By: Nancy Flake | Courier staff | The Courier of Montgomery County
 
With all the fire of a "come to Jesus" revival, two Democratic candidates for state office presented their gospel of how they will change things during a whistle stop tour appearance at the Montgomery County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon.

David Van Os, candidate for Texas Attorney General, and Hank Gilbert, running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, gave their views to a like-minded audience of close to 70 people during the event, the 70th in a planned series of stops at all 254 county courthouses in Texas by Van Os.

"Texas is entitled to an attorney general who will use the tools of the office to make sure government understands the first three words of the Constitution - 'We the people,'" he said to cheers. "Help me take it back."

Gilbert, a rancher and former agriculture teacher, is running against state Sen. Todd Staples, whose district includes the northern half of Montgomery County.

"My opponent is being groomed by his party to be the next state leader and a national leader," he said. "It's important we beat him and beat him soundly. You'll see this state go from red to blue in November.

"God sent his son here to cover all our sins, and right now he's having a hard time covering all the sins of the Republicans."

For Clarence Lewis Jr., of Conroe, the event was a sign of a resurgence of the Democratic Party in the county.

"I feel new blood is going to revitalize the party," he said. "I think these candidates have a fair chance."

A lifelong Democrat, he enjoyed the enthusiastic response of the crowd to Van Os and Gilbert.

"It's nice to find out they're (Republicans) not the only ones here," Lewis said.