On The Record: Cay House

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with Cay House, the Rains County Democratic Party Chair and Mayor of Emory, Texas in Senate District 2.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

My parents were both involved in politics and my grandparents were active in the community, so I was raised in a political environment. Sam Rayburn came to town when I was five-years-old, and I handed out brochures for him on the courthouse steps.

What was your personal progression from the role of activist to the role of County Chair?

It has always been a family tradition to be involved in the community, and I received a neat, but unwarranted award from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments for volunteer service. In my speech, I recognized that I was inspired by others volunteer efforts. Others were always active and cared for the little people all over the world. The award didn’t belong to me; it belonged to the previous volunteers for making their initial efforts of support. I just followed in their footsteps. I had no choice but to become involved.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Rains County?

Rains County is very small and really difficult for a county our size to compete for business and job opportunities against larger cites and counties. We have to tout our grade schools and environment with a clean, wholesome atmosphere to make it appealing as a good town to raise children and start small businesses here.

It is very difficult to compete for state and Federal funding with larger entities for sewage and water funding. Our city grew 151% from 2000 to 2007, and the rural areas not equally treated when it comes to funding.

Do you have any ambition for higher office? Do you have plans to run for any other party office, or possibly even higher public office?

No, I consider myself a professional volunteer. I freely serve the Party and like to be considered a servant of the community. Public service is why I’m a Democrat. Democrats are truly servants of the people, and not just a particular segment of people.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

I am looking forward to the entire U.S. being blue. We have wonderful Presidential candidates. I love Edwards, because he reminds me of JFK from the 1960’s. He is a man for the small fellow, and he has wonderful universal healthcare ideas. It is a complete disgrace that there is not universal healthcare in our society.

I volunteer at a local food bank, and I constantly see families coming in need of money for hospital bills. Other times, they pay their hospital bills and have no money for food or electricity. It is a shame to have that type of situation in our country today.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

People involved in politics need to remember to be honest. The youth should see the political arena as an opportunity to serve everyone.