Dan Barrett: looking to turn 31.8% into 50% plus one

After a run of speculation, Gov. Rick Perry has finally announced the date for the special election to replace the retired Anna Mowery in House District 97. The election will take place Dec. 18, with early voting Dec. 10-14.

The race will now pit first round winner, Democrat Dan Barrett, against his next-rated Republican, Mark Shelton. Bipartisan, pro-public-school political action committee Texas Parent has now endorsed Barrett, as has the League of Conservation Voters (for his support for tougher regulation of new power plant construction), the United Educators Association and a handful of other unions. Shelton, on the other hand, has got the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association on his side.

Of course, it could all be a little moot. The run-off winner would only hold the seat until the 2009 regular session, and with no obvious special session in sight, it would take a committee appointment to make this more than an honorific placeholder win, or a stepping stone to the 2008 general election. Still, the Downtown parking is always nice.

This article appears in November 16 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.