Now Isn’t That Special?

In an exercise in total futility, Texas Governor Rick Perry today called a special election in two Texas legislative districts and Tom DeLay’s old house district—for November 7.

His motives in calling the special election in Congressional District 22 are no doubt purely political—but could backfire badly. The reason for the special elections in the other district (Vilma Luna’s vacated HD 33 and Frank Madla’s vacated SD 19) was simply to create a cover scent to hide the rank odor of partisanship seeping from the election called in CD 22.

What’s all this boil down to?

In HD 33 and SD 19, it boils down to the equivelant of a warm pitcher of John Nance Garner’s piss. Both of those elections have no real isses that would merit a special election at this late date. HD 33 pairs two non-incumbents in the race for Luna’s seat, and it’s a safe Democratic district. In SD 19, Carlos Uresti will win in November and there is simply no point for a special, either.

Down in CD-22, however, you have the One True Annointed Replacement Player running as a write-in against Nick Lampson and a Libertarian. Lampson and Sekula-Gibbs (Mrs. One True Annointed herself) have already said they’ll file for the special election. No word on if Smither, the Libertarian will, but if a filing fee is involved, that will no doubt put a dent in his already small campaign account.

While Perry probably thinks the special election will benefit Sekula-Gibbs, I think it will hurt her. And, I’m not alone in my thinking, either.

Already, voters in CD-22 will be voting in the most confusing, highly publicized election in the nation. Those who want to write in Sekula-Gibbs name and will actually bother to do so are the same diehards who won’t be confused by the fact that a write in also appears on the ballot in a different spot.

Other Republican voters, however, may see Sekula-Gibbs and Lampson in a special election race and think they’ve cast their vote and don’t need to write her in. After all, most of the time when a special election is called, it is actually one that matters.

Of course, Perry previously said he would call no election in CD-22. However, after Scalia bitch slapped Tom DeLay and the Republicans, he changed his tune and called one in the 59th minute of the eleventh hour. Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt justified the decision:

“Because there were a lot of maneuverings in the court on the Delay question on what could happen with that election, that had to play out then we reviewed all the legal requirements and options,” said Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt.

Since Perry had until May to do something that would have quelled the longest congressional vacancy in Texas history, it sounds more like Walt is really just saying, “we simply couldn’t decide if we needed to shit or get off the pot.”

Legal requirements and maneuverings meant nothing a few months ago, though, when Perry, Walt & Company dismissed the idea of a special election.

I’m sure, however, that Tina Fish Benkiser, GOP Chairwoman, whispered some sweet nothings in Governor Perry’s ear and he decided to call the election. After all, with Sekula-Gibbs name actually appearing on the ballot for something, she might get a bit more dough.

The stupid thing about this entire saga, though, is that it could result in more December runoffs in three districts that would cost taxpayers thousands of dollars and be totally meaningless. Say, for example, neither candidate in HD 33 decides to fool with the special election (and, honestly, who could blame them?) and five or six Joe Blow’s run, resulting in a runoff in December for a steat they will then hold from a few days before Christmas (if results are canvassed that quickly) until the Lege reconvenes in January. What’s the point?