When all else fails, turn to your political foes for help. Gov. Rick Perry did just that last week by naming college buddy and political rival John Sharp to lead a study on restructuring the Texas tax system (though Perry was quick to rule out a state income tax as an option). The challenge has thus far eluded Perry and other Republican leaders, who can’t agree on how to lower property taxes and tap into a new revenue source for schools.
Until his new assignment, Sharp, the former state comptroller, had considered jumping into the Democratic primary race for governor. He was largely viewed as the party favorite to challenge either Perry or GOP primary hopeful Carole Keeton Strayhorn in 2006. Sharp said his new role effectively takes him out of the political arena, at least for the time being. Sharp and Perry go way back, beginning with their cadet days at Texas A&M more than three decades ago. In 1998, Sharp lost to Perry in a grueling race for lieutenant governor. Perry’s choice of Sharp is interesting in that Sharp is a principal in an accounting firm – Ryan & Co., of Dallas – that happens to be Strayhorn’s largest campaign contributor.
This article appears in September 30 • 2005.
