Neil Durrance stressed the importance of communication as a way to solve problems during a forum at Cafe Du Luxe on Thursday night.

The Democratic candidate for U.S. Congressional District 26 touched on a number of different issues as he took questions from a rotating crowd of about 40 people. Some stopped to listen briefly while waiting for their beverages; others stayed for the entire forum.

He is running against Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, and Libertarian Mark Boler of Oak Point.

Durrance covered three areas in particular — the economy, gas drilling and education — before giving the floor to those in attendance to ask him questions.

On the economy, Durrance called on elected officials to consider the impact their ideas may have on the future and blamed the current state of the economy on past failed policies.

On gas drilling, Durrance noted that hydraulic fracturing was exempt from the Clean Air and Clean Water acts, and said that needed to be changed.

“It’s a question of health and the welfare and safety of the public vs. corporate profit,” he said.

Durrance vowed to side with the public and advocate the halting of drilling until safer methods could be used.

On education, Durrance advocated changing the current standards and requirements so teachers could stop “teaching to the test.”

“We have a system [where] if you do poorly, we give you less money,” he said. “That has to change.”

Durrance said merit-based pay for teachers only creates further division between schools that are struggling and those that are well off.

He then turned the floor over for audience questions and was first asked about immigration reform. Durrance said he advocates securing the borders and using work visa programs for people who want to come to the U.S. He also mentioned the need to stop the flow of weapons into Mexico and drugs into the U.S., which he said could be done if law enforcement agencies in both countries worked together.

Durrance also called on leaders to stop using the topic of illegal immigration as a political football to kick around and produce heated rhetoric.

Other questions he fielded were on improvements that could be made to the Environmental Protection Agency and where he stood with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White. He said the EPA could be more effective if the federal judicial system could step forward and help enforce environmental laws. He also voiced his support for White.

Durrance also called the idea of repealing the health care reform bill, something Burgess addressed in his town hall meeting last week, a grave mistake.

Oak Point residents T. Jervis Underwood and his wife, Carmen, already Durrance supporters, turned out for the event and asked a few questions.

“He understands what is going on and has answers to problems we’re facing,” T. Jervis Underwood said. “There is no doubt he knows what he is talking about.”

He said the more people Durrance has a chance to reach, the more people will be impressed with his knowledge and confident in his answers.

Ramona Thompson, who traveled from Lewisville to be at the forum, was another Durrance supporter. She said she was shocked that people were not paying close attention to the congressional candidate.

“It speaks to the apathy and disconnection a lot of people have with the process,” she said. “Like it doesn’t have anything to do with them, but it does. Even if they already have their mind made up, why not listen?”

Durrance vowed to always listen and to always be willing to go to people if they have questions or concerns on any issue.

“We need to go out and talk to our friends, talk to people we don’t think of as our friends,” Durrance said. “If it’s calm and reasonable [dialogue], then we all learn from each other.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.