Dallas Morning News Recommendation

30th Congressional District: Amir Omar has new ideas for GOP

11:04 AM CST on Sunday, February 5, 2006

Amir Omar and Wilson Aurbach say they get a lot of applause in Republican circles for wanting to take on Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson in the 30th Congressional District. But it is Mr. Omar who, we believe, has the charisma and fresh ideas to attract the crossover appeal necessary to be more than a blip in the election returns from this historically Democratic district.

A third candidate, Fred A. Wood, displays few leadership skills and says he plans to campaign only door to door.

It's difficult to discern many differences between the two main candidates – Mr. Omar and Mr. Aurbach – on key issues. They both think the United States should stay the course in Iraq, for example, and both favor repealing the Wright amendment. One key difference: Mr. Aurbach unwisely calls for repealing birthright citizenship; Mr. Omar opposes that.

The son of immigrants, Mr. Omar, 34, is a native of the Rio Grande Valley and owns a business-consulting company. Mr. Aurbach, 29, is an attorney with a large firm. Mr. Omar displays a broader interest and understanding of issues. We respect his desire to work as a "citizen congressman" – especially on economic development issues that could transform the district.

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Posted on Sun, Feb. 26, 2006

THE INSIDER

Barbecue guru adds sauce to campaign

By Anna M. Tinsley, Maria Recio and John Moritz

Star-Telegram Staff Writers

It may be a Texas way of turning up the heat in a political campaign.

Eddie Deen -- known for serving up barbecue at President George W. Bush's Crawford ranch -- is delivering bottles of his "Western White House Bar-B-Que Sauce" to potential voters in the District 30 congressional race in southern Dallas County.

It's his way, Deen said in a letter, of drawing attention to the Republican candidate of his choice -- Amir Omar, a Texas Aggie and entrepreneur who is hoping to take on incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson in the November election.

"For so many years, most believed Eddie Bernice Johnson could not be beat," Dean wrote. "Amir Omar is beginning to make believers out of our Republican leaders."

Omar faces Wilson Aurbach and Fred A. Wood in the Republican primary.