Free Republic

A Lubbock state representative has been called up to deploy to the Middle East. Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, will serve as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and "assume a leadership role" in the creation of a new U.S. Navy logistics battalion, according to a statement from his office. Isett is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He will serve as executive officer of a new 445 Navy Reserve Logistics battalion that will operate in several locations in Kuwait and Iraq, according to the statement. The representative will deploy within the "next several weeks" and is expected to spend...

State redistricting feud talk of annual ginners meeting BY MARY JANE SHORT AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The volatile issue of congressional redistricting continued to reverberate in Lubbock, Austin and Albuquerque on Monday, with words of dissatisfaction, defiance and warning. Gov. Rick Perry's persistence in pushing for redistricting was awakening "a sleeping giant" of formerly apathetic voters, Democratic Sen. Royce West said Monday during a news conference in New Mexico. "We are getting a lot of phone calls from people who never wanted to participate who now want to participate. People who have never been involved in the political process are now starting to...

GOP's new map stirs uprising in West Texas By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Many West Texas entities appear to be leading a charge and a public information campaign against congressional redistricting plans before the Legislature. The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce believes the Republican-backed plan would hurt business and representation in West Texas and all of rural Texas. Plains Cotton Growers also is opposed to the plan based on the loss of representation in agriculture and loss of rural representation. State Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, voted against the plan this week because his constituents, Republican and Democrat, were against it and believe...

Small town officials worry about redrawing districts BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Rural Texas lawmakers say they are worried that a map redrawing the state's congressional districts would limit their voice in Congress by lumping small towns with urban and suburban districts that don't understand or appreciate the economic issues of rural areas. "Rural communities are being sliced and diced and dissolved into new districts dominated by big city suburbs," said Rep. John Mabry, a Waco Democrat. Under the map proposed Tuesday by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, McLennan County and its main city of Waco would be...

Redistricting foes bash move GOP-fueled bid sparks outcry at Lubbock hearing By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Some of the harshest remarks at a congressional redistricting hearing Thursday in Lubbock were an attack on the process rather than the boundaries. Speakers at the daylong hearing, one of six across the state, accused Republicans of gerrymandering and wasting tax dollars. Gov. Rick Perry has called a special session on redistricting that will convene Monday. The issue has been hotly contested and led 51 Democratic House members to walk out of the regular session in May, busting a quorum and blocking a vote on...

Local legislators aim to hold ground By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL State Rep. Delwin Jones has participated in redistricting three times in three decades, and he soon will join local legislators in a fight to keep West Texas representation. A special session called for June 30 by Gov. Rick Perry will address congressional redistricting. Jones and Rep. Carl Isett, both Lubbock Republicans, waited in Austin last month as Democrats brought the House to a standstill by holing up for four days in an Ardmore, Okla., hotel to fight redistricting. Redistricting was pushed by state and federal Republicans to increase the number...

Jones, Isett not amused by colleagues' action By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Cheers and applause filled the floor of the Texas House at 5:35 p.m. Monday as legislators cheered the arrival of one more Democrat, No. 92 — but still not enough to produce a quorum of 100 lawmakers. State Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, compared the House chamber on Monday to a high school reunion. "They are having a good time when someone comes in," Jones said. "It has been kind of like a high school reunion. It gets kind of silly. People get up and make announcements. Things that seem...

Legislative plan seeks shake-up of District 19 Texas House proposal aims to boost GOP in Congress By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL With the influence of political gerrymandering in Washington, state legislators are considering drastically altering districts throughout Texas, including District 19, to create more Republicans in Congress. But legislators from Lubbock vow to fight for West Texas representation and keep three U.S. congressmen. Congressional District 19, which now includes Lubbock and 18 other counties, would be drastically altered and would stretch from the border with New Mexico to Jack County — just north of Mineral Wells — almost 300 miles away....

Conaway, Neugebauer in runoff By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Republicans Randy Neuge bauer of Lubbock and Mike Conaway of Midland finished first and second, respectively, in Saturday's race for Congress and will meet in a runoff for the District 19 seat. With all precincts reporting, state Rep. Carl Isett finished third. Neugebauer, 53, is a land developer and took 22.3 percent of the vote. Conaway, 54, is a certified public accountant and received 21.2 percent. Isett, R-Lubbock, won 18.9 percent of the vote, and former Lubbock Mayor David Langston, who switched from the Democratic Party before the campaign to run as...

In the special election to succeed Rep. Larry Combest, R-TX, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, the top 4 candidates, all Republicans, are thus far: 9 p.m. Central Time Randy Neugebauer, 9,835 Mike Conaway, 9,643 Carl Isett, 8,331 -- endorsed by TX Right to Life David Langston, 6,127, former Democrat mayor of Lubbock The counting continues. The top two votegetters will meet in a special election runoff in June.

Neugebauer, Isett lead fund raising By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL In the race to represent District 19 in the U.S. Congress, the top eight campaigns — in terms of fund raising — have raised almost $2 million, according to recent financial disclosures. Campaign strategists — independent ones and those connected to campaigns — have said the seat being vacated by Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, likely would take mid- to upper-six figures to win. So far, five of 17 candidates have campaign funds eclipsing $100,000. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, is the leading fund-raiser with $604,515; however, $150,000 of his total is money he loaned...

There are 17 candidates in the race for Congress but polls show only four have a real shot at winning. Based on the polling data from two campaigns, the front runner is Carl Isett (R). But it's by no means a runaway race. Isett is only a few percentage points above three other candidates vying to replace outgoing congressman Larry Combest. The top candidates in order of last name are Mike Conaway (R) of Midland, Carl Isett of Lubbock, David Langston (R) of Lubbock, and Randy Neugebauer (R) of Lubbock. "I think the real race is for second place. I...

There are 17 candidates in the race for Congress but polls show only four have a real shot at winning. Based on the polling data from two campaigns, the front runner is Carl Isett (R). But it's by no means a runaway race. Isett is only a few percentage points above three other candidates vying to replace outgoing congressman Larry Combest. The top candidates in order of last name are Mike Conaway (R) of Midland, Carl Isett of Lubbock, David Langston (R) of Lubbock, and Randy Neugebauer (R) of Lubbock. "I think the real race is for second place. I...