State Senators endorse Art Hall for RR Commissioner

For the record (0.00 / 0)

I put in two phone calls and two email invitations to Art Hall's campaign for him to come talk to Democratic voters at our rally in Elgin yesterday, and didn't get a single reply of any kind. Dale Henry has visited Bastrop County already, but raced back from an event in Nacogdoches yesterday to be with us, after replying that he would do his best to make it but couldn't promise he would make it. This is a 76-year-old man driving himself in a statewide campaign, fer crissakes.  

Also attending were Judge Susan Criss, Larry Joe and Dan Grant (CD 10), Donnie Dippel and Latreese Cooke (HD 17), Woodie Jones (3rd Ct of Appeals - unopposed ) and 3 sheriff candidates. Obviously Elgin is not a densely populated Democratic bastion, but it was encouraging to the 100 or so in attendance to know that they mattered to all of these candidates who took the time to come out here and visit with us.  

Art Hall seems like a good and smart guy, but I do hope his campaign will do a better job of communicating with those whose help they'll need should he win this primary. Right now Dale Henry - with his experience, his staunch defense of air and water quality, and his knowledge of the industry and how to hold it accountable to the people - has my vote. And on the stump, he's an unapologetic populist and old-school servant of the people, and has let us know that our vote is important to him.  

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by: Robert Ryland @ Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 22:38:43 PM UTC

Endorsements Don't Make You Qualified (3.00 / 1)

Sadly, if endorsements made someone qualified for a position, Art Hall would be qualified to be Governor, Attorney General, Mayor of San Antonio, and President of the United States all at the same time.

But, endorsements don't make you qualified to hold a particular position. And, Art Hall isn't the most qualified candidate in this race no matter how many people endorse him.

The fact is that Dale Henry has far more experience in the oil and gas industry, understands the need for reform at the Commission in order to protect the environment, and can actually explain why the RRC isn't acting in the best interest of our environment rather than just spouting a series of talking points.

It is nice that Art Hall can claim such a wonderful "bootstrap" story--grandson of slaves (hadn't heard that one before), lived in a trailerhouse (is that really that novel?) but a compelling story doesn't make you a truly compelling candidate. And, being a great "role model" doesn't make you qualified to run for office, either. To be a motivational speaker, perhaps. To run for RRC, no.

I've stayed in the background of this race when it came to the blogs since I'm Dale's campaign manager, but with this, I felt it necessary to speak out.

Endorsing someone because of their personal charisma or because they are a fellow San Antonio pol, or whatever is one thing; endorsing them because they are the true progressive and the most qualified candidate is quite another.

The fact is that Art Hall thought he could win this race in the primary just by showing up and putting his name on the ballot, showing up here and there, and rolling out a lot of endorsements. That's not going to happen.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 05:20:55 AM UTC

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restraining...urge...to...comment...(nt) ;) (0.00 / 0)

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 05:44:05 AM UTC

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you're right, vince (0.00 / 0)

Endorsements don't make someone qualified for an office.

Neither does inertia.

Nice way to insult a guy's heritage...classy. Sorry if the whole "grandson of slaves" narrative is wearing thin on you. Hope the whole "children of migrant workers" thing doesn't rub the wrong way as well. Come to think of it, I'm pretty tired of "grew up poor, worked hard, wants to give back" storyline. Voters never respond to compelling personal stories, ask Obama, Dole, McCain, Clinton, Roosevelt, etc.

Your candidate ran for office as a republican. Hardly the stuff true progressives are made of. But, Dale is a nice guy who has put his name on the ballot for Dems. I respect anyone who takes that big of a step for our party.

I'm sure all 3 candidates will be judged on their known merits (including endorsements) and the person Dems feel has the best chance to win will get the nomination. I'm not sure that we need to insult and attack folks to facilitate that.

There have been more than one post on BOR and other blogs touting Dale's endorsements. He should be proud of those as Art is proud of his endorsements.

I've known Art for some years now and have worked with him since the beginning of this campaign. Clearly you haven't spoken to him or anyone associated with his campaign about his approach or you wouldn't spread untruths like Art thought he would win by putting his name on a ballot.

Art has, and is, working very hard to win the nomination on his merits. I'm fairly confident that BOR permits you or other Dale backers to author a post with his endorsements. I hope Art's supporters take a more measured and reasonable approach to that possible post than you did to this one.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 08:18:57 AM UTC

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No need for strawmen, colin. (3.00 / 1)

Your candidate ran for office as a republican

Yes, he did. Can you blame him, considering the flaccid and ineffective statewide party apparatus that has elected exactly zero statewide officials in the last 4 cycles? Regardless, it's an arbitrary criticism. Dale has not changed his positions or his rhetoric on the environmental and public service issues he has always run on. People like Dale have kept up the fight for responsive and effective government for the people and carried it across the state time and again, regardless of what initial he had next to his name.

Again, Art Hall seems like a fine public servant and I think he's got a solid future in statewide politics, but it's still a bit hard for me to tell what kind of RR commissioner he'd be since he hasn't exactly been barnstorming across the state to talk to voters. Maybe he's taking a more calculated and efficient approach to campaigning, and I can respect that I guess, but it'd behoove his campaign and staff to at least respond to entreaties from those who actually want to hear what he has to say.  

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by: Robert Ryland @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 16:26:15 PM UTC

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Art Hall (0.00 / 0)

I met Art Hall via St. Mary's as well and I was very impressed with him.  He's a very gifted speaker, sharp on his feet and I think he's got a great future whatever he chooses to do.  I voted for Henry in the primary because he knows the job and has been committed to protecting the air and water for a long time.  It's nothing against Art, I just don't think he's the best man for this job.  But if he wins the nomination I'll have absolutely no problem voting for him.

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by: morisey @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 03:57:05 AM UTC

it almost seems like a microcosm of the Presidential race (0.00 / 0)

at least we're consistent -- I voted for Hillary/Henry, BOR endorsed Obama/Hall

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 05:16:06 AM UTC

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I voted for Dale and Obama. (3.00 / 1)

Apples and Oranges in this race.
Dale is a man for all seasons, in the spirit of Ralph Yarborough. I see a little Ralph in Barack, too.

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by: Robert Ryland @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 06:22:54 AM UTC

Job Interviewing 101-read the job description! (1.00 / 1)

How can we support a guy for RRC who thought he would get to wear a conductor's cap?  What's next?  Running someone for Attorney General who thinks they are best qualified to lead Texas' lawyers into combat?

Williams will school anyone who does not have experience in the industry.  I voted for Dale.  

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by: wooderson @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 14:55:25 PM UTC

<b>THE "REAL" RECORD</b> (0.00 / 0)

by Debbie with Art Hall For Texas campaign, February 26, 2008

Well Vince, sounds like you're tasting the sour grapes already. Or is it just desperation because your "campaign", as it were, is slowly sinking. I don't know if you realize that you cannot win a campaign by just sitting at your computer and "blogging" all day with made up and twisted negative messages about your opponent. It takes someone like Morisey's post below to really make a statement that sounds like they are truly educated. He presents what he sees and knows about Mr. Hall but has decided to vote for Mr. Henry. That's fine. At least he's not blasting and attacking in a wild frenzy.

Now it's time to go on the attack. Very typical campaign-losing tactic. Just turn on your TV and listen to what's happening in the presidential race. Sound familiar ?

Mr. Ryland, first thank you for your ending paragraph regarding Mr. Hall and you positive and open minded opinion of his qualifications.

I just want to clarify something else in that last paragraph. As Mr. Hall's campaign manager, your statement "... but it's still a bit hard for me to tell what kind of RR commissioner he'd be since he hasn't exactly been barnstorming across the state to talk to voters." is not accurate at all. And there really is no way for me to convince you otherwise. Had you given me more notice than a couple of days, we might have been able to move things around, but it wasn't likely. I know I explained that to you.

Well Vince, rattle your cage all you want. My candidate has been running non-stop. Mr. Hall has been all over Texas himself. Not sending others for him.
As for Mr. Hall's "bootstrap" story as you call it, it is a true story and one that he's proud to tell. But for you to make fun of people and their true to life history is very typical of you and your campaign tactics.

And as for you saying "I've stayed in the background of this race when it came to the blogs since I'm Dale's campaign manager, but with this, I felt it necessary to speak out.", that's REAL funny.

I have nothing negative to say about Mr. Henry. We have always been polite, cordial and friendly with each other and his sweet wife.  And we intend for it to continue that way.

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by: Debbie @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 18:38:45 PM UTC

Debbie, I meant no offense to you or to Art (0.00 / 0)

Our event was hastily put together but I did send invitations to all the campaigns at least a week prior, and I fully understand the scheduling nightmares that crop up this close to election day. Art was not the only invited candidate who couldn't make it. But if you did send a reply or call, I never received it. I'm happy to chalk it off to a communication gap, and again, I have nothing against Art per se. Mr. Henry has visited twice with Bastrop County Democrats in the last 6 weeks and has won over a number of voters here, that's all.

I'm sure Art has gotten the jump on Dale in a few places as well, but we've seen more of Dale than Art in this neck of the woods. That's how these things go sometimes.

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by: Robert Ryland @ Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 19:08:37 PM UTC

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