Pair Of Unflattering Editorials For GOP Candidates

It’s pretty common for newspapers to say unflattering things about candidates they don’t endorse in endorsement editorials. But, slamming the people you do endorse is a new one on me.

But, evidently not to the EdBoards at the Fort Worth Star Telegram and Dallas Morning News. Both papers had more negative than positive to say about GOP candidates they endorsed this week.

First, the Star Telegram. In its endorsement of Anna Mowery in HD 97, the ed board had this to say:

Anna Mowery has been winning elections since 1988 as the state representative for District 97 — a prosperous, predominantly Anglo jurisdiction that includes much of southwest Fort Worth as well as Benbrook and Edgecliff Village.

Although Mowery has represented the conservative, heavily Republican district for more than 17 years and faced only limited political opposition, her performance in Austin has been disappointing.

She has been only a marginally effective representative who hasn’t assumed a leadership role commensurate with her nearly two decades of service.

As chairwoman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee, she backed legislation in 2005 that would have imposed excessively burdensome restrictions on long-established annexation powers of cities. Fortunately, the legislation failed.

Mowery also drew justifiable criticism in November when she said that her constituents believe that the Fort Worth school district doesn’t deserve state funding as a result of a construction-billing scandal that robbed the district’s bond program of an estimated $10 million to $15 million.

Her careless, exaggerated comments, vaguely attributed to “my constituents,” did nothing to help a district whose officials have been working hard to rebound from the scandal that sent three men to prison.

Still, voters in the March 7 Republican Party primary should choose Mowery, 75, over challenger Robert Higgins, 33, who has a law firm and an advertising agency.

“Dissapointing,” “Marginally Effective,” “Careless,” but vote for her, by allmeans, the FWST says.

In endorsing Don Willett for Texas Suprme Court, the DMN hammered on both candidates qualifications:

Neither Don Willett nor Steve Smith boasts a résumé with the kind of applicable experience that we’d like to see for someone competing to serve on Texas’ Supreme Court.

Before Gov. Rick Perry appointed Mr. Willett to the court in August, the 39-year-old had worked three years for a big firm, then almost a decade as a policy aide for George W. Bush in Austin and Washington. The 44-year-old Mr. Smith has been a solo practitioner, legislative counsel and conservative legal activist.

But of the two, Mr. Willett deserves the nomination. The Austin resident has a strong public policy background. And his life story – the son of a single-mom waitress, he went to school on scholarships – should help him look at cases fairly.

Sure. Sons of single moms should look at cases more fairly. Unless they’re Republicans. Then, they forget they grew up disadvantaged and only worry about the rich and hyper-religious.

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