HD 146: Al Edwards Claims He’s Running Again Because Of Redistricting

In 2006, Al Edwards (D-Houston), one of Speaker Tom Craddick’s lieutenants, was defeated in the Democratic Primary Runoff by Borris Miles (D-Houston).

Edwards is now pulling a Talmadge Heflin and running for his seat again, this time saying he’s running because of (hold on to your hats, people) redistricting.

Never mind that Edwards failed to do anything substantial to block the 2003 mid-decade Congressional Redistricting package forced through the Legislature by Tom DeLay. That, and he voted with the GOP majority on a tax plan that was a disaster and for an amendment banning gay marriage which, while largely symbolic, angered a large group of constituents in his area.

Here is a little tidbit from Edwards’ Press release:

I am running for State Representative of District 146 again because I understand that redistricting will have a dramatic event on all of us. I know we need a strong Democrat to keep a Republican from controlling District 146. I want to help save and preserve TSU, Texas History more importantly Emancipation-JUNETEENTH and all of Texas culture. I am that unbiased individual who is willing to fight for the betterment of all citizens, especially for the improvement of our educational system. I have strived to reduce taxes and to protect every citizen form being abused by the eminent domain law. I am a strong supporter for the growth and development of the businesses in District 146.

If you are done laughing yet, let’s consider a few things about what Edwards says. First and foremost, Legislators from Houston have done a pretty damned good job advocating for and saving TSU without Edwards help, in particular Rep. Garnet Coleman, Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Rep. Borris Miles, Senator Rodney Ellis and Speaker Pro Tem Ron Wilson have helped in this department. It’s not like TSU is going to collapse without Edwards in the legislature.

Then, Edwards says he wants “save and preserve” Texas history and Juneteenth. Last time I checked, there was nobody in the Texas Legislature stupid enough to propose that the holiday of Juneteenth be knocked off the calender. Second, Edwards darned well ought to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Juneteenth. Why? Edwards is intimating that the emancipation/Juneteenth memorial on the Capitol Grounds has somehow been delayed since he is out of office.

News flash: It was delayed because one of the statues bore a strange resemblance to Al Edwards himself:

BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS CLASH OVER JUNETEENTH STATE CAPITOL MONUMENT
Dukes says one of the statues looks like Edwards

A member of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus tried to block funding for a planned Juneteenth Memorial Monument at the State Capitol because, she said, one of the sculpted figures looks like a caucus colleague.

During an House Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday, Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin) offered a rider to the budget that would stop any state funds going to monuments depicting a living person currently serving as an elected official. She later withdrew the rider.

Dukes’ target was Rep. Al Edwards (D-Houston), who has, during a lengthy legislative career, carried legislation setting up both the Juneteenth State Holiday and the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission.

“For years people have been tiptoeing around this for fear of offending African Americans or Al Edwards,” Dukes said. “But the fact is that the face on the ‘law maker’ character on the monument is that of Al Edwards. There’s no ifs, and, or buts about it.”

Click here for a picture of the monument, and here for a conceptual picture of where the monument would be located on the Capitol grounds.

So yeah. Perhaps Al Edwards shouldn’t go digging that up.

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