Cyrier bids for Texas House seat

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County will have the chance to send one of her own to the Texas Legislature in January, as the result of a special called election.

Late last month, District 17 State Representative Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington) announced that he was stepping down from his position to accept an appointmen

t from newly-elected Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, who tapped Kleinschmidt as his General Counsel to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Despite having handily won his 2014 election cycle by more than 10,000 votes over Democratic Party challenger Carolyn Banks on Nov. 4 General Election, Kleinschmidt, who originally took office in 2009, opted to tender his resignation on Nov. 21.

The move left the door, and the seat, open for the upcoming 84th Texas Legislature, which convenes on Jan. 13, 2015. On Monday, Governor Rick Perry announced a special election to be held on Jan. 6, 2015, to fill the seat.

Former Caldwell County Commissioner John Cyrier, a Republican, announced his intentions for the seat almost immediately.

Following his announcement, the Mayors of both Lockhart and Luling stepped forward to endorse Cyrier in the race.

““This special election is very important for the future of Caldwell County,” White said. “It is critical to have a state representative who advocates for our schools, roads, water, and local jobs. John Cyrier has answered the call to put his name on the ballot and now it is our responsibility to vote him into office.”

Candidates have until Monday, Dec. 22, to file but the only candidates to express interest in the position at press time were Cyrier, and Bastrop County entrepreneur Brent Golemon.

According to his website, Golemon counts among his experience founding, co-founding or acquiring ownership interest in more than 15 companies, and working as Legislative Aide for a State Senator, and Chief of Staff for a Texas House Representative.

Cyrier was appointed as Caldwell County Commissioner by then-Judge H.T. Wright, to fill the unexpired term left by the resignation of Tom Bonn. After serving on the Court for three years, Cyrier opted not to seek reelection in 2012, instead choosing to focus on his family and his business. However, his shying away from the political arena did not diminish his colleagues’ trust in him.

For five years, including two years after his departure from the Court, Cyrier has represented Caldwell County on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and is responsible for more than $30 million in road projects in the county.

Additionally, he was a founding board member of the Lockhart ISD Education Foundation, which this week presented a $15,000 donation to the Lockhart Independent School District, and is a Precinct Chairman for the Caldwell County Republican Party. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association, and member of the Farm Bureau and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

In addition to White and Mayor Mike Hendricks of Luling, Cyrier has garnered endorsements across the political, social and business perspective in Caldwell County.

Early voting opens on Dec. 29, and early voting and Election Day polling locations will be announced after the Caldwell County Commissioners Court approves them.

Follow the Post-Register online at www.post-register.com for updated information as additional information about this special election is released.