(Note: An entry I pulled from my blog about the future plans of Mayor Phil Hardberger.)
In a column scheduled for Sunday's Express-News Jan Jarboe Russell writes that after a very successful four years as the mayor of San Antonio a movement may have begun to draft Phil Hardberger to make a gubernatorial run. It would be a good natural progression and possibly a great challenge for either Rick Perry or Kay Bailey Hutchison. However, time may be more the issue than anything in this decision. Harberger is 75 years old and would be 80 at the end of a first term as governor. So while the idea is appealing it probably won't happen. But it does point out an interesting situation in Hardberger's political career. Could he have reached his political peak too late in life?
After a close election in 2005, Julian Castro has made a strong case to be San Antonio's next mayor. His two biggest weaknesses were youth and the inability to rally the business community to his campaign.
The solution to both of shortcomings seems to be time.
Castro will be a half decade older since his first run, and in a recent Express-News op-ed, it appears his ties to the business community rapidly developing. Not only does Castro have local business leaders in his corner this go around, he is right on the public policy needed to strengthen San Antonio.
In his piece, "Common Vision Required for City's Future", he highlights how AT&T's Dallas move should be an eye opening opportunity, not a worrisome sign.
While Phil Hardberger has been an incredible Mayor for San Antonio, Castro's op-ed highlights all the reasons why I supported him in 2005. While I no longer live in San Antonio, it is hard to think of any person who would be a better fit for the Alamo city.
"I’m not running for cookie commissioner. I’m running for ag commissioner," said the rancher from Whitehouse.
Sen. Royce West held true on his promise to air ads on Chris Bell's behalf that take aim at a certain other Gubernatorial candidate. Capitol Annex has the ad on YouTube. Material from BOR plays the opening role. You can see the video at the bottom of the post.
A former die-hard Kinky supporter has an e-mail exchange with the campaign after voting for Bell. You should read this- both enlightening and hilarious.
Scott Henson is 100% right in that it is a crying shame that we have no credible candidate running for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals statewide and that some of the worst judges in America will be returned to the bench by default. A reformed TDP will recruit candidates for each and every one of these seats up in 2008.
Judge Charlie Baird who is set to be the next judge from the 299th court is among my top 5 favorite Travis County Democrats. He's running the same ad from the primary (on his website) again in the general against an actual Republican opponent which many local Dems didn't know was running (so get out there and vote for Baird).
Dr. Dave Rausch of West Texas A&M University is conducting on online exit poll for the Governor's election. You can answer it if you voted anywhere in Texas but if you voted in Amarillo there are extra options for you. Check it out.
Some of you may remember Jeff Ortiz who ran for city council in Nederland and was the youngest to do so. He may have lost last year, but he's kept up in the community and has already released his statement that he's coming back for another run in 2007.
Looks like San Antonio approves of Mayor Hardberger 63%-29%.
