Nov
25
Written by:
Mark Lavergne
11/25/2009 2:31 PM
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts "Welcomes the Competition" from Democrats in the race for re-election, and an El Paso House member has chosen not to run for the Senate.
Eric Bearse, spokesman for the Campaign to Re-elect Comptroller Susan Combs today released a statement:
We welcome the opportunity to face a challenger conceived behind the closed doors of smoke-filled rooms. We believe the people of Texas deserve to see the contrast between a hand-picked candidate of the party bosses and the incumbent, Susan Combs, who has been through the rigors of both primary and general election contests.
Rumors have floated in recent days, particularly since Tom Schieffer pulled out of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, regarding a possible full-scale Democratic statewide office ticket, including Comptroller.
The release from Bearse says that the Combs campaign has more than $4 million in the bank and raised over $1.5 million this year. It also points to a statewide grassroots campaigning organization with leadership in more than 200 counties. He appears to be saying something to the effect of, bring it on.
Meanwhile, the El Paso Times has reported that Rep. Norma Chavez (D-El Paso) is not running for the State Senate seat that Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) recently announced he would vacate in 2010.
"I had to decide what was best for the citizens in my House district, what was best for El Paso and what was right for my family and me," Chavez was quoted saying.
Former county attorney Jose Rodriguez remains the only officially declared candidate for Shapleigh's seat. Former Tigua tribe governor Albert Alvidrez is still exploring a run, and El Paso GOP Chairman Michael Moore said someone else is considering a run but would not disclose a name, the Times reported.