Ten Things I Think

Below are a few random thoughts from the week. The format is inspired by Sports Illustrated NFL writer Peter King’s “Ten Things I think I think” in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.

Only six thoughts for this week; I guess I need to think more.


1) I think Rep. Richard Raymond will go into a runoff with former Webb County Judge Mercurio Martinez for the House District 42 seat. Raymond got 49.84% of the vote and is right now wishing that they rounded up in elections. Martinez came in with 32.29%, more than 4,000 votes below Raymond. We will now wait to see if Raymond can convince the majority of the people in Laredo who voted against him Tuesday and think he shouldn’t return to Austin that they are wrong. Can you say “nasty election?”


2) I think Rep. Glen Hager looks to be in good shape for the Senate District 18 seat that the retiring Sen. Ken Armbrister is leaving. Hager won the Republican primary with almost as many votes (19,934 out of 36,295) as were cast for both candidates seeking the Democratic nomination combined (21,221). Looks like that two-thirds rule in the Senate is about to become awfully important.


3) I think Rep. Carter Casteel is still determining her course of action after a close loss to Nathan Macias in House District 73, while Rep. Charlie Geren in Tarrant County is feeling vindicated that he fended off another well-funded candidate who received plenty of money from Dr. James Leininger of San Antonio. If you were confused about their feelings towards Dr. Leininger, a few quotes from a Dallas Morning News story should put those to rest.

Casteel said it is “sad for our future if one person can actually buy an election in Texas,” while Geren added that his win “sends the message to Dr. Leininger that District 99 is not for sale. The people up here did not want me to whore for him.”

A question for Ms. Casteel: Does this mean that in an election where a candidate has 100 contributors, that those 100 contributors bought the election? Or as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy put it during oral arguments before the Court on February 28 in a campaign contribution limits case: "Let's . . . simply accept the proposition that money buys access. It's a common-sense conclusion. I tend to think that money does buy access. But what follows from that? Isn't the answer that voters can see what's going on and throw the incumbents out?"

And for Mr. Geren: Are the people of District 99 comfortable with you whoring for anyone?

Don’t feel too badly for them, though. They are “enormously popular in the House.” Granted this appears on the Dallas Morning News website in the same story with a link titled “School finance just got tougher,” which goes on to explain that most all elected officials involved now appear forced to find a solution. And I always thought that deadlines made compromise easier.


4) I think Austin City Councilman Brewster McCracken is starting to think he is Robert Moses resurrected.

Who cares about city politics you say? Usually, I would agree with that. However, the City Council recently adopted interim development regulations for some new single-family residential construction and remodels for homes in subdivisions that that were established before drainage regulations were changed in 1974 to better handle flooding and water runoff. For all of you non-city planners that basically means older Austin neighborhoods closer into town.

Why are they doing this? Are you familiar with the term “McMansion”? Well, several Austin homeowners are and they don’t like them. Ever driven through that old neighborhood and seen the house that just doesn’t seem to fit either because of its size or its style? Many longtime Austin residents don’t appreciate the new homes (some because of aesthetics and some because it means their appraisal and property taxes increase) and have sought resolution through the City Council. After all, if you live in Austin, you turn to government for help. Some of the opponents argue that the new or remodeled, larger homes have water usage that is taxing the older drainage systems.

The Council has appointed a task force to study the issue and make recommendations for a permanent ordinance to be adopted this summer. Funny thing is that they didn’t put a drainage expert or two on the task force. Interesting.

Ok, so what’s the connection to state politics and why should you care about this? Remember Governor Rick Perry’s proposal to limit the rate of increase in home appraisals? This seems like the perfect answer to this problem, right? At least it would address the issue of suddenly higher taxes when someone has done nothing directly to alter the value of his home.

Maybe some opportunistic politician or candidate will seize the issue. Or some enterprising young attorney may devise some kind of just compensation claim. I have heard of crazier legal theories. Someone needs to do something to remind these people that economic growth and private property rights are a good thing.


5a) I think Robert Samuelson is great when it comes to economics but doesn’t know as much about diplomacy and politics. The esteemed economics columnist for The Washington Post, wrote on Wednesday that the United States should build a wall along our border with Mexico. Like a true economist, he makes several rational arguments in favor of the move.

5b) I think the Dubai Ports World deal being scrutinized by Congress could affect the public’s eagerness for politicians to address illegal immigration next.


6) I think I would have liked to have seen Dennis Prager’s column given as a speech at the Academy Awards. It couldn’t hurt. What are people going to do, stop seeing movies? Oh, you mean that’s already happening?

6b) I think Peggy Noonan wrote something this week on the same topic. See the last two paragraphs especially.

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Finally, one note on my March 9 column: Tarrant County had problems calculating votes, so the numbers I mentioned for the Grusendorf-Patrick race were wrong. Patrick still won by the same percentage, but the numbers were originally double counted. So my theory about Grusendorf not having a high enough maximum turnout was wrong. His turnout was below his previous primary totals in the district. His problem was that he simply got beat.

Have a great weekend!


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