October 23, 2006

THE POLLS ARE OPEN FOR EARLY VOTING

Texans will choose a U.S. Senator, a governor, 166 members of the Texas Legislature and a myriad of local and county offices November 7. Early voting starts today and will continue through Friday, November 3. The Secretary of State's office will issue its estimate on voter turnout after about a week of the early voting process. In 2002, the last non-presidential election, about 36 percent of Texans participated—a total of 4.5 million voters. Four years earlier, the turnout was about 32 percent. The governor's race appears, at this point, the only race generating much publicity. Republicans now hold all statewide offices. For the Democrats to make a breakthrough would appear to require a very unusual alignment of stars. Of the 32 Congressional seats, only a couple seem to be in play. Per normal, the GOP is targeting 17th district Congressman Chet Edwards of Waco. But Edwards is a very formidable campaigner, and the former aide to the late Congressman Tiger Teague is expected to break even in GOP stronghold Brazos County, leading to reelection. The other Congressional race intriguing observers is the fight to replace Tom DeLay in District 22, near Houston. The Democratic standard bearer Nick Lampson is favored to win despite the district being a majority Republican. DeLay 's difficulties in resigning resulted in the GOP having to mount a write in candidacy in the person of Houston City Council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. Historians note than only four members of Congress have even been elected via a write-in, so Ms. Sekula-Gibbs faces an uphill climb.

FEDERAL POSTS ARE FILLED

The U.S. Congress limped into a pre-election recess, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Peters as the new Secretary of Transportation. President George Bush named Mrs. Peters to succeed Secretary Norm Mineta. Mineta resigned this summer, not long after his keynote address at the TGR sponsored Texas Transportation Forum in Austin. Mrs. Peters previously served in the Bush Administration as the Federal Highway Administrator and as the chief executive of the Arizona department of Transportation.