Gov. Rick Perry has set Dec. 19 for a special election to determine a replacement for Rep. Glenda Dawson, R-Pearland, who died in September. Dawson’s name remained on the November ballot and her fightin’ spirit went on to win the election in House District 29, thanks in part to a slick mailer that her campaign sent out just before E-Day. The mailer, which featured a photo of a smiling Dawson with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, urged voters to turn out for Dawson but neglected to mention that she was dead.
Dawson beat Democrat Anthony DiNovo, a physician, with 60.4% of the vote. So far, DiNovo is the only Democrat running in this red Brazoria Co. district. Three Republican candidates have jumped into the race, with businessman Mike O’Day considered the party establishment’s top choice over Randy Weber and John Gorman. O’Day serves on the Brazoria Co. Groundwater Conservation District and has the blessings of Dawson’s daughter and son-in-law and a number of elected officials, including House Speaker Tom Craddick. As for Weber, the former Pearland City Councilmember already has three strikes against him: the endorsements of newly elected lame duck U.S. Rep. Shelley Sekula Gibbs, Texas Eagle Forum head Cathie Adams, and angry homophobe state Rep. Robert Talton. Prospective candidates have until Nov. 27 to file with the Secretary of State’s office. Early voting for the special election starts Dec. 11.
This article appears in November 24 • 2006.
