By David Doerr

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Waco video business owner Rob Curnock is challenging nine-term U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards after filing Wednesday for a spot on the Republican ballot for the March 4 primary election.

Curnock, owner of Waco-based Dub-L Tape Inc., a business specializing in video production and duplication, waited until just before Wednesday’s 6 p.m. filing deadline to put his hat in the ring to run for the 17th Congressional District. No other Republican candidate filed to run for the seat, giving Curnock a clear shot at taking on the Waco Democrat Edwards during the November general election.

No Democrats filed to challenge Edwards in the primary.

McLennan County Republican Party officials said Curnock waited to the last minute to ensure he would not draw a primary opponent. Curnock, 50, lost two previous Republican primary elections for the chance to challenge Edwards in 2000 and 2002.

He is a former Waco-area television sports reporter and anchor.

Previous campaigns

Curnock did not release any statements Wednesday announcing his candidacy or explaining why he is running. He declined a Tribune-Herald request through a McLennan County Republican Party official to speak with him about his candidacy. However, the official said Curnock plans to talk to the media today.

Curnock garnered 20 percent of the vote in 2000 and 21 percent in 2002 in three-candidate Republican primary contests, losing to Ramsey Farley, a retired oil executive from Temple, who was unsuccessful in ousting Edwards both years.

During his previous campaigns for Congress, Curnock said Edwards “represents the liberal Northeastern establishment of the Democratic Party.”

“As a small-business operator, I am getting killed by Chet Edwards’ policies,” Curnock said in a 2000 Tribune-Herald article.

In 2002, the Federal Election Commission found that his campaign had wrongly used two checks from his video production company to buy almost $14,000 in television advertising. The FEC deemed the use of such corporate money as illegal, and he later paid for the ads out of campaign funds.

In a 2002 Tribune-Herald article, Curnock attributed the problem to not being familiar enough with the details of federal campaign laws.

“Running for Congress, when it comes to the paperwork, is exactly like doing your taxes,” Curnock said. “It can be so confusing and so difficult unless you are someone that has done it many times before.”

Formidable opponent

Curnock will be up against a well-financed and formidable campaigner who defeated his last opponent, decorated Iraq war veteran Van Taylor, by an 18-point margin.

Edwards’ stature in Congress has grown since 2006, when the Democrats took control of Congress and he became chairman of the subcommittee over spending for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

During his last campaign, Edwards, 56, touted his work to keep the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center open and attacked his opponent’s lack of local ties.

“Whether it is fighting to keep the Waco VA hospital open or for jobs in our district, Chet is an independent-minded, effective voice for Central Texas,” said Edwards’ campaign manager, Elizabeth Connor, in a prepared statement. “That is why he will win this race with the strong grass-roots support of Republicans, Independents and Democrats.”

Two Libertarian Party candidates also have filed to run against Edwards, Gardner C. Osborne, a Hillsboro investment manager, and Robert Allan Vernon, a banker from Bryan.

ddoerr@wacotrib.com

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