FORT WORTH -- No matter what happens on Election Day, the newly drawn congressional district that stretches from Fort Worth's Stockyards to Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood will be represented by a Fort Worth man.
The question now is which one.After fierce primary battles earlier this year, the race for the 33rd Congressional District -- which pits Democrat state Rep. Marc Veasey, Republican Chuck Bradley and Green Party candidate Ed Lindsay against each other -- has quietly taken a back seat to other high-voltage races."What made District 33 unique in the primary was that it [drew] most of its residents from two different minority communities, each of whom had a viable candidate," said Adam Schiffer, a political science professor at TCU. "Add the Dallas-Fort Worth rivalry to the mix, and it was a recipe for a high-profile primary."The brand new 33rd, one of four new congressional districts that Texas gained because of population growth, was designed to give North Texas minority voters a chance to elect a U.S. representative of their choice.The district has more residents in Dallas County but more registered voters in Tarrant County.Political observers have long said this is a district that favors a Democrat, since President Barack Obama would have won 69 percent of the vote if the district had existed in 2008, but some maintain it's anybody's game. State records show the actual voting pool in the district contains 86,478 white residents, 83,671 black residents, 287,568 Hispanic residents and more than 10,000 classified as "other."Veasey said he's the right candidate for this job because he has a proven record of working for his constituents and building strong coalitions. Bradley maintains he's the man for the job because he's not a career politician and wants to go to Washington, D.C., to help fix problems facing the nation. And Lindsay maintains his college degrees, awards and accolades earned during his career set him apart.The three face off Nov. 6 to determine who will represent District 33 for the next two years with a $174,000-a-year salary. Early voting starts Oct. 22 and runs through Nov. 2.Marc VeaseyVeasey -- who began his political career as a longtime aide to former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Arlington, before being elected to the Texas House in 2004 -- won the hotly contested Democratic primary election earlier this year. First he rose to the top of a crowd of 11 Democrats to go to a runoff, then he bested former state Rep. Domingo Garcia of Dallas in a fierce, costly election.Controversies erupted throughout the primary, ranging from Garcia calling Veasey a "paid-for errand boy" of the establishment and saying Fort Worth's Stop Six and Poly neighborhoods "look like ghettos" to Veasey maintaining that Garcia was a "bad Democrat" and one of the most distrusted members of their party.Veasey said he wants to be elected to Congress to keep fighting for North Texans -- for programs to help create jobs and economic development, for a strong public education system and for quality healthcare.He said he will fight against budget cuts to senior benefits and programs such as Medicare. And he will be an ally for Obama and his policies."I have a proven record of building strong coalitions and being an effective leader," said Veasey, 41, who has been embraced by the House Democratic leadership. "I am the only candidate with experience in serving on the federal level and the only candidate having served in an elected leadership position among my Democratic peers in the Texas Legislature."Most importantly, as a state representative, I have served many of the constituents in North Texas and understand their concerns," he said. "The House district which I represent is much like Congressional District 33 in terms of its diversity. I understand the issues that face our families and the priorities that are the most important."If elected, Veasey would become the first black member of Congress ever elected in Tarrant County.Chuck BradleyBradley, 65, jumped into the race last year after becoming irritated during a Tea Party meeting that he couldn't ask a member of Congress questions on the spot, because questions had to be submitted days in advance.Frustrated with career politicians and worried about federal spending, he decided to run for office.Bradley, who retired a few years ago after selling his medical equipment company in Dallas and now lives in Fort Worth, said the biggest issues in the race include creating good-paying, private-sector jobs and helping America to become energy independent, which would help create jobs locally and across the country.If elected, he said he wants to work with local companies to create two new job training facilities -- one in Tarrant County and one in Dallas County -- that will "take a new approach to on-the-job training." He wants to file a bill that would let federal funds go directly to unemployed people being trained so people can feed their families while learning new job skills."We must be very concerned regarding maintaining Medicare and Social Security, massive unemployment especially for minorities here in Fort Worth and Dallas, and scheduled tax increases for lower- and middle-income families," Bradley said. "We need a congressman who opposes elimination of the Bush tax cuts as I do. We need a congressman who will not allow Medicare to be stripped of $700 billion dollars to help pay for the Affordable Health Care Act. ... And we need a Christian who represents the Republican Party philosophy that does not condone federal recognition of gay marriage."This is his first bid for public office. He promises to serve only two terms if elected.Bradley has called on Veasey to participate in televised debates with him. Veasey has declined.Ed LindsayThe 73-year-old retired educator and part-time insurance broker said he jumped in this race as a member of the Green Party "to make the real changes that are needed for our country."The Fort Worth man said the biggest issues in the race include Social Security, Medicare, the economy, the federal debt, the employment rate, individual rights and closing tax loopholes.He said he's busy talking to voters, sending campaign e-mails and putting out campaign signs.Lindsay said he wants voters to know "that I am honest, that I don't accept corporate money, that I am a true representative of the people and that I am highly educated and knowledgeable about how to solve the problems facing this country."Overall, if elected, he said his goal is to "end corporate welfare, ensure Social Security and Medicare are protected, stop deficit spending, end subsidies to oil companies, protect individual rights, stop sending our troops to war without a declaration of war, support our men and women in uniform, especially, veterans, and use my knowledge and 40 years experience in education to solve the nation's education problems."He has run for one other public office, Texas comptroller, in 2010, and he received more than 250,000 votes, or 6.34 percent.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsley
U.S. House District 33
Term: Two years
Salary: $174,000
Marc Veasey
Democrat
Age: 41
Residence: Fort Worth
Occupation: Real estate
Background: A former field representative for former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Dallas, from 1998 to 2004, he has represented Fort Worth's District 95 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2005.He has worked for a variety of local causes, including the Multicultural Alliance, and the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society. As an elected official, his legislative posts have included chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus and leading the fight for a fair redistricting process.
How to contact: www.marcveasey.com, campaign@marcveasey.com, 817-446-8222.
Chuck Bradley
Republican
Age: 65
Residence: Fort Worth
Occupation: Retired small-business owner
Background: This is the first public office he has sought, although he has worked and supported other Republican candidates, helping them with their campaigns. Since retiring, Bradley said his community involvement has included working with Operation Healing Waters and Heroes on the Water, two efforts that help injured members of the military.
How to contact: www.bradleyforcongress.com, cb@bradleyforcongress.com, 817-209-8819
Ed Lindsay
Green Party
Age: 73
Residence: Fort Worth
Occupation: Retired educator, part-time insurance broker
Background: Two years ago, he ran for Texas comptroller and received more than 250,000 votes, or 6.34 percent.
He stresses that his three college degrees -- a bachelor of secondary education, with a major in mathematics, at the University of Texas at Austin in 1963, a master of arts, with a major in school administration, from La Sierra University in 1967, and an educational specialist degree, with a major in administration, from Baylor University in 1982 -- are among his key qualifications.
How to contact: Lindsay for Congress, 5062 S. Tierney Court, Fort Worth, TX, 76112; 817-507-3727
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