Posted on 01/13/2005 11:05:20 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
With the vacancy for the Texas House District 121 seat now official, names of potential candidates on both sides of the aisle have begun to percolate through political circles.
Gov. Rick Perry has until Jan. 31 to call a special election for the seat to replace state Rep. Elizabeth Ames Jones, who was selected Tuesday for the influential Texas Railroad Commission.
Until an election is scheduled, no one can officially declare their candidacy. But four politically connected people have expressed interest in the seat: Democrats Melissa Kazen and Chip Haass and Republicans Joe Straus III and George Pierce.
The district, which stretches from Olmos Park northeast to Windcrest and north past Loop 1604, is considered a Republican stronghold.
In the six general elections up to 2002, District 121 voters have consistently voted for Republican candidates in higher percentages than the rest of the state for all major statewide offices.
"That is a very Republican district," said U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, whose district largely overlaps the House seat. "I can't see a Democrat winning the seat."
Nevertheless, some Democrats consider the district winnable and are contemplating a run, hoping that strong name identification and a quickly mounted grass-roots operation will be key given the short time frame of a special election.
Kazen, a consultant for the North American Development Bank, said she'll decide by Friday whether to commit to running.
"I'm giving serious thought to it, but I haven't filed any paperwork yet," said Kazen, who is married to County Court-at-Law Judge Oscar Kazen.
Kazen, who has never held political office, said she sees a run for state government as an outgrowth of her volunteer work. She is the elected treasurer of the San Antonio Conservation Society and has volunteered at the Institute of Texan Cultures and the San Antonio Zoo.
Haass, a city councilman whose district includes a chunk of the legislative seat, also is considering a run, sources close to him say.
Joe Straus III, the son of the well-connected philanthropic couple Joci and Joe Straus Jr., has already acknowledged his interest.
Straus is sole proprietor of an insurance investment and employee benefits business.
Also, former state Rep. Pierce said he is "considering filing" for the seat after being out of office nearly 12 years.
Pierce served in the Legislature from 1978 to 1993 and his district was essentially today's District 121.
His experience, he said, would be a boon when it comes to sliding into an active legislative environment.
"I've been there before," he said. "Whoever's elected is going to be about a month behind, at least. We haven't got time to train somebody."
Other names have been bandied about, including local lawyers Hans Rickhoff and Paul Wendler. But both men, who come from politically involved families, said they wouldn't run for the seat.
District 9 City Councilman Carroll Schubert also was mentioned as a contender, but the mayoral candidate put those rumors to bed at a news conference Wednesday.
"Though I'm very honored to be considered, I am not going to run for the District 121 seat and I reaffirm my commitment to run for mayor of San Antonio," he said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rrodriguez@express-news.net
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