Democrat candidates visit Cowboy Capital
Claudia Zapata speaks to a group of about two dozen during a campaign stop at Cowboy Coconut last Saturday morning. She is running against Chip Roy for United States Representative for District 21. BULLETIN PHOTO/ Daniel Tucker
Chop Roy challenger and Democrat nominee Claudia Zapata visited locals and spoke at Cowboy Coconut last Saturday as part of her “Where’s Chip Roy” tour.
In her one-hour speech and Q&A session with voters at the local yogurt and coffee shop on Main Street, Zapata said she supports the second amendment and proper gun safety, but believes federal loopholes need to be closed to reduce gun violence.
Zapata said the number one cause of gun-related death in the district in veteran suicide, and she used this statistic to advocate for expanded mental health care access in the area.
In response to a question about why her opponent, Chip Roy, has not responded to her request for a debate, Zapata said she did not know, but believed it was because he was a coward.
Applause and laughter from the attendees followed the statement.
The Bulletin reached out to Rep. Roy’s office for comment but did not receive a response by press time. We will publish a response if received.
Zapata told the Bulletin she recognized that Bandera and the district at large is very conservative, but she does not see her race as a lost cause.
“I’m just getting started,” she said.
Zapata’s visit came one week after Rebecca “Beckie” Palomo, Democratic candidate for Justice, Place 7 on the Fourth Court of Appeals, spoke to the Bandera Democrat Club via Zoom.
Palomo is running against current place holder Republican Lori I. Valenzuela. The Fourth Court of Appeals oversees a 32-county region that includes Bandera.
In her zoom presentation, Palomo highlighted her experience. She currently serves as State District Judge of the 341st District Court. Before that, she spent 14 years on a legal career in Laredo.
Throughout her talk, Palomo emphasized her belief in a strong work ethic as well as the importance of an education.
“I strive for excellence both on and off the bench” she said, according to a release from the Bandera Democrat Club.
The club meets again on Saturday, November 12, from 11 a.m. to noon. It will feature a guest speaker and a business meeting.
More information is available at banderademocrats.org.