More leadership, less noise: Fisher for House seat

State Rep. Jonathan Stickland and challenger Scott W. Fisher both represent the same faith-and-values conservative viewpoint that has dominated Republican politics in Euless, Bedford and Hurst for 30 years.

But there is a difference.

Fisher, 57, of Bedford, pastor of a Church of the Nazarene congregation in Euless, has lived here 36 years as a leader for Tarrant County and Texas.

Stickland, 32, an oil and gas consultant, is a passionate and sometimes brash ideologue who represents an extreme viewpoint and a smaller-government movement more than his district or its many local needs.

Fisher, named by Gov. Rick Perry to oversee juvenile delinquents’ detention and treatment as chairman of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department board, is a former communications director for the Texas Christian Coalition. As chairman of the county public hospital board, he led one of the few public hospitals in the U.S. that does not offer either discount clinical care for illegal immigrants or elective abortions.

Stickland, elected from the liberty movement, has become its statewide icon and has been ranked either the No. 1 or No. 2 “most conservative” member of the House in each of his two terms. But that often leaves him on the lonely, losing side of House bills, such as his efforts to prevent a U.S. National Security Agency office from opening in San Antonio and to allow carrying handguns without a license.

Both candidates have been bedeviled by campaign claims.

Stickland’s immature and misanthropic past online message-board comments led to his public request for forgiveness.

Fisher is dogged by a 2013 hospital board resolution asking the Legislature for more money to fund indigent care, listing as one “possible option” to include more Texans in federal Medicaid.

It is reasonable for a county hospital trustee to ask the Legislature for more money for indigent care, particularly when many patients come from other counties that never contribute a dime.

Euless, Bedford and Hurst have always prospered most when voters elect positive civic leaders. Fisher is from the generation that built the banks, hospitals, cities and public schools that make the H-E-B area strong.

Stickland wages an admirable battle for his views, but his cause is a national movement for smaller government and fewer laws, not to deliver results for his community.

The nominee will face a Democrat, Kim K. Leach, in November.

The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Scott W. Fisher for the Republican nomination in Texas House District 92.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "More leadership, less noise: Fisher for House seat."