YCT Praise Five Courageous Freshmen

Press Releases / November 22, 2010

For Immediate Release
November 22, 2010

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
[email protected], (512) 923-6893

Austin – Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) wishes to thank and praise State Representatives-elect Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, Jim Landtroop, R-Plainview, Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, David Simpson, R-Longview, and Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas for their endorsements of Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, in the race for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

“Despite strong-arm tactics by Speaker Straus and his leadership team, these five freshmen representatives showed courage in recognizing that Ken Paxton stands on solid conservative principles and in endorsing him for Speaker of the Texas House,” remarked Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “It is clear these leaders respect the wishes of their constituents. Having heard the call from the electorate to push forward a conservative agenda during the next legislative session, they have stepped out to acknowledge that such an agenda is put at risk by the liberal leadership of Speaker Joe Straus and would be secured by the conservative leadership of Ken Paxton.”

Perry and Simpson defeated long-time Republican incumbents Delwin Jones and Tommy Merritt, respectively, in the Republican Primary. Jones and Merritt were close allies of Speaker Straus and were part of the original group of 11 Republicans who joined with Democrats last session to elect Straus. Jones and Merritt were widely considered by conservative groups to be two of the most liberal Republicans in the Texas House. Burkett, Landtroop, and Sheets defeated Democratic Representatives Robert Miklos, Joe Heflin, and Allen Vaught, respectively, in the November general election.

All five representatives-elect earned YCT’s endorsement in their respective races.

“We were thoroughly impressed with Cindy Burkett, Jim Landtroop, Charles Perry, David Simpson, and Kenneth Sheets when we decided to endorse them,” explained McDonald. “We knew they were a new breed of statesmen; entering politics not to make friends, but to make Texas a better state. The grassroots are proud that they have fulfilled the promise we saw in them and we look forward to more courageous, conservative leadership when these five leaders go to Austin.”

Young Conservatives of Texas issues endorsements to the most conservative candidates across Texas. The group examines candidates through questionnaires and in-depth interviews before the members come together to deliberate and pick the most qualified conservative in each race.

Young Conservatives of Texas has promoted conservatism across the Lone Star State for over three decades. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the last 18 legislative sessions. YCT has hundreds of members at chapters at universities across Texas. To learn more about YCT, their legislative ratings, or their endorsements visit www.yct.org.

YCT, which was founded in 1980, issues the most respected ratings of the state legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the last 18 legislative sessions. YCT has chapters at the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Texas Tech University.