The Carneys Land Dual Gigs

Political consultant Dave Carney — the longtime brains behind previous Rick Perry’s campaign operations — and his wife have new clients.

LaPolitics, a Louisiana-based political news site, reported on Tuesday that Jay Dardenne, the state’s lieutenant governor who is contemplating a run for governor, has hired Carney as campaign manager.

In addition, the site reported that Dardenne has hired Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, which has counted Ted Cruz, among other Texas politicians, as a client.

The site quoted Dardenne senior consultant George Kennedy as saying of the new hires, “They’re our stable of studs.”

Meanwhile, a U.S. News & World Report story on former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina’s increased presence in New Hampshire noted the hire of Carney’s wife, Lauren, as state director for Fiorina’s UP political action committee.

The UP stands for “Unlocking Potential,” according to the story.

The PAC is focusing efforts in six states, including New Hampshire and Iowa, leading to speculation that Fiorina is weighing a run for the White House in 2016.

The magazine quotes former Mitt Romney adviser Jim Merrill as saying, "I don't think it's a coincidence that one of the states is New Hampshire with a high-profile person like Lauren Carney."

*****

Leticia Van de Putte repeated this week that she will not be a candidate for San Antonio mayor. Widely reckoned the most popular politician in San Antonio, the Democratic state senator has been rumored as a mayoral candidate should she lose her bid for lieutenant governor in the fall.

Needless to say, she would be a formidable candidate, and her entry would upset the plans of others, including state Rep. Mike Villarreal, who has already said he plans to run for mayor.

Following the departure of Julián Castro for a cabinet post in the Obama administration, the city is under a caretaker mayor who will not run in the next election.

“Under no circumstance will I be running for mayor of San Antonio,” Van de Putte told the San Antonio Express-News. “I will be in the Senate come January 2015.”

*****

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Weatherford, is contemplating a run for a House leadership position. The Hill reported that Williams, who was elected to Congress in 2012, is looking at challenging Oregon Republican Greg Walden for the leadership of the National Republican Congressional Committee after the fall elections.

According to The Hill, Williams won’t have the blessing of the leadership should he try to knock off Walden.

“House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Williams told him of his plans, and Boehner made it clear he would back Walden at a House leadership meeting, a leadership aide tells The Hill.

“Walden told reporters on Tuesday that he ‘fully intend[s] to seek reelection’ as NRCC chairman after this election.”

*****

South Plains institution Delwin Jones said this week that he plans to run for the state Senate seat vacated by Robert Duncan.

If he ends up pulling the trigger on a run for the SD-28 seat, Jones would be getting a rematch against Charles Perry, who ended Jones’ tenure as HD-83 representative in 2010.

Perry was the first to publicly announce for the seat, which came open after Duncan was tapped to become the next chancellor at Texas Tech. Perry formally kicked off his candidacy this week with an event at a Lubbock steakhouse.

Former George W. Bush aide Jodey Arrington is also in the mix for the Senate seat. He issued a statement on the day of Perry’s announcement, saying, “We welcome all candidates and look forward to a serious discussion over who can provide the strongest leadership for ALL of West Texas and deliver results on the critical issues like strengthening our border laws and securing our future water needs.”

Others looking at entering the race include Tech Regent John Steinmetz, Lubbock City Councilman Todd Klein, former Sweetwater Mayor Greg Wortham and Wolfforth resident Eppie Garza.

*****

Former President George W. Bush let it be known this week that he has completed a biography of his father, former President George H.W. Bush.