TX House 91 – More Sapp-y Rhetoric and Klick-it or Ticket

I had no idea a House race for an open seat could get this pricey, nasty, and crazy all at the same time. The mailbox has been full the last two days with ads from both Stephanie Klick and Ken Sapp, almost all negative. Let's take a look at the issue of RESIDENCY.

Klick is infuriated by Sapp's alleged “false claim that I just moved into the district” (July 26 campaign letter). The problem is that I have not seen, read or heard Sapp make that claim. He has said in his ads that Klick “has only lived in the district for four months” (various mailers). There is a huge difference between those two statements. If Sapp said the former, it's an outright lie, and I'm open to anyone supplying evidence to support Klick's claim. However, if he said the latter, it's a true statement. While one can argue whether Klick has lived in the district for 4 months or 17 months, she has not lived in the district any longer than April of 2011 at most. Klick defends herself in her letter by saying “I have lived in the same home for 12 years, and my home is in District 91” (July 26 letter). That's a true statement, but doesn't really help clear up the issue.

Here's a press release from Stephanie's campaign that will help us understand: http://tcgop.org/stephanie-klick-announces-run-for-hd-101/. This is the press release from November 22, 2011, declaring her candidacy for State Representative – DISTRICT 101. What?!? Eight months ago Klick was running for a seat in the neighboring district to the West of District 91?!? Somebody help me out here!!!

OK, friends, let's peel the layers off this very stinky onion. Yes, it's true that the Klicks have lived in their current home for 12 years. But, their home has not always been in District 91. In the previous decade, their home was part of District 98, which was primarily Far North Tarrant County, including Keller, Southlake, and Grapevine. It did not include most of North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Haltom City, and Watauga – the heart of District 91 for decades. When the State Legislature redrew the various district lines in the 2011 legislative session, Klick's precinct was added to District 91 (thus my 17-month figure above).

The redistricting maps were immediately subjected to a plethora of lawsuits seeking changes to the lines. One of those maps was given interim approval by the courts, which then placed Klick's precinct in “HD 101, a newly-drawn district which includes the cities of Azle, Blue Mound, Ft. Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Keller, Pelican Bay, and Saginaw” (from the November 2011 press release). At that point, Stephanie decided to announce her candidacy for the new District 101. However, the courts weren't through, and ultimately redrew the lines again in March 2012. On the last revision, Klick's precinct was moved into District 91 for the 2012 election cycle (the basis for Sapp's 4-month figure). Therefore, Stephanie changed her candidacy from HD 101 to HD 91. Exhausted yet? Wait, there's more.

Klick was raised in Richland Hills. She went to TCU. She has worked and lived in Tarrant County a long time. I can't find anything on where she lived and what she did between graduating from TCU in 1981 and moving to her present home and becoming a Republican Party officer in 2000. On the other hand, Klick accuses Sapp of hypocrisy on the issue because he “just moved to North Richland Hills in 2001, moving here from Chicago and Connecticut” (July 26 letter). Oh my goodness; now we know the problem! It's not that Sapp is a tax-and-spend liberal (that's another debate), it's that he's a – (gasp) – Yankee!!! Unfortunately, there's a little problem with Klick's narrative on this.

Sapp was raised in Fort Worth and graduated from Castleberry High School in 1963. I can't find information about where he lived or what he did from 1963 to 1987. From 1987 to 2001, he was an insurance company executive in Illinois and Connecticut. He moved back to Tarrant County in 2001 where he has been a business owner, active in the community, and served on the North Richland Hills City Council. I don't know how long he was gone from Texas – a fate worse than death for Lone Stars – but he came home to his roots in 2001. To portray his years in the North as anything more than his being a professional expatriate is a bit disingenuous. I would really like to know if the Klicks ever resided outside the Land of Contrast for professional or personal reasons? Those in the know can help me on this.

The real issue about residency that the candidates should be debating is “who can best represent District 91?” Both candidates have deep Tarrant County roots. One can argue whose roots are deepest, but no one can legitimately claim that either of these candidates are not native sons (or daughters, as the case may be). Ken was gone a long time. That's a fair concern. He's been back a long time. Is is long enough? That's a fair question. Stephanie has lived in Tarrant County a long time. But her primary community has been outside District 91. How well does she know NRH/RH/HC/Watauga? How in tune is she with the unique local needs of the district? That's a fair question. How about we ask these questions of both candidates until we get a satisfactory answer instead of the barrage of weak charges and counter-charges about where they live and for how long?

To officiate this contest, I'm going to call this an off-the-field issue. Both candidates are at the end of the six weeks and are on the verge of flunking out. If so, we'll have to enforce the “no pass, no play” rule.