By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Republican congressional nominee Brandon Herrera brought his campaign to Del Rio Sunday, hosting a veterans forum at the Del Rio Veterans of Foreign Wars post that focused on veterans’ access to health care.
The event gave veterans an opportunity to speak directly with Herrera and discuss the challenges many face when seeking care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Much of the conversation centered on the long distances many Southwest Texas veterans travel for medical appointments and the need for greater flexibility in how health care is delivered.
Herrera brought three subject matter experts to help veterans as much as possible and give in-depth answers.Â
Herrera, who will face Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout in the Nov. 3 general election for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, said the forum was designed to address issues that often receive little attention during congressional campaigns.
“Everybody only seems to want to talk about the big national issues,” Herrera said. “Nobody talks about the stuff on the ground that matters to the people who live here.”
Herrera earned the Republican nomination after finishing 859 votes ahead of incumbent Tony Gonzales in the March primary. Gonzales later withdrew from the runoff and subsequently resigned from Congress.Â
While immigration and border security frequently dominate political discussions in the district, Herrera said communities across West Texas also face challenges involving veterans services, infrastructure and economic development that deserve equal attention.
“So that’s one of the things that we started to do — advocating for the district,” Herrera said. “Even though I don’t have a vote, I don’t have committees, I can still advocate on behalf of the district because they desperately need it.”
Herrera said Sunday’s veterans forum was part of that effort.
According to Herrera, one of the biggest obstacles facing veterans in rural Texas is geography.
“We want to make sure that we don’t forget the people in West Texas,” Herrera said. “A lot of the rules are set up for people who live close to VA hospitals, but a lot of people right here are hours away.”
Herrera said Congress should continue expanding access to private health care providers for eligible veterans while ensuring transportation and other resources are available for veterans who must travel to VA medical centers.
“I think a lot of that comes from spending federal money smart,” Herrera said. “Coming out here and speaking with the people in Del Rio is one of the ways you become educated on how to allocate those resources.”
The congressional hopeful said his background in business has shaped his approach to public service.
Before entering politics, Herrera founded a firearms manufacturing company and later expanded into several other businesses, including media, nutrition and consumer products. He said managing companies and balancing budgets gives him a perspective he believes is needed in Washington.
“I already have my dream job,” Herrera said. “I didn’t need this. I’m one of the few politicians who, if I win in November, their life gets markedly worse.”
Herrera said his first congressional campaign taught him valuable lessons about organizing volunteers, building a grassroots campaign and focusing on issues important to residents across the district.
Asked what he considers the district’s top priorities, Herrera pointed to border security, the economy and reducing the federal deficit. He also stressed that members of Congress should not lose sight of the issues affecting individual communities.
“It’s very easy to be loud and on TV about federal issues,” Herrera said. “But local issues and things that a federal congressman can help with are things that should be a priority.”
Throughout Sunday’s forum, however, the discussion repeatedly returned to veterans’ health care, as attendees described the challenges of obtaining timely medical treatment while living far from VA hospitals and clinics.
For Herrera, those conversations reinforced what he said is one of the most important responsibilities of a member of Congress — listening to the people who live in the district.
“The people here know the problems better than anybody in Washington ever will,” Herrera said. “You’ve got to come out here, hear them and then fight for them.”
