As momentum builds for Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s bid for U.S. Senate, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz has opted to employ the same negative tactics that failed him in his two unsuccessful attempts to win the Republican nomination for president. Each day brings another hateful attack from Cruz and his supporters against O’Rourke. The enthusiasm around O’Rourke’s campaign was built on the desire by Texans for civility and an open, honest discussion about solutions to the problems we’re facing. Cruz can’t compete in that arena. He can’t even seem to find the arena with GPS.

Recently I attended a series of town halls hosted by O’Rourke. At events packed with Democrats, Republicans and Independents in Corpus Christi, Rockport, Goliad and Victoria, O’Rourke enthusiastically spoke of his vision for a unified Texas that leads in providing solutions for immigration reform, honoring our commitment to our veterans, improving infrastructure, creating jobs, leading the country in production of clean energy and rebuilding our ailing public school and health care systems. No audience question or suggestion was off-limits. Attendees were eager to listen and eager to be heard after years of being shut out by elected officials like Cruz.

What you won’t hear at O’Rourke’s town hall meetings are attacks against his opponent. Attacks don’t provide solutions. In recent days, Cruz has attempted to distort O’Rourke’s voting record and ridicule his experiences as a young man. Those experiences, both good and bad, molded the congressman into the dedicated public servant he is today. Cruz has now resorted to splicing together video clips to falsely imply that O’Rourke condones burning our American flag. With no record of achievement in his six years as a senator, Cruz chooses to circle the drain as O’Rourke shows up across the state welcoming input from every Texan. On Nov. 6, we need to flush Cruz down that drain and elect a man who strives to unite us all to make Texas the leader in solutions that will benefit our country.

Robin Rieck

Cedar Creek