NASH, Texas - Republican candidate for Texas governor Danny Harrison spoke to Bowie County Patriots Thursday night about his grounds-eye-view of issues.
"My family has an extensive background in service, military, law enforcement, even the medical field," said the Dallas-area landscape business owner and entrepreneur. "I'm from the private sector. I've done pretty well, but I'm fundamentally a small, local business owner. And I really think that is something the next governor of Texas needs."
Harrison said he believes that Gov. Greg Abbot is fundamentally a "good guy,"but only knows the world of politics and has been in it too long.
"He has no real world experience," Harrison said. "Nowhere was that more illustrated than his handling of the COVID crisis here in Texas. When you force some local businesses to close, yet allow the Wal Marts, the Lowe's and so on to operate uninterrupted, that's a problem."
He stated that 11,000 small businesses in Texas were lost due to government restrictions during COVID.
Harrison excoriated President Joe Biden on the border crisis and Abbot's inadequate action in the face of the situation.
"I want the governor of Texas to say, 'Biden, I don't know what your agenda is, but whatever it is, it is not good," he said. " When the Chinese Communists are buying Texas real estate next to American military bases, stealing our secrets, throwing their weight around in the Pacific, oh, and oh yea, COVID, the Texas governor needs to stand up."
Harrison believes a Texas small businessman is a good fit for the situation Texas is in, giving him a practical view of the issues.
"I'm strong on oil and gas," he said. "We need to protect those resources and our energy independence. But also, bring on solar, wind, nuclear, I like variety."
On censorship, Harrison believes social media corporations are out of control.
"Censorship, social media, I can't even advertise on Twitter," he said. "Section 230 protects social media companies, but engaging in censorship should nullify those protections."
Harrison is for reducing Texas property taxes.
"We need to look at sales taxes taking their place as possible," he said.
Harrison is fully in favor of term limits on elected officials as well.
"I support entertaining and gambling in Texas," he said. "We lose business to Louisiana and Oklahoma. Also, we are a huge horse state, but why are we surrendering horse racing to Kentucky? The pros outweigh the cons, if done right."
He then brought up the cannabis issue and how he believes Texas should change its stance on it.
"I don't smoke cannabis," he said. "But I've talked to mothers who lost children who got a hold of illicit stuff which killed them. I believe smartly regulated, rather than illicit, might help. Also, locking up those possessing small amounts of illegal substances, I'm not into that, either."
He said politicians are needed who are willing to push back.
"I'm a proud Texan, a small businessman, with fire in the belly," he said. "I've got the right mindset, motivation, bit of an ego. I'm a human being who wants whats best for our state."
(Find Danny Harrison-Candidate for Texas Governor on Facebook. His web site is Harrison4Texas.com)