Democratic HD 78 candidate feels slighted

UTEP biology professor Louis Irwin and El Paso County assistant district attorney Joe Moody (he doesn't have a site yet or I'd link to it) have pretty much been on the sidelines for most of this primary election season. They are vying for the Democratic nod in House District 78, where Republicans Pat Haggerty and Dee Margo are bashing it out for the GOP vote.
Irwin issued a press release this weekend about what he perceives as a "systematic pattern of misinformation" about his campaign.

IRWIN IGNORED, SLIGHTED BY MISINFORMATION IN HD78 PRIMARY

Louis Irwin, Democratic candidate for Texas House district 78, expressed confidence today that he will win his primary race against Joseph Moody, “despite a systematic pattern of misinformation” which has plagued his campaign.

Irwin claims he has missed forum announcements, voters’ guides, and endorsement opportunities because of an incorrect phone number disseminated originally by the Newspaper Tree, an online news outlet it El Paso, which claims it got the number from El Paso Democratic Party headquarters. The phone number for Irwin listed on the local party web page is correct, however.

Irwin’s home number is also publicly listed in the El Paso phone book.

“Furthermore,” according to Irwin, “my web page with contact information has been posted since December, and a simple google search of my name returns hundreds of entries.”

Irwin is also unhappy about the endorsement of his opponent by the El Paso Times, “without the courtesy of an interview.”

“Of course I respect the freedom of the press to endorse any candidate, but to do so without being interviewed seems lazy, at best. If my opponent was interviewed though I wasn’t, it raises a question of fairness. If my opponent wasn’t interviewed but was endorsed anyway, that’s even more troubling.”

While Joseph Moody is the son of a prominent local judge, Irwin rejects the notion that either Moody is responsible for the slights. “I assume they are honest mistakes, but it does make you a little paranoid when it goes on week after week.”

Update: Prof. Irwin sent out this apology e-mail Monday night:

To: npt@epmediagroup.com
Thank you for updating your online Voters' Guide to include information concerning me and my candidacy for Texas House district 78 in the Democratic Primary.  It did not appear in the printed and previous online versions only because I did not receive the questionnaire from you, due to the incorrect transcription of my phone number, which I am sure was accidental.
I have missed or almost missed a number of other campaign opportunities similar to this episode, and because npt is the only party known to me to have an incorrect phone number for me, I stated in a press release on 2/24/08 that you had "disseminated" the incorrect number to others. But in fact I have certain knowledge of only one other party that got the wrong number from you.  Thus, my language was overly broad and I apologize for the poor word choice.
> Louis Irwin
> Democratic Candidate for Texas HD78

 

Comments

[keenobserver]

House District 78 is the most winnable state rep seat in the state for a Democrat. If Pat Haggerty is not the winner of the Republican Primary, watch for the whole Democratic wallet to be emptied. Then Dee Margo will be known as "D" Margo because his rhetoric is past tense and fading fast. If El Paso Republicans want to hold the seat, they'd best side against Margo and his Austin allies and elect a moderate like Haggerty. That slobbering sound you're hearing is Democrats salivating over the chance to take that seat, which will be so much easier with Margo to go after.

[Patrick M]

HERE HERE!!!! Keenobserver couldn't be more on target!!!

[westsidereader.com]

Interesting. Very interesting.

Grissom posts an email from Irwin meant to clarify the facts... at the time of his press release. But, Grissom won't post the article published on Westsidereader.com with respect to Irwin's press release; nor, the published article in Westsidereader.com about the strange facts concerning how both the El Paso Times and Newspaper Tree ended up ignoring Irwin and supporting Moody.

[westsidereader.com]

For complete coverage of HD 78; including interviews, endorsements and media underhanded drama...
http://westsidereader.valleypublishinginc.biz/08/pg/01/wr_080201_district78start.php

We will keep you posted.