LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Early voting ends Friday in the party primary runoffs, with candidates making last-minute appeals to voters. Tom Sell, who earned 40 percent of the vote in March, is seeking to represent Congressional District 19.
Sell has lived in Lubbock with his family since 2003. He was born in Lubbock and returned after high school to attend Texas Tech University. He later worked in Washington, D.C., in the office of Larry Combest, who then represented Congressional District 19.
“I think what sets me apart is just the history, the credibility of having worked in this area, having built my own business, having raised a family,” Sell said.
Sell says his message has been to rein in the nation’s capital, empowering people and businesses at the local level and restoring traditional values.
“It’s a tough place and I’ve said from the beginning, Washington, D.C. needs more West Texas. It needs our grit, our values, our ‘stick-to-it-ivity,’ our heart, our good work ethic and that’s what I hope to bring to Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Sell said he wants to fight for the industries that run the region, including energy, healthcare, higher education and, especially, agriculture.
“I would say it’s not that we need a revolution. We do have to stand by our farm families though and give them greater resiliency in this marketplace that can be so challenging, right? They’re dealing with weather, they’re dealing with foreign markets that are often manipulated by foreign governments,” Sell said.
On border security, Sell said the federal government needs to do a more efficient job of enforcing existing laws.
His opponent, Abraham Enriquez, has endorsements from the National Border Patrol Council president and Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer. Sell said he has grassroots support from Plains Cotton Growers, Texas Corn Producers, the Texas and American Farm Bureau and four of his previous primary opponents.
“So, I’ve seen Washington, D.C. work well. I’ve also seen it at some of the saddest moments. And I hope, and my prayer is that I could be real salt and light and be a leavening agent in that body of Congress to do good work for the people of the 19th District of Texas and for our nation,” Sell said.
Tuesday’s winner will advance to November and face Democrat Kyle Rable in the race to represent District 19.
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