Editorial | RJ Morales, TX3DNews
Present for politics. Absent in crisis.
That’s the pattern TX-03 residents are beginning to notice. Rep. Keith Self has made several appearances across the district in recent weeks—but not always were voters expected him to be. He skipped the McKinney airport groundbreaking, offered no response to a vulgar parade float involving his staff, and remained quiet following the deadly floods in Kerr County.
The contrast is clear: partisan visibility, public silence.
At the airport event, city officials and business leaders marked a major federal investment in infrastructure. Self was a no-show. No comment, no explanation.
At a recent town hall, Self claimed Medicaid recipients were getting “checks” and made other questionable statements. When pressed by constituents, he sidestepped the questions—and as tensions rose, ended the event brusquely rather than engage further.
After an obscene flag flew on a parade float—with his wife and campaign director aboard—he offered no disavowal.
And after the Kerr County floods, he toured the area with Donald Trump and posted on social media—but offered no plan, and no support for those working on the ground or relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the people of TX-03 acted. McKinney dispatched recovery staff. Volunteers launched supply drives. Former First Lady Maylee Thomas-Fuller organized a benefit concert.
In a crisis, it’s not about where you pose. It’s where you act.
Evan Hunt, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Democratic candidate running for TX-03, responded to the Kerr County flooding not only with words—but with action. He was directly involved in coordinating relief. A member of his campaign leadership team, Al White, traveled to assist with search and rescue operations and spent multiple days on the ground. For Hunt, the crisis hit close to home: his daughter had recently returned from a sleep-away camp near the flood zone. Though she was safe, the devastation felt personal:
“Just a few weeks ago, I picked my daughter up from a sleep-away camp near the flood zone in Texas. Although she was safe at home when the floods came, I can imagine the horror and anguish of the parents of the girls at Camp Mystic. Over 100 lives are gone—many of them children. Many are still missing. Families are grieving. Communities are torn apart.”
Hunt didn’t stop at empathy. He channeled frustration into a pointed critique of governmental neglect:
“It’s a reminder of how fragile life is—and how critical federal aid and government institutions like NOAA and FEMA are to saving lives. Even more disturbing, we’ve since learned that some state officials rejected millions of dollars offered by the Biden administration that would have improved flood warning systems and likely given families more time to get out.”
He emphasized that distrust in government isn’t an excuse to defund its life-saving functions:
“If you distrust government, fine. But don’t strip away the very institutions designed to protect us. Government isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool. It’s a promise we make to one another: that when disaster strikes, we won’t face it alone.”
Hunt also drew from his own life experience. During Hurricane Ivan, he saw firsthand what effective government response looks like:
“When I got home from training, FEMA boots were on the ground—side by side with neighbors—helping rebuild what had been lost. I’ll never forget that. That’s what public service should look like.”
And he didn’t hold back in contrasting that vision with Rep. Keith Self’s record, saying:
“Keith Self offers thoughts and prayers while actively working to defund the very agencies that respond in moments like these. He mocks the role of government while cashing a government paycheck. That’s not service. That’s hypocrisy.”
Jordan Wheatley, Democratic candidate for TX-03, joined volunteers on the ground to coordinate emergency aid during the Kerr County floods. His campaign’s communications director, Daniel Triche Jr., described the effort:
“Our community came together in the most powerful way. Families who lost everything were met not with silence, but with compassion—and action. Thanks to local donors and volunteers, 1,633 diapers and 421 ounces of formula were collected and delivered.”
Triche emphasized that the response was about people—not politics:
“Mothers and fathers trying to care for their babies. Neighbors looking out for neighbors. Strangers stepping up when help was needed most.”
He credited Wheatley’s hands-on support but focused praise on the district:
“Jordan worked side by side with volunteers to distribute supplies. But the real heroes are the donors and families who showed incredible strength in the face of crisis.”
He closed with a note of gratitude and pride in the district’s response:
“To every single person who contributed diapers, formula, time, or simply shared the call for help—thank you. This is what community looks like. This is what Texas looks like when we take care of one another.”
In town halls and online, Self often talks about values and faith. But when TX-03 voters ask him to clarify false claims, explain his absences, or show leadership in a crisis—he goes silent.
This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about presence. The people of TX-03 deserve more than curated posts and selective appearances. They deserve a representative who shows up when it matters—not just when the cameras are rolling.
TX3DNews has asked. We’ll keep asking.
Because silence is not leadership.
This editorial was published by TX3DNews as part of its ongoing commentary and analysis on local representation. While TX3DNews is an independent, nonpartisan news outlet, this piece reflects opinion. As noted in the article, we have contacted Rep. Keith Self and his staff for comment and will update the piece if a response is received.