David Van Os' hat officially in the ring [View All]

[NoPasaran]

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Statement of David Van Os

Regarding Intention to Run for Texas Attorney General



“Article 1 of the Texas Constitution, the Bill of Rights, contains these words: ‘All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit.’



“Every seat of government occupied by every public servant belongs to the people of Texas and exists only for the benefit of the people. Every Texan, no matter how humble, whether from El Paso, Brownsville, Presidio, Amarillo, Dallas, Tyler, Livingston, Houston, Lockhart, or San Antonio, is an equal part owner of every seat of government and an equal grantor of the authority for government’s existence.



“The Texas Constitution establishes an Executive Department of state government composed of six officers, one of which is the Attorney General. The Attorney General is the state’s lawyer. Since the state is owned by and composed of the people of Texas, the Attorney General is the people’s lawyer. He is entrusted with the highest duty to serve as the people’s legal advisor and legal advocate.



“The Texas Constitution places upon the Attorney General a special duty to protect the people against corporate power. Article 4, in delineating the responsibilities of the Attorney General, states that he ‘shall especially inquire into the charter rights of all private corporations, and from time to time, in the name of the State, take such action in the courts as may be proper and necessary to prevent any private corporation from exercising any power or demanding or collecting any species of taxes, tolls, freight or wharfage not authorized by law. He shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek a judicial forfeiture of such charters . . .’



“The statutes enacted by the Texas Legislature on behalf of the people charge the Attorney General with many duties to protect consumers, protect the environment, defend civil rights, promote open government, protect workers and small businesses, and break up predatory monopolies. The people of Texas are entitled to an Attorney General who will be vigilant to protect them from the abuses of big government and big money power. The people are entitled to an Attorney General who will fight for them against hustlers who violate the trusts of public office or the privileges of corporate charters. If the people should choose me in the elections of 2006, they shall have that Attorney General.”



David Van Os

March 18, 2005