Burnt Orange Report

UPDATED (Twice): If You Say You're Gonna File, Shouldn't You File???

By Vince Leibowitz

(As of 5 p.m., Flynn did get an opponent. Charles "Chuck" Tull did indeed file, but I'll leave this one up for "historical purposes" I guess...)

I guess this is one of those to file under, "Uh, yeah...whatever."

Anyway, even though I have nothing to do with the Republican Party, I've received not one, not two, but THREE CALLS this morning asking me if I knew whether or not Charles Stanley Tull, Jr. (R-Edgewood), was going to file or not to run against Dan Flynn (R-Van) in TXHD 2.

Seriously, if you are running for State Representative and announce your candidacy months in advance, shouldn't you file before, oh, say, NOON ON FILING DAY?

I say this because I just checked the Republican Party of Texas's filings and notice that Tull, Flynn's long-anticipated opponent, has not filed. Keep in mind this is in spite of the fact he's been listed in several newspapers and even pictured on one website as a "candidate" for State Representative. His candidacy has considered such a "sure thing" to the point he was listed in the Tyler Morning Telegraph announcement on Flynn's re-election.

So, what are the people who are waking me out of bed on January 2 and asking me about this race saying: That Charles Tull will not be making a run for it, at least, not this time.

I haven't talked to Mr. Tull about this, so I don't know personally. And, though he's from our county, I don't know him though I do know his dad, former Grand Saline Police Chief Stanley Tull.

But, for what it's worth, all three calls I had this morning had heard that (a) Tull had been asked to run by an education/anti-voucher PAC as he is a school board president and has a wife who is a public school teacher and that (b) because a Democrat is now in the race, Tull isn't running in the GOP Primary.

Again, keep in mind these are simply what's going around the "rumor mill" right now. Either way, I thought it might be worth mentioning in the event there are similar "made" races in other districts.

But, in terms of facts, I can tell you two things: Charles Tull, Jr., voted in the Democratic Primaries in this county in 2002 and 2000. As for 2004, I'm not sure. But, he did vote as a Democrat in those years (and I know because I checked.)

{NOTE: I checked and, as of 1:30, still no filing by Tull. I'll advise you, dear readers, if there is a change.}

UPDATE: ON the Dem side, what about Graham Sweeney (D-Boles)? Texas Association of Counties lists him as having announced, along with Scott Cornuaud (D-Quinlan), for the Texas HD5?? Anyone? The state party doesn't have him as having filed as of 11:15.