Posted on 12/19/2003 7:39:59 AM PST by Theodore R.
Remap pits Democrat against pal
SAN ANTONIO — They were buddies as Texas House freshmen in 1987. But lately, there's bad blood.
One wants the other's job.
Ciro Rodriguez, 57, of San Antonio went on to Congress in 1997.
Henry Cuellar, 48, of Laredo stayed in the House. But he endorsed Republican Gov. George W. Bush for president in 2000. And on Jan. 2, 2001, he became secretary of state, the first appointee of Republican Gov. Rick Perry, another 1980s House buddy when Perry was still a Democrat.
Rodriguez, a devout Democrat, remained friends with Cuellar. He welcomed him back into the Democratic fold when Cuellar quit as secretary of state less than a year into the job.
Cuellar at the time talked about seeking his former House seat, which had been taken over by Democrat Richard Raymond.
Instead, Cuellar decided to run in 2002 against Republican Congressman Henry Bonilla of San Antonio, whose District 23 included Laredo. Rodriguez campaigned for Cuellar and helped him raise money. Cuellar lost with 47.2 percent of the vote.
But a new Republican-drawn congressional map puts half of Webb County and half of Laredo in Rodriguez's district. It also makes Bonilla's district more Republican. Cuellar had a decision to make.
"I decided to run against Ciro," Cuellar said, adding that he hopes to be a congressional member who understands the border area and the rural areas of the district, which runs from eastern Hays County to the Texas-Mexico border.
Running against an incumbent Democrat, even one who helped him last year, shouldn't be shocking, Cuellar said, particularly in South Texas, where most political battles are settled in the Democratic primary.
"Nobody died and made him king," Cuellar said. "Democrats run against Democrats all the time, and that's what it's all about."
Laredo Mayor Betty Flores is backing Rodriguez. Some other Laredo politicians aren't fond of Cuellar, particularly Democratic state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, who attended fund-raisers for Bonilla last year.
However, Cuellar enjoys backing from Bexar County Commissioner Robert Tejeda, a cousin of the late Frank Tejeda, who held the congressional seat before dying of cancer.
Rodriguez's brother, Sergio "Chico" Rodriguez, is running against Commissioner Tejeda as he did four years ago.
There are few issues between Cuellar and Rodriguez, although Cuellar criticizes Rodriguez for voting against the recent Medicare bill, which Rodriguez called a devastating "giveaway to pharmaceuticals." Cuellar said he would have tried to amend it.
The fight between the Democrats could be cut short if the new maps are thrown out, either by the U.S. Department of Justice or a three-judge panel considering legal challenges to the plan.
Cuellar thinks the new districts will stand. IIf not, he still wants to be a border congressman, and would run again for Bonilla's seat.
"That is my intent," Cuellar said.
Dave McNeely's column appears Thursdays. Contact him at (512) 445-3644 or dmcneely@statesman.com.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.