District 24
The best argument against congressional term limits is that voters can use the ballot box to end any official's tenure. The Star-Telegram Editorial Board has held this position for years.It's not a perfect argument. The truth is, it takes a candidate with a lot of political savvy and buckets of money to run a credible campaign against an entrenched congressional incumbent. Building competitive name identification, hiring campaign consultants and staff and getting supporters to the polls is not something just any John Q. or Jane Q. Public can pull off, no matter how sincere or well-founded their desire or ability to serve.It should be hard to achieve the honor of a seat in Congress. But it should be equally hard to hold on to one.U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell, is a good argument for term limits. Marchant, 61, was elected in 2004 after former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay led Texas legislators through a redistricting process designed to create safe GOP seats in Congress. District 24, covering much of northeast Tarrant County and northwest Dallas County, was built for Marchant, a long-loyal Republican lawmaker.Ever since, he's been a reliable rubber stamp for the House Republican leadership. On his website, Marchant touts 91 bills he has co-sponsored but only two he originated. That alone is evidence that he's not in touch with issues that are important to his constituents.Grant Stinchfield, 43, a former KXAS Channel 5 television news reporter who now owns a small business in Irving, says Marchant has not been aggressive enough in representing conservative voters in District 24, which regularly delivers more than 60 percent of its votes for Republican candidates. He deserves attention.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Grant Stinchfield in the Republican primary for U.S. House District 24.District 12From the time she first got to Congress 15 years ago, Kay Granger has been a steady but forceful voice in the House of Representatives.She has gained clout throughout her move up the leadership ladder without losing sight of taking care of constituents back home in District 12. She's always ready for a fight if friendly persuasion doesn't get the job done.Just this week, after months of trying to persuade the Air Force not to transfer a fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft from Fort Worth to Great Falls, Mont., she decided to use her position as chairwoman of the powerful Defense Appropriations subcommittee to try to halt the action through legislation.She has become a foreign-policy power broker while sitting on the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies, taking credit for personally cutting "several billion dollars" out of the foreign aid budget. Granger emphasizes that she believes in "smart, targeted cuts."Granger, 69, said she has addressed the jobs and economy issue by voting to reduce taxes and eliminate onerous government regulations for small businesses. And, in Fort Worth, she has continued to support large corporate employers, including defense contractors, and secure funding for the Trinity River Vision project.Granger's opponent in the Republican Primary is Bill Lawrence, 66, a consultant in dispute resolution, an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and former mayor of Highland Village. His platform is a recitation of the conservative talking points: limited government, strong national defense, repeal of "Obamacare," protecting the Constitution and standing strong on pro-life principles. He says the incumbent is not conservative enough.District 12 covers the western half of Tarrant County and all of Parker and Wise counties.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Kay Granger in the Republican primary U.S. House District 12.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
