Senator Shapleigh will not seek re-election

[sonias]

AAS 10/16/09
Shapleigh will not seek re-election

By Mike Ward | Friday, October 16, 2009, 11:09 AM

State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, an outspoken El Paso Democrat who championed health care, education and border programs as a constant legislative voice for average working Texans, is set to announce later today he will not seek re-election.

According to a statement just released from his office, Shapleigh — who has held the District 29 seat since 1997 — will announce his decision at a noon press conference in El Paso.

"In our family, public service is the highest calling. While other public service may lie ahead, I will not run for the Texas Senate in 2010," Shapleigh said in the brief statement.

I'm stunned. I really, really like Shapleigh.

Sonia

[PDittie]

1. Here's hoping he's

planning a run for lt. governor

[sonias]

2. I's support him in a run for statewide office

He's someone who doesn't have to fake his speech with Latinos either. He speaks perfect Spanish.



Sonia

[sonias]

3. Shapleigh won't seek re-election

El Paso Times 10/17/09
Shapleigh won't seek re-election
(snip
The senator has been one of the most vocal critics of Republican leaders in the state.

He has repeatedly blamed Gov. Rick Perry for Texas' struggles in public education and health care. He even released a book outlining his opinions on how Perry and other republicans have hurt the state.

He said politicians such as Perry have served the privileged instead of the middle-class and the poor.

Friday, he reiterated his call for change but was careful not to make an announcement about any bid for public office in 2010.

Shapleigh would not say whether he was considering running for governor or lieutenant governor. He also would not deny either suggestion.

Still no concrete news on a run for higher office but at least he didn't rule it out.

Contenders for the Senate seat, a safe bet for the Democrats:

Quorum Reports says this:
"Speculation immediately settled on three names, state Reps. Norma Chavez, Joe Pickett and El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez."

Burka says
"My El Paso source says that Chavez is definitely running and that Dee Margo wants to run. There will be blood."

Margo is a Republican who ran against Shapleigh last election.

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Other lawmakers possible successors for Eliot Shapleigh's state Senate seat

El Paso Times 10/17/09
Potential Democratic candidates include County Attorney José Rodríguez and state Reps. Joe Pickett and Norma Chávez.

Two Republicans, businessman Dee Margo and former state Rep. Pat Haggerty, also said they were interested in succeeding Shapleigh.

(snip)
Soon after Shapleigh's noontime news conference in which he announced his decision to step down, Chávez said she would form an exploratory committee for the Senate seat.

(snip)
Hours later, Rodríguez announced that he was forming his own exploratory committee.

(snip)

Democrats interested in Shapleigh's seat said another contender could be Carlos Flores, an El Paso Independent School District trustee. Flores, though, would say only that Shapleigh's departure would be a significant loss for El Paso.

Mayor John Cook said he probably would not seek the Senate seat.

Margo and Haggerty as Republicans are wasting their time. But we better have a good candidate. Someone Shapleigh can get behind.

Sonia

[NoPasaran]

5. Here's hoping that Shapleigh runs for Lt Guv

Let's face it, we badly need a credible candidate there... Marc Katz needs to stick to making sandwiches.

Supposedly there is bad blood between Norma Chavez and Joe Pickett. Of course, there is certainly ill feeling between Margo and Haggerty, so it could be a real bloody primary on both sides. Plenty of work for political consultants, plenty entertaining for everyone else.

[sonias]

6. I want a bloody primary on the Rs side not ours

I have no idea who the locals prefer from the Democratic contenders, but I hope they don't get bloodied too much. We need to take this seat and hit the ground running. Shapleigh was not a quite mouse in the Senate - the person who wins this seat has got to be able to take some punches and dish them out as well.

Sonia

[sonias]

7. Pickett is out

AAS Postcards from the Lege blog 10/20/09
Pickett: No state Senate run

State Rep. Joe Pickett, the El Paso Democrat who has been mentioned as a possible successor to retiring state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, said tonight he will not run for the seat.

That leaves several others in the field of "possible" candidates, including State Rep. Norma Chavez and judge Richard Barajas.

In a statement released a short time ago, Pickett ruled out a Senate race, citing his clout as chairman of the House Transportation Committee:

"I am incredibly grateful and appreciative for all the support and encouragement I have received over the past few days. I received phone calls from numerous legislators on both the House and Senate side, as well as calls from constituents, friends, and family urging me to strongly consider running for the open Senate seat.

more at link above

Sonia