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District 68 State Rep candidates face off

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 5:00 am

With less than two weeks to go before the election, three Republican candidates for State Representative District 68 spoke before Jack County voters in Jacksboro Jan. 11

John Berry, Craig Carter and David Spiller were each given an intro, time for a closing statement and time to answer questions from the public.

Berry, a financial planner in Mineral Wells, who served an appointed term as Jack County Commissioner, said his traditional values of history, family and strength have supported him. He has worked the last three GOP Conventions and served on the legislative priorities committee.

He said if elected, he would get rid of unfunded mandates which he says Austin has a problem with.

“With out little $5 million county budget, it’s hard to pay for those,” Berry said. “It’s great for Collin and Harris counties.”

Berry said counties having to pay for mental patients they arrest for offenses are really biting the bullet. He says there are more mental patients in rural county prisons statewide than in mental hospitals.

Craig Carter, a Nocona businessman, who wants to serve residents as a state representative. Carter, who ran for the District 30 Senate Race in 2018., says small businesses such as Nocona coffee and Nocona boots are doable right now if someone is willing to put n the hard work e.

Carter said maintaining our Constitutional rights such as to bear arms should never be dropped.

“I’ll never lay down my arms for anyone,” Carter said.

Jacksboro attorney David Spiller said being a life long resident has given him time into a being a school board member and a Chamber of Commerce board member, being an attorney for a number of entities in the city has given him a lot of experience in areas around the city that should help him.

If elected, he says many schools and hospitals west ofI-35 in his district lack powerful enough internet services to do school work.

He sees important areas including resdistricting. If we don’t stand and fight against, we could be placed in a more urban-like district.

I’m not talking like Dallas County. I’m talking like Parker County,” Spiller said. “I like their residents but their issues are not our issues.”

All three men thought getting into Austin quickly is important during this redistricting session to look at the proposed maps because if they don’t, things could get picked over.

Spiller said he’s seen some of the maps and there are some of the few he could live with. Carter says he has seen his belief systems change over the years with politics never meeting church being challenged. Correcting that is why he’s running for office.

“I do have a servant’s heart,” Carter said. “It’s one of the reasons I’ve missed one day of working in four years. That’s why I accomplish what I set out for.”

Berry said if he’s elected, being a financial planner, a tighter hold will be needed on the money. He says looking at the bloat in state agencies may be a place to start.

Spiller was asked a question concerning voter ID which he says voters have no trust in the voting system and “we as a state and country have failed.”Spiller said Voter ID must be strengthened and soon

“We need to be citizens or able to prove we can vote absentee before being able to vote,”

Carter was given a question on protecting historic sites. He said restoring the Nocona Boot Factory shows he can do that job.

Berry said digging into the state’s rainy day fund may be needed to solve the problems. Before doing so, however, plans to refund, refill and replenish.

Berry said the state franchise tax, which he was given a question on, must be reformed because it it nothing more than a “fee for doing business in state.

“Small business bear the brunt of this,” Berry said.

In closing remarks, Spiller said he had the knowledge and would work to do the job, having worked in a number of areas.

Carter said it was time for small town folks to stand up to corruption and to ensure small businesses stay open.

Berry ensured that he was a conservative up for saving tradition.

“I received the highest score from the NRA,” Berry said. “ I want to be our voice in Austin.”