Jun
23
Written by:
Mark Lavergne
6/23/2009 1:16 PM
Sen. Leticia Van De Putte of San Antonio, head of the Senate Democratic Caucus, has announced that she is removing herself from consideration for a run for governor in 2010, and is encouraging Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) to run for it instead.
"If I believed for a second that it would result in a healthy debate of the issues of most importance to Texas families, I would today be announcing my candidacy for Governor of Texas," she said. "But we have all watched over the years as Perry, Hutchison, and other Republican politicians have launched their scorched earth ‘say anything to win’ vicious attacks against political opponents. To mask their utter lack of leadership, they’ll do so again, and I decline to put my family through it. That I am a Latina would only serve to amplify their attacks."
She said she would work to make sure a Democrat is elected governor in 2010, pointing to Watson as a "bipartisan and pragmatic leader solidly focused on addressing the priorities of all Texans" while "staying true to Democratic values."
"I intend to lobby Senator Watson to run for governor, and I’ll wholeheartedly support him if he does," Van de Putte said.
Watson's Senate seat is up in 2010, which means he would have to choose between running to keep it or running for governor.