The governor’s race wasn’t the only one heating up as filing opened on Dec. 3 for the March primaries. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, was among the very first lawmakers in the state to submit her paperwork, filing just after 8am on the first day. She was followed on Monday by East Austin Democrat Rep. Dawnna Dukes, while Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, deflated hopes of a statewide run (and headed off a potentially ugly primary war of succession) by refiling for his current seat.

On the Republican side, so far only two wannabe House members have filed in Austin: Both former Real Estate Council of Austin Chair Paul Workman and corporate attorney Holly White Turner want a shot at Democrat Rep. Valinda Bolton in House District 47.

With Travis County filings so slow, it seems that all the excitement has been reserved for the Williamson County Republicans: Businessman Ben Bius filed to challenge Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who had previously said he was retiring, then changed his mind. Meanwhile, three GOPers (surgeon Charles Schwertner, former comptroller’s office employee Patsy Williams, and former Cedar Park Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Thomas) have filed to replace Ogden’s one-time successor, Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, who is leaving politics.

This article appears in December 11 • 2009.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

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.