Burnt Orange Report

Ron Kirk Joins V&E; But Will He Run Again? Read This To Find Out!

By Vince Leibowitz

Fomer Dallas Mayor, ex-Texas Secretary of State and 2002 Democratic nominee for U. S. Senate Ron Kirk has  joined the Dallas office of the prestigious Texas law firm Vinson & Elkins, LLP.

Kirk left Gardere Wynne Sewell after 10 years for the new post, which he enters as a partner.

In the very brief story the Dallas Morning News ran on the swicth, Kirk noted:

"It's a natural fit for me," he said. "The firm has a strong team of attorneys, and I hope to spend the rest of my legal career there."

Mr. Kirk, who practiced with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP for the last 10 years, said he was attracted by the opportunities at Vinson & Elkins. "There's great synergy between the firm's practice and my skills."

V&E, of course, was equally as pleased:

"We have long viewed Ron as a special talent who's known for his consensus building, inspirational leadership and problem solving," said Rob Walters, a partner with Vinson & Elkins.

But, what neither the DMN story nor the V&E press release mention is whether or not Kirk is considering a run for U.S. Senate again.

Although Kirk notes in the V&E press release, "I have long admired V&E's commitment to its clients and the communities in which it practices, and the way the firm's lawyers are so involved in public service," nothing specific is mentioned about public office.

Which, I must say, you should thank your lucky stars for Burnt Orange Report! (Now, aren't you glad the headline made you read the rest of the story?)

Today, through three separate and independent sources, one of whom is close to Kirk, and another who is close to V&E, and another who defies classification but is always a good source for all political stuff in Dallas County, I understand Kirk has told V&E he will not run for U.S. Senate in 2006.

Whether he'll run for anything else, who knows? All I know is that my sources say he's not going to be in the race for U.S. Senate.

Oh, and one more thing, call it a "fun fact:" Did you know Ron Kirk wasn't the only ex-Texas Secretary of State at Gardere Wynne Sewell? If you did, brownie points for you! If you didn't, can you guess who the other is? Ok, Ok. I'll tell you: Elton Bomer, who joined the firm as a "consultant" last October.

And, no, even though I am brilliant, I did not know that prior to tonight. I found it out thanks to the scrolling news-ticker thing on the Gardere website.

But, this makes me want to start looking up other exes and has-beens from state politics and see where they are now. I may just get ambitious and do that, so keep on the look out for it!

Vince Leibowitz is County Chairman of the Democratic Party of Van Zandt County and a semi-frequent guest contributor to Burnt Orange Report. He has a Rolodex, MS Outlook address book, cell phone, business card file, address book, and lots of scraps of paper full of contacts any blogger would love to have.