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Representative George Mahon, a native of the Mahon community near Homer in Claiborne Parish in north [[Louisiana]], was the longtime powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, known for bringing public works projects to West Texas, including Interstate 27, a short-link that ties Amarillo with Lubbock. He had begun his career as a prosecutor in Colorado City in Mitchell County before relocating with his wife, Helen,<ref>Reese, p. 135</ref><ref>At the time of her death, Helen Mahon (1900-1987) had returned to live in Colorado City in Mitchell County. Social Security Death Index</ref> to Lubbock, the largest city in the 19th District. Mahon was so revered in Mitchell County that his bust has been placed on the courthouse lawn in Colorado City. The federal courthouse and a municipal park in Lubbock are named for Mahon; the downtown public library there is named for George and Helen Mahon.<ref>"Mahon, George Herman (1900-1985)", ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Present,'' Website:congress.gov. [Accessed November 11, 2010]</ref>

Representative George Mahon, a native of the Mahon community near Homer in Claiborne Parish in north [[Louisiana]], was the longtime powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, known for bringing public works projects to West Texas, including Interstate 27, a short-link that ties Amarillo with Lubbock. He had begun his career as a prosecutor in Colorado City in Mitchell County before relocating with his wife, Helen,<ref>Reese, p. 135</ref><ref>At the time of her death, Helen Mahon (1900-1987) had returned to live in Colorado City in Mitchell County. Social Security Death Index</ref> to Lubbock, the largest city in the 19th District. Mahon was so revered in Mitchell County that his bust has been placed on the courthouse lawn in Colorado City. The federal courthouse and a municipal park in Lubbock are named for Mahon; the downtown public library there is named for George and Helen Mahon.<ref>"Mahon, George Herman (1900-1985)", ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Present,'' Website:congress.gov. [Accessed November 11, 2010]</ref>

Bill G. Elms,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oaoa/obituary-print.aspx?n=bill-g-elms&pid=160926924|title=Bill G. Elms|publisher=legacy.com|accessdate=September 18, 2013}}</ref> the second Republican to serve on the Ector County Commission during roughly the same time frame that Reese was the Odessa mayor, recalls Reese having asked him to manage the congressional race against Mahon.  Elms, however, declined because he, despite partisan factors, favored the reelection of Mahon.<ref>Reese, p. 135.</ref><ref>A native of Savanna in Pittsburg County in southeastern Oklahoma, Bill G. Elms (died November 7, 2012) was a [[Certified Public Accountant]] and rancher in Burkett in Ector County, Texas.</ref>[[John Gizzi]] of the national conservative weekly 'Human Events'' later described Reese's challenge of Mahon as "Herculean" because the House Appropriations Committee chairman had not even faced a nominal Republican opponent since 1964,<ref>John Gizzi, "Politics 2004: The Week of December 27", ''Human Events'', January 4, 2005, humanevents.com/article.php?id=6194, [Accessed January 27, 2011]</ref> when he defeated Joe B. Phillips (1925-2012) of Lubbock, 87,555 to 25,243.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'' ([[Washington, D.C.]]: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2010), p. 1275.</ref> Phillips was later a leader in the [[right-to-life]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/2012-01-26/joe-b-phillips|title=Joe B. Phillips obituary|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', January 26, 2012|accessdate=April 29, 2012}}</ref>

Bill G. Elms,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oaoa/obituary-print.aspx?n=bill-g-elms&pid=160926924|title=Bill G. Elms|publisher=legacy.com|accessdate=September 18, 2013}}</ref> the second Republican to serve on the Ector County Commission during roughly the same time frame that Reese was the Odessa mayor, recalls Reese having asked him to manage the congressional race against Mahon.  Elms, however, declined because he, despite partisan factors, favored the reelection of Mahon.<ref>Reese, p. 135.</ref><ref>A native of Savanna in Pittsburg County in southeastern Oklahoma, Bill G. Elms (died November 7, 2012) was a [[Certified Public Accountant]] and rancher in Burkett in Ector County, Texas.</ref>[[John Gizzi]] of the national conservative weekly 'Human Events'' later described Reese's challenge of Mahon as "Herculean" because the House Appropriations Committee chairman had not even faced a nominal Republican opponent since 1964,<ref>John Gizzi, "Politics 2004: The Week of December 27", ''Human Events'', January 4, 2005, humanevents.com/article.php?id=6194, [Accessed January 27, 2011]</ref> when he defeated [[Joe B. Phillips]] of Lubbock, 87,555 to 25,243.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'' ([[Washington, D.C.]]: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2010), p. 1275.</ref> Phillips was later a leader in the [[right-to-life]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/2012-01-26/joe-b-phillips|title=Joe B. Phillips obituary|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'', January 26, 2012|accessdate=April 29, 2012}}</ref>

As one of what John Gizzi called "Reagan's Raiders," Reese expected to receive the support of Gerald Ford, who ran for a term of his own as president in the same election. Ford had pledged to support all Republican congressional candidates. When Ford came to Lubbock, Reese was invited to ride with the president in the limousine from the airport to the political rally on the Texas Tech campus. Then Reese learned that Ford had undercut him by inviting Mahon, not Reese, to sit on the platform of dignitaries.<ref>Reese, p. 135.</ref>  Mahon and Reese met in debate in a Lubbock city park sponsored by the [[League of Women Voters]]. In the exchange, Reese said that Mahon had voted on August 9, 1975, for a congressional pay hike from $42,500 to $44,600, effective October 1, 1975, the beginning of another federal fiscal year.<ref>Ida A. Brudnick, "Salaries of Members of Congress: A List of Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2008": https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf

As one of what John Gizzi called "Reagan's Raiders," Reese expected to receive the support of Gerald Ford, who ran for a term of his own as president in the same election. Ford had pledged to support all Republican congressional candidates. When Ford came to Lubbock, Reese was invited to ride with the president in the limousine from the airport to the political rally on the Texas Tech campus. Then Reese learned that Ford had undercut him by inviting Mahon, not Reese, to sit on the platform of dignitaries.<ref>Reese, p. 135.</ref>   

 

Mahon and Reese met in debate in a Lubbock city park sponsored by the [[League of Women Voters]]. In the exchange, Reese said that Mahon had voted on August 9, 1975, for a congressional pay hike from $42,500 to $44,600, effective October 1, 1975, the beginning of another federal fiscal year.<ref>Ida A. Brudnick, "Salaries of Members of Congress: A List of Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2008": https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf

</ref>  Mahon replied that he had not voted to raise his own pay. The ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' later found that Mahon had voted for higher congressional pay and thus verified Reese's contention. Reese said he believed that Mahon simply forgot about the vote in question.<ref>Reese, pp. 135-136.</ref>

</ref>  Mahon replied that he had not voted to raise his own pay. The ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal'' later found that Mahon had voted for higher congressional pay and thus verified Reese's contention. Reese said he believed that Mahon simply forgot about the vote in question.<ref>Reese, pp. 135-136.</ref>