Dear Friend,

For nearly eight years, it has been my honor and privilege to represent the people of East Texas in U.S. House of Representatives. I have always worked hard—in partnership with my constituents—for the betterment of our region, our state, and our nation. Together, we have fought for working people, for seniors, for teachers, for veterans, and for children.

I am an East Texas Democrat who stands for the people and thinks for himself—the kind of independent individual that Tom DeLay can’t stand. And that makes me one of his major targets.

In an absolutely unprecedented power grab, DeLay and his henchmen orchestrated the first non-mandated mid-decade redistricting ever. They tore apart communities. They intentionally and systematically divided minority voters. They split up rural voters and told them that their votes just aren’t going to count anymore. And they did this for the sole purpose of eliminating Democrats like me, who are an independent voice, who don’t cave into their agenda.

In spite of their ham fisted arrogance, DeLay and his cronies have had an impact: One Congressman changed parties and another was forced to retire. But in my case, they misjudged their mark. I’m not changing. I’m not leaving. I’m going to give them the fight of their lives and I fully intend to win—and I mean win for the people of East Texas.

DeLay made another critical error. He doesn’t know the people of East Texas. The truth is, I would like to represent both this old First District plus the new counties of Angelina, Gregg, Sabine, San Augustine, and Smith.

That’s because people all across East Texas respect each other, honor the service of our veterans and teachers, believe in investing in our children and won’t turn their backs on our obligations to our seniors. In short, we have the same priorities.

And make no mistake about it. The people’s priorities are being forgotten, being left behind.

• Instead of rewarding businesses who invest in our economy and create American jobs, we have created incentives to ship jobs overseas!

• Instead of using power and influence to pass a true Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that would put medication in seniors’ medicine cabinets, that power was used to put cash in the coffers of HMOs and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.

• Instead of using our for budget surplus to balance the budget and pay off our national debt while securing the future of Medicare, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits, misguided budget and economic policy has created record debt, record deficits, and a jobless recovery on Wall Street with no relief in sight for Main Street.

• And children? Republican policy at both the state and federal level has cut items such as teacher bonuses, school textbooks, and CHIP, while failing to fund education improvements and prohibiting teachers from receiving both the retirement and the Social Security that they have earned.

Are these the priorities of our great state and our great nation? Absolutely not. These are the priorities of partisan power brokers interested only in political advantage.

As patriotic Americans, we cannot turn our backs on our economy or our citizens any more than we can turn our backs on terrorists or dictators.

Please join me by taking on this challenge and joining this fight for all Texans and Americans. Together we can build a brighter future for our families, our state, and our nation.

Sincerely,

Max Sandlin