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Capitol Days and the Success of a

Home School Dad/Candidate

by Nathan Macias

Texas Home School Coalition REVIEW © November 2006

                An April 2005 outing to Capitol Days and a phone call from a home schooling family began my journey that resulted in an amazing victory in this year’s Republican Primary.  I took my three oldest sons to the THSC Association’s Capitol Days, and, after a great day filled with excellent speakers, enthusiastic training, and some hands-on lobbying, another father and I shared some ideas as our children sat in the House gallery.  I expressed my desire to someday serve as an elected official, to which he responded, “Why not here in the Capitol?”

Six months later, in October, I received a phone call from the Halls, members of our church and fellow home schoolers.  As I sat on our living room sofa with my wife and our fourteen-year-old son, whom my wife was quizzing for his upcoming geography bee, I began a phone conversation that ended with a request for me to consider running for state representative in the upcoming March 2006 primary.

Much to my pleasure, my lovely wife, Susan, felt this was the right thing to pursue and that this was the right time.  You see, she was very familiar with my desire to someday serve my community as a public servant/elder statesman.  In 1993 we attended our first home school convention in Columbus, Ohio, as we were stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Gregg Harris was a featured speaker.  During one of Gregg’s sessions, he shared an illustration on the "Model of a Man."  His model was divided into 20-year increments: ages 0-20, education and training; 20-40, business and babies; 40-60, hospitality and community; 60-80, elder statesman/city father.  This model had a profound impact on my life, and I shared with my wife that I would like to develop my life in concert with this model.  That same year, I was introduced to David Barton and his tremendous research and teachings on “America's Godly Heritage.”  Those two encounters were the catalyst of my interest and desire to someday serve as an elected official.

                After we completed my twenty years in the Air Force, we decided to move back home to Texas.  My beautiful bride and I were both from San Antonio, so we settled in Bulverde, on Highway 46, right between New Braunfels and Boerne.  This brings us back to my campaign that featured some of the most dynamic, young home schoolers, a local home schooling community, and a broader home schooling network that came together and campaigned on my behalf.  As my wife often states, our three young men, Caleb (18), Luke (16), and Aaron (14), and all their friends were our secret weapons, and, to put it into military parlance, our ground troops were simply magnificent.  Before I go further, I want to clearly state that our victory went far beyond anything I could have ever orchestrated, and I thank the Lord, my fabulous wife and children, the hundreds of volunteers and contributors, and the thousands of voters who assured the victory.  

                All that said, I want to encourage you to get involved in the political process.  As home schooling parents and students, there is an abundance of opportunities to come alongside many outstanding candidates who would specifically be favorable to the educational freedoms of home schoolers and generally be individuals who would be outstanding elected officials, due to the makeup of their character, leadership experience, and vision.

                Yes, it is true that it takes finances to run a successful campaign.  Therefore, a monetary contribution of any amount would be greatly appreciated and used wisely by the individuals you deem good for government.  Consider it a small investment in the future of your local community, state, or nation.

                Although finances are essential, the bedrock of grassroots campaigning remains block walking, the door-to-door meeting of citizens which is the source of networking and support.  Any candidate is encouraged when people turn-out to walk on his behalf.  I was very fortunate to have the support of our church community, grassroots activists, and the home school community.

Our first Saturday walk gathered some forty volunteers, both older and younger.  My campaign manager was amazed and exclaimed how extraordinary it was to have this type of support.  The young men and women, ranging in age from seven to twenty years old, had a profound effect on the outcome of the race.  I surmise the reason for this tremendous impact was that the majority of party primary voters today were born before 1945.  These individuals were so impressed to see young men and women out on a Saturday or a weekday after school that the young people reflected positively on me as the candidate.  Not only did these young men and women have a direct impact on the outcome of the race, but they also brought intangibles to the campaign in the form of enthusiasm and endurance. 

                Allow me to thank the Lamberts and the fine staff at THSC Association for their support of my campaign and their vision to keep Texas the most home school-friendly state in the country.  Since my wife and I have homeschooled in five different states, we can truly attest to the fact that there is no place like Texas.

                I will support sound legislation that protects the rights of Texas home schoolers and improves education for all Texans.  Like you, I firmly believe a strong nation is made of strong states, which are made of strong counties, which are made of strong cities and towns, which are made of strong families.

                Therefore, commit to the process.  A great start is to attend Capitol Days; then find the candidates who share your values.  Determine to help wherever and whenever you can—making phone calls, placing large or small signs at strategic locations, walking blocks, hosting a gathering to introduce the candidate to friends and neighbors, or contributing whatever your budget can afford—it will all be worth the investment.  By the way, on the last weekend before the primary, we had some eighty-two volunteers across our four-county district block walking the neighborhoods.  Of those eighty-two, seventy-two were home schooling family members on a political science field trip.

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