Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Challengers to Texas House Republicans (Part II)



In this post, we’ll look at the challengers in Texas House districts 55, 59, 60, 64, 71, 72, and 83. The incumbents, challengers, and biographical information about the challengers are listed in the table below: 

District
Incumbent
Challenger
Residence
Occupation
Web Site
Issue Positions
District Map
55
Ralph Sheffield
Molly S. White
Belton
Pro-life Activist
59
J.D. Sheffield
Danny Pelton
Stephenville
Businessman


Howard Ray
Rochelle
Gun Instructor
60
Jim Keffer
Cullen Crisp
Granbury
Businessman
64
Myra Crownover
Read King
Denton


71
Susan King
Issac M. Castro
Hamlin
Businessman, Lawyer
72
Drew Darby
Shannon Thomason
Big Spring
Corporate Pilot
83
Charles Perry
Steve Massengale
Lubbock
Businessman

The districts are located in Central Texas, North Texas, and West Texas. Of the seven challengers, only one had sought a Texas House nomination previously. Issac M. Castro won the Republican primary election in Texas House District 85 in 2008 but lost the general election with 46.62 percent of the vote.

One of the challengers, Read King, offers little information about his positions on issues. Shannon Thomason has some information on Facebook but no campaign Web site. Six challengers provide information on their issue positions on their Web sites, which are linked in the table above.  
Among the seven challengers, Danny Pelton, a former Republican County Chairman in Erath County, has the best opportunity to defeat an incumbent. With three candidates seeking the nomination, a runoff primary is a distinct possibility, which enhances a challenger’s chances against an incumbent.

I’m anxious to see the campaign contribution reports for these candidates when they’re reported.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Challengers to Texas House Republicans (Part I)



In this post, we’ll look at the challengers in Texas House districts 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, and 18. The incumbents, challengers, and biographical information about the challengers are listed in the table below:

District
Incumbent
Challenger
Residence
Occupation
Web Site
Issue Positions
District Map
1
George Lavender
Gary VanDeaver
New Boston
Boston ISD Superintendent

4
Lance Gooden
Stuart Spitzer
Kaufman
Physician
6
Matt Schaeffer
Skip Ogle
Tyler
Businessman
8
Byron Cook
Bobby Vickery
Frost
Businessman

District Map
11
Travis Clardy
Tony Sevilla
Alto
Businessman
District Map
12
Kyle Kacal
Timothy Delasandro
Bryan
Registered Nurse
District Map
18
John Otto
Terry Holcomb
Coldspring
No  Information
District Map

Most of the districts are located in East Texas. Of the seven challengers, four had sought a Texas House nomination in the previous electoral cycle. Stuart Spitzer came close to winning with 45.56 percent of the vote in the 2012 Republican primary election for HD 4, losing by only 1332 votes. Bobby Vickery lost to Byron Cook in 2012, garnering 38 percent of the vote. In district 11, Tony Sevilla was third, winning only 6.57 percent of the vote in the first primary in 2012. Timothy Delasandro was fourth in a six-person contest in 2012, receiving 12.25 percent of the vote in the first primary in 2012.

Two of the challengers, Gary VanDeaver and Bobby Vickery, provide little information about their positions on issues. Both candidates have more information on Facebook but provide little information on their positions on issues. The other five challengers provide information on their issue positions on their Web sites, which are linked in the table above.
  
Among the seven challengers, Stuart Spitzer appears to be the candidate who has the greatest chance of defeating an incumbent. His Web site is extremely well done, and his performance in the 2012 Republican primary was very good.

I’m anxious to see the campaign contribution reports for these candidates when they’re reported.