A legislative aide for Carrie Isaac, the Republican who has represented Canyon Lake in Texas House District 73 since 2023, today confirmed the congresswoman will not attend Thursday’s candidate forum about water issues plaguing Comal County.
Celeste Simon cited a scheduling conflict.
Lisa Brieger with Fischer Neighbors called the response “disingenuous.’
“We have been strung along for weeks with no response from Isaac’s office except when they acknowledged having received the invitation,” she said in an email. “We had sent multiple invitations, each one with the offer to change the date in order to accommodate Isaac’s schedule. Nevertheless, two separate sources say that Isaac is putting it out that it would have been smarter for us to have checked with her before fixing a date.”
New Braunfels’ Merrie Fox, a retired educator running as a Democrat against Isaac, said she plans to attend the Candidate Forum about Water, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at Wimberley Community Center, Johnson Hall, 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley.
The event is sponsored by Fischer Neighbors, Fischer Store School Community, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Save Texas Streams and Trinity Edwards Spring Protective Association.
Isaac may be a no-show Thursday but she’s been busy on social media attacking Fox, who is openly gay, for her alleged opinions on drag queens.
There’s a line, Isaac said on Facebook, between Fox’s support of drag queens and her “lurking at elementary pickup lines” with campaign signs.
“Drag shows for kids,” she said. “Then the curb where little kids get in the car. That’s a pattern.”
Fox said Isaac’s post is unhinged and described the photos her opponent shared as borderline pornographic.
The incumbent Republican is using a tactic that appeals to her base, Fox said — paint your opponent as someone who hurts children.
“As a teacher and school principal who spent 31 years ensuring the safety of children, it is absurd that my opponent is attempting to vilify me as a child predator,” she said. “If she truly wants to use that strategy, then let’s talk about it in a debate. I believe it’s important to answer to the public when asking for their vote. In the meantime, she refuses to accept candidate-forum invitations to answer questions from constituents about topics like public education, data centers, and water. What is she afraid of?”
The three-year-old photo at the center of Isaac’s original attack shows a drag queen imitating Cher.
Fox said the team member overseeing the pride festival should have escorted the performer from the stage.
“As a small board of volunteers organizing and facilitating a large event, we didn’t get everything right. But we learned and we made changes. Last year, when a performer posted an inappropriate message on their own social media page two weeks before the event, we immediately rescinded their invitation to perform.”
Fox has a doctorate’s degree in education leadership, a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science/biology.
She served as a principal at Comal ISD’s Rahe Elementary and Randolph Field ISD’s Randolph elementary and Randolph middle schools.
Isaac did not immediately respond to an email from MyCanyonLake.com.