FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2012
Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com
AUSTIN – Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) is shocked to see the dirty politics playing out in the race for House District 9 (HD9) by challenger Chris Paddie.
On January 14th, YCT mobilized its membership of conservative college activists to help walk blocks for HD9 incumbent and YCT-endorsed candidate for reelection, State Rep. Wayne Christian. Young conservatives from as far away as West Texas joined with a group of local volunteers from the old and new HD9, representing Harrison, Panola, Shelby, and Nacogdoches counties in their ranks. Since the walk, Paddie and supporters of his campaign have been spreading rumors through word-of-mouth and social media that Rep. Wayne Christian has been bringing “strangers” to Harrison County to walk for him.
“I’m no stranger to East Texas,” said Kasey Golden, Center, Texas native and YCT Historian. “I grew up in Shelby County, which has been a part of HD9 my entire life. I can’t believe that someone who wants to represent me in Austin would speak negatively about the hard work of local volunteers and college activists in an attempt to discredit Rep. Christian.”
YCT volunteers, most of whom were current college students, spent their own money to travel across the state and walk with Rep. Wayne Christian and his local supporters. They have endorsed Rep. Christian’s campaign due to his history of championing conservative social and fiscal legislation, as well as his courage to lead on grassroots issues even when they are unpopular in Austin. For over thirty years, YCT has endorsed and supported conservative candidates in this way.
The walk was highly successful, canvassing hundreds of households over two precincts. The response to Rep. Wayne Christian and his proven record was overwhelmingly positive.
“Chris Paddie’s real concern should be that he doesn’t have the support of a single conservative grassroots organization for his campaign,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “The fact is that a challenger who cannot articulate why he is running against a proven conservative leader like Wayne Christian, outside of his own personal desires to climb the political ladder, wouldn’t know grassroots support even if it did come knocking on his door.”
YCT calls on Chris Paddie to end the whisper campaign against Rep. Wayne Christian and run a campaign based on issues and record. Paddie’s tactics not only diminish the efforts of the conservative movement in our state, but also of Christian’s numerous local supporters that have walked blocks for him across HD9 – folks Paddie wishes to one day represent.
“YCT is no stranger to conservative grassroots activism. If we’re strangers to Paddie, that should tell you all you need to know about his campaign,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “These things come up when a candidate has nothing positive to say about himself and is forced to instead pollute voters with nonsense.”
Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. To learn more about YCT, their ratings, or for information on joining, please visit www.YCT.org.
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