Posted on 09/10/2006 8:50:42 PM PDT by weegee
AUSTIN — Two gubernatorial candidates received rare embraces from leaders of an organization that prides itself on its fierce nonpartisanship and rigid rules for politicians.
Democrat Chris Bell got a warm embrace Saturday morning after pledging support for education and healthcare spending, training for livable wage jobs and comprehensive immigration reform all of which make up the "working families agenda" for the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation.
Texas comptroller and independent gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn got a big hug on Friday from the Rev. John Bowie of True Light Baptist Church in Houston after Strayhorn offered passionate support for most of the group's major issues.
Bowie is a leader of the Texas Metropolitan Organization that is one of 12 statewide members in the IAF network. Bowie's spontaneous display of affection violated the group's protocol and drew a good-natured rebuke from the Rev. Davis Price of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Lubbock. Price, another leader in the IAF network, told about 600 leaders at the group's training session that, "We have said to Reverend Bowie, you hug one, you hug them all."
So the audience chanted for a hug after Bell's appearance.
"I hug everybody in my church all the time," a sheepish and grinning Bowie said later.
No-nonsense approach The community and church-based organization has developed a reputation for its no-nonsense approach to politics and for accountability sessions that demand short, concise answers from candidates. They are not allowed to campaign or to speak ill of their opponents.
Former comptroller and former lieutenant governor candidate John Sharp reminded the group Saturday that many politicians remain wary of the IAF and its format.
"I am John Sharp. I am from Victoria, Texas, and I have been scared of you ever since I met you (in the 1980s)," Sharp said, amid laughter from the audience.
Gov. Rick Perry and independent candidate Kinky Friedman did not meet with the organization, citing scheduling conflicts.
"We are willing to give make-up exams," Price of Lubbock said.
Leaders say the IAF network represents 500,000 families from congregations and schools in 12 Texas communities and about 300,000 voters.
Families developed the organization's agenda that represents important issues facing everyday Texans.
Strayhorn and Bell took similar stands on the group's major issues. Strayhorn said Texas should increase the $5.15 hourly minimum wage, although she did not say by how much. Bell favors a $7 per hour minimum wage with regular adjustments for inflation.
Support for CHIP Both Strayhorn and Bell support full funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. And both advocate less reliance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test, which they said puts high stakes on students instead of diagnosing their needs.
"We feel that we could work with either one of them," said the Rev. Rita Wilbur, pastor at San Antonio's Spirit of Peace United Church of Christ. "We don't agree with either of them on everything, but we could work with both of them regardless of who's elected."
"I am very much opposed to telling people how to vote," said Bowie of Houston's Texas Metropolitan Organization. "This is the government of the people, so the people provide the agenda. They talk about the problems that they are facing. The candidates respond to the agenda. We let (members) know how the candidates responded."
(Houston) Texas PING
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