Sherrie Matula vs RepJohn Davis. A debate recap.

The debate between Sherrie Matula and State Rep John Davis was only 1.5 hours, yet from this debate we learned a number of things:

1. The Clear Lake High School Debate club was very well prepared for the debate and it was outstanding. Very well done and professional. The media and the Clear Creek Independent School District missed out on a very well organized and moderated event.
   
2. State Representative John Davis wasn't qualified to be a State Representative in 1998 and isn't qualified to remain one in 2006.
   
3. On Nov 7, 2006 State District 129 should have a new Representative, Sherrie Matula.

If you want more information on the candidates visit sherriematula.com, call her HQs at 281-461-8009 or visit her HQs at 907 El Dorado. Unfortunately, Representative Davis does not have a HQs, phone number, or website.

Items of note:
Shelley Sekula Gibbs crashed the debate and was snippy with the students for not allowing her to be recognized, or invited to the debate. (it was a state race, not congressional) In typical trademark fashion, Shelley arrived late, and left early. Everyone rejoiced.

There were about 110 people in attendance, with only 15 in support of John Davis. Not one single elected official from Davis' party was there. No Senator Jackson, Representative Taylor, City Council member Wiseman, the local members of the Republican clubs, no one. It is as if they have abandoned him.

On many occasions there was loud applause for Sherrie Matula, while Davis received the old "We cant let them beat us" obligatory clapping from the 15 or so in attendance. Shelley was the loudest and most obnoxious applauder, until she left.

John Davis had one of the best performances of his political career. Unfortunately his responses to many questions showed his ignorance of the law, or was completely out of step with the working middle class. He had artificial hand motions, sometimes looking out of sync with what he was saying. At times he would change his position after Sherrie spoke and would actually agree with her.

All in all, Davis sounded good but was short on substance. Sherrie had a clear understanding of every issue. Davis even claimed that Sherrie was a one issue candidate, as opposed to his overwhelming understanding of the issues. (no applause)

College Costs:
Davis stated that a 44% increase in college tuition, due to the Legislature deregulating college costs, was reasonable. (Groans from the audience) He also said that the Houston Chronicle just today wrote that Texas is just below the average of the nation, but failed to mention that it is 44% higher than it was before deregulation 3 years ago.

Sherrie stated the 44% increase was unacceptable and the state must look at the effects of deregulation on the middle class. (very loud applause, especially by the students)

Davis talked about restarting the Texas Tomorrow Fund but failed to mention it was in the hole $200Million and has been discontinued due to deregulation.

Air Quality:
Davis stated the air quality in the area was better than it was 40 years ago, but failed to recognize that Houston still has the worst air quality in the country. He defended his record of doing nothing and voting against the environment bills Mayor Bill White pushed for. (There were more groans in the audience)

Immigration:
On immigration, he took the Shelley Sekula immigrant bashing stand calling for all police to ask for proof of citizenship when charged with a crime. Sherrie Matula had to remind the audience that by law, we already do that, but we do not, and the Police cannot with the manpower they currently have, ask every person they stop for a traffic ticket for proof of citizenship. Davis again reiterated his stance which we are currently doing. NOTE: Davis mentioned on a number of times his good friend State Representative Rick Noriega when discussing immigration. You can decide why he did that for yourself.

Insurance:
Davis didn't have an answer to the high cost of insurance, except for bringing in more competition and promised lower rates in the future. (groans) Sherrie got her first loud applause when she said the insurance industry was overly represented in the Insurance Commission. She mentioned that competition has done nothing to brind down the rates in Texas and that Texas has the highest rates in the nation. Again. In her rebuttal she said the bottom line is that rates have not gone down. (more applause and hollering)

Health Care
This is one of the moments where my notes were BLAH BLAH BLAH. Davis claimed health care must be affordable, but didnt mention what he has done over the last 8 years to do this. He avoided the privitization of the CHIP program discussion, which is his baby, except to briefly comment how wonderful the program is (groans). And he mentioned health care reform in 2007. (groans, as if insurance, medical malpractice, and tort reform has worked)

Sherrie spoke of alternatives for small businesses, access to pools of insurance by public workers such as non teachers in the school system. Sherrie also said it was time to address this and "belly up to the bar". (lots of applause on this)

TAKS Testing.
Davis claimed the TAKS tests provided accountability. This was his only point on the issue.

Sherrie stated she was on 60 minutes in 2000 talking about the unfunded mandate, how it was costing tax payers $1500 per child just for testing, and that teachers (she was one for 25 years until recently) were spending 36 days out of the year for this unfunded mandate.

Sherrie also claimed there was a much better approach that is used on a national level that would provide accoutability and give control of teaching back to the teachers and school officials. She gave numerous examples. On rebuttal Davis agreed with her ideas. He stressed that these children needed "TLC".

Campaign contributions limits
Davis was against campaign limits. Here in Texas it is unlimited. He claimed that if someone (like Bob Perry) gave millions to someone that the people in Texas would consider them as bought off and wouldn't vote for him. I guess he was referring to Rick Perry?

Sherrie said that 27 people in the state finance most of the candidates and that this must stop. She supports a compound limit of $100,000 per person over a 2 year period. This bill she referred to would limit contributions to a single candidate to $5000 from one person and $10,000 from a PAC. Bob Perry's $100,000 donation to Rick Perry would be banned. (very loud applause)

Davis believes that the uncontrolled money in Texas politics should be continued. Light applause.

Opening and Closing Statements
Davis in his opening and closing statements focused on fighting Bayport (we lost), fighting the San Jacinto Rail (we won, but not sure what Davis did for that) and fighting for Green Space in Clear Lake (again those working on this issue and in the audience questioned what he did). He referenced a few NASA related bills concering technology transfer, but again I can't remember just what involvement he had. He seemed to claim that he filed the bill. His closing was much like his opening. No new ideas. No idea on what he would do to represent the area. He claimed he was a fighter and fought for his constituents. (light applause)

Sherrie had a list of things she would do including establishing a citizen advisory council on issues such as insurance, environment, education, etc. Promised to have a townhall meeting before, during and after the legislation session to keep everyone up to date on the issues. She also said that for the last 8 years we haven't had any representation in Austin, and it was time that we do. (LOUD applause)