January 12, 2006

Volume 11, Issue 1

 

 

(Note to our Readers - You may have noticed that you have not been receiving as many IBAT Action Reports over the past year.  We have opted to utilize the IBAT Capitol Report for timely updates on legislative issues, and will continue to provide you with a weekly e-newsletter, The Bottom Line to keep you apprised of issues of importance to you and your bank.  We will still send the IBAT Action Report on a periodic basis, especially when we're seeking your input on specific issues.)

 

 

The filing deadline for the 2006 Election cycle was January 2, and the March primaries are right around the corner.  The big news is Carole Strayhorn's decision to file her intent to run as an independent candidate for Governor.  Add Kinky, an imminent special session to meet the Supreme Court mandate regarding school finance, indictments against a Texas congressman who is now the former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, 14 House members and 4 Senators not seeking re-election, a substantial showing of "public school friendly" primary opponents to Republican incumbents . . . looks like we have the makings of another normal election cycle in Texas politics!

 

Your government relations staff at IBAT has been in full swing over the past months, and things are really heating up now that the holidays are over.  Last Fall, your IBAT Board of Directors voted to endorse a statewide slate of candidates including Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Attorney General Greg Abbott, Comptroller of Public Accounts candidate Susan Combs and Agriculture Commissioner candidate Todd Staples.  Additionally, we endorsed longtime friend of IBAT Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in her re-election bid to the U.S. Senate.  We will be providing information on how you can - if you so desire - get involved with any or all of these campaigns over the next few weeks. 

 

This week, in preparation for an IBAT PAC Steering Committee meeting on January 23, we sent surveys to all IBAT members with banks/branches in districts with open seat races for whom we had e-mail accounts.  These surveys requested input on the candidates running for both House and Senate seats, and the response thus far has been impressive and appreciated.  As there are many of you who are familiar with these races, perhaps live in one legislative district and work in another, live in an urban area with multiple seats or are otherwise interested in certain races, I am hopeful that you will provide your input to us as we prepare to determine which, if any, of these candidates to support.  If you have already responded on a particular race, you need not do so again.  Please e-mail to sscurlock@ibat.org  or call Steve at 800/749-4228 if you wish to weigh in on any of the following open races, or would like any additional information:

 

Senate District 3 -  Todd Staples is running for Ag Commissioner.  Candidates include Frank Denton (R-Conroe), David Kleimann (R-Willis), Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Bob Reeves (R-Center).

 

Senate District 7 - Senator Jon Lindsay is not seeking re-election in this Houston district.  Candidates include Republicans Mark Ellis, Peggy Hamric, Joe Nixon and Dan Patrick, along with Democrat (in a 73% Republican district . . . interesting) Michael Kubosh.

 

Senate District 18 -  Ken Armbrister is not seeking re-election.  Candidates include Gary Gates (R-Richmond), Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), David Stall (R-Fayetteville), Bret Baldwin (D-Victoria) and Henry Boehm (D-Brenham).

 

House District 16 -  Ruben Hope is running for District Judge.  Candidates include Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), Dale Inman (R-Conroe), Vicky Rudy (R-Montgomery) and Pat Poland (D-Conroe).

 

House District 28 -  Glenn Hegar is running for the open Senate District 18 seat.  Candidates include Republicans Mike Baldwin, Michael Franks, Stan Kitzman, David Melanson (David is Vice Chair and CFO of Commercial State Bank, El Campo), David Showalter, Randy Smith and John Zerwas, along with Democrat Dorothy Bottos. 

 

House District 38 -  Jim Solis is not seeking re-election.  Candidates include Democrats David Gonzales (Harlingen), Eddie Lucio III (Brownsville),  Alfredo Montano (Harlingen) and Arnie Olivarez (Harlingen) along with Republican Luis Cavazos of Brownsville.

 

House District 47 -  Terry Keel is running for the Court of Criminal Appeals.  Candidates (all from Austin) include Alex Castano, Terry Dill, Rich Phillips, Dick Reynolds and Bill Welch.  Democrats are Eric Beverly, Valinda Bolton, Jason Earle and Royce LeMoine.

 

House District 54 -  Suzanna Hupp is not seeking re-election in this Killeen to Marble Falls district.  Republicans running include Jimmie Don Aycock, Dan Corbin, Hans Dersch and Dale Hopkins.  Democrats are Edward Lindsay and Jesse Martin.

 

House District 63 -  Mary Denny is not seeking re-election in this Denton County district.  Candidates include Ricky Grunden, Anne Lakusta, Bill Lawrence, Tan Parker and Michael Savoie.

 

House District 71 -  Bob Hunter is not seeking re-election.  All candidates are from Abilene and include Republicans Rob Beckham, Kevin Christian, Susan King and John Young along with Democrat Mel Hailey.

 

House District 91 -  Bob Griggs is not seeking re-election in this North Richland Hills/Grapevine area district.  On the Republican side, candidates include Pat Carlson, Kelly Hancock, Michael Logan and Charles Scoma.  Byron Sibbett is running as a "D".

 

House District 106 -  Ray Allen is not seeking re-election in this western Dallas County seat.  Republicans running include Kirk England and Tim Johnson.  Katy Hubener is the Democrat in this race.

 

House District 118 -  Carlos Uresti is running against Senator Frank Madla.  Democrats in this San Antonio district are Joe Farias, Tony Mandujano, Pedro Molina and Larry Ricketts.  Republicans are George Antuna, John Lujan III and Steve Salyer.

 

House District 126 - Peggy Hamric is running for the Senate.  Candidates in this Houston district include John Devine and Patricia Harless as Republicans, and Democrat Chad Khan.

 

House District 133 -  Joe Nixon is running for the same Senate seat.  Candidates in this Houston district are Republicans Barbara Larson, Jim Murphy and Mike Schofield.  Democrat Kristi Thibaut is also running. 

 

With apologies for a short turnaround, please respond if you intend to do so as soon as possible, but in any event by Monday, January 26 so that we may have time to compile the information to allow our PAC Steering Committee to make the appropriate decisions at their upcoming meeting.  Your assistance and involvement is appreciated.

 

And . . . if you didn't write an IBAT PAC check in 2005, are feeling especially benevolent or just want to start the year off right, we are spending LOTS of your generous contributions and could use some additional dollars in the PAC.  Couldn't pass up the "ask" opportunity!

 

Happy New Year to all of you, and thanks for your support of IBAT.