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Dr. Alma Aguado (D), a physician in San Antonio announced this week she has her eye on a U.S. Senate seat for 2010. With Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson's campaign for governor underway, Aguado stated her intentions of running for Texas Senator (snip)Expansive sex education for students, mandatory Texas Futile Care Law education for the elderly, and bipolar screening for high school students are just a few of the initiatives Aguado seeks to implement. Aguado wants to promote legislation to teach students about human sexual intercourse, abstinence, contraception, reproductive health, emotional relations and other topics related to sexual behavior....

Cornyn takes Senate seat As Kirk concedes, Senate winner sees call for 'new management' 11/06/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News Republican John Cornyn rode a wave of presidential popularity to the Senate on Tuesday, ending former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk's bid to become the state's first black senator. "Texas made it clear tonight. We need new management in the United States Senate," Mr. Cornyn told a jubilant crowd in Austin, flanked by family, supporters and the man he will replace, retiring three-term Sen. Phil Gramm. The Democrats' one-vote Senate majority going...

Candidate Votes Vote % J. Cornyn 505,043 56% R. Kirk 369,106 41% J. Wright 17,786 2% S. Jameson 6,548 1% R. Williams 4,600 0%

Businessman sentenced for violating order to stop exporting to Saudi Arabia Wed Oct 23, 3:34 AM ET DALLAS - The owner of a computer company has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay US$281,892.52 restitution for shipping computer hardware, software and telecommunications equipment to Saudi Arabia after the U.S. Commerce Department (news - web sites) ordered him to stop. Ihsan "Sammy" Elashyi, 42, of Richardson, Texas, faced a maximum sentence of up to 50 years in prison and a fine of US$1.25 million after pleading guilty in June to four counts of a 39-count indictment, including...

Kirk, Cornyn run on out-of-state cash Cornyn criticizes Kirk's sources but also gets money from outside Texas 10/23/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - While Republican Senate candidate John Cornyn has chided Democratic challenger Ron Kirk for seeking contributions far from Texas, he's been fairly bullish himself about mining for money outside the Lone Star State. Campaign reports indicate that Mr. Kirk has raised more money from outside Texas, but both candidates have attracted big names and big bucks from the glass canyons of New York to the bright lights of Hollywood....

SEPTEMBER 2002 Kirk Lies about Radical Anti-Israel Activist's Role in Campaign By Phil Magness Campaign ethics reports show that U.S. Senate candidate Ron Kirk employed a controversial anti-Israel activist named Steven L. Hyland on his campaign through mid-June. But Kirk, who avoided the question until a late September meeting in Houston, now suggests that Hyland, a friend of John Walker Lindh, was merely a 19 or 21 year-old campaign volunteer who put together a few yard signs. In fact, Hyland was a paid campaign aide who received nearly $7,000 in salary over a three month period from the Kirk...

Sanchez, Kirk head to the Valley for support Candidates use joint appearance to push 'getting the vote out' 10/22/2002 By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ / The Dallas Morning News MERCEDES, Texas - Democrats Tony Sanchez and Ron Kirk teamed up Monday in a campaign sweep along the border, urging supporters to ignore the polls and embrace their ideas for helping Texans. "We need your help," Mr. Sanchez told a packed room of civil leaders and business officials. "The party's over. We can't talk about all our big policy issues. ... What we need to talk about is getting the vote out."...

Parties stump in Plano, Houston GOP rallies the faithful locally; Kirk touts Chronicle's backing 10/21/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News PLANO - Buoyed by new polls showing wide leads in the races for governor and U.S. Senate, the GOP ticket rallied the faithful Sunday and poked fun at the Democratic "dream team." With early voting set to open Monday statewide, the Democrats, led by former Dallas mayor and U.S. Senate hopeful Ron Kirk, returned the jabs during an appearance in Houston."The genius of the dream team has nothing to do with complexion," Mr. Kirk said...

GOP leading in top two races 10/20/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Republicans seeking the state's top offices hold a double-digit lead over their Democratic opponents, but undecided voters still could narrow the gap with less than three weeks until Election Day. Gov. Rick Perry is favored by 50 percent of likely voters over Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez, backed by 35 percent in the latest poll by The Dallas Morning News. In the Senate race, Republican John Cornyn leads former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk by 10 points. The Democrats' best chance in the Nov....

Kirk, Cornyn turn up the heat 10/19/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON - After simmering in a slow-cooker for the first 20 minutes, Friday's first televised meeting between Democrat Senate nominee Ron Kirk and GOP rival John Cornyn warmed up into a tepid spat between the two button-down candidates. Democratic nominee Ron Kirk took frequent swipes at Mr. Cornyn over his contributions from the failed Enron Corp., and Mr. Cornyn peppered Mr. Kirk with criticisms of his opposition to President Bush's plan to alter Social Security, his acceptance of an...

Kirk, Cornyn to use debate for wide appeal 10/18/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News Heading into their first debate Friday night, Senate contenders John Cornyn and Ron Kirk face the same delicate balancing act. The Republican wants to wrap himself in the president's glow without coming off as a White House dupe. The Democrat needs to attract Texans who idolize the president, so he needs to avoid getting painted into the Hillary Clinton-Ted Kennedy-Tom Daschle corner. Yet each candidate has hewn close to his party's agenda, from Social Security and taxes...

Kirk accuses rival Cornyn of 'racial politics' As contest heats up, AG denies charge, says foe embraces violent music 10/18/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS JR. and TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News FORT WORTH - Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk on Thursday accused GOP rival John Cornyn of trying to frighten voters with "racial politics" by criticizing his appearance at a rap music summit. Mr. Cornyn denied the charge and countered that his opponent had embraced music that glorifies cop-killing. The exchange, the campaign's most contentious yet, came on the eve of their first debate. They also argued...

Another Bush lends support to Cornyn Reports: Republican raised more funds than Kirk in third quarter 10/16/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News FORT WORTH - The president's mother on Tuesday became the latest Bush family member to stump for John Cornyn, telling donors that her son needs his help to face down Senate Democrats. "We need a senator who's close to the president, who can work with the president. ... No matter how fine the opponent, or even how bad the opponent, or how good a man he is, it's his...

At Hip-Hop Summit, Kirk pleads for generation to vote In audience, Green Party hopeful criticizes Democrat's record 10/13/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News Senate candidate Ron Kirk, in a tight race with rival John Cornyn, turned to the hip-hop generation for help Saturday, calling the thousands of youngsters and musicians who attended a Dallas summit an untapped political resource. "Your vote is powerful and will make a difference in the election," Mr. Kirk said at the Dallas/Fort Worth Hip-Hop Summit. "Obviously, I want you to vote for me, but please just vote." Mr. Kirk was...

Staubach throws support to Cornyn Democrats question GOP hopeful's role in pushing fund for AGs 10/12/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News After standing at Ron Kirk's side for two mayoral contests, Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach threw a fund-raising dinner Friday for fellow Republican John Cornyn. And earlier in the day, Democrats attacked the GOP nominee for promoting a fund that solicited campaign money for state attorneys general from businesses they might sue. Mr. Staubach, the quarterback turned real estate investor, said he still considers Mr. Kirk a friend and agrees with some of his...

Cornyn: Kirk has 2 takes on taxes GOP hopeful assails ads on Bush cuts; rival won't pull commercials 10/10/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News GOP Senate candidate John Cornyn on Wednesday called on opponent Ron Kirk to pull the plug on a TV ad, saying the Democrat is trying to dupe voters into believing he supports President Bush's tax cuts. Mr. Kirk has said in recent days that tax cuts should be delayed until the economy improves. "We've gone from a $5.5 trillion surplus to now a $300 million deficit," Mr. Kirk said Wednesday in...

Candidates differ on Social Security Cornyn favors partial privatization; Kirk cites risks to benefits 10/09/2002 Associated Press AUSTIN - Senate candidates Ron Kirk and John Cornyn clashed from afar Tuesday over Social Security. Mr. Kirk, a Democrat, appeared in Austin with two elderly residents and a young woman who said she's already worried about her retirement. Mr. Kirk said Congress needs to end "partisan bickering" and work on health care and prescription drug benefits, education and pension reform. A bipartisan coalition, such as the one President Bush is working toward with regard to Iraq, needs to come together on...

Kirk's new ad supportive of Bush Cornyn says rival's policy proposals are 'all over the map' 10/08/2002 Associated Press AUSTIN - In a new TV ad, Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk disputes Republican John Cornyn's criticisms of him and says he supports President Bush's efforts to lower taxes and improve education. "If a quarter of what John Cornyn says about me were true, my mama would disown me," Mr. Kirk says in the commercial that began airing Monday. On hand to unveil the ad was Willie Mae Kirk, Mr. Kirk's 80-year-old mother, a retired teacher. "I will still support...

Cornyn Social Security plan 'goofy,' Kirk tells E. Texans AG says stock market idea would give younger people a chance 10/06/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News TYLER - Mining for votes in the Democratic strongholds of East Texas, Senate candidate Ron Kirk said Saturday that rival Republican John Cornyn's "goofy" plan to reform social security would put the retirement savings of the nation's seniors at risk. "I've lost a whole lot of money in the stock market during this downturn," Mr. Kirk told a group of seniors in Tyler. "It makes no sense to say...

Cornyn sees Texas jobs in Alaska refuge Oil plan also improves security, he says; Kirk camp favors alternatives 10/05/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News WICHITA FALLS - Drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness would boost national security and create Texas jobs, GOP Senate nominee John Cornyn said on Friday, and he accused his rival of siding with "environmental extremists" and against President Bush on the issue. "There's one way that we can hopefully improve our national security, and that is by relying less and less on imported energy from troubled regions of the world...