KOLKHORST PHOTOS CONTINUE TO CREATE CAMPAIGN BUZZ
The issue of the use of State Senator Lois Kolkhorst’s photograph in campaign ads continues to crop up in the runoff election for Texas House District 13.
Former Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski has been asked at area candidate forums whether she thought her unauthorized use of Senator Kolkhorst’s photo in her campaign ad was unethical. After the photograph appeared on Bilski campaign mailers prior to the January special election, Kolkhorst issued a statement saying that it was not authorized by her….and that she wasn’t officially endorsing any one candidate. At a political forum in Lavaca County last week, Bilski said there was nothing wrong with using Kolkhorst’s photo in her advertising….adding that other candidates were just jealous that they hadn’t thought of doing that.
Now, Bilski’s opponent in the February 17th runoff election for State Representative of District 13, Leighton Schubert has mailed out ads with a photograph of himself and Senator Kolkhorst. The mailers include the statement “authorized for use in campaign by Senator Lois Kolkhorst”, and the headline “Let’s shake up Austin together”. On the opposite side of the mailer is the photo of Bilski and Kolkhorst, with the words “not authorized” stamped in red.
Kolkhorst’s Chief of Staff Chris Steinbach reiterates that the State Senator “…emphatically states that she is not endorsing either candidate in the runoff election,” and that she has now authorized both to use her photo if they wish.
KWHI will hold a “Candidate’s Forum” featuring Bilski and Schubert Monday evening beginning at 5:40 p.m. at Brenham National Bank. The Forum will be broadcast live on KWHI 1280 and streamed on KWHI.com and on the KWHI mobile app.
As a consistently faithful voter for more than 45 years, it becomes more and more difficult to vote for the candidates offered on the ballots. We have choices between lawyers, career politicians, or career politicians and lawyers. A good, honest, reputable citizen who wants to serve, wants no money support from anyone but is discouraged by local power brokers because he will not owe favors to the few does not enter the fray. I hope I will live long enough to see a profound change, and we can elect true public servants that serve All citizens.