District 25 Musical Chairs
By Jim Dallas
Ken Herman of the Austin-American Statesman wrote on Friday:
Kino's out. Gonzo's close to getting in.
The moves by state Rep. Kino Flores and state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos put a new face on U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's effort to remain in Congress.
Flores, D-Mission, who got in the Democratic primary race in October, said Thursday that he is out. No money, Flores said, adding that it would be a disgrace if Doggett wound up representing a new, heavily Hispanic district that stretches from Austin to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Barrientos, D-Austin, said Thursday that he is "leaning toward running because I have gotten calls from different organizations and different lobby groups saying they would support me and put up money."
Doggett said he would consider Barrientos' entry into the race a surprising development.
"It would be ironic and then some if there were those who fought so hard against (U.S. House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay's plans to divide and pit us against each other were out trying to deny my re-election," Doggett said.
Not every Austin Democrat has always been pleased with Doggett; it's often argued that he spends too much time in Washington and doesn't support the local party organization enough. Until redistricting, there really wasn't any reason, since his was a safe seat.
I had some compunctions about supporting Doggett in a district that is going to be dominated by South Texas, since they've got at least as much of a right to have a "hometown" congressman as Austin does. When Kino Flores was the prospective challenger, I was inclined to consider voting for him.
I don't particularly like the idea of Gonzalo Barrientos running, though. While on one hand, Sen. Barrientos has been extremely supportive of local Democratic organizations, I just don't see what he'd bring to the table, professionally and geographically speaking, that Doggett doesn't.
(I am excepting the obvious fact that Gonzalo would be the latino candidate in a latino-majority district).
At any rate, a Barrientos-Doggett fight could be just about the most polarizing thing to happen in Austin politics in a long time.
It is possible, though, that there could be another challenger from the Valley -- State District Judge Leticia Hinojosa, of Edinburg.
Posted by Jim Dallas at December 7, 2003 05:28 PM
| TrackBack
"I had some compunctions about supporting Doggett in a district that is going to be dominated by South Texas, since they've got at least as much of a right to have a "hometown" congressman as Austin does."
Here is the difference - Hildalgo County already has its hometown Congressman (Rueben Hinojosa) and will continue to have one if the re-redistricting map holds up. If re-redistricing prevails, Travis County - the 5th largest in the State will not have a "native son" (or daughter), which is ridiculous.
