Elaine Hays (R-Amarillo) is one of the more than a dozen candidates who is campaigning for the seat for United States Representative in District 13. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) has announced he will not be seeking another term for that same position.
Hays stopped by Pampa on Monday where she met with who she hopes will be her constituents at Finley’s Fountain.
While the primary goal for the visit was to learn what residents in Pampa are concerned with in regards to national politics and issues, she also wanted to make clear what her stances are.
Hays said she often gets asked what her feelings are toward United States president Donald Trump are.
“I wake up every morning thankful that Hillary Clinton is not our president,” Hays said. “I feel that God was very merciful to our country and shared his grace and mercy at a time where we didn’t necessarily deserve it, but it’s not about us, it’s about his vision for this country.”
Hays added she has been impressed with Trump’s accomplishments since becoming president including the deregulation on businesses, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and supreme court appointments.
Hays mentioned she is often asked about her stance on the Second Amendment.
“I have my concealed carry license,” Hays said. “My brother-in-law was a police officer in Denton for 25 years and he instilled in me the perspective that I needed to be prepared to be my own first responder and count on the police and fire departments as back-up.”
Hays said she is pro-life and has served on two different pregnancy centers’ board of directors in Amarillo.
Hays is a certified financial planner and her husband is a certified public accountant and the couple have operated a business in Amarillo for 25 years.
“Issues with our national debt are of grave concern to me,” Hays said. “I see us living way beyond our means. The president has said in his fifth year that will be an issue he addresses.”
Hays is serving her second term on the Amarillo City Council and said that has helped her to understand what it takes to defend your point-of-view and take your vote.
Hays also addressed the border security and said she does endorse some sort of physical boundary.
“We have to control our border,” Hays said. “You can’t have a sovereign nation and have an open border in combination with a welfare state.”
Hays said it is a privilege, not a right, to become a U.S. citizen but can see a scenario where there is a guest worker program.
Hays took a question-and-answer session and the first question was what he experience is in the fields of agriculture and oil/gas.
“I have a family background in both,” Hays said. “On my mom’s side, my grandpa was a small dairy farmer. On my dad’s side, my grandpa was a rancher. My dad had a cow calf operation in South Texas but he started it in one of the worst droughts to ever hit Texas. He used his petroleum engineering degree to go into oil and gas where he made his career.”
Hays added she has started to assemble an advisory committee for the fields that she may not have the experience and expertise in.
Hays said term limits is an issue that transcends parties and one she looks to address should she be elected.
“I think it would be a great opportunity to unify our country and build that bridge between Washington and the average voter if that (a bill that would set term limits) passed,” Hays said. “It is a huge priority for me.”
Hays added at 61 years old she doesn’t plan to serve for 30 and 40 years but would like to see “how many people I can retire with me.”
Hays closed by thanking the residents of Pampa for stopping by and encouraged them to vote and, of course, appreciates their potential votes.
The last day to register to vote is Feb. 3, 2020 and early voting will be at Gray County Courthouse Feb. 18-28 in room 200. Election Day is March 3.
