Ransom finishes third in executive vote

Cass County residents were angered Saturday evening as native son Travis Ransom failed to secure a spot as a congressional nominee. Although Ransom placed higher than nine other candidates, with 16 votes Atlanta’s mayor came in third, drawing fewer votes than runner-up Jason Ross (34) and nominee Pat Fallon (82).

After convening at 1 p.m. in Sulphur Springs, the special session of the GOP congressional district executive committee meeting of congressional district four found a packed house. Nineteen candidates from Rockwall to Texarkana, Mount Pleasant, Sulphur Springs and Cass were ready to face off for the spot vacated by the former U.S. Congressman John Ratcliffe.

Although nineteen candidates presented themselves, only twelve advanced to debate through nominations. Gloria Sheffield Davis of Cass County nominated eventual ticket winner Pat Fallon, and Lisa Singleton of Bowie County seconded Pat Fallon. David Walls of Cass County nominated Travis Ransom, and Timothy Carlson of Rockwall County seconded. Joe Harrison of Cass County seconded the nomination of Aaron Harris.

In the three-minute speech portion of the nomination committee, Ransom told the room he would not tell them where he stood on the issues.

“As a representative, it’s much more important for me to know where my constituents stand than for me to have my own agenda and try to sell that to you,” Ransom noted.

“You said you want someone who will stand up and fight for our rural, Northeast Texas conservative values,” Ransom said. “You said you wanted someone from the district who would know our local and regional issues who will be our advocate in [Washington] D.C.”

During the congressional campaign, Ransom spoke in public forums using Cass County and northeast Texas issues as his platform. This included the rejection of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir project, provision of high-speed internet to rural residents, management of veterans’ issues and development of economic opportunities for farm and ranch livelihoods.

However, Ransom’s speech only netted him the third-most votes of the delegates present.

“I am disappointed, of course, but I will continue to work to make sure Republicans in Texas win,” Ransom stated in a release.

Citizens of Cass County did not agree with the votes cast, according to social media. Some expressed frustration that Fallon’s election biography, Fallon For Texas, created in 2011, states that Fallon lives in Denton County. However, when Fallon introduced himself to the delegates of the convention on Saturday, he stated his place of residence was Grayson County.

“[Fallon] Doesn’t even live in the district and lied through his teeth to those delegates,” said citizen Garrit Blizzard. “He does not live in Grayson County. He lives in Denton County.”

However, according to Ransom’s sister Jennifer, Cass citizens should be introspective of their own leadership for Ransom’s failure to secure the nomination.

“Cass County didn’t provide their own native son the support he needed,” Jennifer Ransom stated. “Can’t shift the blame to other counties until you look at home first.”

In the wake of his 2020 congressional run, Ransom will return to the Atlanta City Office and continue to serve as mayor, he said. Although some may feel, as citizen Marvin Wiendorff expressed, that “northeast rural counties didn’t provide Travis [Ransom] as much support as he deserved,” the civil servant and army reservist remains mum on whether or not his constituents can expect another campaign in the future.