2015 Texan of the Year: Beth van Duyne

"Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
1 Peter 5:9

We've never declared a "Texan of the Year" in previous years.  We make no commitment to do so again in future years.  That being said, in 2015 one Texas elected official's grace under vicious fire merits special commendation.

We'd never heard of Irving Mayor Beth van Duyne when the year began.  Then, in February, it was discovered that a Sharia law tribunal was operating in Irving.  The tribunal 'judge' in his own words:



At the same time, American Laws for American Courts was under consideration in the Texas Legislature.  Given the identity of one particular lobbyist working against the bill, we knew Joe Straus would never let it pass.  Still, as part of that process, the Irving City Council passed a non-binding resolution supporting the legislative effort.

And that's when all hell broke loose.

Following the support resolution, Beth van Duyne was viciously attacked; at the next city council meeting, Islamists almost provoked a riot:



Following the commotion during the spring, things seemed to calm down...until the stupid clock kid showed up.

In September, the son of an Jihadist operative who had formerly run for President of Sudan (yes, THAT Sudan) dumped the insides of an alarm clock into a suitcase and brought the contents to school.  Given the similarity (at least at first glance) between clock kid's 'invention' and a suitcase bomb, he was detained temporarily while authorities investigated.  When he was released later that afternoon, rather than moving on from the mild inconvenience, clock kid ran to the SJW lynch mob shrieking about 'Islamophobia.'

Naturally, the President HAD to weigh-in.

While clock kid was visiting the White House and genocidal foreign dictators, Beth van Duyne was left to pick up the pieces in Irving.  In so doing, she was subjected to vile abuse.  Nevertheless, Beth van Duyne persevered.  By the end of the year, crime was down, taxes and spending were down, and jobs were up.



Life isn't fair, and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune can ensnare anyone.  At the beginning of 2015, Beth van Duyne was an obscure elected official in a medium sized city.  She never sought international spotlight.  Still, when global jihadists thrust that spotlight upon her, Beth van Duyne rose to the occasion.  She refused to be intimidated.  Like this website, Beth van Duyne has ALSO endorsed Matt Rinaldi's re-election.  For these reasons, Cahnman's Musings is pleased to make Irving Mayor Beth van Duyne our 2015 TEXAN OF THE YEAR!!!