On The Record: Thure Cannon

This week I talked with Thure Cannon, Chief of Staff for State Representative David Farabee.

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

Politics has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father was a former State Representative and I remember stuffing envelopes and building yard signs for candidates at the age of five. My father told me when I was young that government was the only thing in life that determined when you were born and how deep in the ground you will be when you die. I took that as meaning that people should be involved in the process.

What was your personal progression from the role of activist to the role of Chief of Staff for Representative David Farabee?

Again, from an early age through high school, I worked on a number of campaigns, blockwalking, building yard signs and making phone calls for various candidates (much less targeted back then than now.) In college, I worked in the Texas Senate as a Sergeant and was fortunate that Senator Jim Turner's office let me hang around a bit. After college, I ran my father's campaign for Chief Justice of the 10th Court of Appeals and then went to grad school at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. My summer internship allowed me to work in D.C. for Congressman Lloyd Doggett, and then I did an internship for Representative Jim Dunnam during the 75th Session. Upon graduation from grad school and jobless, I was fortunate to find the Texas Partnership (Pete Laney's former organization) that shipped me off to Wichita Falls to manage David Farabee's campaign. I've been fortunate to work for Representative Farabee ever since.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Wichita and Archer Counties?

Not much different than other areas of Texas. Public education has always been priority #1, for both public schools and for the hometown university, Midwestern State. Oil and natural gas, improving the affordability of health care, economic development, agriculture and water issues are also extremely important to North Texans.

How do local politics affect your family?

Is "a lot" an appropriate answer? As a new father, the decisions of my school board have become much more important to me. As the owner of a home, local zoning and city ordinances have new meanings. Government
influences our lives in so many ways, I don't understand how people can ever consider sitting on the sidelines.

How do state politics affect your neighborhood?

Funding for local schools and educational professionals, property tax cuts and taxes in general, utility rates, health care issues, and public safety affect us all, not just our neighborhood.

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

It's a privilege to work for the citizens of North Texas and Representative Farabee. I'm enjoying that right now.

Who are some of your political heroes?

Pete Laney, Bob Bullock, Bill Hobby, Barbara Jordan and my father (more of my personal hero, but since he was also in politics, I guess that counts.)

What would you say has been the most defining moment in your political life?

Managing Representative Farabee's first campaign was rewarding because I was fortunate to work for a candidate that truly cares about his district and wants to vote in the way that is best for his district. I truly believe that it was for this very reason that we were able to win in a district that leans heavily Republican by the numbers. I feel that reason has been confirmed in subsequent campaigns and feel that if a candidate does what's best for their district, the citizens will elect them again.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

It appears at the time the pendulum is swinging back from where it was in the mid to late 90's through the early 2000's. In politics, I'm looking forward to the opportunities that were significantly helped with the 2006 election. In the Legislature, I'm looking forward to more policy-driven debates. The Good Lord knows that Texas needs it.

What would you say the political breakdown of your family is? Is it mostly Democratic or are you somewhat unique?

During a political rally, my father once gave a speech that there were some 10 commandments he never broke. He'd never built or worshiped false idols, never murdered, robbed or committed adultery...and he never voted Republican.

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

Get into the arena because you care. I've seen several young people get into politics for the supposed glamour, but as they rapidly find out, there is not much glamour, if any, to public service. I encourage anyone who is able to do so to take an internship at a local/state office to see the amount of work that is involved and the rewards you feel when you are able to assist someone with a concern. If you don't like that avenue, volunteer or intern at an advocacy group or trade association in which you have an interest. Again, government affects everything we do, from the sales tax we pay when we buy a pack of chewing gum to regulating your work place and your home. There's bound to be something you care about and politics and government will have a finger in it. Get involved.

What one thing would you say a political organization never has enough of?

It really depends on the campaign. If it's a campaign where TV or mail is the most effective medium of communication, it's money. If it's more grassroots oriented, it's people. Campaigns many times get bogged down in minutiae and perceived, as opposed to actual, problems and have a hard time recuperating. A campaign always needs to focus on its main goal, and that is to get the candidate or issue more votes than the competition. Campaigns should never let the perfect be the enemy of the good because I have never seen a perfect campaign (except when the candidate or issue was unopposed).

What has been the most valuable lesson you've learned in politics?

Work for the citizens you serve, not any ideology. Voters are smarter than you.