Alvarado Calls Out CCCT’s Editorial Page Editor

This has been making its way around the listservs this week, but I haven’t seen it blogged, and I thought it was high time this got some more attention. Earlier this month, the Corpus Christi Caller Times ran a column by Editorial Page Editor Nick Jiminez entitled, “Lo, how the once mighty Democrats have fallen.” In particular, Jiminez intimated that the candidates Democrats are fielding this cycle—particularly in the Lt. Governor’s race—aren’t the best that our party can do and that we’re (the party and the candidates) on a fool’s errand of sorts heading into November.

Maria Louisa Alvarado, a candidate for Lt. Governor, has sent a response to the CCCT, which has been making its way around the listservs this week. But, before I discuss her response, let’s first look at what Jiminez had to say:

Maria Luisa Alvarado, Adrian De Leon and Benjamin Z. Grant, who are all running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, are all committed and serious about their candidacies. Alvarado, of Austin, a retired Air National Guard master sergeant who has never before run for any office, says her campaign theme, “One Texas for All,” reflects her goal of involving disenfranchised voters.

Grant, of Marshall, has said he wants to give people a choice. DeLeon, of Carrizo Springs, says he doesn’t have $10 million for a campaign, but he does have “$10 million ideas.”

There’s no reason to doubt his sincerity. Or the sincerity of any of the three candidates.

One of the three will represent the Democratic Party on the ballot against David Dewhurst, the incumbent lieutenant governor. Anything can happen, but it would take a “Rocky”-type miracle for any of them to take the gavel of what many consider the most powerful office in the Legislature. And even Rocky lost in the end.

No shortage of commitment

It’s not that any of these three Democrats lack earnestness. It’s just that earnestness isn’t enough. There is, to begin with, the matter of beating Dewhurst, who has been one of the best financed candidates in either party for several elections.

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Then, there is the matter, if lightning should strike, of actually doing the job of lieutenant governor. The only one of the three who has come close to that kind of legislative experience is Grant, who is a former legislator and former appellate court judge.

That’s why he received the Editorial Board’s endorsement. The job of lieutenant governor has been held by some of the major policy-makers in Texas political history. That includes the late Bob Bullock, Bill Hobby and Rick Perry. Perry is one of several lieutenant governors who have gone on to be governor. It is one of the most powerful offices in state government.

The lieutenant governor is the presiding officer of the Senate and, as such, appoints the committees and their chairpersons. The officeholder sits on the Legislative Budget Board among several powerful bodies.

My hats are off to Alvarado, Grant and De Leon for taking on such challenge as running for this statewide office. But I’ve got to ask: Is this the best the Democratic Party can do? It’s hard to believe that the party of Lyndon B. Johnson and Sam Rayburn could entice no weightier candidates than three unknowns to run for one of the really high-profile offices in Texas. This is not a matter of unhappiness with Dewhurst. Dewhurst has emerged as one of the real statesmen in state government. He has learned his craft the old fashioned way, by doing the grunt work to learn policy, first, as land commissioner, and now as lieutenant governor.

While I’m sure every Democrat in Texas would love to see high-profile names like “Sandlin,” “Sharp,” “Lyon,” “Sanchez,” or “Mauro,” on a statewide election ballot this cycle, the fact is that there are not any.

For whatever reason, these folks are sitting this one out, and the men and women who are running for office are the ones who have stepped up to the plate to defend the democratic ideals our party has fought for in Texas for decades. Furthermore, “is this the best that the Democratic Party has to offer?” It’s a matter of opinion, sure, that’s why it ended up on the Op/Ed page of the Caller times.

For what it’s worth, however, I would remind Democrats that it’s the “unknowns” who sometimes become the men and women who shape our state.

Coke Stevenson was an unknown banker before he entered a legendary career as a public servant. Ann Richards was a relatively unknown political activist and ex-school teacher when she first entered public life in Travis County. Barbara Jordan was a relative unknown before she entered political life and, after working on the Kennedy campaign and two failing races for Texas House, won a seat in the Texas Senate.

Although Ben Grant probably doesn’t qualify as an “unknown,” though the CCCT seems to think he is, the point I’m trying to make is that you have to start somewhere. For candidates like Alvarado, if you believe what you have to offer suits a particular race, than that is where you dedicate your talent and efforts.

Those who have talent, knowledge and energy to offer—regardless of what race they are running in and whether or not they have held public office—are the best Texas has to offer. Texas was founded by people who had such knowledge, energy, and talent and decided to channel it toward making our state better. The CCCT went on to note:

Democrats used to nurture such candidates, mentoring coming stars through local posts to a down-ballot statewide office and then to the governor’s post. That’s the path former governor Ann Richards took. Texas needs a Democratic Party that can field candidates who are viable and knowledgeable because it brings greater accountability to government. That was the argument that Texas Republicans pushed when they were out in the wilderness, and they were right. Politicians being human, I’m sure Republicans would prefer a house-trained Democratic Party. But Texans who want responsive government should want a strong loyal opposition.

I’ve got news for you, Mr. Jiminez: Texas HAS a Democratic Party like that. Last cycle, we gained in seats for the first time in decades.

We’ve got people like Hubert Vo, Mark Strama, Donna Howard etc., all who came from local political activity or local elected positions to hold higher office. We have Democrats on city councils, school boards and commissioners courts throughout the state.

We have a farm club. It’s been rebuilding itself for several years to the point those people are major players in state and congressional races across the Lone Star State. Not everyone, however, has to take that path. Look at the Republicans: George W. Bush had never been part of the “GOP Farm Club,” before he ran for Texas governor.

Tony Sanchez never held office before he ran for Governor; neither did Victor Morales before he gave Phill Gramm a run for his money almost a decade ago. It’s all about who you are, and what you bring to the table as a candidate. Maria Alvarado had this to say about the CCCT column:

The people of Texas, particularly the readership of the Corpus Christi Caller Times, deserve a response to a seemingly rhetorical question about Democratic candidates running for statewide office: “Is this the best the Democratic Party can do?” The Democratic Party supports individuals with a purpose, desire, and conviction to run for elected office. Given such an individual, you will not find him or her running as an Independent or eventually flip-flop out of the idea of running altogether. The Democratic Party consists mostly of individuals that are aware of what candidates must endure in order to earn the privilege to serve all their constituents. This is likely true for the readership of all the printed media outlets. As printed in the Caller Times, “Probably one of the most effective eras of state government was when George W. Bush, a Republican, was governor and Bullock, a Democrat, was lieutenant governor. These were two heavyweights who knew their stuff, were true to their political beliefs, but worked to a greater end.” Since George W. Bush was elected for Governor without ever holding office, this provides an historical fact that even first-time officeholders can have a short learning curve. Although some might agree that Bush was “effective given true political beliefs,” in retrospect perhaps he might have been more effective if he had heeded the common sense of the people. As for the statement that, “Dewhurst has emerged as one of the real statesmen in state government. He has learned his craft the old fashioned way, by doing the grunt work to learn policy, first, as land commissioner, and now as lieutenant governor.” – There is credence to suggest that previous experience of holding office does not equate to effective leadership in a higher elected office. After four years and three special sessions in the legislature, and a court order to legally fund public education, Mr. Dewhurst’s record is hardly one convincing of successful leadership. There may be in the fantasies of some first-time or long shot candidates that any media entity would endorse him or her. However, in the hearts and minds of candidates with their feet on the ground and their hearts in the right place, the surest endorsement is that of the person that just shook your hand and said, “You’ve got my vote.”

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