HD-17 Candidate Eval – Stan Gerdes

Runoff Election Evaluation

Well, it’s down to 2 candidates on the Republican side in the May 24 runoff. One of these two will be our Republican candidate against the Democrat opponent. I’ve made it a point to attend candidate forums and events where these candidates spoke. I’ve spoken personally to both Paul Pape and Stan Gerdes about topics of interest to me.

At a recent GOP Club dinner, Gerdes was questioned about his stance on supporting Democrats for Texas House Committee chairs. Multiple attendees expressed their disappointment in this stance. Gerdes held firm to his position that it was okay to vote for Democrats to chair Texas House committees, even with the GOP strongly in control of both legislative houses.

I personally asked him if he understood what a kick in the teeth it was to those of us who work hard for the GOP for him to vote for Democrats. Democrats have stalled GOP priorities as committee chairs and if the shoe were on the other foot, they’d not vote for Republicans to chair their committees. We reminded him of their walk-out last session as evidence of Democrat lack of willingness to work together. Gerdes wouldn’t budge.

Gerdes’ constant use of a 5 year old photo of him with President Trump is a manipulative attempt to make voters think President Trump has endorsed him when he hasn’t. He can’t run on his record (less than a year as a Smithville Councilman), so he’s running, falsely, on President Trump’s.

And, then there’s the money. Follow the money and 80+% of it comes from out of district and from powerful PACs. When push comes to shove and a vote hurts HD-17 but helps Gerdes’ donors, how do you think he’ll vote? When powerful friends of endorser Rick Perry benefit from a vote that would hurt HD-17, which way do you think he’ll vote?

Gerdes’ refusal to reconsider voting for Democrat chairs of House committees says it all: he’ll vote the way the Speaker wants him to vote. Like the elites we’re trying to chase from office, he’ll vote with the money and political opportunities.

Gerdes’ support of Democrats is NOT supportive of the MAGA and America First agenda. It’s evidence of a “political opportunist” candidate.

Stan Gerdes will not get my runoff vote.

Primary Election Evaluation

I admit it. I’m a “political junkie”. So it follows that I do research on the candidates before deciding which candidate will get my vote. I do not base my vote on printed campaign literature which is the current message a candidate wants you to get. I look to past history and a candidate’s decisions. So, here are my thoughts about Stan Gerdes for House District 17 (Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee, Milam counties).