Most of the campaign signs around Cedar Creek Lake for the District 4 State Representative seat are touting incumbent Lance Gooden, and his list of endorsements indicates he is a favorite of many local elected officials in the Republican Primary May 29. Gooden's endorsements include the support of 32 elected officials, including the mayors of 24 cities, two Henderson County commissioners and four Kaufman County commissioners, according to the candidate's website. He also cites the support of Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes, State Sen. Bob Deuell, Texas Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. Gooden, 29, a freshman legislator from Terrell who is running for his second term, is opposed by Dr. Stuart Spitzer, of Kaufman. Spitzer's website indicates he has received endorsements from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Texas Eagle Forum President Cathie Adams, Young Conservatives of Texas and the Texas Home School Coalition. Spitzer's campaign signs bill him as a "true conservative." In Sptizer's campaign news releases AAPS and Adams were quoted as supporting Spitzer because of his strong conservative views. AAPS officials said they supported Spitzer because he had vowed to champion Texas Medical Board reform, and Adams praised him as a "courageous conservative" who would work to limit government and stand up for "right to life" for the preborn, elderly and infirm. Spitzer was born and raised in Athens. He has practiced medicine in Henderson and Kaufman Counties since he returned to the area from college and medical training. On his campaign website Spitzer, 44, who is backed by the Texas Tea Party, has highlighted his status as a married man with two preteen children and his strong Christian religious beliefs. His campaign has criticized Gooden, who is single, as a" liberal-leaning" politician who has been an ineffective legislator during his first term. Spitzer has said if he is elected to the State Legislature, which is a part-time job paying $7,200 per year, he would continue his medical practice in Kaufman simultaenously. Spitzer's wife Shari is also a physician, but she currently is homeschooling their children. Gooden, who unseated six-term incumbent State Rep. Betty Brown two years ago, grew up in Terrell and works there now as an insurance consultant. He graduated from the University of Texas with degrees in finance and government. On his website, Gooden notes that he is a lifetime member of the Church of Christ who is now a member of the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell. Gooden cites his first year as a legislator as a successful one, saying he and his colleagues addressed the $27 billion shortfall facing the state with a "fiscally conservative budget that slashes wasteful spending and needless bloat of our state government, excludes new taxes and protects our Rainy Day Fund." Gooden also points to his support of a voter identification bill and pro-life legislation being passed into law as reasons to return him to office. Pictured below are Lance Gooden and Stuart Spitzer.