For your consideration: House District 27 race

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The race for Gonzales’ representation in Washington, D.C. is ramping up as we approach the March 1 primary date. Two Republicans will vie for what will be the opportunity to represent District 27 at the Unites States Capitol.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) was first elected in 2010 in the Tea Party wave that inundated parts of the nation. This year, he will face a cross-town rival in Greg Deeb, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who served 20 years in service to his nation and looks to go a few more.

“I’m running because we have major problems in this country today,” said Deeb, 50. “There’s a whole host of issues that aren’t really new. Our politicians would have us believe that this is sort of the new norm, that they’ve done everything that they can, but these problems have existed five years to 10 years. And we elect officials to go solve extraordinary problems, but they’re not getting solved.”

Deeb thinks that he is the leader that we need for such times.

“Right now we do not have consent of the people,” he said. He spoke deftly on the United States Constitution and how current representatives are not following the will of the people. While some would rather have their lives led by lobbyists and the Washington bureaucracy, others seek a principled leader with experience and determination to guide not only a congressional district but a nation hungry for courage.

“The people of this district deserve better,” Deeb said. “I’m offering extraordinary leadership.”

Deeb brings to the race a 20-year career as a combat veteran in the United States Marine Corps. He served three operational tours with Marine F/A-18 squadrons, deployed with combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the first Marine to command a strike training squadron at Naval Air Station Kingsville. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.

He also says that his experience in defense and a brief career in the oil and gas industry have prepared him for this job. His wife is also a retired Marine and they have five children.

“We thought we had served enough,” he said, both with a combined 42 years of service. “But when your country calls and God calls, you take up the mantle and you go.”

His thoughts about running for office began before his retirement in 2007. People had approached him and mentioned that he might be the leader that was needed. And two years ago — after what he says was a lot of prayer — he decided to run against the three-term incumbent Farenthold. 

It is a difficult decision to run against an established incumbent in any race, but Deeb says to look at Farenthold’s voting record. There, you will find that it isn’t that hard to run to the right of the conservative congressman.

“Don’t just listen, go ahead and do the research,” Deeb said. “Go to Conservative Review. Go to their website. Congressman Farenthold has a 67 percent conservative rating. He’s rated a D. And if you just filter it down to the Republican congressmen from Texas, he’s ranked 13 out of 25. That’s not the head of the pack. That’s not all the way to the right, not by any stretch. That’s the middle of the road.”

Deeb has no problem taking on the congressman’s record and does so with what appears to be skilled research.

“He passed the Hire More Heroes Act,” Deeb said. “That got fused with another bill when it got passed. But the Hire More Heroes Act doesn’t do anything to hire more veterans. And I think it’s atrocious that our Congress would even put that bill forward.”

He explained how all the law does is benefit an employer that hires a veteran who is on veterans health care or Tri Care by eliminating their quota for providing Affordable Care Act benefits to the veteran, known as Obamacare.

“That has nothing to do with hiring more veterans,” he said. “I think it’s disingenuous if you title it like that about helping veterans. You’re not helping veterans at all. It’s a disservice to veterans. If you hire a veteran, you hire them because they’re the best for the job, not because they’re on Tri Care.”

Deeb says that if elected, he will listen to his constituents and work with them to carve out solutions for their problems, another point where he attacks his opponent.

“I don’t see that by the bills he’s proposed, and I don’t see that by any of the actions that he’s taken,” Deeb said. “I hear rhetoric. And I hear blame. Let’s follow the Constitution, and let’s take care of the people.” 

It is a long haul across the severely gerrymandered district that stretches from Corpus Christi all the way up to Bastrop. One’s concerns along the coast can differ vastly from those in the ranching areas around here. But Deeb says that there are a few themes he sees brought up often.

“What’s the big tie? Security,” he said. “And I hear that in every single county.” He also listed the banking industry, federal overreach, veterans affairs and Christian values that he claims are under attack as familiar concerns in District 27.

And he says he realized how little confidence people had in their federal government. Coming from a government job serving the nation, he says that really saddens him. So if elected, he looks to get back to his home turf every chance allowed and plans to spend the day in communities so that people that have jobs can come visit him in the evening if they can’t take off during the day. He says that there needs to be a real-time connection with voters in order to solve the complex issues that he ticks off.

“People have voices, and they need to be heard,” Deeb said.

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