Ronnie Earle Files for Lt. Governor

Earle > Chavez-Thompson (0.00 / 0)

I prefer Earle over Chavez-Thompson, but I think either would be fine at the end of the day.

Unlike a Gov or Ag Commissioner primary, the Lt. Gov. would be somewhat of a win-win.

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by: DallasDavid @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 16:06:22 PM UTC

Earle < Chavez-Thompson (0.00 / 0)

I'm the opposite, preferring Chavez-Thompson (Run, Linda, Run!). However, I do believe it's great we (possibly) have two credible candidates running for such an important position. I think contested primaries can offer more pros than cons, allowing for campaigns to warm-up their field operations and work out a few kinks well before November hits. So I'm all for White v. Shami, Chavez-Thompson v. Earle, Strayhorn v. Lampson, Gilbert v. Kinky, and any other potential match-ups that might occur, as long as everyone attempts to stay above the fray and too much mud isn't slung.

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by: B-Dub @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 17:32:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Somewhat agree (0.00 / 0)

A contested primary is good when we have two seemingly good candidates like Earle and Chavez-Thompson, but with Gilbert - Friedman the chance of ending up with Friedman is too unpleasant to be a good thing.

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by: DallasDavid @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 19:02:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Given their history (0.00 / 0)

Unlikely to happen but it would be a hoot if we ended up with Hutchison as gov and Earle as lt gov.

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by: George @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 17:18:39 PM UTC

Actually quite the opposite (3.00 / 1)

White stands a good chance of taking Perry out and having either in the next ballot slot could propel them over Dewhurst. It'll also help the down ballot as we build it out more. Showing a credible down ballot to indies and moderates will help sway them over the line. Both are good candidates and I'm going to be split on this one.

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by: RBearSAT @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 18:55:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

oooh I'm excited (0.00 / 0)

I've been gone for the weekend and this is great news to return to.  This combined with the Chavez-Thompson consideration means that we will have a solid passionate progressive for the Lite Gov spot, and one with solid political credentials, too.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 22:24:09 PM UTC

Not >. Not <. Just ? (0.00 / 0)

Earle was a fantastically good DA, but has he told us what he wants to accomplish as LG? As for Chavez-Thompson, she's great on labor relations, but what does she have to say about all the other issues facing Texas? (Not to mention the educational questions that have been beaten to death in another thread.)

If there's a contested primary, I want to hear a heckuva lot more before picking sides.

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by: LSadun @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 22:37:51 PM UTC

Educational questions (0.00 / 0)

And just to add that, in case you need reminding, great educational credentials haven't meant success in our statewide races, lately. So, there has been something missing besides that.

I prefer to focus on that other missing ingredient. Thank you.

(And what's with all this less than and greater than signage...words are better.)

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by: Elsbeth @ Sun Dec 20, 2009 at 23:52:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

< (0.00 / 0)

Haha! I was just following the theme. In words: In an hypothetical primary pitting Ronnie Earle against Linda Chavez-Thompson, I would prefer the latter. However, again, I do believe that having a contested race with two very credible Democrats is a great thing. Very exciting.

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by: B-Dub @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 00:12:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Beating a dead horse (0.00 / 0)

You've made your view of the educational question pretty clear, as have I, in the other thread. We both feel pretty strongly about it, and neither of us is likely to convince the other.  Can't we give it a rest?  

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by: LSadun @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 00:24:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yah, we can wait and see (3.00 / 1)

I agree that a lack of educational credentials could POTENTIALLY be a problem.  But even with such a problem, Chavez-Thompson still would have some advantages over Ronnie Earle.  And if she's smart, she'll handle whatever potential problem well when the time comes.

I really hope she runs regardless, so we can have a battle between two fiery liberals to see who gets the nomination.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 00:40:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

hey pot (0.00 / 0)

you are the one that won't "give it a rest".

chavez-thompson is more than qualified...should she run. which she hasn't yet.

it is pretty clear that you are not satisfied with anyone running.

is there anything or any candidate you are in favor of?

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 04:08:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pot? (0.00 / 0)

Colin,

There are some candidates that I'm absolutely thrilled with, like Judy Jennings for SBOE 10 (which I why I withdrew from that race) and Rebecca Bell-Metereau in SBOE 5. I very much like Bill White for governor, and I think that John Sharp is a good Senate candidate. Hank Gilbert is a good man, and would make a good Ag Commissioner, although I'm still baffled by his first blasting Farouk Shami as a "billionaire pal of Rick Perry" and then endorsing him. Barbara Ann Radnofsky would make a good AG. And I've got nothing but praise for a lot of the local candidates in my area.

But in the LG race, no, I'm not satisfied with anybody running, or rumored to be running. At least not yet. I like Ronnie Earle, but I'm worried about how he'll play outside of Travis County, and about what platform he can run on besides fighting corruption. As for Linda Chavez-Thompson, I'm worried about her appeal beyond a labor base, and I've already expressed my worries about her education (and don't feel like repeating that argument all over again).

Being worried doesn't mean that I'm trashing anybody, or that I don't recognize what's good about each candidate. Still, it's important to recognize the downside of each candidate, especially when we're facing a (possibly) contested primary.

As for my comments about Linda Chavez-Thompson in the other thread, I had hoped to read some responses like "she's done X, Y and Z to fill in the gaps in her education", to which I could respond "cross that worry off the list". Instead I just got blasted for insisting that education is an important credential for public office.

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by: LSadun @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 05:54:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I just don't (0.00 / 0)

think I would characterize the discussion that way.  

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 04:11:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

From her Biography (0.00 / 0)

Cross-commented in that other thread

Did some googling, and I found this little thing here.  

The most relevant text:

The course of Chavez's life would perhaps have been much different had she not resisted her father's demands that she leave school at age 13 to work for the family full-time by cleaning the house and making meals. The family was facing a financial crisis at the time, and her father believed that it was more important that his sons receive a proper education, since Chavez's likely destiny was to get married and become a housewife. Thus, she remained in school through the ninth grade and left at age 16.

Though it seems like once she got into her activist work, she made sure to learn her stuff, and she succeeded, too:

Before long she was serving as the union representative to all the local's Spanish-speaking members. She wrote up grievances and spoke for them at administrative meetings while taking organizational classes in her spare time. Chavez-Thompson educated herself so well in labor-related issues that she was even mistaken for a lawyer at one hearing.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 17:29:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What does this mean to Marc Katz? (0.00 / 0)

Does the Pastrami King now decide to sit out the election? There was another report of him looking for the Sec. of State's office on Friday in order to file. Not sure if he made it there or got lost again.

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by: TexianPolitico @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 13:50:04 PM UTC

Probably not going to be RE v LCT (0.00 / 0)

My understanding was that LCT was only going to run if there were no other candidates than Katz

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by: susanc @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 16:15:12 PM UTC

That's very surprising (0.00 / 0)

Where'd you get that understanding. Because that's the first time I've heard that anywhere...

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 16:19:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ugh (0.00 / 0)

That's beyond disappointing.

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by: B-Dub @ Mon Dec 21, 2009 at 17:05:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kind of suspected that (0.00 / 0)

For some reason I had that in the back of my mind. But that doesn't make it so. Sometimes I daydream some really wild stuff. I agree with Phillip. Need some validity to that statement before acceptance.

Both would be good candidates and, as has been pointed out in the comments to this entry, each brings different assets to the table and different challenges.

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by: RBearSAT @ Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 00:04:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Where? (0.00 / 0)

told to me at Houston Building Trades Christmas party 2 days before Statesman story about LCT possibly running. Very reliable source high up in labor.

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by: susanc @ Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 20:31:49 PM UTC