January 27, 2014 8:34 AM

SCHOOL TRUSTEE CHALLENGING STICKLAND SAYS THE COMMUNITY IS LIKELY ON HIS SIDE - WITH EXTENDED AUDIO INTERVIEW

Andy Cargile says one big reason community may reject the incumbent is overwhelming Prop. 6 support

EULESS – The man who proudly touts his status as “The Top Rated Conservative” in the Texas House may have a real battle on his hands for keeping the title of State Representative. Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, has drawn a respected Republican challenger who has garnered big-name community endorsements and will likely have the kind of campaign cash needed to be competitive with the firebrand freshman who’s often been a thorn in the side of his own party’s leadership.

On a cold but sunny day in Northeast Tarrant County, HEB School Board Trustee Andy Cargile gave QR a tour of Trinity High School, where he was an administrator for decades. It was pretty clear the former principal and challenger to Stickland is a beloved figured. Teachers and other administrators approached Cargile to hug him and chat with the man who steered the school through many years that included national notoriety for its students. “When you’re in public education, you don’t get to pick and choose your students,” he said. “Our team is whoever comes through those front doors.”

A survivor of prostate cancer, Cargile said his diagnosis is what caused him to leave school administration. “I didn’t want to be a part-time principal,” he said. Once the cancer went into remission, he said he thought he could “do some good by running for school board. So, that’s what I did.”

By Scott Braddock