Dec
18
Written by:
William Lutz
12/18/2009 5:03 PM
In the immortal words of boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer, “Ladies and Gentlemen, LETS GET READY TO RRRRRRRRUMBLE.”
That’s right former Rep. Borris Miles (D-Houston) has filed in the Democratic primary to challenge current Rep. and legislative veteran, the Rev. Al Edwards (D-Houston).
Miles successfully challenged Edwards in the 2006 Democratic primary. Edwards supported Speaker Tom Craddick and – an ordained minister – he’s conservative on some social issues, most notably opposition to same-sex marriages. Democrats got Miles, an insurance agent, to challenge Edwards and Miles prevailed in a runoff.
Edwards is known throughout the Capitol for filing weird bills to address a point. For example, he once filed a bill to cut the arms off drug dealers. But Edwards is perhaps best known for passing a bill out of the House to ban sexually explicit cheerleading. Edwards’s bill attracted national attention, including a parody on The Daily Show. No word yet on who will join Cheerleaders for Miles.
Miles – on the other hand – was accused of behavior at a downtown hotel that was even more bizarre than some of the things Edwards does. He was accused of brandishing a gun in a hotel in front of several prominent Houston business leaders in two 2007 holiday parties. He eventually faced criminal charges as a result of that incident. Miles denied wrongdoing and attributed much of the controversy to political opponents, according to the
Houston Chronicle.
Miles was eventually acquitted of all charges.
Edwards won the rematch, beating Miles in the 2008 Democratic primary, but Miles thinks the third time might be a charm.
It's the primary the press corps can't lose, because no matter who wins this one will be fun to watch and give reporters plenty to write about.