Free Republic

AUSTIN — Deirdre Delisi once aspired to be a diplomat, and Gov. Rick Perry may have finally granted her wish. As head of the Texas Transportation Commission, Perry's former chief of staff will test her diplomatic skills in an emotion-filled arena in which a state senator has already called her a "political hack." In an early sign of her peacemaking potential, the 35-year-old Delisi scheduled one of her first meetings as chair with that senator, Transportation and Homeland Security Committee Chairman John Carona, R-Dallas. "I was left with the impression that she genuinely wants a new and fresh start for...

Raymond eyes tough race By TRICIA CORTEZ LAREDO MORNING TIMES The March Democratic primary is eight months away, an eternity in politics, but the race for one of Laredo's two congressional seats promises to be as furious as an Alabama tick in summer. This week, state Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, made clear his intentions to challenge incumbent Congressman Henry Cuellar of Laredo. However, Raymond said Friday he would make no formal announcement until the special session on school finance in Austin is over. Over the years, both legislators have done little to hide their dislike and lack of support for...

For Texas Democrats, it's still a rebuilding era Thursday, June 17, 2004 HOUSTON — OK, Texas Democrats. What now? At its three-day convention here that begins today, that's the principal question for the party that dominated Texas politics for more than a century. Can it reverse the Red State Republican status for Texas presidentially — here since 1980 — either in this decade or next? That question will be paramount as the Democrats party, work to cheer each other up, caucus, choose delegates to go to Boston in July to ratify Sen. John Kerry as their presidential candidate and applaud...

HOUSTON — Shaking delegates' hands and hearing their pleas for him to re-enter the political fray, former gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez made a hurried appearance this morning at the Democratic Party's state convention here. It was his most public appearance since being trounced in 2002 in his race against Gov. Rick Perry. The multimillionaire oil and gas operator from Laredo refused to comment on his political future. "I am not thinking about that right now, I have not made any decision," he said when a reporter asked if he plans to run for public office again. Later he added that...

Democrats' racial tactic may backfire Thursday, August 28, 2003 The continuing complaint of Democratic senators who fled to New Mexico is that fines for their absence amount to a poll tax: a fee that once kept minorities from voting. Underlining race might be good legal strategy for the Democrats, who allege that forced congressional redistricting injures the influence of Hispanics and African Americans and amounts to racial discrimination under the U.S. Voting Rights Act. But unless they include discrimination against rural voters (including whites) — and what difference they think it makes in congressional votes on jobs, Social Security and...

Morales brother pleads guilty He'll be sentenced in April for trying to blackmail Sanchez 01/31/2003 By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - The brother of former state Attorney General Dan Morales pleaded guilty Thursday to trying to blackmail Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez out of $280,000 last fall. "We're here to stand up and accept full responsibility for this thing," said Michael Morales, 40, a San Antonio recording producer who faces a probable two-year federal prison sentence. "I look forward to my productive life of making music and getting this behind us." Moments earlier Mr. Morales...

Campaign extortion claim is investigated 01/05/2003 By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Federal prosecutors are investigating whether a brother of former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales attempted to extort between $200,000 and $300,000 from Democratic candidate Tony Sanchez during the governor's race last fall. Music producer Michael Morales, 40, has been identified by federal agents as the person who called Mr. Sanchez's campaign manager and threatened to make public an allegation that Mr. Sanchez committed a felony while a law student in San Antonio more than 30 years ago, sources speaking on condition of anonymity...

Poll: Negative race cost Sanchez Voters blame both men but find Perry more palatable 11/27/2002 Associated Press LUBBOCK - About three-fourth of voters who thought the governor's race was negative blamed candidates Rick Perry and Tony Sanchez equally, but Mr. Sanchez apparently suffered more, a survey conducted by Texas Tech students showed. "I think that's the big highlight of the whole survey," Cherie Maestas, an assistant professor of political science at Tech, said Tuesday. "People's opinion of Sanchez suffered more." On a scale of one to five with five being the most favorable, Mr. Perry's average favorability rating among...

Texans vote to keep Perry After spending $60 million, Sanchez not ready to give in 11/06/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry barreled to victory Tuesday over political novice Tony Sanchez, stopping his opponent's bid to make history in a rancorous campaign for governor that smashed all spending records. "This has been a competitive campaign," Mr. Perry told exuberant supporters. "We faced a worthy adversary, and I salute Mr. Sanchez, his family and his supporters." Even though he trailed by double digits, the Democratic challenger refused to give up, telling cheering partisans...

Perry ahead in new poll Sanchez says survey fails to consider huge get-out-the vote drive 11/03/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News As the candidates for governor scoured the state for votes Saturday, a new poll gives Republican Rick Perry a comfortable lead in the final days of a bitter and costly race. Mr. Perry is ahead of Democratic challenger Tony Sanchez 50 percent to 38 percent, according to The Dallas Morning News poll of likely voters. Mr. Sanchez has moved slightly closer since the last survey two weeks ago but still trails the...

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...

Sanchez's strategy against Perry: get out Hispanic vote He needs 'huge turnout' in campaign without issues, expert says 10/20/2002 By DAVID SEDEÑO / The Dallas Morning News Democrat Tony Sanchez's best hope to close the gap on Gov. Rick Perry will be to turn out Hispanics, his core supporters who have yet to be pumped up by his expensive and historic campaign, according to voting experts and a new poll. The Sanchez get-out-the-vote strategy, analysts say, will have to push hard on the traditional phone banks, door-to-door canvassing and Spanish-language TV ads. The effort could draw a record number...

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....

Out on this road, the issues come first Perry, Sanchez face an uphill fight to win over rural, suburban voters 10/14/2002 By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News HASKELL, Texas - Out here, cotton and cattle are as big and broad as the far-flung sky, and politics is the tamped-down, straight line of the distant horizon. Even in Rick Perry's hometown of Paint Creek, political yard signs are as rare as a vegetarian restaurant. "I don't care who's elected as long as cattle prices stay up and it rains," said one rancher, leaving a livestock auction. A governor...

For Sanchez, Perry, the well isn't dry yet $5,323 for confetti? Candidates still pouring on the cash 10/13/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Asked about putting millions from his own pocket into the race for governor, Democrat Tony Sanchez said in last week's debate that he had been "very, very blessed." So have the hotels, limo services, printers, pollsters, consultants and pizza parlors that have stepped up to help serve the millionaire businessman's record-shattering candidacy. No campaign in Texas history has seen so much spent in pursuit of office - $58...

Sanchez, Perry clash over insurance, ethics Tone is pointed but civil as candidates trade accusations 10/10/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON - GOP Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Tony Sanchez brought their cross-state shootout to close range Wednesday, assailing each other over the soaring cost of insurance and business ethics. "He is beholden to the insurance industry," Mr. Sanchez charged in the campaign's first televised debate. "That's why we're all having to pay higher and higher rates." Mr. Perry said his administration is working aggressively to deal with the insurance crisis and...

Morales says Perry is his pick Democrat's endorsement crosses party lines 10/09/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Former Democrat for governor Dan Morales snubbed his party's pick Tuesday and backed GOP Gov. Rick Perry, saying voters should ignore partisanship and choose the best candidate. "After all, the challenges we face as a state demand the most experienced and most accomplished political leader Texas has to offer. That leader is Rick Perry," Mr. Morales said. The endorsement came on the eve of the first debate between Mr. Perry and his Democratic challenger, Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez. They face off Wednesday night...

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas Democrats' hope of riding the Hispanic vote to victory in the November election took a hit on Tuesday when one of the party's top Hispanics endorsed Republican incumbent Rick Perry for governor. Former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales said he supported Perry because his Democratic challenger, wealthy businessman Tony Sanchez, lacked the experience and ethics required to lead the nation's second largest state. "I'm a Democrat, but I'm first and foremost a Texan," Morales, who lost the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Sanchez, told cheering Perry supporters at the governor's Houston campaign headquarters. "I'm...

Sanchez spending soars He and Perry total a state record $74 million; Democrat could make national history, too 10/08/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Democrat Tony Sanchez has spent nearly $58 million in a record-shattering bid for governor, assuring the most expensive race in Texas history at a pace likely to break $100 million by Election Day. Fueled by his own deep pockets, the Laredo businessman is en route to spending more of his own money than any other political candidate in U.S. history. "It is truly extraordinary," said Cal Jillson,...