{Charles} Stenholm, D-TX, to Zero in on {House} District 19

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 01-12-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Stenholm to zero in on District 19 Candidates across Texas file for congressional seats

AUSTIN (AP) — It's getting going all over again for candidates seeking Texas congressional seats.

A new filing period to enter the March 9 Republican and Democrat ic congressional primaries opened Sunday, now that a federal court has approved a GOP-pushed redistricting plan. The filing period runs through Friday.

Technically, candidates could start filing their paperwork and fees Sunday. But the state offices of both major parties planned to be closed over the weekend and open for regular business hours today.

Among the areas up for grabs is the 19th District, which now contains Abilene, as well as Lubbock.

Under the new map, U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, an Abilene Democrat who has served in Congress since 1979, likely will face U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock.

Stenholm's Abilene home rests in the 19th District, which is currently represented by Neugebauer, a freshman.

Stenholm could not be reached Sunday. However, according to a news release from his office, he will announce Tuesday his intention to seek the District 19 seat. Appearances are scheduled for 10 a.m. in Abilene and 3 p.m. at the Merket Alumni Center in Lubbock.

Stenholm also could have elected to run in the 13th District, where his farmland lies. He would have faced U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon. Neugebauer, a land developer and former member of the Lubbock City Council, filed Dec. 16 for the District 19 seat. He said Sunday that he had to amend the filing Friday because of redistricting requirements.

"We've said from the get-go that we're a candidate for the United States Congress for the 19th District and have taken steps to do that and are looking forward to the race and looking forward to another term," Neugebauer said.

"There's plenty of time for the campaign. What we're primarily focusing on is the 108th Congress session that's going to start in a week. We're fully focused on getting back to D.C. and working on issues important to the people of West Texas," Neugebauer said.

Stenholm and Neugebauer both hold seats on the House Agriculture Committee.

Texas Tech professor emeritus Richard "Chip" Peterson announced Thursday that he will run as a Libertarian for the 19th District seat.

Candidates or their surrogates can file their documents in person or by mail.

"We are well-prepared for the extended filing period because this is the scenario that we envisioned all along. And we are excited about the opportunity to give the people of Texas the very best congressional candidates to choose from in the Republican primary," said Ted Royer, Republican Party of Texas spokesman.

In a monthlong filing period that ended Jan. 2, candidates for Congress had to file under previous court-drawn districts because a federal court had not yet signed off on the GOP map. The previous districts gave Democrats a 17-15 edge in the Texas congressional delegation, until one member switched to the Republican Party a week ago and evened the divide to 16-16.

It's estimated the new districts could give the GOP as many as 22 seats in the delegation.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved new districts during a special session in October after months of partisan bickering and two out-of-state walkouts staged by Democrats to try to block redistricting bills. Democrats claimed a Republican "power grab" waged from Washington, D.C., by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was behind the redistricting effort.

DeLay and other Republicans have said they wanted more GOP seats from Texas to reflect the state's conservative voting trends.

Democrats and minority groups challenged the legality of the GOP-drawn districts in court, but a three-judge federal panel sided with the Republican map Tuesday.

Opponents of the map are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court and are attempting to have the previous districts reinstated.

"This case is not over. We are appealing it to the United States Supreme Court, but until that decision we plan to follow the wishes of the district court," said Sean Byrne, Texas Democratic Party spokesman.

"We remain hopeful that the United States Supreme Court will see the error in this decision and put a halt to this confusing and frustrating process that the Republican power grab has caused," he said.

Last week, some candidates began announcing where they will run under the new map. More are expected to reveal their plans this week.

Among those pondering their political future is veteran U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Arlington, who will announce this week which district he will run in now that his longtime Dallas-Fort Worth area district has been dismantled. He said he was considering several North Texas districts.

(The Avalanche-Journal contributed to this report.)

Previous

[Theodore R.]

During the redistricting controversy, State Senator Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, tried to prevent a Stenholm-Neugebauer showdown. Could Senator Duncan have known something? Is Lubbock likely to give a large (though still minority) share of its vote to the popular Stenholm?

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[Theodore R.]

Why do you think a freshman congressman who has thus far served only six months can defeat an entrenched Democrat who has been in office since the days of GA Jimmy Carter? Stenholm is better known in Dist. 19 than is Neugebauer, the current holder of the office, is he not?

[JohnnyZ]

Why do you think a freshman congressman who has thus far served only six months can defeat an entrenched Democrat who has been in office since the days of GA Jimmy Carter?

As pointed out, Stenholm only got 52% in 2002 in his old district which he had been representing forever. Now he has to deal with lots of new voters who probably know of him but haven't ever benefitted from constituent service and whatnot. As a (new, admittedly) incumbent, Neugebauer avoids a primary and has a fundraising advantage that a Stenholm challenger wouldn't. I say 55-45.

[deport]

The new District 19 has slightly less than 10% more blacks/hispanics now but voted Republican by some 69% weighted statewide in 2002 and a little over 60% in the Lt. Gov. race in 2002.

So if they hold to that pattern then Charlie will have a tough go of it.... Both have incumbency if it's worth anything in a new district.....

[JohnnyZ]

and a little over 60% in the Lt. Gov. race in 2002

That's the key number applicable to this race, I think, because it was against a popular white Democrat favored to be elected.

[rhinohunter]

U.S. Rep. Martin Frost ... said he was considering several North Texas districts.

LOL!!! LOL!!!! Hey Marty, maybe you could run in the rat primary against EBJ! LOL!!! LOL!!!!

NA NA NA NA ... NA NA NA NA ... HEY HEY HEY ... GOO-OOD BYE!!