement, saying that “Ron has served Texans in Congress with distinction for nearly 24 years as a fierce advocate for a more limited government. His steadfast devotion to his core beliefs has earned him the respect and loyalty from Texans and
Americans of all walks of life.”
Chambers County Republican Party Secretary Rusty Senac was positive about Paul’s politics. “We think that Dr. Paul’s views, from a conservative standpoint, really match Chambers County very well,” Senac said. “I’ve always
been amazed at his energy level. And he’s 75 years old; if he’s going to run for the presidency, now’s the time to do it.”
Potentially affecting Paul’s decision is a congressional redistricting that would split up Paul’s District 14 into new districts, which would in turn take away some of his primary constituent support. The new plan would effectively create a district similar to one that existed in the 1990s.
“There’s a good chance we’d be losing Dr. Paul as a representative anyway under this new plan,” Senac said. “His district (which covers an area roughly from Chambers County to Aransas County) is tough to run in.”
Considering a run for Paul’s seat are Democratic Rep. Nick Lampson, former representative Steve Stockman, and Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. Also in the running are Libertarians Bob Smither, Amy Jacobellis and Eugene Flynn.
For more information, visit www.Ronpaul2012.net.