Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 11:11 AM

Sign in

Main

Texas House District 1 Rep. Vandeaver supports new Speaker

Texas House District 1 Rep. Vandeaver supports new Speaker

Texas District 1 Representative Gary VanDeaver issued a statement last week on the election of new Texas Speaker of the House. Republican Dustin Burrows, from Lubbock, was elected as the Speaker in the second round of voting on Tuesday by a vote of 85-55. The vote left the House still led by establishment Republicans and signaled a defeat for the more hardline conservative wing of the Republican Party. It was those same hardline conservatives who attempted to wrestle power in the House by ousting leaders like District 1 Rep. Gary VanDeaver and former Speaker of the House Dade Phelan from Beaumont. Rep. VanDeaver stated,“ Dear HD 1 Constituents: I appreciate the interest many of you have shown in year’s race for House Speaker, so I want to let you know that on the opening day of the 89th legislative session, I voted for the Honorable Dustin Burrows to serve as the next Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. I know my choice does not please all of my constituents, but I believe Speaker Burrows is the best choice to not only serve the members of the House, but to help us pass the conservative policies demanded by the people of Texas. The Republican Party has held a majority of the seats in the Texas House of Representatives since 2003. Each House Speaker chosen since then has been elected with a vote of both Republicans and Democrats setting the tone of cooperation to pass needed legislation for the good of the entire state. The two Republican candidates for House Speaker this year (Burrows and Cook) had support from their Republican and Democratic colleagues. At the end of the day, Representative Burrows was chosen as Speaker. Over the last month, I received many emails, phone calls and text messages concerning my support for now-Speaker Burrows. I want to share my thoughts about why I voted for Speaker Burrows. Despite the misinformation you may have received about Speaker Burrows, he is a very conservative Republican House member from Lubbock. His following legislative achievements clearly reflect this: SB 8 (87R) - he was a House Joint Sponsor of the Texas Heartbeat Act (2021) to ban abortions in Texas as soon as a baby’s heartbeat can be heard. He was also a leader of Lubbock’s effort to become a Sanctuary City for the Unborn and has consistently been one of the strongest supporters of Pro-Life legislation in the Texas House. HB 2127 (88R) - the “preemption” bill that prevents local governments from overregulating their residents through the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act. This bill limits the local governments in our big cities, mainly led by Democratic mayors from putting a stranglehold on their residents. To highlight Speaker Burrows’ conservative bona fides, the liberal New York Times ran a hit piece on this bill claiming it as “part of a sweeping effort by the Republican-dominated State Legislature to exert control over its Democratic-led major cities, which have become increasingly assertive in pushing progressive policies at the local level.’ To many officials in local governments in Texas, HB 2127 also became known as the “Death Star bill.” SB 2/HB 2 (87R) - Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act Of2019 that established the “No New Revenue Rate” to simplify the complicated process that local officials hid behind to increase your taxes. He formally endorsed President Donald Trump in his 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns and has continually posted countless expressions of support for President Trump. The above are just a few examples of many that Speaker Burrows has passed since first being sworn in as member of the Texas House in 2015. Speaker Burrows’s strong, proven ability to pass conservative legislation is the reason I voted for him to serve as House Speaker. His conservative beliefs and actions also reflect the values of our district. I believe if you look at his record, you will agree with him more often than you disagree with him. The Texas Constitution wisely established that the state’s legislature is a parttime body that can only meet in regular session for 140 days every odd-numbered year. Our 140-day clock is ticking, and it is now time for all legislators to get busy doing the work that Texas voters sent us to the Capitol to do. I look forward to working with you and my House and Senate colleagues to enact conservative legislation so Texans can provide for their families and have full productive lives. Please join me in these efforts to keep Texas the best place to live, work and raise a family. Sincerely, Gary VanDeaver 01/22/2025 10:02 AM

District 1 Representative Gary VanDeaver issues statement on new Speaker of the House

District 1 Representative Gary VanDeaver issues statement on new Speaker of the House

01/17/2025 05:04 PM

Local school districts make superior grades

Local school districts make superior grades

Several surrounding schools received a superior rating in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2023-2024 school year. 01/15/2025 10:03 AM

Bringing hope to those in need

Bringing hope to those in need

Maranatha Christian Center in DeKalb is partnering this month with local non-profit Hope29 in an effort to get clothes to area children in need. 01/15/2025 10:03 AM

Area schools close due to incoming winter weather

Area schools close due to incoming winter weather

01/08/2025 09:56 PM

Winter weather forecasted as temperatures plunge

Winter weather forecasted as temperatures plunge

On Monday, the National Weather Service office in Shreveport issued a statement that Bowie County and the majority of the Ark-La-Tex had more than a 50 percent chance of seeing measurable snowfall starting early Thursday morning. 01/08/2025 10:04 AM

Rocky Mountain flavors with a southern flare at Papaya’s

Rocky Mountain flavors with a southern flare at Papaya’s

Two Colorado-born sisters have made their dreams come true with the opening of a restaurant that blends a bit of the south with the flare of the Rocky Mountains. 01/08/2025 10:03 AM

Community rallies around NB youth Makilia Moore

Community rallies around NB youth Makilia Moore

While most families are waking up on Christmas morning wondering what Santa left under the tree, one New Boston family is asking Santa for a cure to childhood cancer this year. 12/25/2024 10:06 AM

New Boston SIDC hires new executive director

New Boston SIDC hires new executive director

AThe New Boston SIDC has brought in a new executive director, but he is far from new to New Boston. 12/25/2024 10:01 AM

Brittany Barnes accepts plea deal on Injury to a Child charges

Brittany Barnes accepts plea deal on Injury to a Child charges

12/12/2024 05:50 PM

Barnes found guilty on 33 counts

Barnes found guilty on 33 counts

Cody Barnes of New Boston was found guilty last week by a Bowie County jury of 33 seperate counts in relation to charges for a laundry list of sexual assault of a child and child neglect filed a little over a year ago. The couple was arrested in September of 2023 on charges that included continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child by contact. Additional charges were added later that included continuous sexual abuse of a child, prohibited sexual conduct, injury to a child with the intent to cause serious bodily injury and/or mental impairment. The trial was conducted in the 202nd District Court of Judge John Tidwell. 12/11/2024 10:03 AM

New K-9 officer Goose to start serving New Boston in January

New K-9 officer Goose to start serving New Boston in January

Efforts are underway to get a new K9 officer on the streets of New Boston and to make sure he and his handler are well equipped to protect and serve the citizens of the city. 12/11/2024 10:03 AM

Farmers Bank & Trust to Host Toys For Tots Community Toy Drive and Cookout on Dec.6

Farmers Bank & Trust to Host Toys For Tots Community Toy Drive and Cookout on Dec.6

Farmers Bank & Trust is excited to host a Toys For Tots community toy drive and cookout on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New Boston, Texas, branch, located at 416 N. McCoy Blvd. 12/04/2024 10:08 AM

...

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

...