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June 24, 2009
National Republican group gets Texas chapter
A group of Republican lawmakers today announced the formation of a Texas chapter of GOPAC, a national organization that recruits and trains Republican candidates.
GOPAC-TX will raise money and work to get additional Republicans elected to the Texas House and Senate, the group’s chairman, Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, said at a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
At least for now, the House — where Republicans have a 76-74 majority — will likely be the group’s primary target in the Lone Star State.
For Republicans to win on key issues at the Capitol, “we need more Republicans in the House,” said state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a member of the group’s board. “The gap is too small.”
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January 5, 2009
Transportation panel future cloudy under Straus
So, assuming San Antonio Rep. Joe Straus ends up as speaker, who might be in line to chair the House Transportation Committee? Central Texas has had that seat since 2003 in the person of Williamson County Republican Mike Krusee, but he’s retiring from the Legislature.
Looking at the list of the committee from last session, as well as the initial list of Straus supporters (which is of course growing rapidly now that he seems to be the speaker winner), does not yield any obvious choices. The committee will be more than half wiped out by retirements and defeats.
Gone, besides Krusee, are Republicans Nathan Macias and Pat Haggerty (defeated by fellow Republicans this spring), Jim Murphy (defeated in November), and Fred Hill (who retired). That leaves Republicans Larry Phillips, Linda Harper-Brown and Patricia Harless, none of whom were on Straus’ initial list of supporters in the past couple of days. Some of them might be on the train by now, and Harper-Brown is said to be very interested in being transportation committee chairwoman, but will they be too late?
Also returning is the committee’s lone Democrat from last session, Joe Deshotel from Beaumont. He was on the Straus list, part of a group of more than 70 Democrats on it. No word on whether he would want the committee chairmanship.
But with 40 committees, each having both a chair and a vice-chair, that’s 80 leadership posts in a body with only 76 Republicans. And Straus will of course be cognizant that it was the unified support of House Democrats that put him where he is today. So a Democrat — Joe Pickett of El Paso comes to mind — might very well be the next transportation committee chair.
Or it could be Republican Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, who has been knee-deep in transportation issues the past couple of sessions. Kolkhorst, however, wasn’t on that first Straus list, so she might have the same impediment facing Harper-Brown.
Central Texas, however, likely will still have Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, as vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee.
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November 6, 2008
Dewhurst airs concern over business tax revenue, health care
At a University of Texas post-election conference, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said today that revenue from the revamped business tax is running behind what the state needs. He also said the tax wasn’t his first or second choice in 2004 as a revenue source to cover the state picking up the tab for reductions of nearly $15 billion a year in local school property taxes.
Dewhurst also stated a desire to do something about spiraling health care costs, which show up dramatically in the state budget as Medicaid costs. He said he favors the state creating a tax credit so that businesses not currently insuring employees would be encouraged to do so. He said he is also considering ideas for pilot projects that focus more on prevention rather than paying providers for specific medical procedures.
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August 4, 2008
Libertarians meet with speaker's staff
Libertarians continue to enjoy overtures from Republicans who, at least in some circles, worry that third-party candidates could be a factor in close races this fall.
Just days after ex-state Rep. Suzanna Hupp, R-Lampasas, urged Libertarians to quit key races, three members of Speaker Tom Craddick’s staff met Monday afternoon with Libertarian leaders.
In the past, Libertarian candidates might only get 5 percent of the vote, but that’s enough to determine the winner in a close legislative contest.
With the House closely split between Republicans and Democrats, a handful of legislative races could affect the partisan outcome and perhaps Craddick’s chances to remain speaker.
Both sides described Monday’s meeting, which the speaker’s office arranged last week, as looking for common ground. Both sides said they never talked about specific legislative races during the 20-minute meeting.
“We were talking about issues where we have agreement,” said Alexis DeLee, the speaker’s press secretary.
Those areas of agreement apparently do not include the fall campaigns.
Pat Dixon, the Libertarian Party’s state chairman, said he is urging the party’s candidates to stay on the November ballot: “We’re committed to having our candidates do their best to grow the party.”
The only Libertarian candidate to drop off the ballot in Central Texas so far is Alan Hultgren, who was running against Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, and Republican Donna Keel.
Hultgren said Monday he quit because he’s starting a business and he worried that he might help Bolton by staying in.
“I can honestly say there was no external pressure,” he said. “I just thought the lesser of the two evils would be the Republican Party.”
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July 18, 2008
Rose, Maldonado, Kleinschmidt hold cash edge
Central Texans Patrick Rose, Diana Maldonado and Tim Kleinschmidt start with a cash advantage in their respective legislative races.
No surprise that Rose, a Democrat from Dripping Springs seeking his fourth term, has $807,809 in the bank because he has a reputation as a fund-raising machine. His Republican opponent, Wimberley businessman Matt Young has only $27,272, including a $16,094 loan.
But Maldonado, a Round Rock Democrat, may raise a few eyebrows with $129,740 cash balance. Her opponent, Georgetown Republican Bryan Daniel, reported $32,421 at the start of their fall campaign to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee as one of two Williamson County state representatives.
Maldonado had the advantage of being unopposed in the Democratic Primary while Daniel had to survive a four-candidate primary and run-off.
In another Central Texas open seat, Republican Tim Kleinschmidt, a Lexington lawyer, holds a slight advantage over Democrat Donnie Dippel, a La Grange rancher and businessman. They are facing off to replace retiring Rep. Robby Cook for a House district that includes Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Lee and part of Brazos counties.
Kleinschmidt reported $41,988 in cash while Dippel has $29,161.
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July 16, 2008
The check's in the mail
Blue Texas, a new Democratic PAC based in Austin, reached its $1 million goal from one June fundraiser — sort of.
The PAC, headed by Austin high-tech socialite Alexa Wesner, reported $579,640 in contributions and another $426,000-plus in pledges. Given the state of the economy, she might not want to dally on collecting those pledges.
The largest donors included: Wesner, Austin Ventures partner John Thornton, Midland oilman Michael Klein and Mikal Watts’ Corpus Christi law firm — all at $50,000 each.
Worth noting is that some of the money, in essence, is recycled donations from the accounts of state lawmakers and members of Congress. Collectively those incumbents gave or pledged $100,000 to help Democrats re-take the state House majority.
Of course, the members of Congress may have the most to gain.
Democrats have until 2010 to re-establish themselves for the 2011 redistricting battles when the Legislature redraws congressional and legisaltive districts to reflect population changes.
Can anyone say Tom DeLay and Ardmore, Oklahoma?
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June 18, 2008
D's Target Perry-Toomey fundraiser for Kleinschmidt
Four-and-half months before the November election is not too early to start firing up the base, apparently.
Democratic bloggers — and by extension the Donnie Dippel campaign for the Texas House — are using Republican Tim Kleinschmidt’s first Austin fundraiser to make a point with their crowd.
Gov. Rick Perry will headline the noon fundraiser on Thursday for Kleinschmidt at the offices of lobbyist Mike Toomey. Dippel, for contrast, will be raising money at a Bastrop County ranch (rancher Pati Jacobs is hosting) the same day.
“A lot of Perry’s buddies - lobbyists for the Trans-Texas Corridor, private school vouchers, and other sweetheart government giveaways - will surely attend. Toomey will likely bring in his corporate clients too and maybe even his buddy Tom Craddick,” writes Matt Glazer in Burnt Orange Report, a Democratic site.
The headline tells the Democrats’ message: “Donnie Dippel a Man of the People, Tim Kleinschmidt a Man of Perry and Toomey.”
Well, Dippel is unlikely to swear off taking money from anyone in the 78701 zipcode and Kleinschmidt is planning a series of fundraisers across the sprawling House District 17 that Robbie Cook, a Democrat who’s retiring, now represents.
The District 17 open seat is one that Democrats must win if they hope to win their first House majority since the 2002 Republican rout.
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May 14, 2008
Perry to help raise money for Keel
Gov. Rick Perry, who expects to be campaigning for Texas Republicans this fall, is headlining a fund-raiser for Donna Keel, who’s opposing Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin.
Keel is making her first race to reclaim the District 47 House seat once held by her brother-in-law, Terry Keel.
The fund-raiser is a luncheon affair at The Austin Club on May 20.
It won’t be the last for Perry, who says he’s a candidate for re-election in 2010.
“We’ve probably got a dozen invitations” to headline fund-raisers, said Robert Black, Perry’s press secretary. “He always says, in campaign season, he’ll be working for his team.”
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April 17, 2008
Craddick's rival might resurface
It seemed Wednesday that House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, wouldn’t face a Democratic opponent for his seat, after a federal judge ruled that Bill Dingus should have resigned from the Midland City Council before filing as a state representative candidate.
But Dingus, a Midland oilman, was taking steps by the end of the day to stay on the ballot.
“We’re dusting ourselves off,” he said of the decision.
U.S. District Judge Walter Smith Jr. ruled that any person holding a lucrative political office is not eligible to become a legislative candidate.
But after Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Ritchie declares Dingus ineligible, Dingus said he will resign his council seat and ask the state party to make him its replacement nominee.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Texas was touting the judge’s decision as a complete victory.
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March 11, 2008
Gordon to endorse Hobbs in Texas House race
Third-place finisher John Gordon is expected on Wednesday to endorse Williamson County prosecutor Dee Hobbs for state representative.
On March 4, Hobbs of Hutto led a four-way GOP race to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee in House District 52, which includes parts of southern and eastern Williamson County. He faces Georgetown insurance executive Bryan Daniel in the runoff election on April 8.
Gordon, a former Williamson County GOP chairman, finished third, missing the runoff by 83 votes.
The press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the McConico Building Community Room, 301 W. Bagdad Ave., in Round Rock.
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March 4, 2008
Haggerty behind in early vote
El Paso Rep. Pat Haggerty is running behind his GOP opponent, Dee Margo, according to early voting.
Margo leads Haggerty 56 percent to 44 percent with about a 700-vote difference.
Another El Paso incumbent, Democrat Paul Moreno, is ahead of his opponent Marisa Marquez. He has 3,888 votes to her 3,623.
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Tight race for Williamson County House seat
Early voting results indicates a tight race in the four-person Republican campaign to replace Rep. Mike Krusee of Williamson County.
Bryan Daniel led with 1,360 votes, followed closely by Dee Hobbs at 1,337 and John Gordon with 1,212. Viv Sullivan had 379 early ballots cast for her.
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Dukes takes early lead
Austin Rep. Dawnna Dukes took an early lead over her Democratic rival Brian Thompson, according to early voting totals just released.
Dukes leads 65 percent to 35 percent.
Actual vote is 7,013 for Dukes and 3,774 for Thompson.
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March 3, 2008
Late Democratic money surges for Dukes
Austin Rep. Dawnna Dukes has found a Democratic sugar daddy to go toe-to-toe with rival Brian Thompson’s main money man.
Both are trial lawyers.
The Watts law firm of Mikal Watts fame paid for $63,186 in television commercials on Thursday (and added $4,692 the next day for good measure).
Watts, who was a U.S. Senate candidate until a few weeks ago, said he tried to match Houston trial lawyer John Steven Mostyn, Thompson’s major financial backer, dollar-for-dollar. At last count, Texas Ethics Commission reports show Mostyn had given Thompson more than $72,000 — about two-thirds of Thompson’s total campaign budget.
It’s safe to say Thompson wouldn’t have had an effective TV campaign without Mostyn.
“I matched it to the dollar so that Brian Thompson didn’t have an advantage with one (major) donor,” Watts said today.
Those commercials are the same that Thompson, a lawyer, tried to stop in court last week.
Thompson complained that the commercial lied about his voting record (he voted in fall contests in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 but never in a Texas Democratic primary until this one).
The judge said it wasn’t clear whether the commercial misled voters, but he said it wouldn’t be appropriate for a judge to interfere with free speech rights on the final weekend of a campaign.
Watts’ late entry on the side of Dukes is a boost to an incumbent under the gun for her past support of Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and contributions for Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, the nation’s biggest individual GOP donor.
While not in Perry’s league, Watts is one of the elite donors to the Texas Democratic Party.
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February 26, 2008
Dukes, Thompson criticize each other's donors
Austin Rep. Dawnna Dukes and her Democratic opponent Brian Thompson each have found some money, but they are both criticizing who’s giving to their opponent.
Thompson, who’s used Duke’s past support of Republican Speaker Tom Craddick against her, cites her support from Republicans, particularly $24,000 from Houston builder Bob Perry, the nation’s largest individual donor to Republicans.
She, in turn, notes that a Houston trial lawyer, Steve Mostyn, is underwriting Thompson’s television campaign, contributing more than $48,000 in TV production and time. That’s about half of the $95,572 Thompson reported raising the past month.
“This is a major red flag for voters,” Dukes said. “Thompson has sold his independence and the best interests of this district to the highest bidder. He’s trying to turn the people’s House into an auction barn.”
Mostyn wasn’t available for comment this afternoon.
In addition to Perry’s check, Thompson cited another $24,500 from several individuals he identified as Republicans.
“As Democrats are turning out in record numbers to elect Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton the next President of the United States, it’s a shame that during this historic election Dawnna Dukes is being funded by the same men who helped elect George W. Bush,” Thompson said. “All you have to do is look at Dawnna’s list of Republican donors to know that we need change.”
Most of the $178,496 Dukes raised this past month came from a laundry list of Capitol lobbyists and political action committees.
Both candidates had lagged raising money until this past month.
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February 21, 2008
Complaint alleges corporate money used in campaigns
The Texas Christian Life Commission has filed a complaint accusing horse and dog racing interests of illegally using corporate money in state legislative campaigns.
Tommy Azopardi with Texans for Economic Development, the racing industry’s umbrella group, said Thursday that an inaccurate report has already been corrected.
The complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission says the racing group took corporate money from Call Now Inc. and Retama Partners and, according to its public disclosure report, spent it on campaigns against three House incumbents.
“We have watched this PAC over the years, and been dismayed at the handful of individuals and entities that continue to push the slots-or-nothing agenda at racetracks in our state,” said Suzii Paynter, the Christian Life director who filed the complaint. “This filing brings to light the gravity of the misuse of corporate funds in our political process.”
Azopardi said the corporate money was used for the administrative expense of the racing industry’s political committee and not for commercials, direct mail or phone banks.
“We’ve already corrected it with the Ethics Commission,” he said. “There is no problem.”
State law allows a political committee to spend corporate money to create or administer a political committee. Corporate money cannot be used in connection with campaigns.
The use of corporate money has been the key issue is Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle’s attempted prosecution of the Texas Association of Business. In 2002, the group used corporate money to help elect Republicans with direct mail. The group argued that the mail was issue ads and not campaign material.
So far judges have dismissed two indictments against TAB although Earle is appealing. The trend at the U.S. Supreme Court, however, seems to be more in TAB’s direction than Earle’s.
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February 20, 2008
The skinny on Dawnna Dukes' franchise taxes
Amid speculation whether Rep. Dawnna Dukes owes the state franchise taxes or not, we have the official answer: No.
Well, maybe.
The answer will be in the paperwork that she hasn’t filed yet.
According to the state comptroller’s office, Dukes paid the estimated tax she owes for tax years 2005, 2006 and 2007 without filing the tax returns. The comptroller can’t determine for sure whether she’s overpaid or underpaid the franchise tax — or what penalties she may owe — until she files the returns.
Dukes’ opponent, Brian Thompson, is criticizing Dukes’ handling of her taxes.
She says she fell behind in property taxes, a car payment and filing the franchise tax returns because of her workload during the 2005 legislative session and the three special sessions that followed.
The lone employee at D.M. Dukes & Associates, Dukes said she lost ground — and money — that year. But she apparently is current with her taxes and the car payment — at least as much as the comptroller can tell.
After the March 4 primary, Dukes will be busy with paperwork. In addition to the tax returns, she still must file corrected reports showing how she spent an estimated $89,000 in campaign donations on a credit card.
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January 29, 2008
Complaint filed against Dukes
Another Texas lawmaker is in trouble over credit card charges.
A complaint has been filed at the Texas Ethics Commission against Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who’s in the middle of a re-election battle, because she improperly reported about $90,000 of credit card charges on her campaign account over eight years without detailing how she spent the money.
The ethics commission has long required office-holders to spell out their political expenses instead of just showing payments to a credit card company. Without the details behind the credit card bills, the public cannot determine how a candidate or an office-holder is spending the campaign contributions.
Several lawmakers have been fined in recent years for the same violation.
The complaint against Dukes was filed by Jake H. Gonzales, a college student and executive director of Campus Alliance for Progress. He said he discovered the problems in Dukes’ reports after reviewing several candidates’ files for a friend.
He denied being part of Thompson’s campaign: “I never met Brian Thompson.”
Dukes’ violations, which she’s acknowledged, is hardly news. It was first reported in December and she promised to correct the reports.
Her opponent, Brian Thompson, has complained because it’s been more than 40 days and Dukes has not corrected the reports.
“Elected officials should never be too busy to follow the law, nor should they act as if they are above the law,” Thompson said.
Dukes said her opponent is just trying to distract her from their March 4 Democratic primary showdown. She did not promise to correct the reports before the primary.
State law offers an incentive for lawmakers to fix mistakes in their reports. If they correct them within 14 days, administrative penalties are waived. But the law specifies no deadline for correcting inaccurate reports.
Daily fines top out at $10,000 per violation after 100 days. Because Dukes had known about the problems with her reports for several months, there is no incentive under the law to file corrected reports.
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January 22, 2008
Dukes has money advantage
Rep. Dawnna Dukes has an early money advantage over her opponent, Austin lawyer Brian Thompson.
The Austin incumbent has a 7-to-1 advantage in fund-raising but she had six months to raise the money compared to Thompson’s one month.
Dukes, who seldom raises much money unless she has an opponent, raised $73,972. Her biggest contributor was lobbyist Buddy Jones’ HillCo Political Action Committee with $10,000.
Thompson raised $11,272, mostly on the Internet, and he lent his campaign $5,056.
Dukes has $51,761.98 left to spend. Thompson has $11,043 in the bank.
By comparison, the fund-raising champion in Central Texas is Rep. Patrick Rose with $557,203 the past six months. He has about $609,000 in the bank. He has a Republican opponent, Matt Young, in November.
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January 2, 2008
Another Keel for House District 47?
Donna Keel, the sister-in-law of former state Rep. Terry Keel, has filed as a Republican for House District 47.
Keel, who’s married to Thornton Keel, Terry’s brother, obviously hopes to use the family name to recapture the seat. District 47 includes southwestern Travis County.
Rep. Valinda Bolton, an Austin Democrat, won a long, expensive campaign in 2006 after Terry Keel retired from the Texas House. Terry Keel now serves as House parliamentarian.
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December 20, 2007
Craddick gets opponents on two fronts
House Speaker Tom Craddick got opponents on two fronts today — another speaker’s candidate and a Democrat who’s challenging his re-election in Midland.
Bill Dingus, a member of the Midland City Council for the past seven years, announced today that he will challenge Craddick in the 2008 general election as a Democrat.
In Midland, a longtime GOP stronghold, that is the West Texas equivalent of spitting in the wind.
Dingus explained his reasoning for filing as a conservative Democrat: “Democracy can only thrive when voters have options. Midland and District 82 deserve a choice and I am here to provide it. “
Dingus, an oilman, said he is running because Midland needs a change in the leadership in Austin.
“I want to ensure that the reputation of the good, honest, hard-working citizens of our piece of West Texas is reflected in our representative,” he said. “People here still believe in handshakes because out here they still work. I want to take that kind of good character and trustworthiness down to Austin.”
He offered no direct criticism of Craddick in his announcement. The speaker is under fire in Austin because he’s lost his working majority in the House. Both Republicans and Democrats rebelled in May, claiming Craddick has consolidated too much power in his office. Craddick, who dismissed those allegations, refused to allow a vote on motions to remove him.
Craddick, once considered by Texas Monthly as the most powerful politician in the state, has a $4 million war chest and the power of the speakership behind him.
Meanwhile, Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, who faces his own challenger to re-election, told the El Paso newspaper that he plans to run against Craddick for speaker in 2009.
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December 18, 2007
Did Democrat get GOP help in Fort Worth?
As word spread Tuesday night that Democrat Dan Barrett had upset Republican Mark Shelton in what should be a Republican House seat in Fort Worth, Travis County Democratic activists were buzzing that Republicans had helped Barrett.
The thinking is that supporters of GOP candidates who lost to Shelton last month voted for the Democrat so that Shelton wouldn’t have a leg up in what is expected to be a rematch in the March Republican primary.
There’s already bad blood in the water between the Republicans who faced off in the first round last month. A robo-call to Republican voters on election day left the impression that Craig Goldman was attacking fellow Republican Bob Leonard. Goldman denied involvement, and Leonard’s camp suspected Shelton, who also denied being behind the sneak attack that apparently turned off voters.
Barrett, the Democrat, will now be the incumbent for 2008, when the Legislature isn’t meeting. He’ll face the Republican who can survive the March primary.
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December 17, 2007
Coe won't run for Krusee seat
Former Round Rock City Council Member Gary Coe won’t run to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee.
Coe ruled himself out in a statement released today:
“After much consideration, I have decided not to run for the District 52 seat. As with any decision this major, many things have to be in place to insure that it would be in the best interest of not only my community, but my family. My family and I have concluded that now is not the best time to attempt this type of endeavor.”
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December 14, 2007
Fourth candidate files to replace Krusee
Vivian Sullivan, a Round Rock school trustee, has filed as a Republican candidate to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee.
Sullivan is the fourth candidate (and second Round Rock trustee) to file for the Williamson County legislative seat.
The other Republicans include Dee Hobbs, 32, an assistant prosecutor; John Gordon, 61, a longtime GOP activist and party official; and Bryan Daniel, a Georgetown insurance executive. Diana Maldonado, a Round Rock school trustee, is the lone Democrat running to replace Krusee.
Sullivan, who has lived in the district since 1993, is a longtime neighborhood activist.
According to her resume on the Round Rock ISD Web site, she led opposition to converting Highway 183 North, from McNeil Road to Ranch Road 620, into a toll road. Krusee, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, was instrumental in bringing toll roads to Williamson County.
Sullivan, who has a master degree in communication from the University of Texas, is an ex-FBI agent and has international experience working for Texas Instruments Latin America Division. From 1991 to 2002, she owned her own translation business, Bilingual Services.
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Austin lawyer plans to file against Rep. Dukes
Austin lawyer Brian Thompson, who’s been inching toward a race against Rep. Dawnna Dukes, will make it official Tuesday.
Thompson’s announcement is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Vivo’s Restaurant at 2015 Manor Road.
Thompson, a Democrat, says he raised more than $6,500 online this past week.
The primary issue in the campaign will be Dukes’ support of Speaker Tom Craddick, a Midland Republican, who survived two bipartisan revolts during last spring’s legislative session. His critics complained that Craddick has centralized power in his office, forcing members to vote against the wishes of their constituents.
Dukes, however, will argue that she has a strong Democratic record and that her support of Craddick allowed her to help her east Travis County district from her post on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
In his statement this morning, Thompson said, “Obviously, our community is appalled by the incumbent’s endorsement of Republican Speaker Tom Craddick’s failed ideology of starving public schools and denying children health care.”
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December 11, 2007
Davy Crockett Wasn't Available
Daniel Boone, a Canyon Lake psychologist, filed Tuesday as a Democrat in Texas House District 73.
He will challenge the winner of the Republican Primary between Rep. Nathan Macias of Bulverde, who is seeking his second term, and Doug Miller of New Braunfels.
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Hobbs, Gordon file for Krusee seat
Dee Hobbs and John Gordon became the first Republicans to file for the House District 52 seat being vacated by Rep. Mike Krusee.
Hobbs, 32, an assistant county attorney, is a Hutto Chamber of Commerce leader and son of longtime Justice of the Peace Judy Hobbs. Gordon, 61, an electrical engineer, is a longtime GOP activist, having served in party leadership posts at the county and state levels.
Former Round Rock Council member Gary Coe has told the Austin American-Statesman that he plans on filing in the Republican Primary, but he has not submitted any paperwork yet. Bryan Daniel, who headed up the U.S..Department of Agriculture’s office of rural development, could make it a four-way race in the GOP contest in March.
So far only Diana Maldonado, a Round Rock school trustee, has surfaced as a Democrat in House District 52.
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December 3, 2007
Couple files for public offices
The couple that files together must stay together.
Today Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, filed for re-election, as expected. Her husband, Andy Hathcock, joined her — as a candidate running for his own post. Hathcock, an associate family judge, is running to replace retiring 98th State District Judge Jeanne Meurer.
That will be a busy household in 2008. Leander school trustee Pam Waggoner is expected to file against Bolton as a Republican. With Meurer retiring, the open seat is likely to attract other candidates as well.
Today is the first day for candidates to file for public office.
Weatherford Mayor Joe Tison, a four-term incumbent, confirmed that he will challenge Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who is a key lieutenant to House Speaker Tom Craddick.
Both major state political parties will list other legislative candidate filings at the end of each day. For the Democrats, go to txdemocrats.org. You can find Republicans at http://texasgop.org.
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November 30, 2007
2008 primaries might not be so bloody
So how bloody will it be for Texas House incumbents in the March primaries?
Looking back at 2006 can help put it in perspective: There were 29 contested primaries involving incumbents (open seats weren’t counted). Eighteen were Republican races; Democrats had 11.
Republicans, not Democrats, were more likely to turn out their own. Four GOP incumbents and only two Democrats were defeated in the primaries. Blame redistricting, which makes most districts lopsided toward one party or another, and GOP voucher-proponent James Leininger who took out a couple of those House Republicans.
By comparison, only 25 or so contested primaries are projected so far for the 2008 primaries and those include eight open seats with no incumbents.
If the 2008 primaries are going to be bloody, a lot of opponents have to make surprise filings over the next month.
Instead, the “surprises” might be aimed for the general election because an unknown has most of 2008 to get his campaign together.
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Krusee wannabes?
Williamson County Republicans are abuzz over who might try to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee.
Only one has filed the paperwork to raise money to explore making a race: Bryan Daniel, originally from Jarrell, who headed up the state office of rural development for the United States Department of Agriculture.
Others being mentioned are former County Commissioner Frankie Limmer, lobbyist Randy Lee, former Round Rock Council member Gary Coe, Round Rock Council Member Joe Clifford, and Larry Gonzales, chief of staff to Rep. John Otto of Dayton.
Filing to run for public office begins Monday and ends Jan. 2.
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November 7, 2007
Surprise Republican winner supports Craddick
Mark Shelton, a Fort Worth physician who upset two fellow Republicans to advance to a runoff in a special election to replace Rep. Anna Mowery, is pledged to support Speaker Tom Craddick.
Shelton finished second to the lone Democrat, Dan Barrett, a lawyer who had challenged Mowery last year, in a crowded filed of seven candidates. Although Barrett led the field, House District 97 is considered a Republican district, so Shelton could be favored in next month’s runoff if he can reunite supporters of the other Republican candidates.
But as Tuesday night’s election showed, anything can happen with low turnouts. Shelton edged out the two Republicans expected to make the runoff: Bob Leonard, who had served in the Legislature during the 1980s before Mowery, and Craig Goldman, a former Phil Gramm aide who outspent everyone in the race.
In fact, Tuesday night may just be a warmup for a rematch in the March primaries.
Next month’s runoff will offer a choice in the speaker’s race. Barrett opposes Craddick’s re-election, while Shelton has pledged his support to the incumbent speaker.
At a campaign stop before the election, Shelton criticized attempts to remove Craddick at the end of the legislative session in May as unprecedented and irresponsible.
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October 30, 2007
Goldman leads Leonard in Fort Worth race for cash
Craig Goldman, a Phil Gramm protegé, continues to lead Bob Leonard in campaign spending for the Nov. 6 special election to replace Rep. Anna Mowery, R-Fort Worth.
Over the past month, Goldman raised $60,314 and spent $107,327, compared with $17,375 and $83,096 for Leonard.
In the seven-candidate field, Goldman caught everyone’s attention by raising $181,453 to Leonard’s $47,320 during August and September. Only Leonard’s money carried over from his tenure as a state lawmaker (1979-1988) has kept him competitive in the spending derby.
Goldman continues to get a sizable portion of his money from outside House District 97, which is southwest Fort Worth. Houston builder Bob Perry, a perennial GOP donor, gave $7,500 last month.
Goldman’s fund-raising prowess, his consultants with past ties to Gramm and Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and his endorsement of Speaker Tom Craddick make him formidable despite Leonard’s past experience, name recognition and endorsements from Mowery and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Leonard has refused to pledge to a speaker’s candidate, saying both sides made mistakes and he would endorse a House leader later.
Over the past 30 days, Leonard was second in spending but fourth in campaign donations.
Goldman and Leonard may be battling to get in a runoff with the lone Democrat, lawyer Dan Barrett, as the six Republicans are expected to slice up the predominantly GOP district. Barrett has raised and spent about $60,000 over the past three months.
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October 17, 2007
Craddick ally retiring
Rep. Robert Puente, a Democratic ally to Republican Speaker Tom Craddick, won’t seek re-election from his San Antonio district.
Puente, who turned 50, said he could not continue to commute daily from San Antonio to Austin during the 140-day legislative sessions.
“Physically, emotionally I can’t do it any more,” he said Wednesday.
Puente already faced the prospect of opposition from San Antonio Council Member Roland Gutierrez in the Democratic Primary.
His ties to lobbyist Marc A. Rodriguez also were being questioned by San Antonio news media.
Puente, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee which oversees all water-related legislation, had carried various pieces of legislation that affected Rodriguez’s clients even as the lawmaker and lobbyist had made real estate investments together. Puente denied any wrongdoing and sold his interest in the real estate development, but the ties were sure to become campaign fodder.
Puente is a key loss to Craddick, who is seeking re-election to a fourth term as House leader.
Puente was one of 15 Democrats, so-called Craddick D’s, who voted for Craddick in his hotly contested re-election as speaker last January. Since then, at least five Craddick D’s have distanced themselves publicly, and two from South Texas — Reps. Kino Flores and Aaron Pena — face strong challenges in the Democratic Primary.
In contested primaries, Democratic opponents are trying to paint the incumbents as enabling the Republican leadership in Austin.
Puente, a lawyer, did not rule out returning to Austin as a lobbyist: “You take your clients wherever they come from,” he said, but added that he would never move his family from San Antonio.
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October 5, 2007
House members allege dirty tricks; we discuss
Via publicly released letters, a debate erupted this week over what role, if any, members of the Texas House should take in their colleagues’ campaigns.
Some contend that lawmakers, by tradition, should stay out of each others’ races altogether. Others dispute whether that’s ever really been the tradition in the first place, and they contend that they have every right to work for like-minded candidates.
Are the unwritten rules of collegiality and decorum being thrown in the legislative when lobbyists and their clients get dragged into the fight? Chief political writer Gardner Selby and I sat down for a brief discussion of this week’s events and what it all means.
View a video here of American-Statesman political reporters Gardner Selby and Jason Embry discussing lawmakers concerns about their colleagues’ involvement in political campaigns.
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No evidence of gamesmanship from Watson
Gov. Rick Perry, with an assist from Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, recently killed an Austin lawyer’s desire to run against Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin.
Big yawn? Not to a Republican wag who suspects political gamesmanship with Watson possibly doing Bolton a favor by detouring Melissa Goodwin from the House race.
In interviews and state records, I found no evidence of gamesmanship.
Goodwin, a Republican, fielded a September call from Perry’s office alerting her to her appointment to a Travis County state district judgeship. She said the unexpected call came a day or so after the Austin American-Statesman [listed[(http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/09/02/0902Houselineup.html) her along with Bill Welch as weighing a 2008 challenge to Bolton.
When the call came, Goodwin said, “my head spun; I didn’t know which end was up.”
Goodwin applied for the opening shortly after losing re-election to her post as a justice of the peace last November, records show. Perry’s office said the governor privately asked Watson to sign off on the appointment in March in keeping with the tradition of governors asking senators to approve appointees living in the senators’ districts. Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle said Watson agreed to the appointment in August.
Castle said Watson’s five-month review was not unusual. “Watson’s office was great to work with,” she said.
Watson said he did due diligence on Goodwin, whom he did not know. He said Perry indicated no special urgency in the appointment; it might also have been under the radar (in both offices) because it came Watson’s way during the busy legislative session.
Watson noted that he signed off on the appointment in August, before Goodwin’s possible House interest surfaced. Besides, he said, “it’s her choice what she runs for.”
Goodwin, a former justice of the peace, intends to seek election in her own right to the 427th District Court next year. She scotches any interest in running for House District 47.
“This is kind of a lifelong dream,” Goodwin said of the judgeship. “If I don’t stay here, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Unsaid: She’s due to run in Democrat-friendly Travis County (again). Her election stands to be a tough go.
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October 1, 2007
West is running. Got that?
Rep. Buddy West, R-Odessa, sounds like he’s ready to move past questions of whether he is running for re-election.
At the end of this year’s legislative session it seemed likely West would not seek another term, due in large part to health problems. But in a recent letter promoting an October fundraiser in Austin, West makes clear that he’s back in the game.
“I am contacting all my loyal supporters to set the record straight,” West says. “Buddy West is running for and will win re-election in 2008.”
You know someone is serious when they use the third-person.
A couple of challengers already have stepped forward to take on West, according to press reports in his district. The one who’s gained the most traction appears to be Tryon Lewis, whom the Midland Reporter-Telegram describes as a retired district judge.
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Rep. Howard holding town halls, GOP is skeptical
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, is planning a series of town hall meetings with constituents starting Wednesday, events she’s describing as opportunities to exchange ideas.
Alan Sager, chairman of the Travis County Republicans, harrumphed at the plans Monday, saying: “She’s afraid someone is going to run against her” next year.
Singling out Howard’s vote this year against a measure passed into law gainst a proposal enabling Texas to execute predators convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting children, Alan Sager, chairman of the Travis County Republican Party, said: “She’s been so crazy. She represents a suburban Republican district as if she’s from New York.”
Howard said the meetings are like gatherings she hosted after the 2006 special session on public school funding. “It’s kind of standard operating procedure,” she said.
And she said her vote against the so-called Jessica’s law reflected on advice from prosecutors and experts on domestic violence, who cautioned that toughened penalties might hinder prosecutions and touch off more violence from criminals aware that they are already risking the death penalty.
“I like to think of myself as being a reasonable representative for my constituents,” Howard said.
Howard’s public meeting schedule:
Wednesday, October 3rd 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cook Elementary 1511 Cripple Creek Austin, TX 78758
Wednesday, October 10th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Westbank Community Library 1309 Westbank Drive Austin, TX 78746
Saturday, October 13th 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Travis County Northwest Rural Community Center 18649 FM 1431 Jonestown, TX 78645
Thursday, October 18th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Howson Library 2500 Exposition Boulevard Austin, TX 78703
Tuesday, October 23rd 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Old Quarry Library 7051 Village Center Drive Austin, TX 78731
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September 21, 2007
Krusee and Craddick patching things up?
In early October, House Speaker Tom Craddick, along with Gov. Rick Perry, will appear at a fundraiser for state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County.
This is interesting because Krusee used a personal privilege speech at the end of the legislative session to criticize the way Craddick had interpreted House rules to prevent a vote on his removal. He also signed on to a request for an attorney general’s opinion on whether Craddick had acted properly.
We’re hoping to hear soon from Krusee, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, what prompted the reconciliation, if there has in fact been one.
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September 19, 2007
Delisi not running again
State Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, announced that she will not seek re-election to the House.
Delisi chairs the Public Health Committee. She announced her retirement in a written statement but did not spell out why she is leaving the House, where she has served since 1991.
“I plan to stay fully engaged in public policy issues important to Texas and Bell County, both for the remaining 15 months of my term and into the future,” she said.
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September 18, 2007
Fred Hill won't run in 2008
Rep. Fred Hill, one of several candidates to lead the Texas House, won’t run for re-election to his Richardson House seat.
Hill said today that his decision was prompted by the sale of his paper business this summer.
“It’s kind of interesting to be unemployed,” quipped Hill, who has served in the House since 1989. He said selling the business after 35 years changed his perspective about returning to Austin as a lawmaker. He declined to disclose his plans for the future.
During the legislative session this spring, Hill was one of Speaker Tom Craddick’s GOP lieutenants who split with the Midland Republican over his leadership style. Hill went so far as to announce as a candidate for speaker when the Legislature returns in 2009.
Hill is not dropping his opposition to Craddick.
“I’d be very surprised if Tom wins again,” Hill predicted.
Hill said Craddick has done nothing illegal or immoral but his leadership style has forced many Republicans to make votes that could hurt them in their districts. As the Republican majority has shrunk, Hill said Craddick “disrepected” many members of his own party when they disagreed on the issues.
As chairman of the House Local Government Ways & Means Committee, Hill defeated attempts by the state to limit tax or budget increases by local governments.
Over the past three legislative sessions, Hill argued that local officials and voters better knew the needs of their communities.
“The issues I care about won’t go away,” Hill said, “but I think the membership is pretty educated about them by now.”
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September 14, 2007
It's a bird. It's a plane.
It’s Kirk Watson.
The Democratic state senator from Austin has posted a new video on his Web site in which he races from one site around town to the next, talking about all of the work facing Texas.
“We’ve just got to get more of our kids in need enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” he says outside of an emergency room.
“And find a transportation policy that works, but not for private gain,” he says standing on a bridge above traffic on Interstate 35.
And so on. At the end of each brief scene he dashes on to the next. Our favorite has to be Watson in full scrubs in a hospital room.
It wraps up like a campaign ad, with an announcer saying that Watson is “always thinking, always trying, always working.”
And always running? Maybe, but he’s not up for re-election until 2010.
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September 6, 2007
Special appearance at Dukes' fund-raiser
The usual suspects lined up at Rep. Dawnna Dukes’ fund-raiser at the Four Seasons Thursday afternoon.
This most significant appearance among the crowd of Capitol lobbyists was not a lobbyist: Duke’s predecessor, Wilhelmina Delco.
The former state lawmaker pronounced herself “upset” about rumors that Democratic consultants are looking for an opponent for Dukes because of her support for Republican Speaker Tom Craddick.
Delco is from that trail-blazing generation who personally holds a series of “firsts” for an African-American wom. She served as everything from Austin school trustee to the Texas House of Representatives.
And she’s hardly slowed down much. She’s still a trustee for Huston-Tillotson College and a member of the Greater Austin Crime Task Force.
Delco predicted Dukes “will be fine.” Indeed, so far, no one has stepped forward as an opponent.
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Democrat Vo gets Republican opponent
Republicans still smarting from Democratic Rep. Hubert Vo’s twin victories are running someone not named Talmadge Helflin.
Vo, the first Vietnamese person to serve in the Texas Legislature, upset Heflin, then the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, in 2004. Two years later he easily beat Heflin in a rematch.
Now businessman Greg Meyers, a Houston ISD trustee, will challenge Vo in a district that includes west Houston and the suburbs of Alief and Katy.
Meyers has hired The Patriot Group as his consultant.
They note that every Republican but Heflin won their race in that legislative district the past four years, saying that bodes well for Meyers.
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