Lou Antonelli of Clarksville in Red River County, on the ballot as the Libertarian candidate for the 4th Congressional District this fall, says the Republicans can unite with the Libertarians against the Democrats by nominating him for Congress.
Republican
County and Precinct Chairmen, gathering as the Congressional District Executive
Committee (CDEC), will meet Saturday, August 8, at 1 p.m. at the Hopkins County
Regional Center in Sulphur Springs to pick a candidate.
Republicans
will have to choose a successor on the ballot for John Ratliffe, who resigned
his congressional seat in May after being appointed Director of National Intelligence
by President Trump.
Since
Ratcliffe won the Republican nomination in the March Primary, it is now up to
the CDEC to replace him on the ballot.
Antonelli
suggests that if the Republicans become deadlocked over the difficult decision
among 13 candidates, they could give him the nod for November.
Declared
candidates include:
Trace Johannesen, Rockwall city councilman.
TC
Manning, U.S. Navy veteran.
Floyd
McLendon, former U.S. Navy SEAL.
Jim
Pruitt, mayor of Rockwall.
Travis
Ransom, mayor of Atlanta.
Robert
West, farmer from Cooper.
Jason
Ross, former district chief of Staff for Ratcliffe.
Pat
Fallon, state senator from Prosper.
Casey
Campbell, lawyer from Rockwall.
Bob
Worthen, businessman from Texarkana.
Aaron
Harris, chief of staff for U.S. Representative Lance Gooden.
Zach
Rateliff, Businessman from Texarkana.
Steve
Gorman, retired airline pilot and drag racer from Whitesboro.
John
Cooper, preacher from Sulphur Springs.
“I’m
already on the ballot,” said Antonelli. “If the Republicans deadlock or the
meeting breaks down, I can be a compromise candidate and represent the party in
November.”
He
added that, in light of the unique situation this year, if nominated and
elected, he will only serve one term.
“Normally,
all these fine candidates should have had the opportunity to battle it out
against themselves in a Republican Primary. If elected, I will hold the seat
for one term and then the process can proceed normally in 2022,” said
Antonelli.
Antonelli,
63, is co-owner of The Clarksville Times weekly newspaper with his wife
Patricia. A life-long journalist, he was won awards for Community Service, General
Excellence, Column Writing, and Photography,
He
had served as an elected school trustee, as well as a library and animal
shelter board member. He is currently a member of the Clarksville Planning and
Zoning Commission, and President of the Clarksville Lions Club.
