Mark Phariss
With a barrage of negative advertising against Philip Huffines in the Republican primary for state Senate District 8, Angela Paxton showed she would play nasty politics if she had to.
Democratic state Senate candidate Mark Phariss said he hoped his campaign against Paxton in the general election would stick to the issues. Early in the election, he said he had a cordial relationship with her and hoped it stayed that way.
So far, Phariss has gotten his wish — sort of. No negative name calling from Paxton. In fact, nothing from Paxton. She’s been a no-show at most campaign events.
According to a press release from the Phariss campaign, Paxton’s latest no-show was on Friday, Oct. 19 when she missed a McKinney Chamber of Commerce forum. So far, she hasn’t attended candidate forums presented by the League of Women Voters, the Plano Retired Teachers Association, Plano AARP, Delta Sigma Theta, the Richardson Chamber of Commerce and the NAACP.
“This campaign is a job interview by the voters,” Phariss said in his press release. “I need to be interviewed and my opponent needs to be interviewed. If my opponent is hiding from the voters today, she’ll not represent them in Austin tomorrow. The voters should expect more from their representatives. I’m committed to an open door with all of my neighbors — during this election and as their next state Senator.”
Phariss and his husband Vic Holmes came to public attention when they sued Texas for the right to marry. Paxton is married to indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Phariss has the Dallas Morning News endorsement.
— David Taffet
