Already claiming endorsements from the TexBlog PAC and the Texas Progressive Alliance, Dan Barrett won a major victory today with yet another endorsement. Tomorrow voters will go to the polls as early voting begins in the Special Election runoff for House District 97. The Star-Telegram decided to make their recommendation first, though.
Their entire basis is one issue:
Democrat Dan Barrett has a ready answer for people who contend that the controversies involving Speaker Tom Craddick's heavy hand in the Texas House don't matter to the voters in District 97.
"Maybe only the most inside of political wonks know his name," said Barrett, who is facing Republican Mark Shelton in the Dec. 18 runoff, "but they are upset by a style of leadership that allows Craddick and the people he works with to exercise absolute control by fair means or foul."
Craddick's "politics of fear and intimidation" came to a startling climax in the last session, Barrett said, when the speaker declared himself the ultimate authority in the House, but this has been an issue ever since the Midland representative took the speaker's chair.
"That is so contrary to the very principle of democracy," Barrett said. Even if people aren't well-informed about the particulars of government, they still care what happens in Austin. "They want to make sure that things are going OK so they don't have to watch every single move. That's why they elect representatives."
That is entirely fine with me. The Star-Telegram mentions some other issues, but the other issues are virtually meaningless if the House's leadership blocks any progress on them. With Tom Craddick, the issue is what he wants, and we all know now that he wants his power intact before all else.
The newspaper's editorial board might sum it up best:
To paraphrase Barrett from a League of Women Voters forum, District 97 voters who think things are hunky-dory in Austin should vote for Shelton.
Unfortunately, the last legislative session was far from hunky or dory. Although Barrett is a realist in admitting that he alone, as a freshman legislator, can't change the status quo, he just might make a difference as part of a growing body of lawmakers who represent a growing number of Texans who are dissatisfied with House leadership.
The Star-Telegram recommends Dan Barrett in the Dec. 18 runoff for Texas House District 97. |
