WHISPERS IN THE WIND

Political Rumors

  We keep hearing about various candidates for local offices. In March 2014 we expect to have a Republican Primary (Justice Department interference appears to have been minimized by the U.S. Supreme Court last week) and in May 2014 city and school board elections.

  City Councilman Todd Klein is telling others he'll run for mayor, not run for county commissioner, may run for congress and won't run for council again. Since Todd wakes up in a new world every day expect his plans to change several times between now and filing deadline. One thing we can be certain of, is that this former Democrat County Chairman will run for something. He'll no more willingly give up public office with its mics and cameras than a junkie will give up his needles.

  Count on Congressman Randy Neugebauer to have several opponents in the next primary. Despite his poor showing in 2012 Chris Winn did establish that Randy is weak and more serious candidates will test that weakness. Dr. Donald May of Lubbock is already campaigning. Local businessmen are actively recruiting another candidate. We've heard the name of an outstanding possibility from the original Bush team. If there is one more candidate from Lubbock then that may also produce a challenger from Abilene.

  Billy Eichman has already started talking to locals about running for the 364th District Court being vacated by Judge Brad Underwood. Eichman practices laws with Crenshaw, Dupree and Milam. He'll make a good judge.
  County Commissioner Precinct 2 Mark Heinrich will likely have several challengers including one from Slaton and another, 21 year old Jon David Brugel, who is fresh back from Austin after working the session as a legislative aide.
County Judge Tom Head hasn't announced his intentions yet. One can expect him to have a challenger if he stays. Local attorney David Nelson ran against him in 2010.
  We'd expect that County Commissioner Precinct 4 Patti Jones will either run for reelection or run for County Judge. Either way you can probably expect her to have an opponent.

  State Representatives John Frullo and Charles Perry may draw opponents. Neither has endeared themselves to the Chamber crowd who wanted them to carry a local option tax this session. Would-be challengers await them on the right and left. It remains to be seen if any have the intestinal fortitude to file.

  No word yet on what office former State Representative Delwin Jones will file for but reports are he's still spry and making his weekly trip to Austin so don't count him out.

  If we're correct that half or more of the Texas Tech Regents are ready for a change in the Chancellor's office then the odds-on favorite for that job will surely be Senator Robert Duncan if he wants it. That would put us choosing a new state senator in March, or possibly before.
  All in all, it looks to be an exciting 2014 Republican primary for local offices.

  ---THE WHIRLWIND 2013,06-30