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Candidates for the Texas House of
Represents, District 59 -- incumbent Sid Miller and challenger Ernie
Casbeer -- participated in a voter’s forum in Stephenville, Monday,
October 23, and though they “agreed to disagree” on several things,
both agreed “something is wrong” in education. But their idea of what
exactly is wrong, and possible solutions, differed.
In his opening remarks, Rep. Miller said
that he was seeking his fourth term in the Texas House, and noted the
various committees and task forces to which he’s been appointed, and
then listed some of the endorsements he’s received. Miller described
himself as a “small business owner” and said he looked forward to the
forum, hoping that “we all learn something,” and that he “was ready to
get down to business.”
Candidate Casbeer then presented his
opening remarks, noting, “I’m a teacher. I love to teach,” and adding
that he had decided it was time “to stop complaining about the sorry
leadership in Austin” and do something about it. Casbeer said he was
in the race for several reasons, including having “a voice in Austin
that speaks for the people of District 59. Someone who will talk for
you and listen to you.”
Among the issues addressed during the
forum were taxes, protection of groundwater, school funding, excessive
testing, border security, illegal immigration and utility rate
deregulation.
The questions, “What should a high school
graduate be prepared for upon graduation?” and, “Should we expect all
graduates to go to college?” and “How should schools be preparing
students for the real world work force?” prompted the following
response by the two participants.
“The Texas school system is broken...and
we need to go in there and fix the thing,” Casbeer said. “Right now we
have a one-size-fits-all school system. The idea is that everybody is
going to college. Everybody knows that’s not true. Every student is
not going to college, so why require every student to take four years
of math and four years of science.” Casbeer suggested that in
education there should be “a track for high school students who want
to go to college” and “a track for high school students who want to
get out of school and go to one of these great service jobs.”
Rep. Miller’s response to the same
question noted that although students needed to master the basic
skills of reading, writing and math, they also needed to be able to
balance a checkbook, and even have a sense of patriotism instilled in
them before they leave school. He discussed students having one of two
paths, a college path or a career technology path, and that “We must
move away from the...K-12 program and embrace the K-16 concept” and
that better efforts could be made to bridge the gap between high
school and college. Miller discussed the large percentage of Texas
high schools which offer advanced placement classes and dual credit
courses, adding, “We’re on the right track, but I just don’t believe
we’re there yet. We need to do more for our non-college bound
students, those who want...vocational training. It’s important that we
meet the needs of all students. We’re very good in this education
system at bringing the bottom up, but we also need to bring the top
up, and make sure every student rises to the top.”
Rep. Miller responded first to the
question regarding, “What are your ideas for controlling utility rates
for the December 31, 2006 expiration for the rate cap set by the Texas
Public Utilities Commission?”
“In January, we will have full
deregulation...electricity will be on the open market,” Miller said.
“It will be very competitive. Right now, rates are set, they were set
early in the year, based on the cost of natural gas. Natural gas has
gone down, but the electric (rate) has not gone down. In January, I’m
very hopeful that the free market system will take over -- competition
will take over -- and we’ll see our utility rates drop.” Miller also
discussed clean burning coal, nuclear power plants, wind energy and
bio-diesel generators that will favorably impact utility rates in the
near future.
Casbeer noted that utility companies
could be charging “a whole lot less right now than they are.” He added
that Texans are currently paying “the highest utility bills in the
nation.”
“And don’t kid yourself,” Casbeer added,
“ as soon as deregulation comes in, watch your rates go out of
sight...all those people care about is their pocketbooks. Right now,
if the Public Utilities Commission of Texas can’t keep the rates fair,
there’s not going to be any fair rates.” Casbeer also discussed some
of the same alternative fuel related issues as Miller, but did not
seem to think that some of them were much of a viable option, saying,
for instance, that he’s “not convinced that there is such a thing as a
clean-burning coal situation.” Casbeer summed up his statement with,
“We don’t need deregulation, we need strong regulation, so that
these...public utility companies don’t keep making tons and tons of
money at our expense.”
After debating several more issues, the
candidates were allowed a closing statement, in which both noted that
they appreciated the good turn out for a Monday night, and Casbeer
saying he appreciated those who were willing to “miss the kick-off of
the Cowboys game.”
Casbeer said, in part, that he believed
it was “time for a change” and urged everyone to vote.
Rep. Miller noted in his closing
statement, in part, that he had “a strong conservative record in the
Texas House” and that he’s “worked hard for District 59” and that he
would continue to work hard if voters send him back to Austin.
The forum was sponsored by the
Stephenville Association of Texas Professional Educators. |
