Gilbert announces Dem bid for governor

By R.G. RATCLIFFE - Houston Chronicle AUSTIN BUREAU - Aug. 26, 2009
AUSTIN – The top vote-getting Democrat from the 2006 elections — agriculture commissioner nominee Hank Gilbert — said today he plans to join the fight for his party's gubernatorial nomination.

Gilbert, 49, a Tyler-area rancher, received 42 percent of the vote in his race against Republican Todd Staples for agriculture commissioner.

In the current governor's race, Gilbert said he can bridge the gap between Democrats and moderate Republicans who are “disgusted” with incumbent Rick Perry's service. Gilbert said he does not believe U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison can defeat Perry in the GOP primary.

Gilbert's entry into the race became another potential stumbling block for Fort Worth businessman Tom Schieffer, who received endorsements Wednesday from some of the top state House Democratic leaders.

They included Reps. Garnet Coleman and Jessica Farrar of Houston, Jim Dunnam of Waco and Pete Gallego of Alpine. The group said Schieffer will be able to govern the state by bringing Democrats and Republicans together.

Schieffer has been struggling to win over hard-core Democrats because he was business partners with former President George W. Bush and served him as ambassador to Japan and Australia, where he had to defend the administration policy of indefinite detention of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

Former party railroad commission nominee Mark Thompson also is in the race, and humorist Kinky Friedman is expected to join the fray.

Schieffer said he had hoped that Gilbert would run for agriculture commissioner again on a ticket with him.

“Ten days ago, Hank Gilbert talked to me about being part of the team and running the ag race. His exact words to me were: ‘You need to cover me in the urban areas and I'll cover your back in the rural areas,'” Schieffer said.

Gilbert said he had told Schieffer that at a Democratic summit in Tyler, but he said he changed his mind and decided to run for governor after listening to Schieffer speak.

“The man is very intelligent,” Gilbert said. “But he just didn't inspire me. I was looking for that spark.”

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Williams possibly preparing run for office

Perry could tap current or former aides
to replace him as chief elections officer.
COMMENTARY:
by W. GARDNER SELBY - AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF -Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Secretary of State Roger Williams is stepping down as the state's chief
elections officer, most likely to prepare for running for statewide office.

Williams on Monday announced his resignation, effective July 1. He declined to detail his plans except to say, "I don't think I'm going to be a lobbyist."

He had nearly $194,000 in his office's political account as of Dec. 31 and hasn't cloaked his ambitions. He said recently that he'd be interested in a U.S. Senate bid if Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas tries for governor in 2010.
...
Gov. Rick Perry, who appointed Williams to the post in late 2004, said Williams "has been an incredible salesman for the State of Texas, and his leadership will be missed."

Williams, 57, a Weatherford car dealer and businessman, took office Feb. 8, 2005. Before that, he was a high-dollar fundraiser for President Bush's campaigns and a former major-league baseball prospect.

Perry's office said nothing Monday about possible successors. Names circulating at the Capitol include those of Phil Wilson, Perry's deputy chief of staff, and Brian Newby, Perry's general counsel. Other possibilities include lobbyists Robert Howden, a former senior adviser and communications director for Perry, and Luis Saenz, a former assistant secretary of state who directed Perry's 2006 re-election campaign.

Howden said: "If (Perry) asked me to come back, I would be all ears." Saenz had no comment.

...
The secretary of state oversees elections and doubles as liaison for the governor on border and Mexican affairs. The office also serves as the state's repository for official and business records, and it publishes government rules and regulations.
...
The office as a launch pad for politics "isn't the same as having your name on the ballot," Kirk recalled. "But it's better than starting from scratch."

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