Gooden Republican Lance Gooden has formalized his candidacy for state representative, and his name will appear on the March 2 Republican primary ballot against incumbent Betty Brown.

Gooden said he is challenging Brown because "she has lost touch with her district and is putting the interests of Austin insiders before her constituents. "

"There is a disconnect between the Betty Brown that runs around Kaufman and Henderson counties calling herself a conservative and the Betty Brown that goes to Austin and votes against the conservative values we hold dear," Gooden said.

"I'm not claiming to have all the answers, but I can tell you that it's high time we have a representative who actually acts like a conservative instead of one who just talks about it."

Gooden, an insurance and risk management con- sultant, has deep roots in the district. He grew up in Terrell and graduated as the valedictorian of Terrell High School where his father, Tom Ed Gooden, was the head football coach.

Brown After earning two degrees from The University of Texas in finance and government, he went to work as an insurance broker for energy and energyrelated companies, negotiating for them in the insurance marketplace and helping to protect them from lawsuits and other business risks.

"My pledge as our next state representative is to provide the kind of steady, conservative leadership we need to tackle such tough issues as enhancing border security, lowering property taxes, stopping out-of-control spending and imp roving our education syst e m , " Gooden said.

" W e face a lot of serious issues in this tough economy, and now is not the time for more of the same old business as-usual Austin politics. "

Gooden also has legislative experience, serving as an aide to Brown during the 79th Legislature. He said his experience in the legislature was one of the key factors in his decision to run.

"If you spend a little time at the capitol, it becomes abundantly clear that there are two kinds of State Representatives," Gooden said.

"Those who represent the values and beliefs of their districts and those who have completely lost touch with the people they represent. I like Betty a lot as a person, but her record paints a pretty clear picture that she has lost her way.

"We need a representative whose first priority is to represent the conservative interests of their district. I can deliver that to our community. "

Gooden is a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, and a member of the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell.