For most, Hurricane Harvey meant rescue, recovery, and rebuilding, but one state lawmaker’s primary concern is the impact Harvey had on his campaign fundraising.
State Rep. Wayne Faircloth (R-Galveston) is hosting an Austin fundraiser with special guest House Speaker Joe Straus. According to an invitation sent out, Faircloth’s “fundraising efforts have been severely affected by [Hurricane Harvey] and he is facing a self-financed opponent,” so, of course, he’s heading to Austin looking for money.
Faircloth’s constituents were some of the hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey, and his focus on fundraising while the communities he represents are rebuilding is very telling. While Galveston largely escaped the worst of Harvey damage, Chambers County was badly hit, requiring more than 2,500 people to be rescued.
Much of southeast Texas is still assessing damage and beginning recovery, and most candidates and campaigns are more focused on helping the recovering storm victims that
Since the Harvey recovery and relief efforts have begun, Faircloth’s challenger, Mayes Middleton, has used his team to serve flood victims. After temporarily suspending his campaign, they bought and donated clean drinking water and cleaning supplies for storm victims, and bedding to first responders whose homes were also affected. Middleton spent time in neighborhoods helping clean out houses and regularly posted updates on where help was needed, what organizations were available as resources to victims, and what the overall status of certain areas of the district was.
And it’s not just Middleton.
Across the entire state we’ve seen Texans open their homes to displaced neighbors, a volunteer army has assembled at churches and community centers to help those in need, and community members like Houston Texans standout JJ Watt and Gallery Furniture’s Mattress Mack have spearheaded donation drives and other efforts to assist those most heavily effected by Harvey’s wrath.
Each of these Texans have sacrificed of themselves to serve others and their efforts show the best the Lone Star State has to offer. Meanwhile Faircloth’s actions show some of the worst.
