Group holed up in Ardmore, OK (Texas Democrat FUGITIVES Located!! Paper and STATE want reader help!)

Austin American-Statesman ^ | May 12, 2003

[Timesink]

 

Group holed up in Ardmore, OK

 MORE ON THIS STORY

 

Reps. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, top, and Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, make calls from the Capitol on Monday as a Democratic boycott stopped business in the House.

Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Related stories:

• Group holed up in Ardmore, OK
• House walkout reverberates in Washington
• Plan took cunning, secrecy and overnight bags
• Capitol abuzz with comparisons to 'Killer Bees' walkout
• What people are saying about Democrats' House walkout
• New Mexico attorney general not hot on looking for missing Texas legislators
• Democrat files suit to block redistricting
• From our archives: 'Killer Bees' made political history

Related information:

• List of the missing Democrats
• Statement from the missing Democrats
• Form letter to House official to lock voting machines
• Texas Department of Public Safety requests help
• House rule requires quorum-busters to be arrested

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 LOOKING FOR LEGISLATORS

 

Tip line

Let our State desk know if you have seen any of the missing Democratic legislators today. Send your name and phone number with who, when and where you saw them. Email us at news@statesman.com or call 512-445-3613.

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AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, May 12, 2003

At least one group of Texas House Democrats are believed to be staying at a hotel in the Oklahoma town of Ardmore, according to a source familiar with the plans and logistics.

The Texas Department of Safety has been searching most of the day for more than 50 legislators who refused to show up for work at the Capitol Monday. Without at least 100 members, the House cannot conduct business.

The group was protesting a redistricting bill that would end the Democratic majority in the state's U.S. House delegation.

An angry Republican Gov. Rick Perry visited the House floor early in the evening as members remained under a "call" that prohibited them from leaving the chamber as the search continued for the missing members.

 

[Timesink]

Information for the News Media
Public Information Office
(512) 424-2080

May 12, 2003

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DPS seeks help from public in locating missing legislators

 

The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking the public for assistance in locating 53 Texas legislators who have disappeared. Anyone who has information regarding the current whereabouts of the legislators listed below is asked to call 1-800-525-5555.

Under the Texas Constitution, the majority of members present in session in the House can vote to compel the presence of enough members to make a quorum. Members of the House did so this morning and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House and the DPS to locate the absent members and bring them back to Austin.

DPS troopers and investigators are searching for the absent legislators.

Here are the names of the Texas legislators reported to be absent:

• Roberto Alonzo, Dallas
• Kevin Bailey, Houston
• Lon Burnam, Fort Worth
• Gabi Canales, Alice
• Jaime Capelo Jr., Corpus Christi
• Joaquin Castro, San Antonio
• Garnet Coleman, Houston
• Robert L. "Robby" Cook III, Eagle Lake
• Yvonne Davis, Duncanville
• Joseph "Joe" Deshotel, Houston
• Dawnna M. Dukes, Austin
• Jim Dunnam, Waco
• Harold V. Dutton Jr., Houston
• Craig Eiland, Galveston
• Dan Ellis, Livingston
• Juan Escobar, Kingsville
• Jessica Farrar, Houston
• David Farabee, Wichita Falls
• Pete P. Gallego, Alpine
• Timoteo "Timo" Garza, Eagle Pass
• Ryan A. Guillen, Rio Grande City
• Scott Hochberg, Houston
• Terri Hodge, Dallas
• Mark S. Homer, Paris
• Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, Jacksonville
• Jesse W. Jones, Dallas
• James E. "Pete" Laney, Hale Center
• Ruth Jones McClendon, San Antonio
• Jim McReynolds, Lufkin
• John Mabry, Waco
• Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio
• Jose Menendez, San Antonio
• Joe E. Moreno, Houston
• Paul C. Moreno, El Paso
• Elliot Naishtat, Austin
• Richard J. "Rick" Noriega, Houston
• Rene O. Oliveira, Brownsville
• Dora F. Olivo, Rosenberg
• Aaron Pena, Edinburg
• Joseph C. "Joe" Pickett, El Paso
• Robert R. Puente, San Antonio
• Inocente "Chente" Quintanilla, Tornillo
• Richard E. Raymond, Laredo
• Allan B. Ritter, Nederland
• Eddie Rodriguez, Austin
• Patrick M. Rose, Dripping Springs
• Jim Solis, Harlingen
• Barry B. Telford, Dekalb
• Senfronia Thompson, Houston
• Carlos I. Uresti, San Antonio
• Michael U. "Mike" Villarreal, San Antonio
• Miguel D. "Mike" Wise, Weslaco
• Steven D. "Steve" Wolens, Dallas

[MEG33]

We need extradition !

[P.O.E.]

If only we can get the Dems in the US Senate to stay away, too.

[firewalk]

bttt

[Arkinsaw]

I'm sure that all the crime and highway accidents have been put on hold in Texas while all these pouting babies pull their little stunt and have Texas DPS officers pulled away from duty to look for their sorry butts.

[Churchjack]

Don't call the Statesman! From your lips to the Dem's ears~~call the DPS or the Rangers!

[Newbomb Turk]

Dereliction Of Duty ! The Govenor should call an emergency session. Declare them all kidnapped by terrorists and appoint their replacements on the spot.

[CyberAnt]

This is the most hysterically funny thing I have heard in months; aside from Ted Kennedy whining about the repubs using his brother's tax cut statements for their commercials.

I hope they find some of these dudes and arrest them and drag them back to work. What a bunch of babies!

[fightu4it]

In the real world if you don't show up for work you get fired.

But when did these bastards ever live in the real world ?

[freedumb2003]

I'm from Kalifornia.

Are DPS officers armed and can they use those arms to interrupt a crime in progress? Seems like not working on purpose is a crime of theft of public property, to wit, the time that the taxpayers have paid for.

[dalebert]

Texas Politics. Talk about not wanting to do the right thing. Dems are going off the deep end.

[rllngrk33]

I hope the state of Texas send each of these DemocRAT scumbags a bill for all of the time and money wasted by the Rangers chasing their sorry asses down.

[George W. Bush]

Report them as missing under suspicious circumstances to the FBI and Homeland Defense. They can track them quickly enough. They are sworn state officers, missing from their regular duties. Therefore, they cannot object to using official means to determine their whereabouts.

[Arkinsaw]

Are DPS officers armed and can they use those arms to interrupt a crime in progress? Seems like not working on purpose is a crime of theft of public property, to wit, the time that the taxpayers have paid for.

DPS officers are the equivalent of State Troopers in other States. They just have a fancier name. You don't screw around with them.

[freedumb2003]

see my post #11.

Crime in progress -- a lawman's gotta do what a lawman's gotta do!

[MEG33]

Ever hear of "One riot ,one Ranger?"

[freedumb2003]

I absolutely believe it!

[DallasMike]

Rep. Steve Wolens is the husband of Dallas mayor Laura Miller.

[G-Bear]

Most places I've worked, if you don't show up or call in for three days, they consider that the same as quitting.

Can the governor appoint replacements until the next scheduled election?