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For Immediate Release Contact: Jerry Patterson March 29, 2007, 12 p.m. 512-740-5650 ?RUN FRED RUN? Texas Statewide Elected Officials Urge Fred Thompson to Enter Presidential Race Today, two prominent Texas statewide elected officials announced their support of the growing national movement to encourage former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) to seek the Republican nomination for president. While we agree there are several good candidates currently in the race, we believe Fred Thompson would add an exciting option for Republican primary voters. A recent Rasmussen poll indicated that in a general election match-up, Fred Thompson leads Senator Hillary Clinton by a...

In political season, certain races will command more attention than other races. The presidency, of course, always holds center stage. But there are also downballot races that send a message. A case in point is the Republican Victor Carrillo’s successful bid to remain in the Railroad Commission post to which Gov. Rick Perry appointed him in 1993. Carrillo’s re-election is a matter of interest beyond the purview of the commission. He is not only the state’s highest-ranking Hispanic elected official; he is also its most prominent Hispanic Republican office-holder. In a state in which there has traditionally been but a...

He supports and will enforce universal bonding for oil operators. When Gov. Rick Perry was looking for someone to replace outgoing Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza more than a year and a half ago, he picked an Abilene man who had knowledge of the oil and gas business, always a solid attribute on the agency charged with regulating the industry. But he also selected someone who had a sparking resume in city and county government and a legal background. Perry made a solid pick when he named Victor Carrillo to replace Garza, who had been named U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, and...

Crawford mayor is Kerry supporter BY GROMER JEFFERS JR. The Dallas Morning News (KRT) - Crawford may be the heart of Bush country, but the town's mayor says John Kerry is the best choice for president. "I don't see where I'm better off than I was four years ago," Robert Campbell said Tuesday. "I don't see where the city is any better off." The Kerry campaign recently listed Campbell as one of 100 black mayors around the country - seven of them Texans - who support the Massachusetts senator over President Bush. But the campaign has not focused particular attention...

The Republican runoff election face-off for the job of Texas Railroad commissioner is a match between David and Goliath, except that Goliath in this case is the better candidate. The heavyweight is Victor Carrillo, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. He is the recommendation of the Caller-Times Editorial Board on this final day of early voting. Carrillo also carries the support of the state GOP party, which wants his victory to dispel any notion that minorities can't win the nod of Republican voters. But the former Taylor County judge and Abilene city councilman has plenty of reasons to run...

Perry's appointee to Railroad Commission isn't a shoo-in to win. AUSTIN — A race for the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas, is the latest test of Republican efforts to appeal to the growing Hispanic population in Texas. GOP leaders are lined up behind commission Chairman Victor Carrillo's bid to keep the post, to which he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. Carrillo faces Robert Butler of Palestine, Douglas G. Deffenbaugh of San Antonio and K. Dale Henry of Mullin in the March 9 Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Bob Scarborough of Fort Worth in November....

Feb. 6, 2004, 9:48PM Giving a name to GOP primary politics By CLAY ROBISON Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle In the end, an important political race may be decided by something as simple (and potentially dangerous) as which of two common names -- Smith or Green -- sounds better to most Republican primary voters. For political insiders, however, the race between Texas Supreme Court Justice Steven Wayne Smith and challenger Paul Green offers an entertaining look at how Gov. Rick Perry is letting his pique at Smith put him at odds with leaders from the far-right wing of his own party,...