Linsey Fagan Looks to Shake Things Up From Inside Congress
The night before the most recent presidential inauguration, Linsey Fagan slept with her daughter cradled in her arms. She was unsure of the country she was going to wake up to the next day, and she was scared for her daughter.
That uncertainty and fear, coupled with Fagan's observations of increasing government corruption and the realization that many politicians simply aren't there for people, spurred Fagan, 31, to run for a seat in Congress in hopes of shaking things up from the inside.
Before entering the congressional race, Fagan went to Tarrant County College and started a company which led to a job in technology. She was also a delegate for Bernie Sanders and occasionally found herself in situations where people would prod her to run for office.
Even with such encouragement, Fagan didn’t seriously consider entering the fray until she had to talk to her young daughter about the Townville Elementary School shooting in South Carolina, explaining how she could protect herself should it happen at her own school.
“Running is the least I can do [to serve my country],” said Fagan.
Having never campaigned for a congressional seat before, Fagan is learning as she goes — but her motivation is fully formed, rooted in a desire to fix the problems she sees in the world of politics as usual.
Even from the outside, the divisions running through Congress are obvious. Fagan wants to repair the system and be the person who unifies disparate factions on terms that work for everyone. Fagan considers herself a radical peacemaker, and she wants to fight for the people who are most vulnerable.
“[The decisions of] Congress are haphazardly hurting the country,” said Fagan.
Fagan’s key platform points are decidedly citizen-centric: education, healthcare, and anti-corruption. She's also focused on overturning Citizen’s United and reforming campaign finance law.
Regarding healthcare, Fagan thinks that people who can't take care of themselves should be prioritized in healthcare discussions. She also thinks we should have a Medicare plan that allows for opting out should someone want something different.
“You can’t mix greed with life and death,” said Fagan.
When it comes to education, Fagan wants to make sure that teachers are kept in the loop when changes are being made that affect them.
Her stance on corruption is based on her belief that the money politicians receive from organizations and companies inevitably makes them corrupt, causing those in power to make decisions benefitting only those who gave them the money. She believes this hurts everyone — the people who voted for them and the people who didn’t.
“They’re doing what they’re doing for the next election,” said Fagan.
Fagan says people want someone transparent. She's following her gut, and doesn't discount her chances simply because she's new to the political arena.
“Fate favors the brave,” quoted Fagan.
And the voters seem to agree. Proof is found in her growing roster of campaign volunteers, some who helped the election efforts of former President Obama.
She depends on those around her to be open; Fagan listens to everyone’s ideas, saying that she has a lot of ideas — but not all of them. She also hopes to work with people in the Texas Senate and House to fix issues rather than just blaming someone else in Congress and doing nothing about it.
“People on both sides need to realize that we’re on the same team,” said Fagan about the split between parties.
Fagan says she will never represent one person more than another in her district. She stresses that she will never let money influence her decision making. She knows that working against money like that is dangerous and can hurt her, but she says she won’t change her mind.
“I need to do the right thing,” said Fagan. “I have nothing to lose.”
Recognizing the division that led to Donald Trump taking office fueled Fagan's ambition to do her part, but, ultimately, her goal is to secure a positive tomorrow for future generations. She wants children to inherit a better country, one free of constant bickering and conflict.
Fagan is aware of the challenges ahead. She's been advised to stop doing what she's doing — working outside the traditional system — and adopt the status-quo approach of other candidates, and she realizes that she has to be twice as knowledgeable than the people she’s running against.
Fagan's desire to make a difference is relentless and rooted in patriotism.
“I care so much about the U.S.," shae said. "I want to fix it.”
Photo Courtesy of Linsey Fagan Facebook page
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