With two Republican candidates vying to reclaim the GOP grip on House District 45, Democratic incumbent Patrick Rose – whose narrow victory sent the ethically challenged Rick Green packing in 2002 – isn’t taking anything for granted in this heavily Republican district. Rose, whose votes in favor of tort reform and other GOP-driven issues very nearly earned him a Democratic opponent, will kick off his re-election campaign from 2-4pm Saturday at the Dripping Springs old high school gym, 510 W. Mercer St., in Rose’s hometown. The young Dem has a free ride through the primary, but come November, he’ll face either Alan Askew, a Wimberley contractor and rancher, or Martin Harry, a Buda lawyer who was drafted by those Republicans who are ever so slightly left of Askew’s conservative Christian values. – Amy Smith
Another (conveniently timed) bit of federal largesse for Austin, courtesy of U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett – currently fighting for survival in the new CD 25. Doggett announced Tuesday a federal grant of nearly $500,000 to renovate and enhance services at the South Austin Multipurpose Center. “From increased handicapped access to enhancing the delivery of preventative and chronic health services, this funding will greatly improve access to quality affordable health care for the people of South Austin,” Doggett said. Last week, he announced $2 million in federal transportation funding for the city’s East Seventh Street Corridor Project. – Mike Clark-Madison
Doggett also picked up support this week on the national level, with an endorsement from the MoveOn.org political action committee. Referring to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s redistricting work in Texas, the MoveOn.org PAC told its members via e-mail, “This is not democracy. It’s gerrymandering at its worst, and yet another attempt by the Republican national leadership to game the system. You can help keep a strong, progressive leader in office and at the same time send a clear message to DeLay and the Republican leadership by supporting Doggett’s primary bid.” – Lee Nichols
The Nasty-o-Meter continues to spin in the 200th District Court race, with the rollout of a new Web site, www.janscrewedthedemocrats.com. The site unlovingly details Jan Soifer‘s work as a lead attorney representing the state of Texas to defend the GOP-friendly 2001 legislative redistricting plan. Meanwhile, Soifer has maintained her attacks on the supposedly secret Republican past of her now-progressive opponent Gisela Triana; the two women’s camps have traded shots this week over which one went negative first. No one has claimed responsibility for the anti-Soifer site. – M.C.M.
This article appears in February 27 • 2004.