Gilliland says, "if this Congress makes you proud, choose my opponent to get more of the same"

Lukin Gilliland (photo)
Congressional District 23 candidate

(San Antonio) — Democratic challenger Lukin Gilliland today said that voters who think the current Congress is doing a good job should choose his opponent on November 7.

"Scandal, gridlock, cover-up — if this Congress makes voters proud, they should choose my opponent to get more of the same," Gilliland said.

"But if they want a new direction for positive change, I'm their candidate." The latest controversy surrounding the Republican leadership team, already embroiled in corruption scandals and partisan gridlock, involves the cover-up of salacious emails and inappropriate advances toward underage House pages by disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley of Florida .

"This has weakened Washington 's ability to deal with the nuclear threat posed by North Korea 's rogue regime," Gilliland said.

"If these professional politicians can't control a sexual predator in the halls of Congress, how can they control the proliferation of nuclear weapons through out the world?"

Gilliland said he is not surprised that his opponent, incumbent Henry Bonilla, refuses to join the majority of Americans calling for the resignation of his fellow members of the Republican leadership team for leading the cover-up of the House page scandal, starting with U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois).

Gilliland said Bonilla should join him in calling on Congressional leaders to strip Foley of his generous taxpayer-funded pension."But don't hold your breath," Gilliland said.

"My opponent is obedient to the upside-down values of his fellow party leaders in Washington , not the mainstream values of the voters back here in Texas ." A successful rancher and businessman, Gilliland earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin , where he also played on the 1970 national championship football team.

The fifth generation Texan was appointed vice-chairman of the Texas Racing Commission by Gov. Ann Richards and confirmed by Gov. George W. Bush. He was nominated by former Navy Secretary John Dalton and became one of 80 Americans confirmed last year by the Department of Defense to participate in a Joint Civilian Orientation program. He has traveled to the Middle East, participated in military training exercises with U.S. troops, and met with top commanders and troops on the ground.