The Takeover Class of 2002…3 Sessions Later
Part 1
Its been better than five years since the takeover class of 2002 was sworn into office and ushered in a new era in Texas politics. At 36 members strong (counting Debbie Riddle), the class represented a drastic turnover not often seen in the Texas House that was aided by both a change in Texas’ political landscape and a redistricting year that created open seats and opportunities to run against vunerable incumbents. With 27 Republicans and just 9 Democrats, probably the mark left by the class of 2002 that separates it from the classes before it was what it accomplished that others couldn’t, electing a Republican majority to the state’s lower chamber for the first time since reconstruction.
We find ourselves five years further down the road, a frame of time that has taken its toll on the historic class of ‘02. Many are still around, though several have fallen from the ranks. Within that class, potential statewide leaders have emerged, and the mask has been pulled off some political shams as well. So join me as we take a look back, relive some of the memories, and examine where they are today, how high some have climbed and how far others have fallen.
Counting the results of the 2008 primary, 14 members from this class have left (or will leave) the Texas House, though not all were voted out by their constituency. Tragicly, in 2006 Glenda Dawson passed away after a botched routine surgical procedure, and Glen Hegar served two terms in the lower chamber before getting elected to the State Senate to replace the retiring Ken Armbrister. After two terms of butting heads with leadership on public school finance and seeing his role in that area decreased despite his professional credentials, Bob Griggs opted to retire after the 79th Legislature rather than come back for a 3rd headache.
The last of the bunch to leave the House without being forcibly sent home, Todd Baxter. Baxter, of course, was the first Republican since the Civil War to win a seat on the Travis County Commissioners Court, which made it fitting that he was also a part of the Republican takeover to the Texas House. After two full and six special sessions, Baxter opted to trade in his lawmaker status for a top lobby spot, which is where he is today. A lot of people think that Baxter read the writing on the wall and got out while the getting was good, and that may be true. But love him or hate him you have to admit that if there were ever the Republican in Travis County to draw the line in the sand in 2006, it was Baxter and his accomplished approach on the campaign trail.
The remaining 8 on our exit list wound up falling short in the ballot box. Both Republican Ken Mercer and Democrat John Mabry benefited from weak ‘02 general election opponents and won in districts that probably should have gone the other way. Each, however, was promptly retired the next time out in 2004 when their respective districts’ base got their acts together and nominated candidates to flip the seats back to the rightful party. Ken Mercer did, however, rebound and win a seat on the State Board of Education that he currently still holds.
Both Martha Wong and Bill Keffer were swept in with the Republican high tide of 2002 and then swept right back out to sea with the low tide of 2006. Present day does find Bill Keffer back in the running for his old seat, currently held by Alan Vaught. Their rematch is expected to be at the top of legislative races to watch this fall. Jack Stick pulled a one and done when in 2004 he found himself too distracted planning his future run for Attorney General to realize that he had a race for re-election on his hands. His seat probably shouldn’t have been lost, but also being the accomplished campaigner, Mark Strama was right there to exploit the opening. And dare I say, the better man won? I dare.
Scott Campbell also fell to the mighty after the personal indescretions of his first term finally caught up with him while running for a 3rd. To be fair to the departed, Campbell did straighten up his act during his second term and do all that he could to prove his worth. But in the end it was too little too late. Like Campbell, Carter Casteel found herself only a member for 2 short terms, and also was replaced by an inner party skirmish. But in her case, she crossed the powerful checkbook of Dr. James Leininger when she denounced his voucher plan on the House Floor and aided in its defeat during the 79th. She did, however, get her revenge this last time out by playing a part in the defeat of the man recruited by Dr. Leininger to thump her, Nathan Macias.
The most recent of the ‘02 class to get voted out was Corbin Van Arsdale, who fell in this recent primary. Well on his way to a brilliant political career, you could argue that Van Arsdale had the best committee assignments of his classmates, with seat on Appropriations, Calendars, and State Affairs at the time of his defeat. However, Van Arsdale’s future was sealed the moment he crossed Dan Patrick by refusing to endorse him in his ‘06 Senate Race, a reasonable decision given that Patrick was running in a crowded primary that included 2 of Van Arsdale’s colleagues in the House. Patrick could have let bygones be bygones after his victory, but instead he recruited Alan Fletcher to move into the district, and while on the air he would not shut up about how great Alan was and how horrible Corbin continued to be. In the end, Fletcher won a close one, but dare I say the lesser man prevailed? I dare.
And finally, just as with any group of 36 people, the class of ‘02 had its black sheep as well. Gabi Canales won her seat and then was promptly retired by the voters after a string of controversy that included a DUI arrest and rumors of misuse of her office. Timoteo Garza also only lasted one term after he lost his ‘04 rematch with Tracy O. King. If you’re looking for Garza today, be sure you have his inmate number handy, because he was convicted and locked up for his part in exploiting and stealing from the Kickapoo Indian Casino.
That gives you a look at the members of the ‘02 takeover class that no longer call the Texas House their political home. Stay tuned for part 2, when we examine those that are still hanging around.