Posted on 02/03/2005 2:47:41 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry's pick for secretary of state, Roger Williams, was easily backed by the Senate Nominations Committee on Wednesday as he emphasized the need to not only turn out more Texans to vote but bring them more jobs.
His nomination, endorsed 6-0 by the committee with one member absent, heads to the full Senate.
While Williams said no task is more important than administering elections, he said his role also is to be the state's "chief business officer."
"I will take Texas to America and ensure everyone knows Texas is the best place in America to do business, without a doubt," said Williams, whose business posts include serving as chairman of Roger Williams Auto Mall in Weatherford and Vestry Financial Corp. in Fort Worth. "We will bring home jobs and investments to every part of this great state."
Besides serving as chief elections officer and heading the office that receives business filings, the secretary of state is the governor's liaison for border and Mexico affairs.
Williams said he'll "explore every avenue to help colonia residents have access to basic services. This is as much an economic development issue as is bringing new businesses to this state."
He said the appointment of Brownsville native Buddy Garcia as assistant secretary of state shows the commitment of Perry and the secretary of state's office to the border.
When Williams was named last year, a Democratic spokesman questioned whether Texans would be comfortable with a "political fund-raiser overseeing the sanctity of elections."
Williams headed national grassroots fund-raising for Bush-Cheney '04 and raised funds for Perry and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
The lone Democrat at Wednesday's hearing, Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville, expressed confidence in Williams.
Williams told the panel that his father was a Republican and his mother a Democrat. He said what's important isn't party, but that "we are all Texans fighting for the same cause, that being a better Texas."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pfikac@express-news.net
Maybe we should threaten to kill them if they go to the polls and dip their finger in purple ink!
Texas SOS Ping!
SoS might have been less confusing that SOS, which means "HELP!".
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.