Eye on Congress

J. Ross Lacy, one of 10 candidates for the District 11 Congressional seat that fellow Midland Republican Mike Conaway will be stepping down from, visited Hood County last week and said he is the first contender to visit every county in the district.

The oil and gas businessman met with members of the community at the Republican Party headquarters on Thursday evening, then sat down for an interview with the HCN Friday morning.

The 37-year-old said he had just filed for a third term on the Midland City Council when Conaway’s retirement announcement caused him to change course.

Co-founder and president of the Midland County Young Republicans, Lacy is among eight GOP hopefuls vying to represent the 29-county ruby-red district in west-central Texas.

One Democrat and one Independent also have announced intentions to run.

A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, Lacy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Here is what Lacy had to say on a variety of topics:

IMMIGRATION

Stopping illegal immigration is a key issue for Lacy, followed closely by more and better resources for border security and immigration reform to speed up the process for immigrants to come into the country legally.

He praises Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and supports building a wall along the southern border.

“We have, especially in West Texas, a flood of crimes and drugs coming across our border, and sex trafficking that is really hitting unbelievable heights,” he said.

Lacy said he does not support eminent domain but believes that by offering a fair price for land, eminent domain and lawsuits will be avoided.

Lacy also stated that he believes the cost of building the wall will be offset by money saved through stopping the flow of illegal immigrants.

“Having a wall in place with a great border security plan, knowing who is coming in and out of this country, is a step in the right direction that will not only help the state of Texas but will help this country,” he stated.

Lacy indicated that immigrants contribute to the workforce but said that he wants to hold employers accountable when they employ those who are in the country illegally.

He said that he does not support family separations but noted that some children are brought across the border through trafficking.

The candidate brushed off the international controversy over how detained migrants at the southern border are being treated. He said that under Trump’s leadership, 100,000 illegal immigrants were deported in August and another 52,000 were expelled in September.

Asked whether it was a mistake for the United States to cut back on aid to Central American countries where migrants are fleeing gang violence, Lacy stated, “I think that we need to take care of the people in the United States of America before we start offering foreign aid to other countries. The U.S. taxpayer is not the piggy bank for the world’s problems.”

Lacy said that he supports abortion only when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

A strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, he criticized the pledge made by Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Texan Beto O’Rourke to take AR-15s owned by private citizens.

“We have the right to defend ourselves,” said Lacy, who said he owns an AR-15. “The Constitution clearly states that.” Lacy said that mass shootings are a mental health issue and that better facilities are needed to treat people who suffer from mental illness.

ATTACK ON INSTITUTIONS

The HCN asked Lacy for his views regarding Trump’s attacks on the free press, which critics have said endangers journalists around the world, and whether he would speak out against “enemy of the people” rhetoric if voters send him to Washington.

Earlier this year, Reporters Without Borders downgraded the United States on its 2019 World Press Freedom Index, labeling the country for the first time as a “problematic” place for journalists to live.

In response to the HCN’s question, Lacy said, “I would have to see how I’m treated by them, because reporters in Washington, D.C. treat people completely differently than here in Texas. I would never go after anyone or be demeaning to anyone. I’m a man of faith.”

The businessman detailed his belief that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh endured a “blatant attack on his character”during the Senate confirmation process.

Asked whether he believed Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when the two of them were teenagers, Lacy said, “I believe Justice Kavanaugh was accurate in the comments that he made, that he is innocent.”

The HCN also asked Lacy whether he has any concern that attacks by Trump and Republican members of Congress against career professionals in the country’s intelligence agencies might result in an exodus that would cause those agencies to lose valuable experience and institutional memory.

Lacy said that some who left during the current administration had simply “hit the retirement age.” He also stated that he believes there were “leaks” and “completely biased investigations” within the Justice Department.

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