Discussion at the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce luncheon featuring the state lawmakers representing Brazos County began with the elephant in the room regarding Texas politics.
Representatives John Raney and Kyle Kacal are two of the ten listed on a secret recording where an offer was made that could have they would have had Republican opponents in next year’s primary.
Raney said he heard the recording that involves speaker Dennis Bonnen, former Republican caucus chairman Dustin Burrows, and Michael Quinn Sullivan of the Empower Texans political action committee. Raney said it was “very damaging to the speaker”.
Kacal said he chose not to listen to the recording. But he confirmed its contents when Burrows came from Lubbock for a meeting. Kacal said “I told him I forgive him, however I don’t condone those kinds of actions. I said you’ll tend your district in Lubbock and I’ll tend to mine in these five counties that I’m fortunate to represent and we’ll go down the road.”
Kacal and Raney said they accepted apologies from Burrows. Raney has not met with Bonnen since listening to the recording. And Kacal says he and the speaker have been attempting to schedule a meeting.
Raney says the recording has fueled Democrats for next year’s elections.
Kacal challenged the chamber audience to talk with family members around the state to go vote.
Raney and Kacal told the audience they are running for re-election next year.
Click below for comments from John Raney and Kyle Kacal, answering questions asked by WTAW’s Scott Delucia at the Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce economic outlook briefing on August 28, 2019.
