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Story last updated at 4:20 a.m. Sunday, August 27, 2006 Candidates log West Texas miles in race for House seat BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Across 15,104 square miles, House District 85 covers 16 counties and a population of more than 145,000 West Texans. It's 275 miles from the district's northern point to its southern. Reaching the edges of Abilene with its borders a few miles from Lubbock's and San Angelo's outskirts, the district's most metropolitan centers are Plainview and Big Spring. The two candidates looking to replace retiring state Rep. Pete Laney, D-Hale Center, have burned a path between...

Redistricting effects could be short-lived Texas may not have heard last of ousted Democrats AUSTIN (AP) — Republicans control the state's congressional delegation for the first time in modern history, but the freshly elected lawmakers might not have time to get too comfortable. In fact, they could wind up campaigning in new districts in two years, or even sooner. Redistricting shake-ups Freshman members of Congress elected Tuesday: • Louie Gohmert, Republican. • Ted Poe, Republican • Mike McCaul, Republican • Mike Conaway, Republican • Kenny Marchant, Republican • Al Green, Democrat • Henry Cuellar, Democrat Democrats ousted under new map:...

Redistricting decision jostles candidates, voters BY SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court's decision sending Texas redistricting back to a lower court has created the possibility that the U.S. House members chosen by voters this election may have to run in an entirely different district in two years. Voters are choosing their U.S. representatives according to a map designed by the 2003 Legislature. The map, which replaced districts drawn by a federal court in 2001, has been highly controversial. The Supreme Court on Monday put a big question mark on the map's future when it told...

Abilene Democrat adds pop to message in visit to Tech campus BY KATIE HEPBURN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm is wise to a valuable piece of knowledge in his bid for District 19's congressional seat: the most influencing incentive for college students typically involves food. And so his campaign aides distributed a bounty of frozen ice pops Thursday at Texas Tech's free speech area, nestled between the Student Union and library, as the Abilene Democrat fielded questions from passing students. In addition, a table was positioned in the free speech area's pavilion where volunteers helped interested students register to vote...

Stenholm to attend Plainview fiesta U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, will be in Plainview on Sunday for Fiesta Campesina, a festival celebrating and honoring the hard work of laborers. The fiesta will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Broadway Park on the south side of Plainview. The free event will have Mexican food, ice cream, traditional Latino music and polka dancing. U.S. Reps. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, and Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, will join Stenholm to speak about education, family values and rural needs. The music group "Elida Reyna y su groupo Avante" and other local bands will provide...

Neugebauer, Stenholm agree to face off in series of three debates this autumn BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL U.S Reps. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, have agreed to three debates in the fall. The freshman Republican is facing the 25-year Democratic veteran in the District 19 congressional race in November. The only caveat Stenholm issued is that he sees no need to stop at just three debates, said Robert Hinkle, Stenholm's campaign communications director. "We want to debate those three times, plus 10 more times, 20 more times," Hinkle said. The three proposed dates for the debates are...

Cheney plans local stop for Neugebauer BY JOHN REYNOLDS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Vice President Dick Cheney will come to the Hub City next month to stump for U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, Lubbock County's Republican Party chairman said Monday. Cheney's vis it has been tentatively set for June 11, Robert Pratt said. A venue for the fund-raiser has not yet been agreed upon. "I'm so humbled and flattered," Neugebauer said. "It shows the strong support we have from the White House." Cheney's appearance will mark the second time he has campaigned in the Lubbock Republican's district in six months. Cheney attended a Neugebauer...