Posted on 05/04/2003 6:54:50 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Conaway, Neugebauer in runoff By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Republicans Randy Neuge bauer of Lubbock and Mike Conaway of Midland finished first and second, respectively, in Saturday's race for Congress and will meet in a runoff for the District 19 seat.
With all precincts reporting, state Rep. Carl Isett finished third.
Neugebauer, 53, is a land developer and took 22.3 percent of the vote. Conaway, 54, is a certified public accountant and received 21.2 percent.
Isett, R-Lubbock, won 18.9 percent of the vote, and former Lubbock Mayor David Langston, who switched from the Democratic Party before the campaign to run as a Repub lican, took 14 percent.
On the Net • Precinct by precinct voting results in Lubbock County can be viewed on the Web at: http://tax.co.lubbock.tx.us/
In a field crowded with 17 candidates, none of the re maining 13 had more than 4 percent each. Voter turnout was about 14.5 percent.
Gov. Rick Perry must call the runoff election, which likely will be June 7.
"I'm very excited, and we feel very good about the election," Neugebauer said. "Our focus was to run an issue-based campaign and work hard, and we'll continue to do that."
He said he wasn't taking for granted the prospect of picking up votes cast Saturday for Isett and Langston.
"We want to go out and earn those votes, and I feel good that we can do that. I really don't see us changing our strategy. We weren't running against anybody, we were running for Congress," he said.
Conaway said his strategy also will remain the same.
"We'll focus on all of the district and get our message out," he said.
He said he will try to convince voters he has skills Neugebauer lacks.
"I've got some skills and talents that are different. Clearly, his knowledge of agriculture is equal to mine, but my understanding of the oil and gas industry is better than his," Conaway said. "That's what we'll work to get out to voters, that I've got the depth and background it takes to represent this district."
Isett said he had no regrets about finishing third.
"I knew going in it was going to be a hard, close race. I'm very humbled by the support I received and very appreciative to all my volunteers," he said.
Isett said working in Austin during the legislative session made campaigning difficult.
"If we had prevailed, we would have been the first to win a congressional seat without running.
"Because of my commitment to the leadership in Austin and my commitment to (the House) Appropriations (Committee), I was in Austin while my opponents were able to travel the district, meet people and look them in the eye. I was not able to do that."
Two weeks before the election, Neugebauer was the leading fund-raiser with $604,515; Conaway had $408,848.
Exit polling on Saturday in Lubbock was consistent with the election results.
At Whiteside Elementary, June Grace said she voted for Neugebauer.
"I just liked the things he stood for," she said. "He's a good man. ... I've heard good things about him.
"I liked that he didn't sling mud," she said. "I would never vote for anyone that does that."
At O.L. Slaton Junior High School, Johnny and Pat Wood both voted for Neugebauer after they heard reports that Isett voted to cut insurance for children.
Kary Blair, 25, checked Conaway's name on her ballot.
Although Blair is a Midland native, she said that played no part in her decision and she did not know Conaway before the election. She had actually struggled with her voting decision for the past couple of weeks, she said, and studied all the candidates.
Conaway and Neugebauer will be vying for the seat being vacated by Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, who will retire at the end of the month after serving since 1984.
Combest, who ascended last session to the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee, announced just after November's election that he was leaving Capitol Hill to spend more time with his wife and family.
(Staff writer Mary Jane Short contributed to this report.)
jfuquay@lubbockonline.com 766-8722
Yes, that is what I said.
"Maybe Nuegebauer should go away in your opinion."
All I said was that I wasn't the biggest fan of land developers (for personal reasons). The most experienced candidate in the race (whom I was backing) was Rep. Isett, and he unfortunately came in 3rd. Conaway is considered the underdog now, and I said I often enjoy backing an underdog, so I'm backing Mr. Conaway.
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