Former Corpus Christi Mayor McQueen to take on Sen. Ted Cruz in Republican Primary

John Ingle, Times Record News Published 4:08 p.m. CT Oct. 2, 2017

Former Corpus Christi Mayor Dan McQueen said Monday afternoon that it's time to have someone in the U.S. Senate that will be proactive and make the United States a country of greatness instead of a country in decay.

McQueen, who resigned his mayoral post after 37 days on the job, has plans to run against Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 Republican Primaries. He is going around the state to collect 5,000 signatures on a petition to get him on the ballot instead of paying the state's $5,000 filing fee.

The Navy veteran said Congress needs to be more proactive in returning America to a great country, but that's not happening in Washington, D.C.

"Unfortunately, it's because of bad government," he said. "We spend nearly a billion with our Congress and they can't seem to make decisions, and when they do, it seems to be in hindsight and nothing proactive. So my focus is that we do that very thing."


McQueen used the border wall as an example of bad government and a reactionary Congress versus one that is proactive. He said a wall can be built and maintained, but people who want to enter the country illegally will find a way to do so.

Part of a proactive solution, he said, would be to create some type of border economic zone from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. By doing so, he said, would allow for "hyperloop cargo tunnels, solar and route sea water and salt water through there so that we could have desalinization zones" instead of preventing business developments.

"We've got to be the leader, just like we were the leader back when we had a railway system that we used immigration and they came in and built our railroad systems," he said. "A leader that built like our highway interstate system."

Being a leader, he said, would help the country get ahead. He said it's an economic issue because of bad governing.

McQueen also spoke about the divisiveness in Washington, D.C., also creating an inability to get important issues accomplished. He said he hopes to bring political differences together for the betterment of the country.

He said he will always "lean toward the American people" if elected.

McQueen unseated incumbent Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez in November, but resigned 37 days into the job. He told the Times Record News the "old guard wanted to maintain control of the city." He said a smear campaign was underway that dragged his family into the foray.

"It was more important to be honorable than divisive," he said.

McQueen said he will visit cities throughout Texas on what he called "Texas Rides 45", an effort to collected the 5,000 signatures on the ballot petition as well as a show of support for President Donald Trump.

According to mcqueenforsenate.com, security is McQueen's top priority, citing threats from illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, terrorists and criminals. Regarding the economy, he said it will take innovation, value education programs and new quality employment programs to create more jobs and business opportunities.

His website indicates that he believes Congress is too big and those elected to serve are serving too long. He said he believes Congress can be reduced by 20 percent while implementing term limits — one six-year term for senators and thee two-year terms for representatives.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/story...ary/724014001/