Thread: Texas Dems lay platform for revival

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pol ... 53508.html

June 9, 2006, 2:13AM


Dems lay platform for revival
Delegates see state convention as the first step in party's comeback
By CLAY ROBISON
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

FORT WORTH - Texas Democratic activists prepared to open their state convention today, hoping to boost some long-shot candidates and reclaim some long-lost political turf.

Several thousand delegates will elect a party chairman, applaud speeches ringing with optimism and vow to strengthen the grass roots and rebuild the party.

But what will be the end result on Election Day?

Gone is the well-funded, racially balanced and super-hyped "Dream Team" of candidates who lost the top statewide races four years ago.

They have been replaced by a lesser-known assortment of hopefuls led by gubernatorial nominee Chris Bell, who is trying to do what multimillionaire businessman Tony Sanchez failed to do in 2002, unseat Gov. Rick Perry — and with only a fraction of the $60 million that Sanchez spent.

The Democratic Party, which dominated Texas politics for more than a century, hasn't won a statewide election since 1994, and more recently lost its majorities in the Texas Legislature and the state's congressional delegation.

Some political watchers predict it will remain Texas' minority party for several more years, regaining strength as the growing, heavily Democratic Hispanic population increases its political participation.

But Democrats say they are optimistic about their prospects now, encouraged by Republican ethical scandals in Austin and Washington, as well as by President Bush's political struggles, which, they hope, will rub off on Perry.

"Democrats are on a trajectory to return to majority party status in the state in the next 10 to 15 years," said Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson.


Closing on majority
This year, he said, they likely will have to settle for victories in several legislative races, narrowing the Republicans' 86-64 majority in the Texas House, and perhaps regain some court seats in the big cities.

Jillson said he would be "shocked" if Perry lost the governor's race. All the winner needs is a plurality, one more vote than anyone else, and the anti-Perry vote will be divided among three major opponents — Bell and independent candidates Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman, assuming the independents get on the ballot.

Perry and Strayhorn are way ahead of Bell, a former congressman and former member of the Houston City Council, in raising the money necessary for television advertising.

Strayhorn, the Republican state comptroller, has been tapping traditional Democratic money sources, including some prominent trial lawyers, who are betting she has the best chance of unseating Perry.

She also has picked up several endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes and Sanchez, the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial nominee, and has won the endorsement of the Democratic-leaning Texas State Teachers Association.

Democrats think the four-way race could work to Bell's advantage, because unlike the independents, he will have a party organization behind him. They say the key will be turning out and winning the party's base vote, which is now about 35 percent of voters.

"If Chris Bell holds a substantial percentage of the Democratic base and his campaign is able to motivate and turn out that base, he will be in the running in a multi-candidate race to the end," Democratic consultant Ed Martin said.

One convention delegate, state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, said Bell needs to expand the base by "going after the people who normally don't vote."

Bell said he will use his convention speech to help set a tone for "learning to win again in the Democratic Party." Democrats, he said, need to get past their previous defeats and "realize we have an opportunity to begin turning things around."

Bell is the only Democratic candidate among those seeking the three highest statewide offices to have previously held elective office.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the party's challenger against Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, is a Houston attorney running her first political race. Maria Luisa Alvarado of Austin, a research analyst for the National Veterans Outreach Program, is the Democratic nominee against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Four years ago, Democrat Ron Kirk, a former Dallas mayor, lost a race for Texas' other U.S. Senate seat to Republican John Cornyn, and Democrat John Sharp, a former state comptroller, lost to Dewhurst.

About 5,000 delegates and 2,000 alternates are eligible to attend the convention, but no one knows how many will show.


Endorsements
Bell said he was encouraged by his recent endorsement by the Texas AFL-CIO and the grass-roots support that labor can supply. He also said his fundraising has improved but declined to discuss figures.

"We're never going to have as much money as Rick Perry, but we never planned to," he said.

Alonzo said the furor over immigration may swell the Hispanic turnout for Bell and other Democratic candidates after the hard line that Perry and other Republicans took against immigration at their state convention in San Antonio last weekend.

Hundreds of the Democratic delegates are Hispanic.

"There is a strong sentiment among the Hispanic community against those people who are doing the bashing," Alonzo said.

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, who will co-chair the Democratic convention's platform committee, indicated the Democrats will endorse secure borders, as they have done in the past.

But he added, "You can have secure borders and still treat people (illegal immigrants) who mean you no harm and are seeking opportunity with respect."

Three veteran party activists are running for state chairman in an election that will be decided Saturday.

They are Young County Attorney Boyd Richie of Graham; former state Rep. Glen Maxey of Austin; and lawyer Charlie Urbina-Jones of San Antonio.

clay.robison@chron.com

Kinky Freidman is a joke! He'd sell you a pig and a poke.

Bell will not take a position on amnesty. Seems very weak to me too.

Carole Keeto Strayhorn actually has a head on her shoulders but she might be soft on illegal immigratin. She's a Republican, running as an Independent and getting backing from Democrats. Sounds like a McCain to me.

Perry is finally taking a stronger stand against illegal immigration. I think he has been hearing a lot from Texans lately. How can you beat a guy that just got a statewide property taxes reduction?

Dixie

Dixie,

I don't think Rick Perry will get tough on the illegals - I would like to see it but just can't believe it will happen. I think he is too close to Pres. Bush.

As for the property tax reductions - we had court action regarding school funding, I think. I kinda think maybe Mr. Perry may be taking credit for something he was forced to do.

But I am waiting for that tax reduction.

I was so happy when I heard that our school taxes would be frozen at the amount it was when my husband reached 65. It used to be that school taxes made up more than half of your tax liability, so I was thrilled. Until I actually looked at the tax statement. Our country and city taxes are almost as much as school taxes and they are not automatically frozen. The country 'can' be - but I won't hold my breathe.