Jim McGrody is back in the 23rd Congressional race

Into the fray … Fair Oaks Ranch resident joins Congressional race in 2008

by Mark J. Armstrong - News Editor (Reprint from Boerne Star-Aug. 3rd)

Fair Oaks Ranch retiree Jim McGrody (photo) wants to prove to the world that an ordinary citizen living in a small Texas town can win a Congressional race without deep pockets backing his campaign.

To do that, McGrody has turned to the Internet. With a Web site, Internet-based video and weekly e-mail newsletter, McGrody is hoping to reach 50,000 people before the next year's election. McGrody calls it his "stealth campaign."

"My office is my laptop, my digital camera and my digital video camera," McGrody said. A Philadelphia native, McGrody moved to Fair Oaks Ranch in 1993. He retired in 1999 from the San Antonio-based Harcourt Assessment Inc., where he was a senior vice president in 1999, and from there began his path into politics.

With new time on his hands, McGrody said in 2001 he started an Internet blog called Plain Talk from the Hill Country and was surprised at its success.

"At first I had only a few readers’ my family and friends’ but pretty soon there were thousands. I had people from all over the country and foreign countries reading my blog," he said. It was through this blog that McGrody said he began exploring his political ambitions and ideas, and in 2004 started an exploratory committee to look at running in the 23rd Congressional District.

McGrody said he decided not to run against then incumbent Henry Bonilla.
That district, which for a few years included Boerne and all of Kendall County, was redistricted by the Supreme Court and in 2007 Bonilla lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Ciro Rodriguez. And now, McGrody said, he thinks the time is right for him to run.

"Congressional District 23 is one of three, four or five (districts) that has been targeted by the Republican National committee and the Democratic National Committee, and the outcome of this race could affect the House leadership," McGrody said.

While the stakes are high for the party, McGrody has pledged not to accept cash donations of more than $500 from any single contributer during the primary election. He said that instead of money he is asking for people's e-mail addresses which he plans to use to communicate his message.

Issues topping his list include health care reform, keeping taxes down, defense and fighting terrorism in the future. "I believe for the next generation, or maybe two, we will have a constant threat from jihadist terrorists," McGrody said.

McGrody also has written what he calls "Compact 23: A Vision for the 21st Century" in which he details his position on many issues. That and other information about his campaign can be found on his Web site.

Congressional District 23 includes portions of Fair Oaks Ranch in Bexar County, part of San Antonio and portions 19 counties. All of Kendall County is in Congressional District 21.