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Christensen promises ‘big change’
By Mary Madewell
The Paris News
Published January 7, 2008
Citing last week’s upsets in Iowa presidential caucuses, Celina businessman and philanthropist Gene Christensen says Americans are eager for “a big change in how their government is run.”
“The early primaries are showing that people demand change,” Christensen said. “Who would ever think an African American in Iowa with 95 percent Anglo population would win a caucus vote over a former first lady and United States senator.
“People are crying for change and we must have change in District 4,” Christensen said. “Re-electing an incumbent who has been in public office over 50 years is not a change.”
The 53-year-old Republican is one of four candidates to challenge District 4 incumbent U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall of Rockwall in the March 4 primary. Others in the race are Kathy Seei, former Frisco mayor, former Congressional intern Joshua Kowert of Sherman and Kevin George, a Celina businessman.
Christensen said he has a 10-year plan if elected and after that would not seek re-election.
The candidate said among other things he would work toward:
•implementing a registered work visa and citizenship program to properly address the illegal immigration problem to secure U.S. borders;
•strongly supporting military efforts around the globe to be on the offense against terrorism and make certain that the U.S. always has the strongest military in the world;
•reforming the tax code to make it simpler and fairer while providing tax relief for working families and
•repealing the “death tax” permanently so farmers, ranchers and small business owners are not double taxed.
Christensen, who met with Lamar County Republicans late last week, stopped by The Paris News for an interview Saturday.
A recovered alcoholic, Christensen said he turned his life around in 1987 after moving to Texas from California, and in 1989 started the People Against Drugs foundation to deal with gang intervention programs, drug rehabilitation and low income housing.
“We began teaching people a new way of life,” Christensen said. “Because I was sober I could share my experience and help people to realize they could achieve things in their life.”
Christensen took his anti-drug message to the NASCAR racing circuit where he is president of Green Light Racing, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing team.
After 10 years with the NASCAR program, Christensen said his People Against Drugs program is now “looking into implementing programs in Northeast Texas to fight the methamphetamine problem.
“Whether or not I win the election, People Against Drugs will not stop its efforts in Northeast Texas because meth is such a huge problem here,” Christensen said.
A life-time member of the Republican party, Christensen said he has been considering a run for Congress since 2004. A North Texas resident for the past 19 years, he has been named Republican of the Year from Texas by the National Republican Congressional Committee, a GOP fund raising organization.
“I know we can do more than is being done to fight drug abuse and poverty in District 4,” Christensen said. “Successful programs, such as law enforcement’s drug task forces have been cut and I believe those funds should be reinstated.”
If elected, Christensen said he plans to use innovation with the most current technology to be in constant contact with constituents in addition to holding quarterly town hall meetings throughout District 4.
Among his other pledges, the candidate said he supports “our shared conservative values of family, faith and freedom.”
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