Tales Told Out of Lunch ... and a Dog Show

Nice little weekend to recap with some highlights that hit the local political scene. Friday was our regular progressive blogger luncheon with special guests erstwhile State Rep. Melissa Noriega and Harris County Party Chairman, Gerry Birnberg. It was my first time to meet Melissa and it was good to see her take the time to spend with all involved.

Of note, it appears we have a contest on our hands with State Rep. District 126 with Democrat Chad Khan taking on Patricia Harless. Tough district to be sure, but there's room to maximize our vote on the southern side of that district in particular that will go a ways towards helping the countywide candidates a good deal. Houston Attorney Kevin Parker is looking at challenging in the GOP primary.

I'm told the quest for a candidate in the even more uphill SD7 is ongoing and active. There's also a bit of chaos and confusion going on in the race for Congressional District 7. SD17 has a bit of a waiting game involving "Let's all wait and see if Kyle Janek retires or not." Sen. Janek had previously complained of lost income from his practice as an anesthesiologist due to time spent in the lege. Oddly enough, Kristen Mack reports on the odd rumor of Janek being a potential primary challenger to Tom DeLay. Even odder is the mention of Robert Talton being a fallback challenger. There's not a lot that makes sense there. My hunch is that some GOP operative who sees past DeLay is getting a bit ahead of themselves. Should Janek move on one way or the other, I believe the entire free world is anticipating Martha Wong running for the GOP nomination there.

David Murff had been doing some legwork for the race and by every account I've got intends to put a lot of effort - and even some dough - into the race to start showing some gains in the district. Then comes along an email mentioning Jim Hensley (an award winning debate coach at Lanier Middle School) looking at the same race. I did meet Hensley briefly at the Braeswood Democrats' Dog Show yesterday. No disrespect intended, but advantage Murff. I'd just as soon see Hensley make another race.

Word has previously gone out that Kristi Thibaut (fresh from her award winning turn at the Braeswood Democrats Dog Show) will be making the race for our side in State Rep. District 133. But a few more names have come out on the GOP side. Mike Schofield, a former assistant general counsel to Gov. Perry, is one of them. Schofield represents the "Recruited by the state party to move back to Houston and claim the 133rd as his home" wing of the Republican Party. Schofield is already announced. Barbara Larson, former Spring Branch ISD Trustee is another name mentioned. I'll be curious to see how fast SBISD's treatment of trustees who work as consultants profiting from the very school board they serve becomes an issue. Jim Murphy, Exec. Director of the Westchase District has long been mentioned as a likely candidate. I've also heard that Rick Plezia will make another run for it. One source has John "the" Devine making this race as well. Oh Lord, please give us an opponent like that!

Through all of those rumors, I'm a bit surprised that there's been no mention of a GOP contestant against Scott Hochberg in District 137. Who knows, maybe the local GOP have learned their lesson. Then again, there's been no mention of a candidate running against Hubert Vo either. I'd expect that situation, if no other, to change.

Sunday's Braeswood event was well attended, with more dogs than you can shake a stick at ... if you feel so inclined to shake a stick at a dog. Funny seeing State Rep. Al Edwards there for the early portion of the gig. He must have bolted by the time Borris Miles got there. All the candidates present got a bit of speech time in the early extra innings of the Astros game and Al was nowhere to be seen. From this point forward, I'd like to note all the party events that Al Edwards has made it out to that he never used to in the past. Pressure must be getting to the poor guy. Good, I say.

Cheers to the sound guy who kept some of us enlightened on the Astros game while the PA system was otherwise occupied.

Jeers for the award committee (which included pretty much every candidate who was present) for not giving Elvis the Basset Hound an award.