Larson To Run For Congress (TX)

KSAT ^ | January 2, 2008

[Clintonfatigued]

Longtime Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson announced Wednesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination for the 23rd Congressional District in Texas.

Flanked by supporters and family members, Larson made the announcement on the steps on the Bexar County Courthouse.

Larson, who has served as county commissioner and city councilman for 15 years, said he made the decision after speaking with residents in the district the past six months.

So far, Larson's only opponent in the March Primary is Quico Canseco, a banker and attorney from San Antonio.

The office is currently held by Democrat Ciro Rodriguez.

[Clintonfatigued]

Larson is a very good candidate, but why did he wait so long? There is already a viable, well-funded Republican running. Now there will be a costly primary to get through. Hopefully, the candidates will avoid mudslinging.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’d tend to lean towards Canseco, because we’re better off running a Hispanic for that seat. A bitter fight between him and Larson will not be a good thing and deplete the resources needed to take out “Zero” Rodriguez.

[AuH2ORepublican]

An Anglo Republican would face an uphill battle against Zero (that’s his ACU rating, IIRC) Rodriguez in a 62%-Hispanic district. I don’t know much about Larson, but I remember Quico Canseco from his primary race in the old 28th CD (a large part of which was located in the San Antonio) and he’s a solid conservative with a business background who may be able to win enough Mexican-American votes to defeat Zero. President Bush got 57% in the district in 2004, so there are definitely plenty of Hispanics in the district willing to vote for a conservative Republican-—the trick is to convince them not to vote for a Hispanic Democrat, and that’s a tough sell if we run an Anglo Republican.

[Clintonfatigued]

Here’s something about Lyle Larson- he’s a Bexar County Commissioner and former San Antonio City Councilman who has won elections in the area for years.

I have nothing against Canseco, and if he’s the nominee, I’ll root for him enthusiastically. But Larson shouldn’t be written off, given his electoral history in the area.

[GOP TEXAS]

If Larson is serious about running in the district and winning he should not have waited until the last minute to file his candidacy. The only reason that he did that was because waiting to do so until after January 2nd allowed him to retain his County Commissioner’s seat. This is a prime example of Larson once again putting his own interests ahead of those of the district he allegedly wants to represent, his party, and Bexar County taxpayers. I bet that he will try to muscle political contributions from those business interests who have projects pending before the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court and need Lyle’s vote to OK their projects. If Lyle was truly committed to winning, and to being a man of integrity he would resign his commissione’s seat so that he is without any conflict of interest. When he does that I will consider supporting him. Until then my vote is with Quico Canseco.