Antonelli, Jones share vision for District 4

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On Nov. 4, congressional district Texas-04 will elect a new representative. Vying for the seat against Pat Fallon (R-Sherman) and Russell Foster (D-Sherman) are Lou Antonelli (Libertarian-Clarksville) and Tracy Jones (Independent-Texarkana). The News-Telegram caught up with the non-party candidates and asked them about their passions, goals and the difficulties of running for office.

Lou Antonelli
Lou Antonelli

LOU ANTONELLI

• Business experience: Publisher, Clarksville Times

• Political experience: Planning and Zoning Commission member, Clarksville; former school board member, Cedar Hill

What issues are most important for you during the campaign?

“In my case, running as a third-party candidate, my main issue is to try to make third parties respectable and to try to get people thinking outside the box. This us versus them, Republican versus Democrat…, it doesn’t seem to be working. It increases polarization. …I want people to seriously consider voting for third parties. It might seriously be an improvement on the current political system. I mean, they’re [Republicans and Democrats] about to knock each others’ brains out, the country’s about to collapse. I think the country would be better if we had a four-party system: Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and Greens. That’s my goal.”

What issues do you expect your opponent(s) to focus on?

“The Democrat [Russell Foster, D-Sherman] is in a bad situation because this is such a Republican district. Pat Fallon (R-Sherman) doesn’t seem to be campaigning. I think he thinks he can coast into office. This district was 75% Republican last time, so he just thinks it’s his for the taking. The difference is I’m actually out campaigning. I have been putting out news releases, and as we get closer to the election, I will put out information about particular ideas.

“The Republican is just not campaigning that much and he probably doesn’t think he has to. Other Republicans as well resent the fact that he [Fallon] got the nomination when he doesn’t live inside the district. Pat Fallon’s state senate district does overlap the congressional district by a bit, but I think he’s being a bit hypocritical. It’s not illegal, but I do think it’s unethical. I think the bigger problem is he’s from the fringes of the district…. Everybody from Sulphur Springs and east, we haven’t had a congressman in a long time.”

Once you get elected, what would your priorities be?

“Libertarians tend to support major party legislation, and that would be Republicans. Libertarians are closer to Republicans.

“One issue I think needs to be addressed is that it’s time to legalize marijuana. It’s just ridiculous, everybody’s smoking it. You can’t have legislation that’s so divergent from social mores. It’s like prohibition—it’s led to an enormous crime problem. I don’t even believe in smoking, but it’s not about what I believe. It’s one more thing that should be off the plate of national controversy.

“Polarization has been created by gerrymandering; that’s what they’ve been doing. We need to pass some sort of legislation that says districts need to be compacted and contiguous instead of having them roam all over the landscape. They need to be geographically logical and have more of an admixture of political opinions—all the Republicans in one district and Democrats in another district, and you pile them up. But we need more elections where people face contests. They need to face the potential to be defeated, because then you moderate your views. Fallon just puts on his signs ‘Vote conservative Republican.’ It’s like, let’s hear some views.”

How did you decide to run for the seat?

“I thought to do something this year to help the party, so I contacted the Libertarians and asked them if they had any nominees for various offices. The Libertarian Party said no one had expressed an interest in congressional district 04, so I said I’ll do it. I kind of volunteered, and they nominated me. I wouldn’t say I’m passionate, but I’m involved in it. Some good can be accomplished.”

How do you deal with negativity on the internet and from detractors?

“People get too emotionally involved with anger and hostility. People advocate positions and even call each other names, but at the end of the day, we’re still citizens of the same country.

“As a third party, I find positions from either party I can support. …Dealing with hostility, sometimes I find maintaining a sense of humor and wit is helpful. Sometimes you just have to look at somebody and say, ‘I’ve been called worse things by better people.’ Also, sometimes people are not at their best. They get crabby, they’ve had a bad day. I like to shake hands. I like to be friendly. People don’t need to be cynical and contemptuous, everybody’s a person.”

Tracy Jones
Tracy Jones

TRACY JONES

• Business experience: Pastor, Know Your Worth Ministries

• Political experience: Community organizing, Turn Up the Lights and Gospel Fest, A Twin City Christmas, Freedom Fest

What issues are most important for you during the campaign?

“When they started closing down the gatherings and closing down businesses, being an entrepreneur and being a ministry guy, you might imagine that my attention got sparked. I wanted to make sure we got in there and make sure we did whatever we could to make sure this never happened again.

“The first amendment is the most important issue. We’re in the middle of a mask mandate and businesses are still shut down. Churches are still operating at limited capacity. We’re still not able to do large gatherings. To me, that’s a violation of the first amendment.

“I’m also for the second amendment and we’ve got a host of other issues to deal with as well.”

What issues do you expect your opponent(s) to focus on?

“I see these guys as politics as usual, but I see us as a unique time in history where our freedoms are being challenged. We’ve got these wild situations going on with COVID, with Black Lives Matter, and we’ve got such division. We build unity, … and we build a common bond. We protect our first and second amendment rights, and our competitors are just doing more of the same. When I hear their stuff, it’s just more politics. I want to put a common sense and a Biblical lens on it.

“The whole process [of choosing a GOP representative] was kind of murky to me. Why did the governor claim we didn’t have time for a run-off? We sent over all the best candidates from district 4 and they got looked over for a guy who doesn’t even live in the district [Fallon]. I mean the guy doesn’t even live here. …It violates the GOP platform. I was concerned with the process in general. I don’t like having candidates selected for us. I voted Republican all my life, but I like to elect my leaders, I don’t like them selected.”

Once you get elected, what would your priorities be?

“I would like to find out what laws best work for the people of this district. Not having a lot of experience, I would be learning. There would be a learning curve, but I learn fast. And I will be looking out for the people of District 04.

“My dad used to say, ‘If people use something that doesn’t belong to them, they don’t take care of it the same way.’ I make the point that Pat Fallon is not from here. Russell Foster (D-Sherman) is, and I make the point that he and I are the only two born and raised in the fourth district. Pat Fallon is from Massachusetts and now lives in Prosper. We grew up in this district and will take care of it like it deserves.”

How did you decide to run for the seat?

“The Holy Spirit nudged me to do this [run for office]. Everything I do is at the prompting of the Lord. I did not believe that I was politically driven, but after the Fourth [of July] and what I went through trying to get that event off the ground, and how I had to deal with Republican leadership that was determined to close down the holiday, I just prayed about it and knew we had to fight for our freedoms.”

How do you deal with negativity on the internet and from detractors?

“Everything is an opportunity if we pour our hearts out there and don’t have a slant on it. Even in negativity there’s an opportunity to build a bridge and open a door. I try to use every opportunity I can. My faith in Christ is everything, and I look at everything through a kingdom lens. Oftentimes a negativity comes from a lack of knowledge, but we have to know that’s an opportunity for us to pour Christ into somebody.”