By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-930902.mp3
Dallas, TX – Right now Republicans hold a slim three-seat majority in the Texas House, so they must frequently work with Democrats to get things done. But Republicans hope to expand their majority by reclaiming districts they lost when a record number of Democrats voted two years ago. In South Tarrant County's District 96 Republican Bill Zedler is trying to retake the seat he lost to Democrat Chris Turner. KERA's Shelley Kofler says it's a closely watched rematch between political opposites.
Two years ago education groups helped former congressional staffer Chris Turner unseat three term republican Bill Zedler. Turner, a Burlington resident, criticized Zedler's vote for legislation that froze school funding. He called for an across the board pay raise for teachers. Turner says differences on education are again a big issue in this campaign.
Turner: He supports private school vouchers which take money out of the schools. I oppose vouchers. And he repeatedly voted to oppose pay raises for teachers. I voted to give teachers a pay raise.
Zedler, a retired hospital marketing manager from Arlington, says he doesn't believe every teacher should automatically receive the same pay increase. Instead, Zedler has supported greater raises for teachers who increase student achievement or teach in underperforming schools. He still supports vouchers for students wanting to leave low performing schools.
Zedler describes his political philosophy this way:
Zedler: I've always been one of those who believes in smaller government, limited taxes more toward free enterprise.
Zedler and Turner both say closing the state's gigantic budget deficit will be the greatest challenge.
Zedler cites his experience working on the state's smaller 2003 state deficit.
Zedler: We've got to have people willing to cut expenses and know how to do it. The main priority in the next session is to cut spending and not raise taxes.
Turner portrays Zedler as a rigid republican unwilling to work with members of both parties and says closing the state budget gap will require cooperation.
Turner says he'd begin by ending financial gimmicks.
Turner: Over many years the legislature has used accounting trickery to create the illusion of a balance budget. The single biggest driver of our budget deficit is the failed school finance plan from 2006 when they did the massive tax swap. They knew at the time that was going to create a $5 billion to $6 billion dollar shortfall every two years. So we've been deficit spending since that plan was passed and we need to reform that.
Turner says his greatest single legislative accomplishment is the authoring of a bill that created a lottery scratch off ticket. Proceeds from the game have raised over eight million dollars for Texas veterans.
Turner: I was thrilled to find out the veterans commission awarded an $850,000 grant to Tarrant county MHMR is going to use the funds to do transitional programs for homeless veterans. They're going to do job training programs, substance abuse programs, PTSD counseling.
Zedler says he's proudest of sponsoring a bill that forced insurance companies to pay for workman's comp care.
Zedler: One of the biggest problems we had down there were doctors or providers in the workers comp arena who would get the preauthorization from the insurance carrier and after they did the procedure the work comp carrier would want to deny payment.
Zedler's defense of doctors being investigated by the Texas Medical Board has been an issue in this campaign. Turner claims Zedler abused legislative privilege by using confidential information in the files of doctors, some of whom donated to Zedler's campaign. Zedler says he appeared on behalf of a half dozen doctors because the board wouldn't reveal specific charges against them.
Zedler: I never asked for anything from the doctors. Here's what my requests were: who filed the complaint; what was the complaint? Because I had doctors who never specifically knew what was the complaint against them.
In a district that tilts republican, Zedler is hoping his party credentials and his no-tax mantra will help him regain his old seat. Turner's hopes voters will look at his record and see a pragmatic moderate who supports public schools and gets things done.