In a political stunt you might find only in Texas, the Democratic candidate for State Senate District 25 earlier this week challenged incumbent Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) to a public debate – and a shootout.
Army veteran Steven Kling is Campbell’s long-shot challenger in the Hill Country district that includes New Braunfels, Boerne, and part of north Bexar County. He sent a letter to Campbell on Monday through certified mail, inviting her to participate “in a political dialogue held in a most Texas fashion.”
“While we can both agree that voters should likely choose another metric for representation beyond marksmanship, a lighthearted, public forum will give Texas voters the opportunity to evaluate both candidates and their positions and help them make a wise and informed decision,” Kling wrote.
Kling’s campaign manager, Joe Green, said the shootout idea came from a tweet Kling posted in June, critiquing Campbell’s stance when she held a toy gun at a picnic shooting gallery. Adding a test of marksmanship to a debate seemed like a good idea.
.@DonnaCampbellTX You’ll improve your accuracy a lot with a consistent cheek-to-stock weld. If your #NRA friends can’t teach you, I can. I hear they aren’t into training these days. I used to command a US Army Reserve small arms training unit at Camp Bullis. #GunSenseNow pic.twitter.com/LGnEaFF1Cf
— Steve Kling (@stevekling) June 24, 2018
“We saw this as a good way to hold her feet to the fire and give the residents of Senate District 25 the debate they deserve,” Green said.
Jon Oliver, Campbell’s campaign spokesman, said she would not be accepting either invitation – to debate or to shoot.
“There’s no one in Senate District 25 that doesn’t know where she stands on the issues,” he said. “She’s proud of that legislative record.”
In a statement tweeted by a Texas Tribune reporter Friday, Campbell said she found it insulting that Kling tried to “mansplain” how to use a gun.
“Mr. Kling’s campaign is failing to attract support, donations, and attention and this publicity stunt won’t earn him any new traction,” she said in the statement. “The fact remains that he is ill-equipped to debate me or stand up for the people of this district in the Texas Senate.”
Green fired back and asked why Campbell would not accept a debate invitation.
“If they truly believe Steven is ill-equipped for a public debate and to defend his position, they should be ready to accept our invitation,” he said.
“To make it clear, the point of the shootout was not to teach Donna Campbell how to use a gun, but to showcase responsibility and training, and have a friendly shooting competition, which is common in Texas,” he added.
Though Campbell will not be debating or engaging in a shootout with Kling, there will be at least one more opportunity for voters to see the two candidates at the same event and ask questions, Oliver said. However, he did not give specifics, and said Campbell’s schedule remains undetermined.
I an not a Republican, but this type of silly challenge denigrates our political discourse into one of trying to prove your manhood. We don’t need this nonsense.
He is not proving his ” manhood” by making a statement related to politics, you are misunderstanding the difference between being a gentleman which he is, and a chicken like her, apparently she had nothing to bring to the table.
Nothing wrong with a bit of “silly .” The silly part attracts attention and the debate is for substantive discussions. Every public speaking instructor wii tell you that you need an attention getting opener.
When your opponent consistently refuses to debate – and consistently refuses to show up to public forums where she might face questions from her constituents, there’s nothing wrong with proposing something attention-getting to highlight the fact that she does not represent the best interests of her senate district.
“There’s no one in Senate District 25 that doesn’t know where she stands on the issues,” [jon oliver] said. “She’s proud of that legislative record.”
In 2013 Campbell sneered at adult adoptees rights when she maligned their desire to have their original birth certificates. “I don’t understand for one the need? Is this for financial reasons, that they think they are entitled to something?” Campbell refused to meet with constituents and killed the bill.
In 2015 when a bill restoring access to adult adoptees original birth certificates was proposed by her fellow republican passed the house 138 and the senate committee 8 to zero, it was set to be heard on the floor. Campbell bargained with the Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and he blocked the bill from the floor. Campbell refused to meet with constituents and killed the bill. She also blocked constituents on social media.
In 2017 when the bill restoring access was again proposed by her fellow republican, Campbell sent out letters to all the senators filled with lies about what the bill would do. As the chair of the Veterans affair committee, Campbell refused to hear bills concerning veterans needs if the senators supported restoring access. “Everyone at the capitol knows if you want to get a deal with Campbell, this is the bill to bargain with.”
An educated constituent, an adoptive mother who Campbell refused to meet with, met with Jon Oliver concerning the issue and he became beligerant and screamed at her. I know, I was there. He screamed at me too.
Campbell refused to meet with constituents and killed the bill.
Despite all professionals and organizations issuing statements of support for adult adoptees having the right to their original birth certificates restored, Campbell has stated she wants to make it more difficult for adoptees to have their information.
In 2015 Campbell was on the “Worst Senator” list by Texas Monthly
In 2017 Progress Texas ran a poll of “Worst in Texas” and Campbell was a write in–“Honorable mention: Donna Campbell
We have to give a special shoutout to Republican State Senator Donna Campbell (SD-25). Senator Campbell, who was not nominated this year but is truly terrible, received an impressive amount of write-in votes. In fact, so many readers wrote her name in that she ended up in 4th place. Congrats (?) to Senator Campbell!”
Texas Senate District 25 deserves better and we have it in Steven Kling.
A decorated combat veteran, son of school teachers, 5th generation Texan and a man who owns guns and believes in responsible gun ownership, Steven Kling is the person I am voting for and I encourage everyone else to #VoteKling
It is time for our district to have a Senator who will show up!
Republicans now “own” the US Supreme Court. Trump is out of control and only thinks of financial gain for himself, his family and his BFFs. Demographically, Texas is a blue state. Tell EVERYONE — especially young people — to be sure and register by Oct. 9 if not registered already. Bexar County has a wonderful early voting program. Young people: Round up your friends and go early-vote (at any polling place) on one the 8pm nights and then go celebrate your civic action with drinks and chow afterwards. And VOTE FOR BETO. Cruz closed down the federal government. Trump called him “Lyin’ Ted,” remember? Ted has done NOTHING for Texas (Trump said that also).
Vote NO on the Props A B & C, which will only cause the progress SA has made in recent years to dwindle back to a regressive, small-minded, small town with a lotta people.
Any young person (under 40 yo) who FAILS to vote in this important election will feel the consequences of the destructive Republican party when s/he is in the prime of life. I’ll be dead by then, but you will just be getting your life on track — unless the Republicans derail you!