LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR TALMADGE HEFLIN:

Editor

The Katy Times

Editor:

The race for District 149 of the Texas House of Representatives remains embroiled in controversy.  Representative Talmadge Heflin appears to have lost the election by 26 votes.  What a shame it is that such an astute and conscientious public servant has to be subjected to such trials.

While the news media (read Houston Chronicle) delights in a situation that they caused, and relishes the prospect of an unknown Democrat [who didn't even live in the District] taking office, those of us in the Katy part of his district where 90 percent are Republican, are at fault for not supporting Representative Heflin unanimously.

Rep. Helflin is one of only three elected officials that I have known who conscientiously read all of the materials, bills, et cetera, that were required in the performance of his duties, who attended almost every event to which he was invited, and who cared enough about his constituents to serve them in the best way he could.

When I was on the school board [in KISD], I visited with Rep. Heflin many times. He came to many events to honor KISD students, teachers, and parents.  He had himself served many years on the Alief ISD school board.

He has worked tirelessly to bring better government to the State of Texas.

His service has been honored in many ways.  There is an Alief elementary school named for him as well as one for his tireless aide, Howard Hicks.  One has to do something right to have a school named for one.

Why does Rep. Helflin find himself in this predicament?  Look no farther than the Houston Chronicle.  When Rep. Heflin and his wife encountered a child who they believed needed saving, they stepped up to the plate to try to provide a home for that child.

The story of that effort somehow got twisted on the pages of the Chronicle.  Rep. Heflin would never have wanted to take a child for any other reason that that he felt the child was in a terrible situation.  Ask yourself -- what in the pages of the Houston Chronicle have you believed, lately?

A great disservice has been done to Representative Heflin, and it needs to be corrected, and if it takes the Texas House to do it, then they ought to get busy.

Mary McGarr