All of these words are my own, from my own heart, mind, and fingers. No one ever asked me to write any of the following. All of the research is my own and is all a matter of public record, with all sources shown. Also, nobody but me is editing what I’m writing on this website.

2/4/10. I’m flattered my letter elicited a half-page paid advertisement, especially before it was printed, and I’m glad it was read with amusement, but many voters don’t find it a funny topic and many voters do care. Political contributions are a matter of public record and cannot be brushed off as fiction. I’m sure it would have been preferred that “Parties and partisanship” stay out of the campaign, however, today we are a more informed public. No one denies Val Beard her accomplishments, what is in question today is her motivation and way of thinking.

On September 9th, 2009, Congressman Joe Wilson(R) , showing his appreciation for civil discourse, yells out to President Obama, "you lie". (source-www.opensecrets.org) On September 16th, 2009, The Beards sent Congressman Wilson a contribution of $250. Asking a candidate about such a contribution has nothing to do with rancor or partisanship, it is a question of motivation and way of thinking.

Neighbors place signs supporting Avi Rangra . “Supporters” of Val Beard, showing their appreciation for civil discourse, pressure and even threaten them to remove their signs. Granted, people will act on their own. Nevertheless, no effort has been made by the candidate to distance herself from such actions.

It may not be unimaginable that such a threat could be made, but it should not be acceptable in any manner. Dr. Rangra said to me, “if we are in any way fearful of an elected official because of our political beliefs, then we are in no way different than a country like Iran”. That is the kind of thinking we need working for us.

Link to ad - http://www.alpineavalanche.com/shared-content/topads/show.php?adid=2498544

2/4/10. In response to Betse Esparza's article in the Avalanche,
I’m sure you’d like nothing more than for the public to forget about the firehouse and move on. The point is that if the County has a project, it is nobody else’s responsibility, not the City’s, but the County’s, to go out and research all the options before moving forward. It would be the County’s responsibility to speak with the City and not the City’s responsibility to give the County its options. By the way, thanks for helping clear up the point regarding the PPC score and the firehouse, “location is not a factor”.

If local contractors are being undercut by large corporations from Odessa, Midland, and beyond, then, maybe that process is what needs to be changed. If that is illegal, then maybe the law needs to be changed, unless of course, it is on one of the missing tablets Moses came down the mountain with. It seems logical that giving a local contractor preference would put more money and jobs into our local economy. Local tax dollars should not go to paychecks for out-of-town construction workers that will spend that money back in their own home towns. Whatever the solution, a new way of thinking is required so I cast my vote for Dr. Avi Rangra.

2/8/10. Today, when I submitted the above as a candidate for the Point of View column in the Avalanche (not accepted, but should appear as a letter), It was again pointed out that it is a state law that requires the lowest bid is the one that must be accepted and that Val Beard had nothing to do with that law being passed and that it is not her responsibility to change it. That is a given. I'm just a citizen and I don't pretend to offer any real solutions because I understand I'm naive regarding those matters, but that does not keep me from wanting to understand a candidate's motivation and way of thinking. There are people that follow laws without question. Then, there are people that follow laws but always ask whether such laws might be causing injustice. Unfortunately, the first group of people might call that blasphemous. I’m sure glad our founding fathers saw it fit to question the laws they lived under, otherwise we might not be here today. The idea that “One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist”, and, “there are two sides to every story” is one of the ideas America was born of, and voicing one’s opinions was to be the guide. So, I believe that a candidate’s stance should be clear.

I’ve been asked my thinking and motivation for writing all this.
Maybe I perceived what I felt was an injustice?
Why must I write down such blatant dis?
Maybe I felt critical of the Avalanche’s prose?
Mostly though, I let my heart guide the words I chose,
because all I want is a world in which my children do not have to oppose.

1/20/10. Appeared in Point of View column in Avalanche on 2/4/10. If you look for the definition of being a Republican, or a Democrat, you’ll find a variety of answers. This is especially true in this area. However, there may be an easier way to tell the difference and that’s through financial support. I mean if you give money to one particular party, I think you can safely say that you are literally supporting that party. The Beards (Val and Thomas) give money to Republican candidates and the Republican Party; 2005-6 Henry Bonilla (R) - $6000, 2008 Lyle Larson (R) - $4000, 2008 The Republican National Committee - $4000. Since 1990, I found a total of over $50,000 in donations to various Republicans and the Republican Party, and during the same period only $2000 given to Lloyd Bentsen (D) in 91-92 and $500 given to Shane Sklar (D) in 2005 and not a single cent to the Democratic Party (source www.OpenSecrets.org).

Val Beard lives in a multi-million dollar home on a multi-million dollar ranch. She is running as a Democrat because she would not win as a Republican, however she does not support the Democratic Party financially. A vote for Val Beard is a vote to support the “Good-Ole-Boy” system that has held Texans back for generations.

Avi Rangra is one of us. He’s a local business owner that has worked hard to obtain what he has. He literally supports our local community with his time and with his hard-earned money, giving plenty of both. He’s given thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to our community and schools. I don’t know of any sports field houses named Beard, but I do know of one with the name Rangra.

It really is time to bring Brewster County back to the people. Vote for Avi Rangra for Brewster County Judge.

George Washington said, “those that are deceitful in small affairs will also be deceitful in large affairs”. I read that as a young boy and have since always been proud to be from a country founded by men who lived, fought, and died for those types of values and principles. Call me what you will, but I believed it and still do. Sure, today few in our government could live up to that kind of standard. I say “few” because I do believe there are some, and Dr. Rangra is one of them.

1/29/10. In response to Michael Forrester’s letter in the Alpine Avalanche;
Our PPC rating for Alpine is 6. A score of 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest score.
50% of the score is the Fire Department.
40% of the score is the water supply.
10% of the score is receiving and handling of fire alarms. Equipment, facilities, etc.
http://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/2000/ppc2007.html

The ISO puts 4% weight, of the 50% for Fire Departments, on the Distribution of companies — ISO credits the percentage of the community within specified response distances of pumpers (1-1/2 miles) and ladder/service apparatus (2-1/2 miles). This is 4% of the 50% total score given to the Fire Department, which is a total of 2% of the overall score. Going by the ISO overview at www.isomitigation.com, it’s more probable that the Distribution of Companies score would not have affected the overall score when placing the fire station anywhere else in town, including on the Old Marathon Road. The interesting thing here is that water supply receives a whopping 40% weight of the total score. We should all thank Dr. Rangra for his involvement in improving our city’s water pressure problems, he surely saved us some points and hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions in insurance premiums. The State of Texas has already thanked Dr. Rangra;

1/29/10. In response to Rick Kelly’s letter in the Avalanche;
One of the things that make us human is being able to look at insurmountable odds and still be willing to take that step forward into uncertainty. All we ask for is the chance to survive. “An incident in South County automatically forfeits the golden hour”, and “forget the golden hour”, is simply closed-minded thinking, even as the devil's advocate. My guess is eventually the solution could involve a helicopter and multiple counties, but what do I know, I haven’t studied the need for emergency services in south Brewster County. Putting forth new ideas does't cost millions of dollars, it's' free. I’m for a new way of thinking. Dr. Rangra for Brewster County Judge.

1/29/10. For our community, Dr. Rangra gives a day’s work, then another, and another, for years now, for no wages. He then also gives of his hard-earned money to help our schools and community. That’s the kind of person we should have working for us. Dr. Rangra for Brewster County Judge.