Thread: All eyes on Huchison as officeholders map plans

All eyes on Hutchison as officeholders map plans


02:55 AM CDT on Saturday, June 14, 2008
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
choppe@dallasnews.com

HOUSTON – Professionally made "KBH for Gov" lapel stickers mysteriously appeared at a coffee reception Friday morning hosted by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Her staff denied any knowledge. But at the Texas Republican convention, this bit of speculation is undoubtedly the largest elephant in the room.

Ms. Hutchison already has said her Senate term ending in 2012 will be her last, and many believe the state's most popular politician will take on Rick Perry or other comers in the 2010 governor's race. She's caused jockeying among a stable of Republican officeholders who have been in a long holding pattern waiting for movement at the top of their ticket.

Ms. Hutchison's reception drew more than 200 supporters, including about 21 elected officials, powerful lobbyists and deep-pocketed donors.

"We will have a lot of time to talk about future elections, but this is not the time," Ms. Hutchison told them. Instead she urged delegates to take back Dallas from the Democrats and to support Sen. John Cornyn, who faces Democrat Rick Noriega in November.

But she did take the opportunity in her convention speech to draw a distinction between herself and Mr. Perry, and she received a standing ovation.

"I am fighting against tolls on highways that have already been paid for by Texas taxpayers. These initiatives are a violation of the public trust," Ms. Hutchison said. "And that is why I strongly oppose the Trans-Texas Corridor."

The giant tollway that will gobble up private property is a top initiative of Mr. Perry's and has sparked a land rights rebellion among some in his party. But the governor, while pushing for private companies to build and operate tollways, also opposes placing tolls on existing public highways.

While Mr. Perry and Ms. Hutchison briefly crossed paths at the convention Friday, they didn't stop to exchange pleasantries.

Plenty are watching their movements.

State Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano is exploring a run to fill Ms. Hutchison's seat, and meeting potential supporters at the convention has left her optimistic.

"If this were the entire state of Texas, I'd be fine. But it's not. It's a microcosm, and I have a lot of work to do, I have a lot of places to go and people to see," she said.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is also eyeing higher office, prompting speculation that Attorney General Greg Abbott might run for lieutenant governor, and from there, the dominoes keep falling.

"People are looking at the next shoe to fall," said Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

But change is good, she said: "It makes your candidates better – more solid on their issues, it makes them reach and be more concrete on what they want to do."

Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas acknowledged he might like a greater opportunity to tackle education, energy, water and other major issues.

"Life is dynamic. Life is change," he said, before adding, "The early baby boomers have taken the field, and the late baby boomers are trying to be patient."

Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo was even more succinct about what happens if Ms. Hutchison decides to open her seat and run for governor.

"It sure would mix things up," he said.







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Ms. Hutchison's reception drew more than 200 supporters, including about 21 elected officials, powerful lobbyists and deep-pocketed donors


Is this the Kay 'strip the border fence bill in the middle of the night 'Hutchison.O how wonderful more vermin scum seeking higher office.Would one of those deep pocketed donors be the C.F.R