Republican Possibilities Abound for Combest Seat

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal ^ | 11-20-02 | Fuquay, John

[Theodore R.]

District 19 race brings challenge to cotton country

By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

It won't be long before red, white and blue yard signs pop up on the South Plains, shouting the battle cries of congressional candidates.

But before the candidates emerge, a new battle is shaping up between Lubbock and the Permian Basin over a different set of priorities in District 19.

"We have encouraged our people to hold off on announcing until we can all get together and see who is best for our area," Midland County Republican Party Chairman Sue Brannon said. "This is a great opportunity for us."

Lubbock's hold on the 19th District U.S. congressional seat, occupied for the past 18 years by Lubbock's Larry Combest, will be tested in a special election after Combest resigns May 31.

Lubbock vs. Midland/Ector voting snapshot Lubbock Midland/Ector

County population 243,999 237,616

Registered voters 152,442 140,284

Nov. 5, 2002 voters* 55,300 52,400

*Average voter turnout (rounded) in U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.

Sources: Texas Secretary of State, Texas State Data Center

Congressional watch

Prospective District 19 candidates

New names

Mike Greer (I), Lubbock

Previously named

Bob Barnes (R), Odessa

Bobby Burns (R), Midland

Will Dodson (R), Lubbock

Carl Isett (R), Lubbock

David Langston (D*), former Lubbock mayor

Don McBeath (R), Lubbock

Randy Neugebauer (R), Lubbock

Other notes

• Isett forms exploratory committee headed by former U.S. Rep. Kent Hance.

• Former District 19 candidate Don Richards, D, of Lubbock won't run.

* Would consider switching parties

Combest, the reigning chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has been regarded as a good steward of the area's cotton and farming interests.

But new district boundaries from the 2000 census have added oil- and gas-producing counties, and the district has competing priorities.

Brannon and Lubbock County GOP Chairman Dan Isett will fight to keep the seat in Republican hands, but Brannon wants a Permian Basin representative, while Isett would prefer one from Lubbock.

"It's very important to us," Brannon said. "As you know, Larry Combest was extremely interested in agriculture and not interested in oil and gas. We would like our chance to be represented."

Isett said: "My first priority is to make sure it stays a Republican seat. My second priority is that it is a Lubbock Republican seat.

"I think it would be to Lubbock's benefit, but to try and discourage any candidate like they apparently are, I'm not really doing that," he said.

Ector County Republican Party Chairman Gary Johnson agreed with Brannon that the election presents a chance to have a voice in Washington to represent oil and gas issues.

"That's very important to us, to get someone more in tune with what the energy industry is all about," he said. "We're looking at it from the standpoint that we don't need four or five people on the ballot.

"I don't know whether it will be one, but if there's three or four or five out of Lubbock, and we get two, and one of them makes it into a runoff, then we'll have a better chance of having someone from Midland or Odessa representing us," Johnson said.

"It's not like we're trying to pull one over on Lubbock or anything, but Midland and Odessa are definitely trying to work together," he said.

Mayor Marc McDougal, the previous Lubbock County GOP chairman, said he believes a ballot diluted with Lubbock candidates poses a serious threat to Lubbock's ability to retain the seat.

"That's a very real concern. Regardless of who all might run, everybody better sit down and look at the ticket because Lubbock could put so many people on the ballot that nobody has a shot," he said.

"I think the seat still has to come through Lubbock, but who knows what might happen if it gets in a runoff, which it probably will," McDougal said.

The election will be unlike those in the past because of a new population base added to the district following the 2000 census. District 19 has long contained Lubbock —Texas' 13th-largest metropolitan area — but now it has Midland and Odessa, which make up the state's 15th-largest metro area.

Redistricting had little effect on Lubbock's boundaries, but not so for the Permian Basin.

In the past, Midland and Ector counties have been split between Combest's 19th District and the 23rd District, represented by Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio.

In addition, a portion of Midland County also was represented by Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, in the 21st District.

Lubbock and its population base easily dominated the outcomes of past District 19 elections. To win the seat, one had to win Lubbock.

Now, with Midland and Odessa combining to almost match Lubbock's population, 63 percent of the district's population is outside Lubbock County.

Brannon said the party relishes its new look in one congressional district.

"We've been divided up in three districts," she said. "We've had good representation, but hopefully, with our other great victories ... we would very much like to add our own representative to that."

Midland is riding the crest of having a president in the White House, and the Nov. 5 election gave the GOP control of the Statehouse, clearing the way for Tom Craddick, R-Midland, to become speaker of the House.

Combest abruptly announced his resignation last week, saying he intends to spend more time with his wife.

He will submit a written resignation to Gov. Rick Perry, who will call a special election.

jfuquay@lubbockonline.com 766-8722