Naked City

Garry Mauro (Photo By Alan Pogue)

On Monday, former land commissioner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Garry Mauro released a letter announcing his candidacy for the interim chairmanship of the Texas Democratic Party, in the wake of last week's resignation of current Chair Molly Beth Malcolm. The interim chair would assume office, with the support of the party's state executive committee, until next summer's state convention.

Mauro, defeated for the governorship by George W. Bush in 1998, said that he stands for "unity and diversity" and that "defeat can be a good teacher." Mauro has been supporting the Dick Gephardt presidential campaign but as TDP chair would have to remain neutral in the presidential race. Mauro denounced party infighting and wrote to his fellow Democrats, "I pledge to you now that fairness and equity will be the gold standard in a state party organization chaired by Garry Mauro, and that even the hint of favoritism of one national Democratic candidate over another will be dealt with forthwith. And that standard includes the role of the chair who, above all else, must both enforce and practice fair, open, and balanced leadership."

Being state Democratic chair might not seem like such an attractive job, but Mauro isn't alone in seeking to replace Malcolm. State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, a frequent and vocal critic of the new legislative order, has also thrown his hat into the ring -- and, like Mauro, has indicated that he's only interested in serving as interim chair until 2004. Other names floating around include former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (a former chair of the Travis Co. Democratic Party), former state Attorney General Jim Mattox -- who told reporters Monday he's not running but would serve if asked -- and former state Sen. Carl Parker of Beaumont. Traditionally, state party chairs have been aspiring future officeholders, not former ones -- such as, for example, Bill White, Malcolm's predecessor, now running for Houston mayor.