Lewis can't wait

Just more than 12 hours after receiving the Republican nomination for the District 81 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, Tryon Lewis was already working toward the future.

In fact, he said he can't wait.

"If anyone's going to plan to be in the Legislature, you have to be ready long before the session starts on anything you want to get accomplished," Lewis said.

In the runoff election for the state seat, Lewis received 76 percent of the vote, 5,171 votes, to incumbent Buddy West's 24 percent, 1,631 votes. Lewis will face Libertarian candidate Elmo Hockman in November.

"Not getting cart ahead of horse, I know there's a November general election and an opponent on the ballot," Lewis said. "Subject to that, I can't wait to do things."

Lewis was in his office early Tuesday morning, and the work for the road to Austin already had begun.

"The ‘what now?' for me is to continue to go out to these communities in this district and to work with the leadership and the individuals on what they want done in the next session - both locally and statewide," he said.

"For me, it'll also be to get in the car and drive to meet representatives from throughout the state, introduce myself and find out who's interested in the same issues I'm interested in and start working so if I'm elected in November, I'll be ready to go the following January."

Ready to get to work on promised legislation he campaigned on - like legislation to stem illegal immigration.

"Of interest statewide, we're going to have to do something about illegal immigration and welfare benefits going to illegal aliens ... and efforts to ensure only citizens can vote. Those are three high priorities," he said.

But he's also looking at public education.

"In regard to education, we're going to have to start the fight and the long road back away from high-stakes testing accountability - in other words the TAKS test and the rigid standards that are required by it," he said. "That fight needs to happen in the next session, and the session after that I expect to be pivotal."

And, there's the business margin tax he wants to look at, too.

"There has to be major revision of the margin tax if it has as big a bite, as deep a bite, as inequitable a bite as I think it does on Texas business," he said. "I'll be trying to visit with business people and accountants in the next two months as that tax comes due and see what's happening on it."

Lewis said his plan to visit with fellow representatives is crucial.

"Mission No. 1 is to go to our area representatives and senators and state my willingness to work with them and find out what they need from me to help them and coordinate our efforts," Lewis said Wednesday morning. "Then I'll go throughout the state and meet the other incumbent representatives, especially Republicans but also Democrats, and introduce myself, get to know them and see what their key issues are.

"Everything's so busy once we start the session, that if you wait, you're way behind," he said.

Lewis said he knows that as a state representatives - if he's elected in November - he'll have his work cut out for him.

"There are no easy answers to any of these problems," he said. "It's easy to see the problems but not necessarily the solutions."

His supporters are looking forward to his attempt at those solutions though.

Odessa Mayor Larry Melton, who often votes Republican but has cast ballots in both parties, said he thinks the city is ready for some new direction and thinks Lewis will provide it.

"I think Buddy West did a great job for us, but I think it was time for us to move on," Melton said. "I think a new state representative in the form of Judge Lewis is just what we need. I think we need someone who can work with our neighbors and someone who's open, and I think Judge Lewis fits all those."

Bob Bryant, a Democrat and former Ector County commissioner, said likewise.

"I just think that we need a new perspective down there," he said. "I'm not complaining about Buddy - he spent 16 years down there, and he worked hard. I think right now our whole country is ready for some change."

Bryant said he'll offer his support to Lewis as the former district judge prepares for his freshman term in the Texas House.

"I'm looking forward to working with Tryon," Bryant said. "If there's anything he needs help with from Odessa to do a good job, we'll do it. I think he'll represent Ector County and this area well in Austin."