Talk about more of the same. Republican Joan Huffman (Chris Bell's opponent in the Dec 16th runoff for SD-17) is holding fundraisers with some real change agents... Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Joan Huffman sent a message to voters in Senate District 17 this week that she has nothing new to offer in the Texas Legislature. Huffman held fundraisers with special guests Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Under these Republican leaders, hard-working Texans have been shortchanged while padding the pockets of corporations and big contributors.
"While Joan Huffman's friends have been in charge, investment in our public schools has dwindled, college has become increasingly unaffordable and fewer Texans have access to quality health care," said campaign spokeswoman Amber Moon. "Rick Perry and David Dewhurst want to bring Joan Huffman to Austin so they can continue these same failed policies that benefit big corporations and insurance companies over working Texas families."
The Governor finally announced the date of the final election in 2008. Chris Bell is in a runoff in Senate District 17, which ranges from Jefferson County to Brazoria County and takes up large chunks of Jefferson, Harris, and Galveston.
Gov. Rick Perry today announced a special runoff election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 17 to be held on Dec. 16, 2008. A special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Sen. Kyle Janek was held during the November 4 general election; however no candidate received a majority of the votes, as mandated by state law.
Early voting will run from December 8 through December 12.
The winner of this special election will serve out the remainder of Sen. Janek's term, which expires in January 2011.
The election is just 9 days before Christmas and 5 days before Hanukkah. In addition, Perry has selected 5 days of early vote that conveniently makes it more difficult for working men and women to go vote because it does not encompass any weekend dates.
Rick Perry has attempted to call runoff dates that favor the Republicans in the past with CD-23, HD-48 and HD-97 (all races Democrats won). Now it appears he is trying to give Joan Huffman an advantage by calling a runoff that will surely suppress voter turnout.
Update: According to a reader, Perry didn't "select" those days of early voting, they're set in statute. They point out, if you pick a Tuesday election day for a special run-off, you don't get weekend early voting days, the legislature changed that a while back apparently. (That should probably be fixed)
The Governor canvassed the election yesterday, Monday. He had up to 5 days after the canvass to set the run-off date, but he instead called it immediately. The date of the canvass starts the clock running on the window of possible election dates to chose from, which based on yesterday's canvass would have been Dec 9 - Jan 2. Although he can pick any day of the week, he would almost surely pick either a Tuesday or a Saturday since that's when virtually all elections happen, so in a practical sense he was choosing from December 9, 13, 16, or 20, unless he would want to set a date at Christmas or New Years, in which election workers would probably be unwilling to work, and voters be unable to vote.
That being said, it is apparent that Perry had an option to allow voting on the weekend and picked a date that doesn't permit this.
Senate District 17 still needs our help; the Texas Senate needs one more Democrat. Kyle Janek vacated his seat before his term expired to anoint Republican Austen Furse. Because of Republican infighting, Furse lost and only received 10% of the vote. The winner on the Republican side was uber-conservative Joan Huffman, who squeaked in to a runoff with only 26.13% of the vote.
Simmons did what she was supposed to do: she forced a runoff. Simmons received 13.8% of the total vote in the high turnout election, and pushed it to a low turnout runoff. To add insult to injury, if you combine this percentage with Chris Bell's numbers, the Democratic Party received 52.2% of the total vote.
Because Edwards and Wilson decided to support the TLR candidate and force a runoff, taxpayers will be required to spend more money on another election during an economic downturn. On the other hand, Democrats need to step and help Congressman Bell overcome these political games by donating today.
Democrats can be cautiously optimistic going into the run-off. Bell was the top vote getter in every county except Brazoria. In Brazoria, the Republican runoff candidate Joan Huffman won with only 2,101 votes. On the other hand, Bell was the top getter in Democrat friendly Jefferson County with 6,335 votes (which is 3,433 more than Stephanie Simmons received).
The other high note is Bell's resounding victory in Harris County. Bell won 37.6% of the vote in Harris and the Democratic Party received 52.8% of the vote. Harris County also represents 36.4% of the total vote.
While the numbers favor Bell, the district is drawn to be Republican. While Democrats have done well in special elections recently, they are harder to win and money and a good ground game mean more.
Chris Bell can win, but what Dan Barrett and Donna Howard have proven is it takes statewide focus for us to win in a special election.
Kirk Watson wrote today:
Many of you have already given generously of your time and resources during this election cycle, and I wouldn't be asking you again if the stakes for Democrats weren't so high.
With the election of Wendy Davis on November 4th, Democrats will hold 12 of 31 seats in the State Senate. With Chris as our lucky number 13, Senate Democrats will be able to make a real difference for Texas families by fighting for high-quality public schools, affordable utility rates, and accessible health insurance.
Having 12 Democrats in the Senate makes a difference. Having 13 means more. 13 can be our lucky number in the Senate. Having Chris Bell and Wendy Davis in the Senate requires a bipartisan approach to legislating.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform gave Simmons $201,745 just to force a runoff. Ron Wilson gave her another $30,000 and loaned her $7,000 more.
This has to be a people powered campaign. Help Chris today by donating your time or money.
Wow, Republican Joan Huffman breaking into the double digits!
Quorum Report: Republican Joan Huffman released internal polling today that shows her as the candidate to beat on the GOP side in the SD 17 special election. The move comes some two weeks after the Chris Bell campaign dropped internal polling of its own showing him in a commanding lead in the multi-candidate race.
Huffman's polling coincides on the latter score with Bell's polling, showing the Democrat with more than 40 percent support. But she highlights her 12 percent as triple that of the 4 percent garnered by Austen Furse, the other major Republican candidate in the race. The Bell campaign poll had Huffman with 8 percent support and Furse with 5 percent support.
(Simmons remains on the ballot, according to the judge. But with Ron Wilson at the defense table, it's clear who is pulling the strings for her to be on the ballot -- Craddick parliamentarian Ron Wilson, who has been rumored to have recruited several other challengers to House Democrats back in the primaries. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
Just got a text message in -- Ron Wilson is sitting at Stephanie Simmons' defense table.
For those who haven't been following, in the State Senate SD-17 race, Democrat Chris Bell is running, publicly, and has been for some time. Then, on the last day, Stephanie Simmons filed as surprise a Democrat. No one has heard from her, but the rumors are that Republicans and Ron Wilson recruited her to run for the seat at the last minute. Simmons won't return press calls.
The Houston Chronicle articulates the political situation in SD-17 perfectly.
For those that thought we were dog piling on Stephanie Simmons bizarre candidacy, it appears we aren't the only ones asking questions.
First the Chronicle discusses what Democrats are speculating-- Simmons was recruited by Republicans to run in SD-17.
For weeks rumors have circulated in Austin political circles that Republicans were trying to entice another Democrat into the race to siphon votes from Bell. His best chance to win the conservative district is to garner a majority in the general election, where the appeal of the presidential race is expected to draw a maximum tide of Democrats to the polls.
[...]
Sure enough, Bell's status as the lone Democrat in the race changed just before the filing deadline on Aug. 29, when Houston attorney and political unknown Stephanie E. Simmons submitted her paperwork, which was immediately approved by Secretary of State Hope Andrade, a Republican appointee.
There's something happening here. What it is, ain't exactly clear. Best case scenario, the Secretary of States expedited ballot approval and didn't do their jobs by checking Simmons eligibility. Worst case, a Republican appointee knowingly helped commit election fraud.
Simmons, 42, who is listed in the Texas Bar under her maiden name, Stephanie Fridia, is general counsel for a North Houston company and graduated from Texas Southern University School of Law in 1994. For an aspiring politician, she's been surprisingly media shy. She failed to return reporters' inquiries and has issued no campaign materials.
Although the candidate claimed to have resided 11 months at a Missouri City address within the district, she voted at an address in Harris County outside the district in the March Democratic primary. She changed the residence on her voter registration one day before she filed for office. State law requires state Senate candidates to be residents of their districts a full year before they are chosen.
Since the secretary of state already certified Simmons for the ballot, Bell has filed suit in a Travis County district court challenging her eligibility. According to his court filing, "Ms. Simmons cannot be a voter in one county, and then six months later change her address and be a candidate for a senate district in a different county a mere two months prior to the special election." A court hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled today in Austin.
On the face of it, Simmons' candidacy appears to be illegal, whatever her motivations for getting into the race. Her situation is similar to that of sportscaster and former Houston Oilers player Spencer Tillman of Sugar Land, who considered running as a Republican but dropped out because he didn't live in the district. Too bad Simmons didn't show the same good judgment.
Let's sum this up. The Republicans were looking for a Democrat to field against Bell. A Republican appointee certified Simmons without doing any verification or checking to see if she was eligible. Simmons has been incredibly camera shy for a candidate. In addition, Simmons is either voting where she doesn't live (a violation of law) or she is lying about where she lives to get ballot access in SD-17 (a violation of residency requirements).
A few days ago, Charles Kuffner wrote about Senate District 17 saying simply, "the line up is set".
In the story he mentioned how Republican's had found another faux Democrat to try and peel off just enough of votes from Chris Bell. Her name is Stephanie E. Simmons. And after filing, the Houston Chronicle was unable to even talk to her about her candidacy.
Kuffner goes on to admit he might be jumping to some conclusions but goes through the facts.
But I do know, from multiple sources, that the Republicans were looking for someone they could recruit to run as a Democrat. I do know that the Democrats as a whole are excited about and united behind the Bell candidacy, unlike the Republicans and their deep split over Austen Furse and Joan Huffman. And I do know that anyone who enters a race like this at the last minute with no buzz, no obvious means of support, and no contact with the media, is not someone who's in it to win it. So while I may be jumping to a conclusion, it's not exactly a flying leap.
However, after some research, Stephanie Simmons probably does not meet the residency requirements for this special election. The Bell campaign has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Secretary of State and Mrs. Simmons and will seek emergency, injunctive relief. In English, the Bell campaign has public documents that say Simmons doesn't fulfill requirements to be on the ballot, and therefore, she should be removed.
Simmons filed last minute, unlike Bell, so it's good to see a quick, decisive action by the campaign. Clearly, Congressman Bell has no choice but to act now in filing suit against the Secretary of State before voters are duped by this cynical Republican ploy.
Update: I finally have the full 17 page complaint. Here it is, warning it is a pdf.
Chris Bell's appeal to Senate District 17 was affirmed Tuesday when Republican Mayor, Bob Kelly, endorsed Congressman Bell.
My name is Bob Kelly, and I am the Mayor of West University. When my state senator, Kyle Janek, retired recently, I knew that choosing the next state senator would have a huge impact on my town and the entire area. That's why I am pleased to tell you that I have decided to endorse Chris Bell and am writing today to ask you to help me elect him to the state senate.
Chris is a Democrat. However, party affiliation does not matter. I have watched Chris' career over the years and know that we can trust him to do the right thing. I watched him stand up to insider deals at City Hall and pass landmark ethics reforms. And in Congress, I saw how he demonstrated unusual leadership for a freshman lawmaker by establishing the Port Security Caucus. With his experience and willingness to fight for reform no matter the odds, Chris is the kind of leader who will be able to step right into the Texas Senate and get things done.
Texas needs Chris in the senate to help our public schools, improve access to health care, promote stem cell research and fight for ethics reforms. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican. The priorities that Chris has are the priorities that we all share around here. Chris' campaign is important to me, but what he wants to do in office is important to everyone in Texas.
Kind regards,
Mayor Bob Kelly
Kelly's endorsement is the biggest blow to Janek's hand picked successor, Austien Furse Furse lives close to Kelly and still Kelly picked Bell. Furse is also under siege as Republican leadership seems to be rallying around Joan Huffman. Regardless, Bell continues to win over local Republican Elected and community activist. Given the shortened time table, this will be a tight race, but Bell is proving he can win.
The safest chamber in the Texas legislature is supposed to be the Texas Senate. It was drawn to give Republicans nearly two thirds of the 31 seats. While we have won over and over again in state House races, the Senate remained static. Even though we turned Dallas blue, the Senate remained static. Those seats were drawn to protect incumbents (especially Republicans), but 2008 seems different.
The lines are the same, but now it is possible for Democrats to make it a 17 to 14 Democratic minority for the first time in years.
Wendy Davis is challenging Kim Brimer, Joe Jaworski is taking on "Toxic" Mike Jackson, and now an unnamed Democrat will campaign against three Republicans in Senate District 17.
Senate District 17 now looks like one of the most interesting races in the state because of its effect on surrounding races. A strong candidate in SD-17 will help Hubert Vo who has a large overlap. It could reasonably effect Larry Joe Doherty in CD-10 and Mike Skelley in CD-7 by mobilizing Democrats in conservative parts of their districts (the northern part of SD-17 overlaps with both CD-10 and CD-7 and yesterdays poll indicates CD-10 is receptive to LJD). Not to mention having another Houston race will absolutely help native son Rick Noriega in his bid to defeat Big John Cornyn.
It will help the Houston Democratic Coordinated Campaign and candidates like Sherri Matula, Joel Redman, and Kristi Thibaut run for the Texas House. It will help Diane Trautman take on uber scary Republican Tax Assessor Collector Paul Bettencourt. Not to mention the judicial candidates and other down ballot races that will get a bump by having an aggressive campaign in SD-17.
When Rick Perry called the special election to fill Sen. Kyle Janek's recently vacated seat for November 4, he may have helped Democrats more than he meant to. Maybe that is why he was only able to get 39% in 2006.
Before we go into the Democratic side of things, lets talk Republicans. According to Kuff, the R's now have three declared candidates- Joan Huffman, a former felony court judge, Houston lawyer Grant Harpold and Houston businessman Austen Furse. None of these three have any real name ID and it doesn't appear they have a strong fundraising network or activist base. None currently hold a political office and having a judge run against a lawyer might require Harpold to go negative against Huffman in order to show a contrast between the two.
As for the Democrats, although he isn't in yet, the name that keeps popping up is former Congressman Chris Bell. Since the election is November 4, Rep. Scott Hochberg would be required by law to vacate his state house seat and Texas could ill afford to lose Hochberg in the House. He is a leader and is especially good at education policy.
Good news is, Bell seems to be a solid candidate and one that can win Senate District 17. Polls indicate he has huge name ID (74% of those polled knew Chris Bell) and the numbers get better in a head to head poll.
Bell leads Furse, 40 percent to 26.5 percent, in a head to head question. Part of Bell's favorable results stem from Republicans unhappy with Republican elected officials, Stanford writes. While 53.2 percent disapprove of President Bush's job performance, an even higher percentage, 60.3 percent, disapprove of Gov. Perry's job performance. Meanwhile, 63 percent said the country is on the wrong track.
Stanford goes on to write that the poll results indicate up to 20 percent of the Republican base could be persuaded to vote for Bell. Furthermore, Stanford writes that Bell's history of standing up to Tom DeLay makes most Democrats and close to a majority of independents more inclined to vote for Bell.
Jeff Smith of Opinion Analysts (the firm conducting the poll) also noted high favorable ratings for Bell. He wrote that Bell's 30 percent favorable rating surpasses the 20 percent for Janek. "Bell's high visibility would give him a big advantage over the field at the outset and a stable base on which to build for the election," Smith wrote. "The combination of Bell's visibility and the voters' disenchantment with the Republican state legislature propel Bell to comfortable margins in both uninformed and informed trial heats with candidates clearly identified by party affiliation. Should he enter the race, Chris Bell would be the immediate frontrunner in a very winnable contest."
Check out the Stanford summary here.
Check out the Smith summary here.
(emphasis added)
Looking at past election results proves this point. In 2006, Janek ran against a Libertarian and won 77.82% to 22.17%. That's right Libertarian Phil Kurtz received almost a quarter of the total vote. In 2002, Janek got 61.42% against Democrat Ronnie Ellen Harrison who earned 38.57%. This is the election that swept Republicans into office across the country (this was the same year Nick Lampson lost his bid for re-election) and Janek only got 61.42% of the vote event though Harrison spent under $30,000.
Janek's retirement and Perry's politically motivated move to call the special election on November 4 means Democrats stand a good chance to turn Harris County blue and cut the margins in the Senate. Chris Bell's popularity and infusion of money in SD-17 would help every Democrat in the area and the votes that money would drive out would inevitably help Democrats up and down the ballot. We need Chris Bell to run for this seat and help us turn Texas blue.
The last day to file for the special election is August 29. In the next few weeks we will begin researching the Republicans who have filed and let you know more as this race unfolds.
