Meet Alan
I'm not running to further a political career. I'm not running to pursue a role in talk radio or television. I'm running because I care deeply about this district and the wonderful people and places in it. The district deserves someone in DC who will serve, not pursue personal ambition. If elected, my staff and I will be available to you whether you voted for me or not. We will always be respectful in our communication whether it's via phone, email, social media, or someday in person.
Your member of Congress needs to serve YOU. I will.
I grew up in the small town of Lyle, Minnesota (population 560). I enlisted at the age of 17 and served as an enlisted soldier in the ranks of E-1 through E-5. After graduation from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, I became a commissioned officer and served in that capacity until I left the Army.
I made the choice to leave the Army after meeting the woman who eventually became my wife. My priorities changed and frequent Army moves were in opposition to my desire to have a stable family life and a sense of a long-term home for my children.
Unlike my opponent, I didn't come to Texas to advance my political dreams. I came here because I fell in love with the area during my US Army service. You deserve better than a political opportunist. You deserve someone who came here to serve.
Since leaving the Army, I've spent most of my civilian career at various levels of pharmaceutical manufacturing management. My experiences have ranged from leading a small team at a large pharma site in North Carolina to leading an entire company in the DFW area. I currently work to deliver life saving medications to people across our state.
As for my personal life, I'm happily married and I'm the proud father of two adult daughters who are both college students (one a grad student and the other an undergrad). We have two golden retrievers and one of the sweetest rescue cats around. I deeply enjoy cooking for those I love and you'll frequently find cooking threads on my Twitter feed (@alanellistx).
I'm a middle class guy. I don't come from money. I didn't attend prep schools on the east coast. I drive a Hyundai and live in a modest house in north San Antonio. You won't find me trying to be someone I'm not. You can't say the same about my opponent. I'm asking for your vote in 2022 because we can do better in DC. Let's amplify the voices of ordinary Texans across our district.
On the issues
Fighting for everyone in our district:
Our district is a large, diverse place. We have major urban centers in Austin and San Antonio as well as rural areas in the Texas Hill Country. We can't take a one size fits all approach to serving this district. Austin and San Antonio must improve transportation systems in order to continue to see strong economic growth. We can do that while ensuring our Hill Country residents are provided with reliable electrical power, widely available broadband connectivity, and the quality healthcare that all Texans deserve.
LGBTQ+ Rights:
Everyone in our district deserves to have the chance to build the life they dream of regardless of who they love. This means equality in housing, employment, justice, and so much more. My opponent wants to place some people who live here in a second class status. That's wrong and I will fight to ensure that doesn't happen.
Abortion:
I firmly support a woman's right to choose. Healthcare decisions regarding abortion are between a woman and her doctor, not with wannabe politicians like me.
Gun reform:
Like many who live here in Texas 21, I'm a gun owner. I'm also concerned about gun violence in our country. Let's have an honest discussion about gun safety and gun laws. Let's make some impactful changes once we've had that discussion. I have some ideas. I want to hear yours. We can no longer accept leaders who will immediately cave to the demands of the NRA-funded GOP.
Let's start with some common sense ideas like:
- mandatory firearms safety training
- firearms licensing
- keeping guns secure when children are in the home
- mandatory waiting periods
- a ban on high capacity magazines
- common sense, tiered background checks
This is an important conversation and I learn quite a bit about where our community stands on this issue when talking to potential voters. Let's keep the conversation going.
Defense:
A strong national defense is our best deterrent against aggressors. I will commit to ensuring our nation is defended. I'll refuse to bow to the demands of military contractors and donors.
Ag Policy:
It's time we had an uncomfortable conversation on ag policy. The top recipients of ag benefits aren't the family farmers you see on FarmAid. They're companies like Tyson. A simple reform of these subsidies can fund a free and nutritious lunch for every schoolchild in America.
Police reform:
The last election saw quite a bit of grandstanding and accusations that some wanted to defund police. I don't want to defund police. I do want police to be held accountable for their actions when they're wrong. We need to have a hard conversation about the rate of police violence against persons of color. We also need to discuss how we equip police and how we expect them to interact with the communities they serve.
Energy:
All members of Congress should be required to disclose their investments in energy. Chip Roy is a major investor in a pipeline that's seizing Hill Country land and polluting our water. I believe in protecting the natural beauty of our area, not exploiting it for fossil fuels.
Fracking is an important part of our national energy security. Choosing to protect the environment doesn't mean that we need to ban fracking. It means that we need to make good choices about where it's allowed and how it's regulated.
Let's also make the investments for renewable energy and the jobs it will create. Renewable energy was one of the most reliable sources we had during the 2021 Snowpocalypse. It's an important part of the future of Texas.
Medicare:
Making Medicare available for anyone who wants it is a priority, but let's do it right. Let's make sure we deliver quality healthcare to everyone, while making responsible decisions about the way we deliver it. A key part of expanding Medicare is ensuring that the care that is delivered is cost-effective in order to allow us to help as many people as possible. Our Medicare system has several opportunities in this area and I look forward to working with you and for you to make Medicare even better.