LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Ryan Zink outlined his priorities for Congressional District 19 at a Republican candidate forum on Friday, saying he wants to reform the Farm Bill to better support farmers.
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Zink was among seven Republican candidates who attended the forum, including James Barbee, Jason Corley, Abraham Enriquez, Donald May, Tom Sell and Matt Smith.
Zink called Washington D.C. a “cesspool” and said he would fight for the district in the capitol before returning home. He promised to meet with counties in the area regularly.
Zink said his biggest priority if elected would be focusing on helping farmers through Farm Bill reform.
“I think the number one thing that I would like to do is to make sure the Farm Bill actually gets the provision that it needs. Where we don’t have 76% of the benefits headed toward SNAP to where it’s actually going to benefit the farmer instead of major agriculture because if we don’t have food or if we don’t have fiber I can promise you America is going to fall apart,” Zink said. “The farmer is the core of service. Anything you ate today, thank a farmer, because they are involved in it some way, somehow.”
Zink was convicted by a federal court in 2023 for his participation in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. He was later pardoned by President Trump. Zink said he continues to advocate for the release of all footage from that day.
Early voting begins Feb. 17, and the primary election is March 3.
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