U.S. Congress TX 4: VaLinda Hathcox Is No Newcomer to Government

by: faithchatham

Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 20:59:45 PM CST

Why I'm in this race:
My roots in this district go back generations. My mother's family settled in Collin County in the 1800s. My parents settled in Wood and Hopkins Counties. I was born, educated, have lived and worked in the Texas 4th District all my life (except when in Law School in Austin or working for the people of Texas in as Deputy Attorney General and Director of Public Affairs, at the Texas Land Commission, or as Director of Legislative Affairs for the State Bar of Texas and for the Texas Association of Counties.

VaLinda on the family's ranches (Hathcox Farms and Big H Ranch) with part of their herd of Texas Longhorns.
VaLinda's parents inherited only 20 acres of their 1000 acres. They worked and paid for what they acquired, but want to pass it on to their children.

For me, my family and most of my neighbors, Texas is more than just a state or an address -- it is part of us and we are intrinsically tied to it through more than just the land or where we work.

· Texas is a culture where we carve better opportunities and more just, fairer practices for successive generations.

· Texas is a culture where folks don't expect better to be easy.

· Texas is a place where hard work and diligence means incremental advancement for most folks, incredible success for some and where we work together to help prevent others from falling through the cracks.

· Texas is where we look at what we have realistically, face what got us where we are while figuring out better, more just, fairer laws, regulations and "ways of doing things" for the future.

It saddens and angers me to see America's place in the world -- and Texas's economic and educational rank in this nation slide - plunging decent families and hard working individuals into poverty despite their absolute best efforts.

I'm running for Congress because I know that Federal laws and policies either nurture or devastate individuals and businesses here. The misplaced priorities of Washington have displaced too many decent people in our district.  

I'm running for Congress because I want to change that which no individual can control on his own, but which is leaving far too many people shortchanged despite their own best efforts.

VaLinda is prepared to serve our U.S. Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Texas.

I'm no newcomer to government.


I know my way around Washington and Austin.


I have experience in translating the concerns of people in the towns and counties of Texas into legislation and getting it passed by State and Federal Legislatures.

I've participated in implementating new laws and regulations while working:

- as Deputy Attorney General of Texas,

- at the Texas School Land Commission,

- as County Attorney in Hopkins County and

- as Legislative Director of Texas' Association of Counties and of the State Bar of Texas.

VaLinda (right foreground) and her Mother, Mrs. Margie Hathcox(second from the right behind VaLinda) with Cass County native son, Congressman Wright Patman (third from left) and  Mrs. Patman (seated). VaLinda's Dad is making a point to Rep. Patman.  

Part of Congressman Patman's Old District 1 is currently in District 4. Redistricting has shifted the Hathcox family's ranches in Wood and Hopkins counties between District 1 and District 4 in various years.  Currently some of their ranch land is in Wood County in District 1 and some is in Hopkins County in District 4.

VaLinda Hathcox was the first woman to serve as Deputy Attorney General and Director of Public Affairs (pictured below).

She applies her academic training
in working to solve problems
for the people of Texas.

I traveled Texas in 2006 listening to people, when I ran for Texas Land Commissioner.

I was honored when more Texans voted for me than for any other woman in the Democratic Primary in 2006. Despite the millions he spent and my meager campaign budget, in 2006 more Texans voted for me for Texas Land Commissioner than voted for Governor Rick Perry.

I listened a lot and learned a lot from the people I met during that year traveling this incredible state.

From the urban areas of the DFW metroplex, down through East Texas, to the Gulf Coast to far West Texas, I heard the same thing. I especially listened to people in our 4th Congressional District as they explained how the priorities of the Washington belt-way are not addressing the challenges and concerns of folks here at home.

Many families not currently facing foreclosure are afraid of losing their homes. Others, unable to afford college for themselves or their children, view the future fearful, afraid that the best opportunities are behind us rather than ahead.

Predatory interstate lending practices have led to families trading equity in their homes to cover shortfalls necessary to keep their automobiles running so they could get to work, buy clothes for their family and pay school expenses. More hours at work for less pay hampers parents in having adequate time to supervise their children and participate in education and civic activities.  Their hope for advancement seems unreachable as college tuition, housing, books and fees double and triple at public and private colleges and universities. Teachers see apathy in children's eyes and are challenged to persuade them to stay in school and go to college while they are seeing their parents laid off from work or unable to get jobs honoring their dedication, skill and talent.

I am running for Congress because I know we can make the changes necessary to return a realistic hope to the people of this state and nation. I'll fight to re-enfranchise the people while disenfranchising corporations which move their operations offshore to avoid paying their fair share of taxes and complying with safety and fair work laws of this country. Companies which import products into this country should comply with our Health and Safety rules. I'll fight to re-enfranchise the people. If that means disenfranchising some corporations (and their lobbyists) which move their operations offshore to avoid paying their fair share of taxes and / or complying with American Occupational Safety and Health laws of this country.

Our country has worked for years to develop and implement systems which protect people, especially our children, from dangerous products and ingredients. I will fight to see that American Safety standards are applied to products imported into this country. This will help give American workers and American manufacturers an opportunity to survive in today's global marketplace while keeping us safe from toxic products.

We need to strengthen inspection of imported fruits, vegetables and other foodstuff for human and animal consumption. Much of the inspection of imports is left to the State Department of Agriculture. Texas is a major gateway for produce imports from Mexico, yet the Texas Department of Agriculture only inspects 1% to 2% of the imports. Americans deserve to know that foreign producers importing into our nation comply with U.S. Standards in not using  pesticides and toxic chemicals banned for use by American producers.

Americans who work hard all their life, deserve to know they will have enough money to live on when they retire.

Texans are not afraid of hard work. Given a "fair playing field" the people here are some of the most industrious and productive workers and entrepreneurs in the world. Texans devote themselves to their jobs and invest life savings into their businesses and deserve a fair return on their investments. Despite their best efforts, many Americans are only one or two missed paychecks or one serious illness away from away from financial devastation.

Our parents saw the steel industry die in East Texas. Manufacturing jobs were moved off-shore. Despite the honest work ethics of men and women in this state, it's now common to see good people terminated, forced to accept lower paying jobs without health care or retirement benefits. Diminished income impacts much more than just the "laid-off" worker. It impacts families, their hopes and dreams about tomorrow, and our whole community.

We must work diligently to restore sound fiscal government to this nation. We must mend the social safety net, which enables all taxpayers to share in the American Dream.

We need to strengthen programs which nurture homeownership, family security, job opportunities and access to affordable life-long excellent education so that every human being has opportunities to grow and thrive in our communities.

If you honor me with your votes, I'll fight to keep and create good jobs in Texas for everyone who wants to work.

VaLinda's father's Union Cards,
and Lone Star Steel Employee's Badge.

These are only a few of the many issues we need to confront together if we are to build a stronger foundation for our future.

If you have more questions or need more information, please contact me via e-mail at askvalinda@hathcoxforcongress.com or ask me your questions by commenting at the bottom of this journal or on my campaign website.

I need your help.

Please VOLUNTEER in our campaign or CONTRIBUTE to help send VaLinda Hathcox to Congress to represent the 4th District of Texas.

I believe I am the best equipped person in this race to fight for the people of our 4th Texas 4th District in Washington.  I appreciate your consideration and support.

I am running for U.S. Congress because I believe together we can make the changes which are necessary to restore control of our government to the American people, to stabilize our economy and to provide opportunities and security for the people of Texas ensuring  Texans of all races, genders, and socio-economic situations opportunity to work, earn and enjoy the fruits of their efforts.

Sincerely,
VaLinda Hathcox