Posted on 05/04/2005 4:18:27 PM PDT by kingattax
STAFFORD, Texas (AP) - A former Democratic congressman announced Wednesday that he will try to win the seat held by Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who has been hounded by allegations of ethics violations.
"We need leaders with a high standard of accountability to the public; who will recognize that there is only one standard for ethical behavior," Nick Lampson told reporters gathered on the front lawn of his aunt's house in suburban Houston.
Although Lampson peppered his remarks with comments about an ethics controversy DeLay is facing, he claimed he would focus on his record from four terms in Congress and his knowledge of the district's needs.
"This shouldn't be a shouting match between who's right and who's left," he said. "I believe others are going to be shouting."
Lampson said he has begun to raise money from Republicans and Democrats for what he estimates will be a $5 million campaign.
National Democrats have long ignored the district, but questions about DeLay's fundraising techniques and lobbyist-financed travel have sparked interest in the 2006 race.
DeLay has represented the district since 1984. His office did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
Lampson represented an adjacent district until redistricting that DeLay engineered cost him enough Democratic voters that he lost to Republican Ted Poe in 2004. But Lampson said that about 120,000 of his former constituents now live in DeLay's district.
Also considering a run for the Democratic nomination is Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan, a Chinese-American immigration lawyer who hopes to capitalize on the district's growing Asian population. Quan also did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
the RAT represented the 9th U.S. District in Texas from 1997-2005
If Tom DeLay's Constituants are worthy of having had DeLay Represent them, they will re-elect him in the mother of all landslides.
As far as I know, you do indeed need to live in the district.
Ping for knowledge. . .
I don't think my chances would be very good of winning, though.
Look out Sheila Jackson Lee!
He might be the only person in Texas who could knock off Tom DeLay. Tom Landry can't legally run for office.
Laugh!
This guy should probably keep his mouth shut before someone starts digging into his background.
If he establishes a "residence" in the district, he can run. Vu ran against State Rep Heflin and beat him with the Asian vote while his wife and children lived in another county, his homestead exemption was in another county on his house and his kids went to school in another county. Yet he had his residence in Houston.
Nolan Ryan!
This is what I found with a 'limited' search. I'll check further when/if he formally announces. You will notice that on a trip to Germany he took his wife and "additional family members." Another interesting thing is that he attended the "Former Members of Congress" meeting, when you show he was an active member of Congress during that time.
Nick Lampson, Democratic Party
Total number of trips - 2 Total cost of trips - $4,819.00
Average cost per trip - $2,409.50 Total number of days spent traveling - 12 days Rank of representative - 445 (Out of 582)
Individual trips
Sponsor - U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress Dates - March 25, 2002 - March 29, 2002 (5 days) Location - Galveston, TX
Purpose - attend Congress-Bundestag seminar Notes -
Travel Cost - Lodging Cost - $657.60 Meal Cost - $150.00 Other Cost - Total Cost - $807.60
Additional family members - No
Sponsor - U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress Dates - April 12, 2003 - April 18, 2003 (7 days) Location - Berlin, Germany - Heidelberg, Germany
Purpose - To attend 20th Annual Congress - Bundestag Seminar Notes - Spouse Susan Lampson accompanied.
Travel Cost - $2,331.40 Lodging Cost - $1,080.00 Meal Cost - $600.00 Other Cost - Total Cost - $4,011.40
Additional family members - Yes
thats incredible....great work....are you a PI ?
Thanks! No, I'm not a PI. I owned a Collection Agency and I had to chase dead beats. When you think about it, it's still the same line of work. LOL
cool :)
I'll give $5 to the Lampson campaign.
i wouldnt give him 5 pesos
The details are faded by time, but Lampson owned a home healthcare co. before running for Congress that overcharged Medicare.
Never would happen in TEXAS!
It took me years to get out of Jefferson County, TX, where Lampson was the comptroller, an area that voted solid Democrat because of all of the union members and traditional alliances. That mentality is precisely what Texas has been moving AWAY from since 1994. That shift is why Lampson was kicked out of the comptroller's office in Jefferson County that year, an office he had held ever since I can remember. Then, he was elected to Congress and finally defeated again. He has never known anything BUT elected office, and both times he has been kicked out. He is a loser, and there is no way Lampson is going to turn DeLay's district into another Jefferson County. The demographics just aren't moving that way. Let Lampson LOSE AGAIN! Draino all that democrat money!
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