One big unhappy with Craddick family

A new bipartisan group may have held its inaugural meeting last night at the El Paso Club. Mayor John Cook described it as "citizens against vindictive politics."
Really, it was a fundraiser for incumbent Republican state Rep. Pat Haggerty attended by Republican legislators from across the state, by Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and by a host of locally elected Democrats, including the other four state representatives from El Paso.
Haggerty's campaign staff estimated more than 250 attended the event, where most supporters' speeches had a similar theme: Haggerty is good, Craddick is not.
In a not-so-subtle jab at Haggerty's primary election opponent, state Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, said if voters don't stick with the incumbent, they may get a representative who takes cues from Craddick instead of from people here in El Paso.
"Our primary responsibility is to vote our district, plain and simple," he said.
Republican challenger Dee Margo, chairman and CEO of JDW Insurance, has said he wouldn't be beholden to anyone besides the voters.

Here's a list of the legislators who showed up at Haggerty's fundraiser:
State Rep. Ed Kuempel, R-Seguin
State Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview
State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
State Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless
State Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso
State Rep. Paul Moreno, D-El Paso
State Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso
State Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-El Paso
State Sen. Mike Jackson, R-LaPorte

Comments

[Data411]

Mayor John Cook is supporting State Rep Pat Haggerty? Isn't Cook's son in law seeking the Democratic nomination for the same seat?

[El Paso Observer]

Grissom's story doesn't say that Mayor Cook is supporting Haggerty, only that he described the meeting -- accurately -- as "citizens against vindictive politics."

[Data411]

If the Mayor or anyone attends a fundraiser... what does that mean... that you support the person.... DUHHHH.

[Richard]

Looks like a list of the same old tired cronnies protecting their own. We need NEW Blood!

[Patrick M]

Richard you're an idiot. If you've read anything about the last session, you'd know that those who attended are there for sake of Texas (as well as EP). Texas Speaker, Tom Craddick has his claws out and aimed at Haggerty. His interest is to keep one of the few men with the cahones large enough to stand up against him in Austin from getting another term.

Those "cronies" are the people who represent El Paso!! and they support Haggerty. Do you suggest that we elect someone who will be unliked and shunned in Austin by other Representatives from our own area. That's just stupid.

This party proves that Mr. Haggerty has impressed his peers in both El Paso and across the state by performing his duties and performing them well. He's a vital piece to Texas politics which is good for us.