King, age 63, is retired from a career as a banker and oil and gas executive. He and his wife live in New Braunfels, Texas.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I was born in Dallas. I’ve lived virtually my whole life in Dallas, Houston, or New Braunfels, where I’m now retired with my wife Julie. We’re members of St. John´s Episcopal Church in New Braunfels. We have two adult sons who are married.
I have a BA in Economics and Political Science from SMU (Phi Beta Kappa) and an MBA in Finance, also from SMU.
I also have 20 years experience in banking and in the energy business, culminating as the CFO of a NYSE company, then 15 years in nonprofit leadership roles before retiring. This gives me a powerful blend of experiences, understanding (1) that the free market — not government — is how we grow our standard of living, and that (2) the nonprofit sector is far more efficient and effective than government in delivering services to the needy.
I’ve been a taxpayer for 47 years.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
- The inflation we’ve experienced pales compared to what lies ahead if we don’t reduce spending. Government receives $5 trillion in annual revenues … but spends $7 trillion. Our $35 trillion debt plus future entitlement liabilities now exceeds $700,000 per taxpayer, causing inflation, higher interest rates, making it difficult for younger citizens to buy homes. Worse, it threatens economic collapse if (when) the dollar loses its status as the world’s reserve currency.
We must reduce spending in every part of the federal budget. There shouldn’t be sacred cows. Everything goes on the table, except for veterans benefits and social security for low- and middle-income retirees. Tax cuts for high income taxpayers should be deferred until our budget is balanced.
- The erosion of our liberties is accelerating. It’s a two-fold problem:
- Elected officials (POTUS and Congress) who don’t follow the Constitution, and
- Too many bureaucrats issuing too many regulations.
Congress must fight executive orders of presidents of BOTH PARTIES that deprive Congress of its legitimate authority. Defending the Bill of Rights from unconstitutional legislation and executive orders will be my top goal.
Dramatic reductions in spending will result in fewer bureaucrats issuing fewer regulations. After we eliminate/reduce the bureaucracy, we must disperse it across America so D.C. never again has dominion over us.
- Career politicians and their friends in the media have created a hate-filled environment that is threatening to divide the country worse than since the 1860s.
The best way to continue to function as a unified country is to return to the principles of federalism. We must let California be California, let Texas be Texas, and let free citizens vote with their feet. We don’t need every decision to be made in DC.
How would you approach Congress’ ongoing gridlock on numerous issues including spending bills?
Compromise is okay … IF it’s in the right direction.
- Enact an immigration solution that
- ends provisional asylum,
- legalizes Dreamers,
- expands LEGAL immigration, BUT
- defers implementation of (c) until border control is restored.
This compromise gets everyone paddling together.
More LEGAL, less ILLEGAL immigration.
- Enact a Right to Privacy Amendment that
- bars government from our bedrooms,
- assures women of abortion rights prior to fetal viability, and
- gives parents control over decisions affecting the discipline, education and health care of children.
This compromise keeps government out of the creation and raising of families, except where the lives of viable unborn children are at stake.
- Congress must produce balanced budgets. I’ll never vote for a CR [continuing resolution] instead of a budget produced by regular order. If parts of government shut down temporarily while Congress does its job, then so be it. Spending can be prioritized so the essential parts of the government are unaffected.
I’ll work with anyone in Congress to produce budgets by regular order, and balance them within five years. I’ll make compromises on the path to a balanced budget. If not, then no compromises.
We must stop charging our undisciplined spending to future generations.
Describe your approach to being an effective lawmaker in order to best serve the needs of voters in your district.
Tired of career politicians? Vote for a career citizen! I’ve pledged to serve no more than three terms in Congress. We need a constitutional amendment limiting individuals to three terms in the House and one term in the Senate. The permanent political class is in bed with big industry (crony capitalism) and this (plus unchecked campaign contributions) creates perpetual fraud and waste of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars. Returning to the citizen-legislator model will return the Congress to the people.
We also need gerrymandering reform. Absurdly gerrymandered districts like TX-21 produce results that favor one party and make competitive elections a thing of the past. Without competitive elections, both parties take extremist positions, not caring about solving problems.
My high school football coach taught me “It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit”. This is so true!
I’m age 63, too old to be doing this for career reasons. I’m running because I’m worried for the future of my children. I won’t have party bosses telling me how to vote, and I’ll seek solutions, not the permanent entrenchment of my fossilized body in Congress.
How would you solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
Most congressmen, using their free franking privileges, send PR pieces disguised as surveys. These careerist congressmen are not interested in listening — only in peacocking before their constituents to entrench themselves permanently. Some do it to position themselves politically and financially for future elections for even higher office. I can’t name names here.
If elected I’ll have a monthly Zoom-style meeting with all constituents invited to participate and submit questions. I’ll have bona fide journalists moderating so that it isn’t purely a PR event.
Every year I’ll conduct Town Hall meetings in every part of TX-21 where I have campaigned (Alamo Heights, Blanco, Boerne, Bulverde, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, New Braunfels, San Antonio, San Marcos, Wimberley).
I’ll do my best to see that every constructive message is answered. The hateful, obscene ones, no.
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