Reporter Taylor Nye of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram has interviewed the candidates in the District 4 Congressional race. Her interview with me was published today.
LOU ANTONELLI
• Business experience: Publisher, Clarksville Times
• Political experience: Planning and Zoning Commission member, Clarksville; former school board member, Cedar Hill
What issues are most important for you during the campaign?
“In my case, running as a third-party candidate, my main issue is to try to make third parties respectable and to try to get people thinking outside the box. This us versus them, Republican versus Democrat…, it doesn’t seem to be working. It increases polarization. …I want people to seriously consider voting for third parties. It might seriously be an improvement on the current political system. I mean, they’re [Republicans and Democrats] about to knock each others’ brains out, the country’s about to collapse. I think the country would be better if we had a four-party system: Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and Greens. That’s my goal.”
What issues do you expect your opponent(s) to focus on?
“The Democrat [Russell Foster, D-Sherman] is in a bad situation because this is such a Republican district. Pat Fallon (R-Sherman) doesn’t seem to be campaigning. I think he thinks he can coast into office. This district was 75% Republican last time, so he just thinks it’s his for the taking. The difference is I’m actually out campaigning. I have been putting out news releases, and as we get closer to the election, I will put out information about particular ideas.
“The Republican is just not campaigning that much and he probably doesn’t think he has to. Other Republicans as well resent the fact that he [Fallon] got the nomination when he doesn’t live inside the district. Pat Fallon’s state senate district does overlap the congressional district by a bit, but I think he’s being a bit hypocritical. It’s not illegal, but I do think it’s unethical. I think the bigger problem is he’s from the fringes of the district…. Everybody from Sulphur Springs and east, we haven’t had a congressman in a long time.”
Once you get elected, what would your priorities be?
“Libertarians tend to support major party legislation, and that would be Republicans. Libertarians are closer to Republicans.
“One issue I think needs to be addressed is that it’s time to legalize marijuana. It’s just ridiculous, everybody’s smoking it. You can’t have legislation that’s so divergent from social mores. It’s like prohibition—it’s led to an enormous crime problem. I don’t even believe in smoking, but it’s not about what I believe. It’s one more thing that should be off the plate of national controversy.
“Polarization has been created by gerrymandering; that’s what they’ve been doing. We need to pass some sort of legislation that says districts need to be compacted and contiguous instead of having them roam all over the landscape. They need to be geographically logical and have more of an admixture of political opinions—all the Republicans in one district and Democrats in another district, and you pile them up. But we need more elections where people face contests. They need to face the potential to be defeated, because then you moderate your views. Fallon just puts on his signs ‘Vote conservative Republican.’ It’s like, let’s hear some views.”
How did you decide to run for the seat?
“I thought to do something this year to help the party, so I contacted the Libertarians and asked them if they had any nominees for various offices. The Libertarian Party said no one had expressed an interest in congressional district 04, so I said I’ll do it. I kind of volunteered, and they nominated me. I wouldn’t say I’m passionate, but I’m involved in it. Some good can be accomplished.”
How do you deal with negativity on the internet and from detractors?
“People get too emotionally involved with anger and hostility. People advocate positions and even call each other names, but at the end of the day, we’re still citizens of the same country.
“As a third party, I find positions from either party I can support. …Dealing with hostility, sometimes I find maintaining a sense of humor and wit is helpful. Sometimes you just have to look at somebody and say, ‘I’ve been called worse things by better people.’ Also, sometimes people are not at their best. They get crabby, they’ve had a bad day. I like to shake hands. I like to be friendly. People don’t need to be cynical and contemptuous, everybody’s a person.”
