Promising to be a statesman and not a politician, State House District 3 candidate Jeff Cunningham made a series of media stops this past week. Running on the Republican ticket, Cunningham faces Mount Vernon resident Kirby Hollingsworth in the March 9 primary. The victor meets the winner of the Democratic primary, where incumbent Mark Homer of Paris is facing challenger Richard Bradley Weemes, also of Paris. ...

Cunningham, 47, is a chiropractor in Sulphur Springs. ...

In an issue specific to Titus and Red River Counties, Cunningham noted that he would support the construction of Marvin Nichols Reservoir, though only after thorough environmental impact studies. "It's not an economic issue," he said, "because even though the lake will be a real boon, money can't buy the environment. We need to learn what migratory patterns and species will be affected." ...

[COMMENT: With Weemes and Hollingsworth firmly in support of the reservoir, it looks like Mark Homer is our last hold-out; and Homer was endorsed by Tribune publisher Bobby Palmer in today's edition. Personally I predict a fall election between Homer and Hollingsworth, and for those of us "single-issue voters" Homer is the clear choice for both Democrats and Republicans. More should be known after the primary, as well as after Senator-Elect Kevin Eltife makes his appointments to the Sulphur River Basin Authority. But Eltife will undoubtedly become a pawn for Judy Lee; and if Weemes and Hollingsworth wind up in the general election, we who oppose the reservoir might find ourselves up the Sulphur River without a paddle! R.]