Election 2006 Update

The latest Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll has Carole Keeton Strayhorn running fourth in a four-way poll on the Texas governor’s race, with only 9.6% of the vote.  Gov. Rick Perry’s still in the lead in that survey, but he’s dropped to 34.8%.  Democrat Chris Bell is in second, at 23.1%, followed by independent Kinky Friedman at 22.7%.  The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.  Other polls have Perry in the lead in the mid-30’s and the other three candidates polling numbers running closer together. 

Hot Races

Statewide Office

Texas House of Representatives

Texas Senate

The 80^th Legislative Session will be one of great change in the Texas Senate as Senators experience the largest turnover in over a decade.  Five out of 31 Senate seats are set to change next session.  The new Senators will be:

Kirk Watson (SD 14 – Austin) – Democrat Kirk Watson will be the likely replacement to Gonzalo Barrientos in the Senate.  Kirk Watson is a lawyer, mediator, public affairs consultant and former Austin Mayor.  He currently chairs the Texas Advisory Board for Environmental Defense and formerly chaired the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.  Watson has a libertarian opponent in November.

Robert Nichols (SD 3 – East Texas) – Republican Robert Nichols will be filling the seat vacated by Todd Staples, who is seeking office as Agriculture Commissioner.  Nichols served as one of three Texas Transportation Commissioners since 1997 and previously held the position of Mayor of Jacksonville. 

Dan Patrick (SD 7 – Houston) – Republican Dan Patrick will be taking the seat once occupied by Jon Lindsay.  Dan Patrick is a conservative-radio-talk-show host in the Houston area.

Carlos Uresti (D) v. Dick Bowen (R) (SD 19 – San Antonio) – Uresti defeated Frank Madla in the primary.  Madla has since retired and Gov. Perry recently called a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of Madla’s term to be held concurrently with the general election on November 7, 2006. 

Rep. Glenn Hegar (SD 18 – Katy) – Representative Glenn Hegar (R) is the favorite to replace retiring Sen. Ken Armbrister.  Hegar faces opponent Roy Wright, Libertarian. 
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Issues to Watch

Perry Creates Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform

Gov. Rick Perry announced the creation of the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform (TFAR) to study and make recommendations on how to address Texan’s continuing concerns over skyrocketing property appraisals.  The Task Force held its opening meeting on September 8, 2006 in Austin.

The Task Force will collect public input throughout the state and develop recommendations to improve the current tax appraisal process.  The Task Force has been asked to make their recommendations prior to the start of the 80^th Legislative Session on Jan. 9, 2007.

The appointees to the Task Force are: Thomas W. Pauken (Dallas), Gerald “Buddy” Winn (Bryan), Robert A. Eckels (Houston), Avis Wukasch (Georgetown), Calvin W. Stephens (Dallas), John E. Nichols (Freeport), Michael Stevens (Houston), John R. (Bob) Garrett (Tyler), L. Curtis Culwell (Garland), Timothy P. Roth (El Paso), John David Franz (Hidalgo), Gary O. Boren (Lubbock), Robert E. Garrett (Amarillo), Brooke Leslie Rollins (Fort Worth), and Rolando B. Pablos (San Antonio). 

Joint Committee on Medical Peer Review Appointed

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick have appointed members to a Joint Select Committee to Study the Medical Peer Review Process. 

The Senate Appointees are Sen. Kyle Janek (Houston), Sen. Robert Deuell (Greenville) and Sen. Royce West (Dallas).  The House appointees are Rep. Glenda Dawson (Pearland), Rep. Burt Solomons (Carrollton) and Rep. Patrick Rose (Dripping Springs).  Joint Presiding Officers of the committee will be Sen. Janek and Rep. Dawson.

The Committee will report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker no later than January 1, 2007.
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Leadership Changes

Senator West Appointed Chair of Intergovernmental Relations

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed Sen. Royce West chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, replacing retiring Sen. Frank Madla.  The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations’ jurisdiction relates to local government issues such as city and county affairs. 

Sen. West’s move to IGR opened up the chairmanship of the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, which Gov. Dewhurst handed to Sen. Judith Zaffirini. 

Texas Commission on Environmental Equality (TCEQ) – Martin Hubert has been appointed as one of three TCEQ commissioners.  Hubert has served as deputy commissioner at the Texas Department of Agriculture since January 1999.

Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) – Eduardo Sanchez stepped down from his position as Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services and his successor has not yet been named.
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Useful Websites

In the Pink Texas – A blog commenting on goings-on in and around the capitol and Texas politics.

Burka Blog – A commentary on Texas life and politics by the Senior Executive Editor of Texas Monthly, Paul Burka.
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