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Brazoria man seeks House nomination
Published November 12, 2009
BRAZORIA — Buying groceries or working every day as a supervisor for a petrochemical contractor makes Gerald Wall qualified to be a U.S. Congressman, he said.
Officials who have built a career of several years in Congress over time lose touch with the public and what the public needs, he said.
“I know what I feel like when I go deposit my paycheck,” said Wall, a Brazoria resident. “I know what it costs to buy bread and milk.”
After watching crowds grow at the local Taxed Enough Already or TEA Parties, Wall realized he wasn’t alone. Many people are upset with government attempts to create a healthcare program and immense spending to support the auto and banking industries, he says.
So he intends to run against longtime U.S. District 14 Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, for the Republican nomination in the March primaries.
Wall is joining a growing field of competitors looking to unseat Paul. Tim Graney, a Katy business owner, Jeff Cherry, a League City teacher, and John Gay, a school district administrator from Galveston County, all have set up Web sites declaring their intention to run for the Republican nomination for Paul’s seat in March.
Filing for the primaries runs from Dec. 3 to Jan. 4.
LONG TERM
Paul said he intends to seek another term for the position he has held since 1996. Voters continue to put him in office because he doesn’t shift from his Libertarian-leaning views, Paul said.
“They are looking for someone who will stand on principle,” he said.
While Paul had an unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, he easily fended off a challenge for the nomination to his congressional seat from Friendswood Councilman Chris Peden. Paul received 70 percent of the vote compared to Peden’s 30 percent.
Wall said too many officials in Congress have been there too long. A U.S. House member might be well-meaning when he or she is elected, but politics changes attitudes over time, he said.
“It’s either going to wear you down or make you ineffective,” he said.
Wall said if he is elected to Congress, he plans to serve four terms and will not seek re-election after that.
Paul said he doesn’t believe candidates should campaign on an “artificial” limit that can easily be broken once they are in office.
“I have supported term limits,” he said.
Term limits must be set for all members of Congress with the same limit by law, Paul said.
Paul’s popularity grew during his run for president, and he netted millions through the Internet for his presidential and congressional campaigns.
Wall said he intends to raise money locally with events like a “Restore America” rally from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at MacLean Park in Lake Jackson.
GOVERNING BUSINESSES
With the bank bailouts last year, the stimulus package and the bailout of the auto industry, government-backed health care would be too much government involvement in the economy, he said.
“At that point, the government will have control of about 60 percent of our country’s economy,” he said. “I think the free market can govern itself.”
Wall said he would like to see tax dollars spent to pay down government debt or supporting troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We should support our troops as long as we are there,” he said.
Congress should wean businesses from taxpayer funds and promote free markets, he said. Wall also wants legislation to open up more areas in the country for oil drilling.
Paul said he doesn’t necessarily disagree with Wall’s stances, especially when it comes to the relationship between businesses and the government.
“Managed care has failed,” said Paul, a former obstetrician. “It is a mess, but we don’t need government to fix it.”
Brazoria County Republican Party Chair Yvonne Dewey said she didn’t know what to make of the growing field of candidates for the District 14 seat.
“I guess they feel it’s time for a change,” she said.
John Tompkins is senior reporter for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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