A long time Denton attorney is geared up to become the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 26th Congressional District. Neil L. Durrance, who is also a former Chairman of Denton County’s Democratic Party, will face four-time Republican incumbent Dr. Michael Burgess in the race, if indeed Durrance wins the primary in March. Right now, he is the only Democratic candidate who has announced his intentions, but Durrance said anything can change in politics. “You always take things one step at a time,” he said. Durrance added he wants to lead an effort to bring government back to the people. “We need somebody who’s willing to tackle the issues. It’s time for innovation, and it’s time for leadership,” the attorney said, adding that after 27 years in the courtroom, he is accustomed to people disagreeing with him. However, Durrance said he is always willing to sit down and discuss the issues and listen to all sides of any issue, no matter the difference of opinion.

No stranger to politics, Durrance has served two terms on the City Council of Denton and ran for County Commissioner in 1991.  Recently, he served as Chairman of Denton County’s Democratic Party when he was elected County Chair in 2007 to fill an unexpired term. Durrance was then elected to his own term in 2008. He served until May 2009, when he resigned to begin his run for Congress. As chair in Denton County, Durrance was said to have vigorously promoted the growth and strengthening of the Denton County Democratic Party. Born in Kansas, Durrance moved to Denton at the age of 9 with his family, and he is a graduate of Denton High School and UNT. He then earned his law degree from Washburn University in Kansas and has had a general practice solo law firm in Denton since 1988.

Of course issues are the meat of any campaign, and Durrance discussed those issues at length this week in the office of The News Connection. The first issues he mentioned besides health care were jobs and the economy. “For Texans, it’s about jobs and rebuilding our middle class,” he said, emphasizing the importance of repairing the “neglected and unregulated economy.” Durrance also said it is too early to tell whether the federal government’s stimulus package will do enough to heal the economy. Transportation is another of Mr. Durrance’s campaign issues, and he said one problem in North Texas has been the philosophy to “just lay more concrete.” A better way, according to the lawyer, would be to build a mass transit system linking bus, light rail and high speed rail. And, like every other candidate in today’s political climate, he has his opinion about health care in America. Although at this time, Durrance said he isn’t 100% on board with the President’s health care bill, he does agree with the president on the fact that something has to be done. “The cost of doing nothing is far too great,” he said, quoting Obama.

“Right now, I am in a wait and see attitude about Obama’s health care plan. I think we need affordable health care for all American citizens,” he said, adding that it is a very complex issue. “We have the most expensive health care system in the world.” Durrance noted that people are filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. because of medical costs, but that doesn’t happen in countries like France, England, Germany and Japapn. “The cost per person in those countries is much less than what the U.S. charges,” he stated. Durrance also said he doesn’t think it is fair that members of congress have a great health care plan but many other Americans don’t. “The attitude of ‘I’ve got health care and you don’t,’ is just wrong. And that’s what Congress is doing right now.”

On the topic of gas drilling, which has been of great local concern here in the Barnett-Shale, Durrance said he is not convinced that it’s as safe as it should be. “The jury is still out,” the attorney said, adding that he is very concerned about the effects drilling has on our cities and our water supplies. For more information about Durrance, visit: durranceforcongress.com . The public will have a chance to meet Neil Durrance and learn more about him throughout his campaign, and this weekend he will be at Lewisville Western Days in Old Town Lewisville, all day Saturday, Sept. 26.