The Brief: January 4, 2010

THE BIG CONVERSATION

As we approach today’s filing deadline, there are — to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld — known knowns. We also know there are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns; the ones we don't know we don't know.

With the start of 2010 behind us, the time for speculating has come to an end. Candidates must file by the end-of-business today if they want to be in the running for the March 2 primary.

For the most part, we know who those candidates are – or, at least, who we expect them to be.

Our Ross Ramsey writes, “What we know so far: This ballot will have a fireworks show at the top, with contested and well-financed gubernatorial primaries on both sides, between Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Debra Medina for the Republicans and Farouk Shami and Bill White for the Democrats. A couple of statewide Democratic races will be competitive, but with incumbents seeking reelection on the Republican side, there's little action there.”

Former AFL-CIO executive vice-president Linda Chavez-Thompson is expected to be among today’s last minute filers.  She’s going after the lieutenant governorship.  Her fellow Democrats, Former Travis County DA Ronnie Earle and Austin deli owner Marc Katz, have already filed.  Incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is currently the only one going after his job on the Republican ballot.

Democratic blog Burnt Orange Report expects Ted Ankrum to file with the Texas Democratic Party today to challenge U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin. BOR’s Matt Glazer writes, “Ankrum ran in 2006 and kept McCaul to just 55.28% of the vote but only garnered 40.4% of the vote himself.  He spent less than $75,000 total in his race but gains have been minimal over the last 4 years.”

Of course, who knows what else will happen today.  Until the doors close this evening — to paraphrase Kevin Garnett — anything is possible.

CULLED:

• U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is hitting the ground running in 2010.  Today she will make appearances in Midland, Abilene, and San Angelo.  She will be discussing her plans for transportation and education in Texas.

• State Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, has drawn a primary challenger.  Former Avinger mayor David Simpson says he’s in the running because he doesn’t believe Merritt represents the conservative values of his district.  Merritt told the Longview News-Journal, "Seniority counts for a lot in the Texas Legislature and I think the people of East Texas would be better served by having an experienced legislator representing them."

• Several new laws are in effect as of Jan. 1 — including the 11 constitutional amendments passed in November.  Here’s just a sampling from the El Paso Times’ Zahira Torres:

• Teenagers will no longer be able to saunter into a salon and get a tan without written approval from their parents.
• The state comptroller's office for the first time will begin a top-to-bottom review of every appraisal district in Texas.
• First-time or transferring college students, who want to live on campus, will first have to get vaccinated for bacterial meningitis.
• A new Texas law requires landlords, upon request from a tenant, to install smoke detectors that alert hearing-impaired people to a fire.

“This is utterly disgusting. This is, however, politics as usual.” — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Felix Alvarado expressing frustration on his blog.

MUST READ:

• Ballot box will reshape Texas — Houston Chronicle

• When Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison quits, expect a chain reaction — The Dallas Morning News

• Latino candidates awaiting right time — San Antonio Express-News

• The List: Top Ten Texas races of 2010 — Texas on the Potomac

• State to review food stamp application process — The Brownsville Herald

• No Country For Health Care, Part 1: Far From Care — The Texas Tribune

• Uninsured motorists plague state — Lubbock Avalanche-Journal