District 55 voters now have a third choice in the Nov. 4 special election for state representative. Corporate turn-around specialist Danny Daniel, 57, squeaked in under the wire - and the radar - when he paid the $750 application fee just hours before the filing deadline.

Daniel will appear on the ballot between Republican Ralph Sheffield and Democrat Sam Murphey. The victor will serve from early November until January 2009 when the general election winner will step in and begin a two-year term. Sheffield and Murphey are also candidates in the general election, which is on the same day.

Daniel said he was using the special election as a platform to challenge the winner of the general election to do something about child abuse and neglect in Bell County. He says the problem is an epidemic that strains county and city budgets.

“If you vote for me as an interim candidate, you’re telling the other two that are running this is an agenda you want them to concentrate on,” Daniel said.

Daniel says preventing child abuse and neglect would lower the tax burden in Bell County because demand for emergency and law enforcement services would be diminished.

“Why do we have to build that big Taj Mahal, those big jails and court systems?” Daniel asked.

Explaining his motive, Daniel pointed to the role Clint Eastwood plays in “A Fistful of Dollars.” Eastwood lands in the middle of a feud between two warring ranchers.

“He’s using the two to get what he wants done. And so, I’m right in the middle of the two that are running, to get what I want done and what the community wants done,” Daniel said. “I’m going to try to get our point of view out there. And it’s all subliminal. Everyone knows we need it. No one has pitched those issues.”

For several years, Daniel has been involved with various groups such as Aware Central Texas that aim to prevent child abuse and neglect in Central Texas. He holds up a list of about 25 issues that he says District 55 candidates are discussing.

“Out of all these zillions of issues they talked about, I bet you, there’s not three of them that will even get done,” Daniel said. “And when you dial down these things … the root cause of many of these is child abuse. What we’re trying to do is get the two candidates (Sheffield and Murphey) to be focusing on what they can be effective at. The idea is try to do something with substance.”

Daniel moved to Bell County in 1974. He opened a financial services company at the Hawn Hotel the next year. Other than serving on a local water board he has never run for election. He said he seriously considered running for the two-year, District 55 seat, but backed out because he couldn’t afford time lost from work.

Temple resident Joyce Maze is Daniel’s campaign treasurer. Their Web site is not online yet, but will focus on fundraising for charities that fight child abuse and neglect. Donations will first cover expenses, but the bulk of the money will go to charity. Ms. Maze also said the campaign aims to put pressure on Murphey and Sheffield regarding getting something done about child abuse and neglect in Bell County.

“If we talk enough about this issue, whoever gets elected, we want them to know they need to get to work to get this done,” Ms. Maze said.

Daniel said he wouldn’t rule out another such move in the future.

“If they don’t concentrate on it, I’ll come back in two years. We’ll see.”

If he wins, Daniel said he would not open an Austin office.The special election is necessary because former District 55 representative Dianne White Delisi resigned before the end of her term.