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Farm Bureau political arm backs Neugebauer BY CORY CHANDLER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The Texas Farm Bureau's political action arm endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, on Thursday in a move that may be indicative of the tough situation facing local producers due to congressional redistricting. This is the first time the TFB's Friends of Agriculture Fund has not endorsed Neugebauer's opponent, U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, in a congressional race, said TFB and AGFUND President Kenneth Dierschke. Dierschke described the decision as "very difficult." "These are two friendly incumbents for us. We didn't want to be put in that situation, but we...

Stenholm gears up to duel Neugebauer in District 19 By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, a West Texas congressman for 26 years, kicked off his first-ever campaign in Lubbock on Tuesday vowing never to bow to partisanship at the expense of his constituents. "I think one of the big issues in this campaign is going to be I'm an independent," the Abilene Democrat said. "I vote my district. I don't mind differing with my party. It appears that one of the differences is going to be a rubber stamp for (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay's version of what...

Cheney extols Neugebauer on Stenholm's turf By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL ABILENE — Vice President Dick Cheney was in the hometown of an incumbent Democrat on Friday touting the president's record and urging voters to support Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock. Cheney's appearance at a fund-raiser for the freshman representative was a brazen campaign move on turf represented for the past 24 years by U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene. Stenholm and Neugebauer were thrown into the same congressional district during this year's raucous redistricting battle initiated by GOP members to increase Republican seats in Washington. "My main concern is to...

LUBBOCK, Texas - A land developer defeated an accountant who used to be President Bush's business partner in a tight Republican runoff Tuesday to succeed retired Rep. Larry Combest . With all but one of the West Texas congressional district's 207 precincts reporting unofficial returns, Randy Neugebauer had 28,530 votes to Mike Conaway's 27,858 votes. The one unreported precinct was in a county where Neugebauer led by a 2-to-1 margin. Neugebauer and Conaway, both Republicans, emerged from a field of 17 candidates in a special election last month. They were in a runoff to see who will replace Combest, who...

LUBBOCK, Texas - A land developer defeated an accountant who used to be President Bush 's business partner in a tight Republican runoff Tuesday to succeed retired Rep. Larry Combest. With all but one of the West Texas congressional district's 207 precincts reporting unofficial returns, Randy Neugebauer had 28,530 votes to Mike Conaway's 27,858 votes. The one unreported precinct was in a county where Neugebauer led by a 2-to-1 margin. Neugebauer and Conaway, both Republicans, emerged from a field of 17 candidates in a special election last month. They were in a runoff to see who will replace Combest, who...

Congressional candidates air similar views Area chambers hold forum By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The two candidates for District 19 U.S. representative struck a similar chord Tuesday in a live television forum, each one sounding like a conservative Republican with interests in agriculture, energy and job creation. Both Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Mike Conaway, R-Midland, came away sounding knowledgable but also in agreement on issues of taxation, local control over water and education, homeland security and other issues. The candidates competing to succeed U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, appeared at a forum featuring one panelist each from the Lubbock, Midland, Odessa...

Early voting turnout low for runoff BY HEIDI TOTH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL If early voter turnout is any indication, the next U.S. representative of District 19 will be chosen by a small percentage of the district. The June 3 runoff election between Republicans Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock and Mike Conaway of Midland is the final step of a six-month campaign to replace U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, who is resigning May 31 after 18 years representing District 19. Lubbock County, which includes the largest metropolitan area in the district, counted 4,594 early voters of more than 140,000 registered voters, according to the...

LUBBOCK -- West Texans will have to wait until a June runoff to find out who will replace longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Larry Combest in the historically agricultural district that has been redrawn to include 19 counties and more oil and gas interests. Republican Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock and Mike Conaway of Midland qualified for the runoff as none of the 17 candidates in the special election earned more than half the vote, according to unofficial election results reported by the Texas secretary of state. With all precincts counted, Neugebauer -- a real estate developer and former Lubbock city councilman...

In the special election to succeed Rep. Larry Combest, R-TX, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, the top 4 candidates, all Republicans, are thus far: 9 p.m. Central Time Randy Neugebauer, 9,835 Mike Conaway, 9,643 Carl Isett, 8,331 -- endorsed by TX Right to Life David Langston, 6,127, former Democrat mayor of Lubbock The counting continues. The top two votegetters will meet in a special election runoff in June.

Neugebauer, Isett lead fund raising By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL In the race to represent District 19 in the U.S. Congress, the top eight campaigns — in terms of fund raising — have raised almost $2 million, according to recent financial disclosures. Campaign strategists — independent ones and those connected to campaigns — have said the seat being vacated by Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, likely would take mid- to upper-six figures to win. So far, five of 17 candidates have campaign funds eclipsing $100,000. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, is the leading fund-raiser with $604,515; however, $150,000 of his total is money he loaned...

There are 17 candidates in the race for Congress but polls show only four have a real shot at winning. Based on the polling data from two campaigns, the front runner is Carl Isett (R). But it's by no means a runaway race. Isett is only a few percentage points above three other candidates vying to replace outgoing congressman Larry Combest. The top candidates in order of last name are Mike Conaway (R) of Midland, Carl Isett of Lubbock, David Langston (R) of Lubbock, and Randy Neugebauer (R) of Lubbock. "I think the real race is for second place. I...

There are 17 candidates in the race for Congress but polls show only four have a real shot at winning. Based on the polling data from two campaigns, the front runner is Carl Isett (R). But it's by no means a runaway race. Isett is only a few percentage points above three other candidates vying to replace outgoing congressman Larry Combest. The top candidates in order of last name are Mike Conaway (R) of Midland, Carl Isett of Lubbock, David Langston (R) of Lubbock, and Randy Neugebauer (R) of Lubbock. "I think the real race is for second place. I...

District 19 candidates weigh in on agriculture, energy issues By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Part of a continuing series The old U.S. Congressional District 19 had more grassland territory on the sun-drenched caprock, and the soon-to-be-retiring congressman representing the district was a member of the House Agriculture Committee. In fact, Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, served for a term as the committee's chairman. But the new district, redrawn after the 2000 census, shifted south, losing the farmland that extended to the Oklahoma border and gaining oil fields in Midland, Ector, Winkler, Loving and other counties. The district's next representative will inherit the ag...

Crowded field assures hectic campaign for District 19 seat By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL In what promises to be an unusual campaign, 17 names will appear on a ballot May 3 for a special election to choose the next U.S. representative from District 19. "Public forums are going to be mayhem," Lubbock political analyst Morris Wilkes said. "And there's only 30 days to campaign." As Wednesday's filing deadline passed, the field of candidates ballooned to 17 men and women representing six political parties. Each candidate is hoping to replace U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, the Lubbock Republican who is retiring May 31...

Pair dominates District 19 fund raising By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL In a wide-open race for the congressional seat to represent Lubbock in Washington, two candidates are beginning to distinguish themselves from a dozen or so others — at least in terms of fund raising. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, has raised about $450,000, and Mike Conaway, R-Midland, has surpassed $200,000, according to representatives from both campaign camps. In the most recent campaign finance reporting period, state Rep. Carl Isett and Texas Tech law professor Vickie Sutton were the only other candidates to declare contributions. Both candidates are Republicans from Lub- bock. Thirteen...

I found this article from the Hearst News Service. I wonder if this is truly the reason Combest resigned. Sources: Wife's dispute with employer led to Combest'sdecision on early retirement By Dan Freedman Hearst Newspaper Service WASHINGTON -- Rep. Larry Combest, R-Texas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, decided to resign from Congress because of a bitter dispute between his wife and her employer, a suburban Washington medical practice, according to two persons close to Combest. Combest, 57, announced his departure from Congress on Nov. 12, a week after he easily won re-election to his 10th term in office. His...

Neugebauer officially enters race for District 19 seat Lubbock real estate developer Randy Neugebauer publicly announced his intentions to run for Congress today, saying he wants to be part of the conservative leadership in Washington. "It will be an honor to represent you in the spirit of Ronald Reagan and under the leadership of George W. Bush in Washington," Neugebauer told about 100 supporters at a morning news conference. He said he would support abolishing a tax on inheritance, known as the "death tax," and would work to uphold traditional family values, local control of education, commitments to the elderly...

Hispanic Issues Scorecard West Texas was caught up in Combestmania last week. Stories propagated the good job Larry Combest did in Congress. I don¹t know how many years Combest was in Congress, but to our neglected people, it seemed like 1,000. I say this after reading Combest¹s record in the Congressional Scorecard issued by the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) on issues that affect Hispanics. The scorecard, available at www.nclr.org/policy/scorecard2002 was produced to show representatives¹ votes on civil rights, education, economic mobility and health. In every bill examined, Combest voted against the recommendations of the NHLA. Combest¹s positive record on...

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...

Sunday, November 17, 2002 Last modified at 1:36 a.m. on Sunday, November 17, 2002 © 2002 - The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Get an AJ: Subscribe | A-J Sales Outlets -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glazed Honey Ham Company We ship anywhere in the U.S. Order Online! » See the full ad Visit this advertiser's Web site at www.honeyham.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Field wide open for Combest seat By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL So far, the only definitive answers are negative. State Sen. Bob Duncan is a definite "no." Lubbock Mayor Marc McDougal is a definite "no." Former Lubbock Mayor Windy Sitton is a definite "no." Speaker of...