Pati Jacobs is the Democratic Candidate for for House
District 17
We are excited to announce the
endorsement of Bastrop cattle rancher Pati Jacobs in
Texas House District 17,
which stretches across six counties (Bastrop, Lee, Burleson, Brazos,
Fayette and
Colorado) in between Austin and Houston. Pati is challenging one-term
Republican
incumbent Tim Kleinschmidt in November.
Though a largely rural
district, no
Democratic State House candidate has lost this district in a mid-term
election
in the last 15 years. In fact, until 2008 it was represented by
longtime
Democratic House Member Robby Cook, who chose to retire then.
Ms.
Jacobs is one of the most substantive candidates we
have ever worked with. She has an incredible amount of professional and
life experience that has more than prepared her to be a common sense
leader and consensus builder in the Legislature. Pati went to the
University of Texas, where she received her B.A. and M.A. in Middle
Eastern Studies with a minor in International Finance and Marketing.
Her
extensive academic travels (and proficient language skills in Hebrew,
Arabic and Spanish) prompted her to start a consulting firm to help
high-tech manufacturers distribute their products to the Middle East,
Europe and Mexico. In fact, her firm, with offices based in Mexico City
and Austin, provided translation services for the treaty-negotiating
team for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
After her father’s
passing, and as her mother became elderly, she felt the calling to come
home and run the family cattle ranch. Today, she and her brother operate
the Bastrop Cattle Company, which raises and sells
natural, grass-fed beef directly to high-end restaurants, small grocery
stores and consumers in Central Texas. In addition, they work in a
cooperative with four other family-owned ranches in the area that have
sustainable agriculture practices as well. Pati is well known in the
community as an ardent advocate for planned growth, protecting
private-property rights, and conservation of natural resources like
well water and soil.
THE
RACE
This is a
tough but winnable campaign. And it will be critical in the
effort to win back the Texas House before next year’s redistricting
battle. Pati is putting a professional team in place and is working hard
to show a strong fundraising report at the end of next month.
Republican Tim Kleinschmidt lost to the
Democrat in the last mid-term election and only won when it was an open
seat last year with a lot of straight ticket Republican voting against
Obama. His voting record and personal business decisions are out of step
with community efforts to control rapid growth and maintain a rural way
of life. In addition, he has been a reliable vote for the far-right
forces in the Legislature that are constantly assailing the progressive
values that we hold dear.
Pati is ready to run a professional
campaign and hold the incumbent accountable for his out-of-step voting
record, and we are ready to back her up all the way.
Join
Annie's List now as we help Pati Jacobs build the team and financial
strength she needs to win District 17 and help take back the House!
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