(ROCKWALL, TX — January 17, 2018) Lander Bethel of Sherman and Catherine Krantz of Emory are two Democratic candidates running for US Congress, Texas District 4. The March 6, 2018, Democratic primary will decide which one of them goes on to face the Republican primary winner, Dr. John Cooper of Sulphur Springs or the incumbent Rep. John Ratcliffe of Heath. Bethel and Krantz have a friendly, respectful rapport and think they can bring a stronger message to more people by campaigning together.
Over the next seven weeks, Bethel and Krantz will be traveling all across Northeast Texas hosting Town Halls and Meet and Greets. Their first joint appearance was in Rains County with a Town Hall with fellow candidate Kendall Scudder (D), who is running for state senate incumbent Bob Hall’s seat.
Krantz and Bethel have committed to a fast-paced schedule over the next few weeks, hosting half a dozen more joint events before the primary.
“We feel like we have common goals,” Bethel said.
Krantz agrees, “We have the same core beliefs, we just want things to get better for our communities and this shows we are willing to work together.”
The idea of campaigning together is also a practical solution. District 4 stretches across Northeast Texas, a three-hour drive from end to end. Coordinating events together saves time and gives more people an opportunity to meet them.
Both feel optimistic about their chances and think 2018 is a great year for a Democrat to take back District 4, which until 2004 had been a Democratic stronghold for over 100 years. Krantz said, “One of us is going to win the primary and one of us is going to beat the incumbent. Those guys have had their chance, they have shown us again and again what their priorities are and it’s not us! Our communities need to be a priority. They focus on tax breaks and corporate welfare while our schools are 49th in the country, our hospitals are being shut down, we have crumbling roads, bad telecommunications infrastructure… we deserve better. It is time for someone new.”
Bethel said, ‘’The Republican delegation is creating a budget crisis with their tax reform bill. They have openly said they have done this to go after Social Security and Medicare entitlements. Our seniors and veterans deserve a secure future.”
“We deserve someone in the position that actually cares about the constituents,” Krantz said, “not someone who is going to put them in harm’s way.”
Bethel is very involved in the community as a 23-year resident. He is a member of the Bio-Ethics committee of Wilson N Jones Hospital, where he interacts with patient families and staff, learning about important healthcare concerns. He has chaired the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program for 20 years. And he founded Grayson Disaster Relief, helping resettle hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuees, and later, flood victims in Grayson County, for which the group received the League of Women Voters Citizen of the Year Award. He is a Presbyterian minister serving churches in Sherman and Denison. He and his wife, Genna, have raised their three sons in Sherman.
Krantz brings 20 years of experience in international business. For 15 years she published an internationally renowned tourism magazine and founded an award winning international music festival in a little beach town in Mexico. She promoted this town to an international audience that brought huge returns in tourism dollars and created economic development projects that sent out millions of dollars into the community. Since coming back to Texas four years ago to run her family’s business, she has been very active in the Emory United Methodist Church, multiple area Chambers of Commerce, the Good Samaritans thrift store and food bank, as well as organizing community events and helping out with Rowlett’s “no kill” animal shelter, among other issues close to her heart.
They will be hosting multiple Town Halls across the District, so come out and introduce yourself, and tell them what your concerns are.
Texarkana – Saturday, January 20, 5:30pm, at Twin City Events Center, 2101 Texas Blvd., Texarkana TX 75501. For questions and info, call Jo Ann Duman 903-276-9434.
Rockwall – Thursday, February 8, 7:00pm, Harry Meyers Community Center, 815 E. Washington St, Rockwall, TX 75087. For questions and info, call Susie Stansel 713-826-4814 or email: Sue.st66@aol.com
You can find out more about the candidates on their websites:
Lander Bethel – www.bethel4congress.com
Catherine Krantz – www.catherinekrantzforcongress.com
Submitted press release by Kimberly McClenney. The publishing of any public announcement or paid political advertisement on this news site or in our print edition does not imply a political endorsement on the part of Blue Ribbon News; we welcome all candidates to submit their announcements, positive news-related events, and paid political advertising.
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Democrat primary opponents campaign together across Northeast Texas added by Austin on
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