Bell: Hoping for some cheap downtown parking near the Lege

Today sees the big run-off between Democrat Chris Bell and Joan Huffman in Houston’s Senate District 17.

Back on Nov. 4 (ah, so long ago now), Bell actually took the largest slab of the vote (38% to Huffman’s 26%), but since it was a special election, triggered by the retirement of Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, they moved on to round two.

The Senate currently stands at 18 Republicans and 12 Democrats. If Bell can take the seat then it gives Democrats a big boost (not least, as Democratic caucus chair Sen. Leticia van de Putte, D-San Antonio, noted, that it makes her life easier when she needs 11 votes on the floor.)

Speaking of van de Putte, she told Texas Politics today that she’s considering thinking about being the Democratic challenger to replace Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison if the Republican senator does indeed stand down to challenge Gov. Rick Perry in 2010 (much as Newsdesk suspected van de Putte would announce.)

This article appears in December 12 • 2008.

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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.