University Star

The best candidate to represent Texas State students in the 35th congressional district is former San Marcos mayor Susan Narvaiz.

Reform is needed in Washington, D.C. and Narvaiz is the candidate who can best accomplish this goal. Narvaiz understands the issues most important to Bobcats. Additionally, Narvaiz’s business experience is essential to expanding the economy, which will benefit recent Texas State graduates looking to join the labor force.

Narvaiz served for three consecutive terms as mayor of San Marcos and previously held a seat on city council. In addition to being a 17-year San Marcos resident, both mayoral and city council positions have afforded Narvaiz an insight into the needs of the city and its residents that goes unmatched by her opponent, current U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett.

It will not be long before current Texas State students graduate and start searching for full-time jobs. Bobcats need a U.S. representative with a basic knowledge of business, and one who understands the pressure the current economy can put on recent graduates. Current alumni and future graduates heading into the workforce deserve someone who can empathize with their struggles. Through her position as CEO of Core Strategies, Inc., Narvaiz has proven to possess the strong entrepreneurial character that Washington desperately needs.

Since 1997, Narvaiz has run her company Core Strategies, Inc. as president and CEO. This gives her an intimate understanding of how to meet a payroll and manage a budget. Narvaiz has managed multiple business responsibilities that a career politician like Doggett is woefully ill-equipped for.

According to Narvaiz’s campaign website Susanforcongress.com, she “wants to remove the barriers that exist to encourage those in the private sector to get America back to work.” This is the approach Washington needs to adopt in order to help college graduates find employment in today’s job market.

On the other hand, Doggett’s campaign website Votedoggett.com uses the term “corporate greed” when describing Wall Street bank bailouts. Reprimanding segments of the private sector as greedy denotes an unsettling anti-business attitude that does nothing to facilitate or encourage employment for Texas State graduates.

As a person who has filled a taxpayer funded position as long as Doggett has, his refusal to move on from office seems highly disconcerting. Congress deserves a fresh face to fill the newly created 35th district, and Narvaiz fits the bill.

Narvaiz’s active role in business for many years has provided her with a perspective on job performance that congressmen like Doggett sorely lack. Beyond understanding the fiscal logistics involved in running a business, Narvaiz has served in a free market, high-demand workplace where results must be delivered. Narvaiz can and will deliver for Texas State and San Marcos in the same way she has served her business, her position as a city councilwoman and her role as a mayor.

During the same time Narvaiz has been calling San Marcos home and serving her community through the public and private sector, Doggett has been inside the festering Washington bubble. It is time to bring Doggett home to Austin for a long-overdue retirement and send Narvaiz to Washington in his place.

—Jose R. Gonzalez is a mass communication senior.