Rocking the boat is not something this candidate is ashamed of doing.
David Van Os, the Democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General, said in a speech from the Cooke County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon the nature of the attorney general’s job is to “shake things up” and challenge wrongdoing in business and in governmental affairs.
The Republican nominee is Greg Abbott, a two-term incumbent whom Van Os described as a “robber baron” and a resident of the “ivory tower” corporate establishment. He accused Abbott of being “bought” by corporate donations and protecting his campaign donors.
He made no mention of Libertarian candidate Jon Roland.
Van Os took a shot at his own party, criticizing the state-level leadership and advocating their removal from office.
“I raise hell inside my own party when I think they’re not doing something right,” he said, meeting applause.
Alternating from comments on the alleged influence of large oil and insurance corporations on government to his opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor, Van Os rallied a group of about 30 Democrats and curious county office workers on the shaded and recently renovated east side steps of the courthouse. His campaign team brought in hand-drawn protest signs for the audience to hold.
He also discussed the nature of the attorney general’s office and cited certain powers granted to it by the Texas Constitution.
Ron Melugin, chairman of the Cooke County Democratic Party, said more people would have been present if Van Os had scheduled a later rally.
“They had to work,” Melugin said of his fellow Democrats.
In his speech, Van Os said Texas government has “gotten off track” in many ways, beginning with several criticisms of Trans-Texas Corridor 35, a proposed multi-lane, multi-modal, quarter-mile-wide toll highway planned to span the area between Laredo and Gainesville.
Van Os said the plan would “scar the land.” He said the plan calls for foreign ownership.
“The profit would go to a greedy corporation from Europe, and not even leave the money circulating in the Texas economy,” he said. “... There’s something drastically wrong with that.”
He said the project would be the largest instance of the state using eminent domain authority.
“Although you are in the bulls-eye beam of this monstrosity, you are not alone in this fight. Everyone is against this,” he said to limited cheers.
He said TTC-35 would “fundamentally alter checks and balance system between individuals and the state,” as did the recent federal Supreme Court decision Kelo vs. Connecticut which ruled property may be taken by the government for economic development purposes.
“I mean what I say when I fight the Trans-Texas Corridor,” Van Os said, holding papers in his hand.
In a rare move for a candidate, Van Os presented an “affidavit for public record” listing opposition to TTC-35, the taking of private land for private sector development and corporate monopolies.
He recruited the services of Vicki Barnes, Commissioners Court secretary and a registered notary public, to sign and stamp the affidavit. He later filed the affidavit with the County Clerk’s office, and answered questions about the state of the state child support enforcement system.
Van Os said he advocated decentralizing the state bureaucracy and relegating enforcement and administration to the county level.
He said he has visited 168 out of 254 courthouses in Texas, and plans to visit even tiny Loving County in West Texas.
The candidate said greeting the people of Texas is more important to him than fund raising. He decried the major media outlets’ coverage of campaigns, saying that most political reporters focus on the amount of money raised by a candidate as an indicator of their likelihood of winning an election.
“This is a constitutional democracy, and we have the power,” he said. “There is no politician that can’t be fired.”
This is not Van Os’ first run aside Abbott on the November ballot. In 1998, Abbott ran against Van Os for a position on the Texas Supreme Court. Abbot won with 60 percent of the vote.
In 2004, Van Os again sought a Supreme Court seat but lost to GOP incumbent Scott Brister.
According to a press release from the campaign, Van Os was born and raised in Kilgore and attended the University of Texas on scholarship and received his law degree from in 1976. He now owns his own law firm in San Antonio where he practices constitutional law, labor and civil rights.
Van Os was the general counsel for the Texas AFL-CIO labor union from 1983-89.
On the Net:
Van Os campaign Web site: www.vanosfortexasag.com
Abbott campaign Web site: www.gregabbott.com
Roland campaign Web site: www.jonroland.org
Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr [at] ntin.net
Local News
Campaign trail brings Van Os to Gainesville
- Local News
-
-
State waits for answers
North Central Texas College administrators are preparing their
response to an inquiry by the Texas Office of the Attorney General. -
Program to inform on disease prevention
An upcoming Texas AgriLife Extension Service program will feed the
masses and supply information about disease prevention. -
Uncounted votes remained locked away
Election judge error is the apparent cause of uncounted votes
following Saturday’s race for a Gainesville Hospital District Board of
Directors seat. -
Kinne's Jewelers Recognized
Kinne’s Jewelers was the recent winner in Gainesville Area Chamber of
Commerce’s “Prize Patrol,” where local businesses are included in a
regular drawing and awarded treats and a certificate if selected. -
Swing school coming to NCTC
“Deep within my heart lies a melody…” Young musicians who get excited
when they hear the unique sounds that go along with these famous song
lyrics will head for North Central Texas College again this summer for
the third annual Big Texas Swing School. -
State asked for road help
This is a follow-up to Tuesday’s commissioners’ court story.
-
Council filled with proclamations
Gainesville City Council members approved a colleague’s resignation
during Tuesday’s regular meeting. -
Exchange member speaks at Rotary
Kate Powers, visiting from Melbourne, Australia, discussed the Rotary
Club’s “Group Study Exchange” program during Wednesday’s noon lunch
meeting. She is one of five group study exchange members visiting
Texas this year. -
Exchange member speaks to Rotary
Kate Powers, visiting from Melbourne, Australia, discussed the Rotary
Club’s “Group Study Exchange” program during Wednesday’s noon lunch
meeting. She is one of five group study exchange members visiting
Texas this year. -
Top Grad
Kylie Woodlock is slated to graduate from Gainesville High School on
the campus of the University of North Texas on May 25. - More Local News Headlines
-
State waits for answers


