WOODVILLE – Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) released a statement about a candidate forum, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, at the Emporium Stage in downtown Woodville.
Ashby said he will not be able to make the event, hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Tyler County (CCTC), due to existing obligations he has in his current position.
“I will not be able to attend due to my existing obligations as a State Representative during a Special Session,” Ashby said.
The Texas Legislature is currently in the midst of a special session, with more than 50 Democratic lawmakers having left the state in order to break quorum. The move was made in an attempt to stall a redrawing of congressional maps, which Democrats say would give Republicans up to five more seats in the House of Representatives.
Gov. Greg Abbott has committed to calling multiple special sessions until the new congressional map is passed. “I’m going to call special session after special session after special session with the same agenda items on there,” he said in an interview with NBC News last Thursday.
Ashby announced his candidacy for the seat in the state Senate currently held by Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), who announced his retirement in May.
Ashby has a challenger in the GOP primary for the office, Rhonda Ward, of Nacogdoches, and there are no declared Democratic primary candidates at this time.
“As much as I value every opportunity to visit with folks on the campaign trail, my first responsibility is to fulfill the duties my constituents elected me to carry out. While others may have the flexibility to attend campaign events, I have a constitutional obligation to be on the House floor, voting on critical legislation that impacts our communities,” Ashby said.
Ward has confirmed an appearance at the event hosted by CCTC. The current special session was originally set to conclude on Tuesday, August 19, however, Abbott issued a statement on Tuesday that both the House and Senate will adjourn sine die on Friday, August 15, if a quorum is not reached.
Sal Baldovinos of CCTC said that the group will still hold a place for Ashby should his schedule free up.
The event will be moderated and cover key issues impacting East Texas, said Baldovinos, including fiscal responsibility, education and local control, as well as property rights. The Emporium will open at 6:30 p.m. for the event, which begins at 7 p.m.
