AUSTIN – Lyndon Johnson was in the White House when Delwin Jones was first sworn in as a freshman member of the Texas House. Since then, he has been defeated by a fellow Democrat, switched parties to become a Republican, been appointed to powerful committee jobs and lost them.
One thing that has never changed is his taste for elected office. On Tuesday, the oldest member of the Legislature – at 86 – is asking West Texans to send him back for another term.
Jones is one of three longtime House incumbents whose careers are on the line in Texas runoff elections that will shape the November elections. All told, nine legislative races, seven congressional seats, a statewide Supreme Court race and an open spot on the State Board of Education are up for grabs.
First elected in 1964, Jones lost in 1972 and was re-elected in 1988 as a Republican.
These days, Jones stills drives around his five-county district in a 1995 Buick Le Sabre. Over his career, the Lubbock businessman figures he's handed out at least 800,000 emery boards – his favorite campaign giveaway.
His opponent, accountant Charles Perry, is a Tea Party conservative who surprised observers by making the runoff in a three-way race. Jones said the anti-incumbent Tea Party wave has been an "undercurrent" in his race, but he thinks his longevity will play to his advantage.
"I've got a lifetime of identity, and he's got to develop an identity," Jones said. "I would hope my identity will prevail."
Perry, 48, said Jones is out of step with the conservative district and predicted the same activists who are angry at the Obama administration will carry him to Austin.
"Politics as usual seems to be on its last leg," Perry said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Norma Chavez is fighting for her seat in a nasty runoff campaign marked by personal insinuations and accusations that each Democrat is more Republican than the other.
Democrat Naomi Gonzalez has received at least $276,000 in contributions from typically GOP donors to defeat Chavez, a 14-year veteran of the state House, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Chavez, 49, suggested in public forums that Gonzalez is a lesbian, but later said she should not have made her opponent's sexual orientation an issue. Gonzalez said Chavez's comments were just a desperate attempt to deflect attention from her own shortcomings.
A third incumbent, Rep. Fred Brown, R-College Station, faces Republican runoff opponent Gerald "Buddy" Winn, a former Brazos County tax assessor-collector.
Six other races feature Republicans duking it out.
In congressional runoffs, candidates hoping to challenge incumbents are squaring off in seven races – six among Republicans and one among Democrats.
Elsewhere, the conservative faction of the State Board of Education has lined up behind activist Brian Russell, a home-schooler, in the race to replace resigning Republican Cynthia Dunbar. Several high-profile Republicans have endorsed Marsha Farney, a former educator who calls herself the "common sense conservative."
There is only one runoff for statewide office. Former state Rep. Rick Green faces longtime family law judge Debra Lehrmann for the state Supreme Court seat being vacated by Judge Harriet O'Neill.
3 comments:
I think the fact that Delwin Jones has seniority on his committees gives our region a lot more influence than we would have otherwise.
Within the state, divisions in the Republican party have created several bitter runoffs that promise to be indicative of the conservative base's political inclinations in the upcoming midterm elections. These races have become more about the fickle voter and less about the political positions of the candidates. The fact that there are so many runoffs indicates that constituents are not totally satisfied with their incumbent representatives.
Politics are incredibly competitive and fast-paced. There is little room for messing up like Mrs. Chavez learned. In the heat of the moment you may say something you will regret but you will never be able to fully take back. It takes a lifetime to develop a reputation that will stand strong in the political battlefield and I think Delwin Jones did that. He has had a good run but I think it's definitely a good thing that his run is over. Age 86 is way past the time of retirement and he needs to call it quits already. It's time to give some other people the chance to "develop an identity."
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