Richard W. Shuey Libertarian Party delegates met Saturday, March 20, in Raymondville, and selected Richard W. Shuey to represent the Party in the Texas House District 43 race. Shuey will face Democrat J.M. Lozano of Kingsville on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

House Dist. 43 includes all of Kleberg, Jim Hogg, Brooks, Kenedy, Willacy Counties, plus northern Cameron County. The seat is presently held by Tara Rios-Ybarra of South Padre Island.

Shuey is a resident of Raymondville. He is a 1965 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and a Viet Nam veteran. After retiring from military service, Shuey opened an office machine and supply business which served several border counties for two decades. He now manages real estate for a private company, including farm and ranch, commercial and residential holdings.

Shuey holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University. He is married to the former Virginia Garza of Laredo. The Shueys have three grown children.

“More people than ever are coming to identify with the Libertarian principles of fiscal responsibility and social tolerance,” Shuey says. “Most people understand that spending money we don’t have is what brought on the tough economic times we now face. More of the same is not going to be the cure.

“Nobody will argue that a government program is the most efficient way to accomplish anything,” Shuey continued. “A little government is necessary but these programs once started just seem to grow and never end. People are feeling held back and harassed rather than helped.”

Shuey faults Democrats and Republicans equally for failing at fiscal responsibility and personal liberty issues. “Under both George Bush and Barack Obama we have seen more government, less personal freedom, and public debt piled up that our children and grandchildren will have to pay.

“The bigger Washington gets, the less we are heard. It’s time we brought power back to the State, local, and individual level where it belongs,” Shuey says. “The future belongs to South Texas. We don’t want Washington to hold us back.”