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| Jackson Lee challenged by Jarvis Johnson |
| 2010-01-06 |
| Houston's flamboyant, long-serving Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee faces a late-breaking challenge for the Democratic congressional nomination from Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson in Texas' March 2 primary. The high-profile showdown developed this afternoon as Johnson filed paperwork with Texas Democratic Party to join the primary ballot to confront the eight-term Houston Democrat, herself a former member of the Houston City Council. "Leadership should be chosen by their examples of delivering meaningful services to their communities," Johnson said in a statement. "We're going to have a frank discussion on who's capable of bringing and creating good paying jobs for the people of the district, who can spark genuine economic development and who can provide leadership to marshal resources to help eliminate the dropout rate." Jackson Lee had no immediate comment on Johnson's challenge. The race is bound to revive fissures within the African American community created by the 2008 presidential primary battle between then-Sen. Hillary Clinton and then-Sen. Barack Obama. Jackson Lee was a stalwart Clinton supporter in the New York Democrat's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination last year and even appeared on stage with her when she eventually pulled out of the race. Johnson was an Obama supporter. Jackson Lee, a graduate of Yale University and University of Virginia law school, appears frequently on televised coverage of House proceedings delivering one-minute speeches and debating legislation working its way through the Democratically-controlled House. She also has prided herself on being a "bring-home-the-bacon" kind of lawmaker, fighting to obtain federal funding for programs that target Houston. Latest Federal Election Commission filings showed Jackson Lee with $451,444 cash on hand as of Sept. 30, 2009 -- the most recent report. Three Republicans also have filed to face the winner of the Democratic congressional primary between Jackson Lee and Johnson -- Brenda Page, Tex Christopher and John Faulk. The primary contest in Texas' 18th Congressional District promised to dominate the early phases of the 2010 mid-term congressional election in Texas. Most of the state's other 31 House members -- including six of the nine lawmakers representing the greater Houston area -- faced uncontested races in the March primaries en route to the midterm congressional elections in November, according to candidate filings on hand late Monday. Candidates had until 6 p.m. CST Monday to file last minute paperwork with respective state party officials to obtain a place on the ballot in the March primary and the November election. In addition to the Jackson Lee-Johnson intraparty contest in Houston, two Republicans faced challenges from within. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, who has amassed a re-election war chest of more than $2 million, faced a challenge in the GOP primary from four Republicans who have filed paperwork with GOP state officials -- business consultant Tim Graney, teacher Jeff Cherry, industrial supervisor Gerald Wall and school district administrator John Gay. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, whose congressional district stretches to the northwestern suburbs of Houston, faces a primary challenge mounted by Republican Joe Petronis, a Vanderbilt University MBA who worked for management consultant Deloitte Consulting before joining Dell Computer Corp. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 “She also has prided herself on being a "bring-home-the-bacon" kind of lawmaker…” Oh yeah, she listens to the concerns of her constituents all right. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2010-01-06 11:29 |
| #1 Jackson Lee, a graduate of Yale University and University of Virginia law school Yet, The Congressional bonehead award goes to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) who, on a visit to JPL, asked if Mars Pathfinder had taken an image of the flag planted there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong! Quipped Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) to the Washington Times: "We just don't teach enough science." Worse, Jackson Lee, who represents Houston, is a member of the House Science Committee's space subcommittee. Perhaps some committee reassignments are in order... |
| Posted by: Beavis 2010-01-06 08:56 |