Local voters should consider making TJ Cox their next 21st District Congressman

Ultimately, we demand of our elected representative someone who will stand before his constituents – those who agree with him, and those who don’t – and tell the truth as he believes it. I often envision a George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Theodore Roosevelt doing just that.

In today’s volatile, crazy partisan climate, our politicians, rather than relish the opportunity to “meet the people,” seem to go to considerable lengths to avoid confrontation and dissent. Instead, they hide their oversized egos, and their opinions, behind the cloak of partisan politics and proceed to wall themselves off from their constituents.

Our current representative in Congress refuses to respond to the local press. He forces his constituents to patiently wait in line for a meager few minutes of his time, such was the case last year when instead of hosting a town hall, District 21 Representative David Valadao returned to Kings County, plopped down in his local office and regally granted those wishing to speak with him a mere 10 minutes of his time.

Disappointing to say the least.

For these reasons and others, The Leader recommends that the voters of Lemoore and Kings County consider Mr. Valadao’s opponent, TJ Cox, a candidate who gives every indication that he will be accessible to the public. We believe he would promise not to hide behind 10-minute meetings or avoid those "awkward" questions from small-town editors and big-city editorial boards, both of which Mr. Valadao has done.

The Leader has been trying for months to arrange a meeting or a phone call interview with our local congressman but to no avail. Our calls and email requests have mostly gone unanswered. The congressman even stiffed the Fresno Bee’s Editorial Board, turning down an invitation to answer its questions.

I agree with the Bee’s conclusions that perhaps Mr. Cox could have stronger relations with his constituents than does our current congressman. Candidate Cox quickly agreed recently to meet with The Leader, and when we completed our interview, he sauntered across the street where Lemoore’s “Under the Arbor” event was underway and talked with dozens of Lemoore residents.

Mr. Cox, trained as an engineer, has a record of building things with his hands and his mind. He has helped to create jobs and helped to bring health care to low-income areas, employing the Central Valley New Market Tax Credit Fund. He’s helped to invest nearly $40 million in the 21st Congressional District and created approximately 800 jobs in the process.

More importantly, The Leader believes Mr. Cox will be more open. We cannot fathom him avoiding the press or his constituents. After talking with him, we think it’s simply not in his character to avoid difficult discussions.

Currently, Congress is in a state of confusion. We need representatives, leaders who can work across the aisle to get things done. The issues in Kings County and the Valley remain: water, agriculture, jobs, education. They’re all still here, and progress will slow, unless or until the men and women who represent us finally come together, setting aside their difference for the “better angels of our nature.”  TJ. Cox may be the one to help bring us together.