Burnt Orange Report

It's Official: Special Election in the 106

By Kirk McPike

State Representative Ray Allen, who previously announced his retirement from the Legislature, has decided to call it quits early, confirming today the rumors that have circulated since early this week. The Grand Prairie Republican is claiming that he "cannot afford to serve on a $600-a-month salary with no other source of income with the prospect that we will soon be in special session until June." But his reasons for leaving are immaterial -- what is important is that this gives Democratic candidate Katy Hubener, who narrowly lost to Allen in 2004, the chance to win a special election and go into the November general election as the incumbent.

Katy has already announced her intentions to run in any special election for House District 106. Katy is a local realtor and longtime leader in the Dallas County Democratic Party. She's the only Democratic candidate in the March 7, 2006, primary for District 106, so she's the only Democrat who could both win this special election and not be a half-term lame duck. It seems unlikely that any other Democrat will jump into a special election with no chance to continue beyond this summer's special session. Katy ran a good race in 2004, has broad support for 2006, and now has a unique chance to win the seat early and help bring a solid Democratic voice to Austin for the important debate on school finance reform.

With the encouraging results down in Austin, we know that Democrats can do well in these special elections. Katy has a broad base in the District 106 community and is already campaigning for the primary. She'll likely be facing one Republican, Kirk England, in the special election, provided that no candidate swings in from out of the blue.

Katy's going to need the help of Dallas-area Democrats to run in this early election. She's proven she can come close against an entrenched incumbent, and now she only needs to beat a political novice. Dallas Democrats would be making a huge tactical mistake not to push hard to give Katy the support she needs to win this race in the spring, so that we can move into the fall with one more Democratic incumbent.