Announcement: Re-elect Justice Steven Wayne Smith to TX Supreme Court

Re-Elect Justice Steven Wayne Smith Texas Supreme Court, Place 5 ____________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Jan. 2, 2004) CONTACT: David Rogers, Campaign Manager, (512) 923-6188

Supreme Court Justice Steven Wayne Smith today announced his campaign team and his lengthy and growing current list of prominent conservative and Republican supporters.

First among Smith's campaign team is his treasurer, former Congressman and Railroad Commissioner Kent Hance. Hance is a leading Republican activist and contributor. In 1978 , Hance beat political newcomer George W. Bush in a Congressional election -- the only time Bush ever lost an office he ran for. Hance later became a Bush Pioneer in the 2000 election and remains a strong supporter of the President.

In addition, Smith's campaign fund-raising team of Cynthia McIntosh and Elizabeth Blakemore are veteran partners with Republican judges such as fellow Supreme Court Justices Nathan Hecht, Dale Wainwright, Tom Phillips, Michael Schneider, and former Supreme Court Justice Greg Abbott.

Justice Smith announced that his campaign would be managed again by David Rogers, the conservative activist who planned Smith's upset victories against heavily favored, extremely well-funded opponents in both his last two elections. Rogers noted that in the previous primary election, while grass-roots Republicans overwhelmingly supported Smith, many political insiders did not.

"I am pleased that a number of Republican officials are backing my campaign this time around, but my strength has always been with the grassroots conservative voters who are the backbone of the party," Smith said.

"Unlike my new opponent, I believe that voters should have the right to elect their judges, particularly at the highest levels. He wants to take that right away from voters. So I expect that, when the voters make their decision, based on that, and on my conservative judicial philosophy and proven conservative record, they will vote to re-elect me."

Smith noted that his supporters included former Governor Bill Clements. Smith worked in the Secretary of State's office during Clements' second tenure in office. Clements was the first Republican governor elected in Texas in more than a century.

Rogers also noted that in Justice Smith's last primary campaign, Smith handily defeated a self-described "moderate" who had a more than 80-to-1 spending advantage.

Justice Smith is best known as the attorney who filed, litigated and won the Hopwood case that ended racial preferences at Texas universities from 1996 through 2003. Justice Smith has served on the Supreme Court since Nov. 20 of 2002, and was ranked in an independent study as the Justice most likely to be in the majority during his first term.

Governor William P. Clements Kent R. Hance, former Congressman and Railroad Commissioner Ward Connerly, Chairman, American Civil Rights Institute*, Regent of the University of California* Congressman Ron Paul State Representative Dan Flynn State Representative Will Hartnett Gregory S. Coleman, former Texas Solicitor General & former Law Clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Cathie Adams, President, Texas Eagle Forum* Don Zimmerman, Executive Director, Republican Liberty Caucus* Kyleen Wright, President, Texas Coalition for Life* Virginia Hermosa, President, Hispanics Educating on Law and Policy* Austen Furse, Texans for Tax Limits* Dee Kelly, Esq. Louis Beecherl Evan Fitzmaurice, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP*, Former Speechwriter for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Former General Counsel, Republican Party of Texas James Logan, Travis County Republican Club* Jan Glabraith, SREC Committeewoman, SD 14* Tim Hoy, SREC Committeeman SD 9* Bill Crocker, SREC member SD 14* John Gordon, SREC Committeeman, SD 5* Anne Mazone, SREC Committeewoman, SD 5* Joel Yowell, Nueces County Republican Chairman* Joe Biles, President, Texas Tech College Republicans* David Rushing, Young Conservatives of Texas chairman* Chris Allen, Young Conservatives of Texas chairman emeritus* Ron Meinke, Pct.525 Chairman and Election Judge, Former SREC Committeeman SD 13 , Former Harris County Christian Coalition Director* Deany Meinke, TFRW Executive Committee , Former DOL President , Former Harris County Christian Coalition Co-Director* Edward Blum, Center for Equal Opportunity* Bill Helfand, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin LLP* Professor Lino Graglia, University of Texas School of Law* Carolyn "Kay" Graglia, Esq. Zahid Ahsanullah Sonia Mohammed Patrick O'Daniel, Jenkens & Gilchrist LLP*, Former Law Clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Mary Leibham George Jeffords Vince Williams Grace Bruce Jimmy Bruce Josh Tetens Ashton Ellis, Young Conservatives of Texas Baylor Chapter Chairman* Jon Gimble, Vice Chairman of Special Events for Young Conservatives of Texas* Kate Young Steve Young Kristen Blank Josh Hiller Marc Levin, former law clerk to Judge Will Garwood, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Alex Gonzalez

### Political Communication paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Justice Steven Wayne Smith, Hon. Kent Hance, Treasurer, P.O. Box 926, Austin, Texas 78767

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg	Freepers/Avg	Monthlies
27	Canada	175.00	3	58.33	179	0.98	20.00	1

Justice on Supreme Court faces primary challenge
By Max B. Baker
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

(Wayne) SMITH

(Paul) GREEN

Backed by several top Republican Party officeholders, San Antonio Appeals Court Judge Paul Green on Tuesday filed in the GOP primary against embattled Texas Supreme Court Justice Steven Wayne Smith.

Green, a justice on the Fourth District Court of Appeals since 1994, is endorsed by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Craig Enoch.

Their early support of his candidacy is unusual, especially because Green is running against an incumbent. Smith was elected in 2002 to fill out the term of by Greg Abbott, who stepped down to run for attorney general.

During the 2002 campaign, Smith was disavowed by some of his party's leaders for making racially charged comments. Smith also defeated former Justice Xavier Rodriguez, Gov. Rick Perry's handpicked candidate.

"It's been great to have that kind of support," Green said. "Running against an incumbent is not an easy task. When I got interested in the race, I asked people for help, and help was forthcoming."

Smith, 42, filed for re-election earlier. Smith said he was not surprised when Green officially put his name on the March 9 primary ballot. Justices on the state's high court serve six-year terms.

"Supreme Court justices should expect to be challenged, even in the party primaries," Smith said. He added that his "sound articulated judicial philosophy" and "record of conservative achievement" appeal to voters.

When he filed for re-election, Smith said he knew he had a "tough race ahead" but that he had "defeated tough, well-funded opponents before, and with the help of grassroots Republicans I will do so again."

Before his election, Smith was an Austin lawyer probably best known for his involvement in the Hopwood case challenging the use of race in admissions at the University of Texas Law School.

Green, 51, has served on the San Antonio appeals court -- which serves 32 counties in the Hill Country and South Texas -- since 1994. During his term, Green said, he has written thousands of legal opinions.

"I tend to think that a lot of people are supporting me because I have the experience for the job. It is an important job," Green said. When one of the justices lacks that kind of experience, "it is a weak link," he said.

Cornyn, who once served on the Supreme Court, said he endorsed Green because "it is clear that he believes as I do that the role of any judge is to interpret the laws as written and not to write new laws from the bench."

Enoch, who stepped down earlier this year to go into private practice, also praised Green's judicial experience and temperament.

"I've spent more than 20 years as a judge in Texas, so I know what it takes to serve the people of this great state, and I know Paul Green has what it takes," Enoch said.

In another sign the party establishment backs Green, his campaign consultants include individuals and firms that have worked for the re-election campaigns of Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

David Rogers, Smith's campaign manager, said his client handily defeated Rodriguez in the last primary despite being outspent. Smith spent about $8,000 on that race, while Rodriguez raised almost $700,000.

"We'll just let the voters decide," Rogers said.

The deadline for candidates seeking non-congressional offices in the March primary is Friday, and the Smith-Green race may spice up the statewide and local judicial election cycle.

Besides Smith, Supreme Court Justices Harriet O'Neill and Scott Brister are running for re-election in the GOP primary. Brister was recently appointed to the court by Perry to replace Enoch. So far, no one has filed in those races.

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