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Three Republicans and two Democrats are vying for the Senate District 18 seat left vacant by Glenn Hegar (R) after his November election to the Texas Comptroller post, which he will take in January 2015. Katy Libertea and the Sugar Land Tea Party organized a candidate forum for Republican Candidates at the Fort Bend North Annex.

The special election to replace Hegar in the Texas Senate takes place Dec. 6. Republicans in the race are Lois Kolkhorst, Texas House District 13 representative from Brenham; Gary Gates, Richmond businessman; and Charles Gregory, a former Simonton Mayor Pro-Tem and businessman. Democrats running include Christian Hawkins of Rosenberg, and Cindy Drabek of Rosenberg, who recently ran for House District 85.

Kolkhorst fell ill and was unable to attend the candidate forum, but her husband Jim came to fill in. Kolkhorst has served as District 13 representative for 14 years. She and her husband run a petroleum business.

Gates ran against Hegar in the 2006 Republican primary for the District 18 seat. He placed second, gaining 35.63-percent to Hegars 54.92-percent, with David Stall placing third at 9.44-percent. Gates manages a family-owned real estate investment company.

Gregory is currently Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Royal Disposal and Recycle. He has served as the General Counsel for the Fort Bend Republican Party.

The candidates were asked three questions, which inquired about their top priorities for Texas, border security and American Laws for American Courts (ALAC) legislation, which some states have passed to prevent courts from using any statutory or other law of a system of foriegn law to influence court rulings.

Gregory and Jim Kolkhorst said their top priorities would be to address water needs in Texas. Proposition 6, which was passed by legislators and voters in 2013, took $2 billion from the states Rainy Day Fund to create two accounts to pay for Texas water projects.

The legislature kicked the water issue down the road and the senate fumbled the ball, and now were creating regional water authorities that are regulating what we dont have, Gregory said. He said he would support desalinization to create more usable water. Gregory noted that rising water costs in Fort Bend could keep increasing if the issue of water distribution isnt dealt with in the region soon.

Gates listed border security, transportation and education has his top priorities.

The second question asked candidates which actions they support in the Texas Border Crisis Action Plan. Each gave a nuanced answer, but all supported tougher action.

Originally posted here:
Tea Party hosts Texas Senate district 18 Candidate Forum for Dec. 6 election