SAN ANGELO, TX — In the Texas political realm, two San Angelo figures have declared their intentions to continue their public service. U.S. Representative August Pfluger, serving the 11th Congressional District of Texas, and State Representative Drew Darby, representing Texas' 72nd State District, have both filed for re-election, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to their respective offices.
U.S. Representative August Pfluger, who stepped into the role following the retirement of Rep. Mike Conaway, has quickly established himself in the federal political sphere. His initial victory in the 2020 Republican primary, achieved without a runoff in a competitive field, underscored his electoral appeal for a San Angelo candidate to attract votes in the Midland and Odessa region. This was further reinforced by his win over Democrat John Mark Hogg in the November 2020 general election and an uncontested re-election in 2022. As Pfluger gears up for the 2024 elections, he is set to serve three terms, or six years, in the U.S. Congress.
State Representative Drew Darby, a figure in Texas politics since 2006, has been known for his pragmatic approach to governance, often prioritizing practical solutions over ideological rigidity. His attempt at the House Speaker position in late 2018, although not successful, showcased his active involvement and strategic positioning within state politics. Darby's navigation through the intricacies of Texas politics, including overcoming a targeted political scheme against him in 2019, has solidified his role as a key player in the state legislature.
But even before his tenure in the Texas House, his contributions have been pivotal in shaping the Republican landscape in Tom Green County. He was among the few local leaders who, in the late 1970s, re-established the Tom Green County Republican Party that had been dormant since Reconstruction.
In their respective roles, Pfluger and Darby have tackled a variety of issues pertinent to their constituencies. Pfluger, operating in a political landscape dominated by the opposing party controlling the U.S. Senate and White House, has focused on key areas such as the oil and gas industry, border security, and national defense. His commitment to constituent services is evident in his efforts to address local concerns, including veterans' benefits and, of all things, media access issues at Goodfellow Air Force Base for this publication.
Darby, on the other hand, has demonstrated a pragmatic approach in his legislative duties, particularly in managing the state's budget and financial resources. His work has been instrumental in public education funding, teacher pay, and property tax reduction, notably drastically reducing the property tax rate for the San Angelo ISD. Darby's ability to navigate the diverse ideological spectrum within his party while maintaining a focus on practical solutions over ideological purity has been a hallmark of his tenure.
As the March 2024 Republican Primary approaches, both Pfluger and Darby face the prospect of solidifying their positions. But Darby, in particular, may encounter a primary challenge from Stormy Bradley of Big Spring, who represents a more conservative stance within the party.
Both incumbents will be on the ballot in the March 5, 2024 Republican Primary Election. The deadline to file for the Primary is December 11, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Left, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger; Right, State Rep. Drew Darby with his wife, Callista. Both filed for re-election on Nov. 13, 2023.
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Remember come election day who was for the merger of Shannon and Community! He told us how much better it would be to make Shannon the only medical provider for our area. Now the citizens of our community have no choice but to use Shannon.If you are in the hospital you cannot have your Doctor of record see you, you have to use a traveling doctor that has never seen you before and may or not see you again (depending on when their shift is over). They also underpay the employees so there is a high turnover . They have shutdown the on site laundry and use a vendor so to save money they do not change the bed linens daily as they used to . I saw dried blood on the floor in the emergency room and was told they did not have anyone to clean it up.Appointment times for the Clinic is much longer and harder to get . We used to have 3 Emergency rooms open 24 hours a day , now we have ONE ! Drew Darby needs to Go, he is only interested in helping the Old Money and Who's Who of his District. His office does not bother to answer emails or phone calls . Wake up and Vote him out !
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Permalinkre: Darby - "notably drastically reducing the property tax rate for the San Angelo ISD."
Good thing he did that, otherwise all of our property taxes might've skyrocketed... OOPS.
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PermalinkFirst off GMANN, most of your comments about Shannon are false. Most of the doctors that were at community work at Shannon now. My wife has worked at both. The nurses are treated much better at Shannon that at Community. She also took a $40,000 pay raise when she left community after 24 years to go to Shannon. Also, what you have not mentioned is that community was closing, and not because Shannon chose to buy it. It was closing before Shannon was considering buying it and then we would have been down to one hospital and all those employees would have been without a job. Shannon did San Angelo a favor by buying the hospital. There was no else that wanted to come to San Angelo. We are so much better off now that we would have been with the alternative.
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PermalinkI am looking at this from the other side. My wife has been in and out of Shannon a lot. She had a stroke and they did not have a hospitalist the was qualified to asses her situation. She had 2 video conferences while in the ER , which did not good. The Nueroligist on staff could not come across the street to diagnosis her because of the Shannon rules.Just think what it would be like to have 1 grocery store setting the prices and inventory.This is our current situation .
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