Mowery Resignation, Likely Special Election Will Only Be The First Of Many In Larger GOP Strategy

This week’s announcement by Rep. Anna Mowery (R-Fort Worth) that she will resign early rather than retire at the end of her term is somewhat surprising, given most felt Mowery would hang on to the bitter end. But, it will likely be only the first of many “early resignations” by legislators who have indicated–publicly or privately–that they won’t seek re-election.

Texas Governor Rick Perry has 20 days to call a special election in Mowery’s district. I fully expect him to do so. And her HD 97 seat probably won’t be the only one before the November general election–which is presently only a constitutional amendment election in most jurisdictions. Rumors continue to swirl that Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo) will retire too, triggering yet another special election.

Before we get down to who is planning on a run in Mowery’s district (which is not totally unreachable by a Democrat, given she won by only 56 percent in one of the reddest counties in America in 2006), let’s consider why this seems to have become a Republican strategy of choice in previous cycles.

For one thing, in somewhat-better-than-marginal districts like Mowery’s, and in far-to-the-right districts, early resignations of Republicans easily enables candidates chosen by the right-wing GOP establishment to get a leg up and, of course, a much easier chance of winning.  It also gives the opposition a more difficult time, especially when it comes to Democrats.

In addition, the special election format where numerous candidates from all parties can file allows Republicans to be able to ensure that third-party and Democratic straw candidates enter the races to help ensure runoffs in especially tight districts. It also allows Republicans to take advantage of especially large fields by defining all but the most ultra-conservative of Republicans as too liberal.

Now, on to those candidates in the HD 97 race:

Mowery first won the District 97 seat in a special election in 1988, after state Rep. Bob Leonard resigned to become a lobbyist.

Leonard announced Tuesday that he is a candidate to reclaim his seat in the Texas House. He has received the endorsements of Mark Mowery and Fort Worth Councilman Chuck Silcox, who had been considering entering the race.

Anna Mowery will not endorse a candidate, Mark Mowery said.

More than 10 other candidates have signaled in recent months that they are considering a run for Mowery’s seat, including, among Republicans, Fort Worth school board member Chris Hatch, former Fort Worth Councilman Clyde Picht and Fort Worth lawyer Robert Higgins, who unsuccessfully challenged Mowery in the 2006 primary.

Democrat Dan Barrett, a Fort Worth lawyer who opposed Mowery in the general election in 2006, has said he is considering pursuing the seat again.

Could be a very interesting field.

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