On May 24th, Republicans will select their nominee for Senator Troy Frasier’s replacement. The optimal choice is a strong, intelligent Travis County woman. Many of us know and respect local surgeon Dawn Buckingham, a veteran of the Lake Travis School Board. Running against Dr. Buckingham is Susan King, also a committed, experienced Republican. Although either candidate might accomplish great things for Texas, Mrs. King is hamstrung by an extreme political liability.

Last year, King sought treatment for severe depression and withdrew (temporarily) from the race. That led curious reporters to seek police records. Saying she’d be “irreparably injured” if the media requests were granted, King filed suit to block them. A compassionate judge allowed King to conceal a variety of information— including City of Abilene incident reports and 911 calls.

Like every Texan, King has a sacred right to privacy. We sympathize with her difficulties. In a civil world, psychological issues would remain personal matters. Yet, in the cut-throat climate of 2016, King’s 911 calls are potentially toxic. Today, no secret stays hidden; embarrassing files and recordings always come to light. If King wins the primary, her Democratic opponent will pounce — using this information as a cudgel to hammer King mercilessly and steal a vital senate seat.

Therefore, I strongly agree with Rick Perry, Susan Combs, Llano County Commissioner Peter Jones, Burnet County Commissioner Joe Dockery, and Horseshoe Bay Mayor Steve Jordan that Dr. Dawn Buckingham is the right choice for Texas Senate.

Mrs. Catherine O’Gorman Barranco
Horseshoe Bay, Texas