Fred Head The political waters are being tested by more and more people with area ties. As filing for the upcoming March primaries ended Monday, Troup native Fred Head, who was a member of the Texas House of Representatives for 14 years, beginning in 1967, signed up to run for Texas Comptoller as a Democrat.

“Please join me in my race for comptroller. Let’s change the quality of the water and the direction of the river in Austin and bring sunshine, fresh air and a new day for all the people of Texas,” Head said in a statement issued to the media.

Because he is the only Democratic candidate, Head will advance to face the uncontested Republican candidate, current Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, in the November election. The current comptroller, Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn, is seeking the Texas governorship as an independent candidate.

Head is now an Athens attorney. He issued a statement that tied his decision to again seek public office after many years to conditions that beg for reform today and are similar to conditions that existed back in the early 1970’s. Back then, a bi-partisan group of reformers came together to call for changes in government.

Head was a member of that group, as well as was current Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick. Head recalled it was dubbed the “Dirty 30” by then Speaker of the House Gus Mutcher, Jr.

The “Bi-Partisan ‘Dirty 30’ Reform Coalition” was opposed by the Speaker of the House and successfully kept from making much progress in 1971, but Head and the “Dirty 30” succeeded in the next few years in changing “the prevailing control exercised by the power brokers in Austin during the ‘50s, ‘60’s and early ‘70’s.” Once again, Head said it is time for change in Austin, which he believes has far too long favored a minority of super rich individuals and special interests to the exclusion of the hardworking, family oriented Texans.

Head said Texas had no Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act, no Open Records Act, and no Open Meetings Act in 1971. No type of seniority status existed for House members. The Appropriations Committee meetings of the Texas House of Representatives were closed at the whim of the powerful committee chairman and the citizens of Texas could not attend these hearings.

Following the elections of 1972, substantial changes were enacted during the Legislative Session of 1973, including the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act, the Open Records Act and the Open Meetings Act. The effect was, according to Head, to bring “sunshine and fresh air” into governmental processes.

The rules of the Texas House of Representatives were also changed dramatically as the Legislative Session began in 1973, with a modified seniority system being adopted and the committee process fully opened up to public oversight and input.

With that background, Head said, “Such change is again needed now.”

If elected, Head said he intends to rekindle among all Texans, the spirit of bi-partisan reform in order to return fairness and justice to all of the people of Texas, not just those favored individuals and special interests which he believes now hold far too much power and influence in Austin.

In his statement, Head said in his 14 years of House service, he never missed a day of work or a vote and served on the powerful Legislative Budget Board and the House Appropriations Committee.

He cited reduction of real property taxes on over-burdened taxpayers, reform of the Texas tax system, affordable, high quality education for all, and reasonably priced, quality healthcare and prescription drugs for all as problems that can be solved.

“I believe all of these things can be accomplished without any increase in taxes, by more efficient and frugal management of the state’s resources and by equalizing the tax burden to make sure all Texans are taxed fairly,” he said.

“I continue to be concerned about candidates who have as their only apparent qualification, either a tremendous amount of personal wealth or the ability to raise a tremendous amount of money with which to campaign,” Head said. “I think this sends a very bad message to young people who have in their heart and soul the sincere desire to serve in government, but who are not born rich or with wealthy connections. Personal wealth or money raising ability should not be qualifications for public service in Texas or anywhere else in our great nation!

“As I begin my campaign, I humbly and respectfully ask all Texans to consider my educational preparation and background for public service, my previous years of public service and my approach to problem solving in the interest of all people, not just a favored minority.”

After attending Troup schools, Head graduated from Tyler Junior College, the Southern Methodist School of Business, where he received a degree in Public Administration, and the SMU Law School. He taught college accounting and other business courses at Sam Houston State following graduation from law school.

He gives much of the credit for his success to his wife Martha. They have four grown children as well as six grandchildren. Another child, Fred , Jr. died from cancer in 1986 when he was 21.