texas influencers
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Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r sAbout the author
W. Gardner Selby is editor of the Austin American-Statesman’s PolitiFact Texas, the first state-level version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact truth-testing project, created by the St. Petersburg Times. He’s been around Texas politics since boyhood and has written about state government and politics since the early 1980s.
30 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010
Rick PerryNever-beaten, governor for life?
Mike ToomeyLobbyist, presumed frequent adviser to pal Perry
Dan PatrickRadio stations’ owner, talk show host and state senator who exacts sway while speaking up on what’s askew
James HuffinesBanker, quiet adviser to Perry and other top officeholders
Bill HammondPresident, Texas Association of Business, former Texas House member
Susan CombsState comptroller, former state representative; seeks third term in wake of nudging Formula 1 racing to contemplate Texas
Joe StrausSurprise House speaker, so relaxed some forget he overtook predecessor in 2009, partly thanks to House Democrats
David DewhurstLieutenant governor, capable of self-funding 2010 re-election bid, maybe races to come
Deirdre DelisiChair, Texas Transportation Commission, former Perry chief of staff and a campaign manager, bolstered by political consultant-husband, Ted Delisi (they’re rearing twins)
Dave CarneyHonorary Texan; New Hampshire-rooted consultant to Gov. Rick Perry, once worked for White House (ahem)
Matt AngleWashington, director, Texas Democratic Trust political committee, master strategist for Dems yearning for statewide resurgence
Lisa BlueDallas lawyer-philanthropist, widow to John Edwards’ confidante Fred Baron, pivotal funder of Dem groups including trust
Tommy TownsendExecutive director, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
John Eddie WilliamsHouston lawyer, mega-donor, among state-retained attorneys in tobacco case of 1990’s
Bill WhiteFormer Houston mayor, gubernatorial nominee
Karl-Thomas MusselmanPublisher, Burnt Orange Report, made it a must-see blog
Leland BeattyAustin consultant, strategist, maybe visionary
Dan McClungHouston consultant, remembers when (and why) Texas Democrats won statewide races
Ron KirkU.S. trade representative, Obama adviser in 2008 Texas primary, former Dallas mayor, lost ’02 Senate race to John Cornyn; little seen, but many, connections
Becky MoellerPresident, Texas AFL-CIO, poked Perry for living in taxpayer-funded suburban digs by offering trailer near the Capitol; what else does she have in store?
Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s
The Top 10 Republicans
The Top 10 Democrats
The breakdown that follows of the 50 most influ-ential Republican and Democratic figures in Texas politics and government is imperfect, limited by the
unreality that seeps in whenever anyone purports to take in Texas in one slurpy gulp.
Can’t. Be. Done.Still, it was a pleasure to try.This approach is my own, though it draws partly on pri-
vate suggestions from members of the state’s power-political intelligencia, their own lists understandably marked with cross-hatches and disagreements.
In the end, I resisted the inclusion of too many officehold-ers as well as many lively partisans who ably carry out plans
and ideas rather than hatch them. I also tabled my initial in-clination to focus on 20 super-significant GOP players and around 10 Democratic counterparts—a take arguably justi-fied by the uneven, pro-Republican results of jockeying at the Texas Capitol in recent years, but one failing to account for hot speculation within both parties that changes in pow-er and politics are on the way. Such changes will play out, in my view, when a cause or candidate (from either party) stirs Latino residents toward greater public involvement. Boiled out, this list reflects the shift in Texas from Democratic to Republican dominance cemented in statewide elections nearly 20 years ago, and expected shifts beyond the immedi-ate horizon. Oversights are all mine.
T e x a s G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s
L O B B Y I S T S
T e x a s G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s
L O B B Y I S T S
32 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010
Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s
Rosie CastroSan Antonio mother to wunderkind twins Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, and Joaquin Castro, state representative
Ben BarnesFederal lobbyist, former lieutenant governor after House speaker, premier networker
Kirk WatsonAustin state senator, 2002 nominee for Texas attorney general, former Austin mayor, must-see Central Texas politico along with U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin
Scott McCownExecutive director, Center for Public Policy Priorities, liberal-leaning think tank, former state district judge, ever ready with calming advice
Leticia Van de PutteSan Antonio state senator, co-chair 2008 Democratic National Convention, stepped back from statewide run in 2010
Robert JonesPolitical director, Annie’s List, committee devoted to electing Democratic women to legislature and state offices
Lisa TurnerOwner-president, the Turner Group; wife to state Rep. Chris Turner of Arlington
Tom “Smitty” SmithDirector, Texas office of Public Citizen, respected non-partisan player in Capitol halls
Rodney EllisHouston state senator, once acting lieutenant governor, proud protégé of late U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland
Trey Martinez FischerSan Antonio state representative, chairman, Mexican American Legislative Caucus; relentlessly on prowl for his cause
Garnet ColemanHouston state representative, wizened budget/policy wonk
Wendy DavisState senator, former Fort Worth City Council member, unexpectedly unseated GOP incumbent in 2008, eyed for statewide office
Jack MartinFounding chairman, Public Strategies Inc., home at times to consultants Matthew Dowd, Mark McKinnon and the late Kelly Fero (whose political spirit abides)
Katie NaranjoNational president, College Democrats of America, also business partner with Matt Glazer, GNI Strategies, online messaging and fundraising; part of party’s youth core including Rick Cofer, member of Democratic National Committee
John SharpAvowed aspirant for U.S. Senate in 2012, former state comptroller, member of Texas Railroad Commission, state lawmaker
Aimee BoonePresent development director at Texas Democratic Trust and former finance director for the Texas Democratic Party.
Sylvia GarciaHarris County commissioner, former Houston city controller; statewide next?
David MatthiesenHouston lawyer, pivotal in plotting Democratic wins of local judicial races in 2008
Hector GutierrezSemi-retired El Paso lobbyist, has helped candidates in both parties, senior adviser to Gov. Perry when Perry was lieutenant governor
Marc StanleyDallas lawyer, former president, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
The Next 20 Democrats
August 2010 | Campaigns & Elections 33
Peggy VenableState director, grassroots-stirring Americans for Prosperity
Kelly ShackelfordPresident-CEO, Liberty Institute, cause-oriented lawyer with political muscle
Brooke RollinsPresident/CEO, Texas Public Policy Foundation, think tank churns material for R-majority Legislature
Rusty KelleyLobbyist, long-ago roots as aide to (now-late) Democratic House Speaker Bill Clayton
Randy ErbenLobbyist, steeped in state, federal issues
Reggie BashurLobbyist, studious former underling to GOP Govs. Bill Clements, George W. Bush
Dick WeekleyChairman-CEO, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, tort reform advocate Greg AbbottAttorney general seeking third term with eye on lieutenant governor spot—or more Carol ReedDallas, founder and CEO, Carol Reed Associates, Inc.
Todd OlsenAustin direct-mail authority, teamed with Heather and Kevin Shuvalov, firm descended from Karl Rove & Company
Neal T. “Buddy” JonesLobbyist, co-founder, Hillco Partners, former state representative Steve MunisteriHouston lawyer, chairman, Republican Party of Texas. Among founders in 1980’s of Young Conservatives of Texas. Cathie AdamsDallas, longtime Eagle Forum cheerleader, immediate past state GOP chair Rob JohnsonAustin, campaign manager for Perry, former chief of staff to Dewhurst, wired in
Michael Quinn SullivanAustin, President/CEO, Empower Texans, flair for stump, not fearful of tea-party crowd
Bob PerryHouston homebuilder, reclusive mega-donor
Hector De LeonBoard co-chair, Associated Republicans of Texas, figures in GOP bids for legislature John ColyandroExecutive director, Texas Conservative Coalition, the conservative caucus of the Texas state legislature. Onetime Tom DeLay aide carrying unresolved indictment. Ray SullivanChief of staff, Governor’s Office, also one-time aide to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison Boone PickensEnergy entrepreneur, shoulda been a contender (for governor)
The Next 20 Republicans
Upstream Communications
Congratulates
Todd OlsenFor being named
in the...
Texas Influencers
List
Upstream wants to wish good luck to some of our
clients for 2010:
NRSC
Sarah PAC
Grassley for US Senate
Dan Coats for US Senate
Joe StrausTexas Speaker
Pete Olson for Congress, TX
Dee Margo for Congress, TX
Bill Flores for Congress, TX
www.getupstream.com
34 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010
Senfronia ThompsonHouston, state representative, makes things happen
Ed Martin Former executive director, Texas Democratic Party; writer-son Philip rising Democratic activist
Tom MeredithAustin donor-adviser in Texas and beyond, former chief financial officer, Dell Inc.
Alexa WesnerAustin donor-adviser in Texas and beyond
Anna BennettWashington, pollster, Bennett Petts & Normington, range of Texas Democratic clients
Bernard RapoportWaco insurance magnate, long-time Democratic backer
Eddie AldreteSan Antonio banker, kitchen cabinet member for many, brother to respected Austin consultant James Aldrete
Julian CastroSan Antonio mayor; what next?
Cecilia BooneDallas philanthropist, past chair Planned Parenthood of North Texas
Mark HomerParis, state representative in Republican-rich district, holdin’ party’s conservative flank
Alonzo CantuRio Grande Valley mega-donor, gatekeeper
Nelson WolffCounty judge, Bexar County (San Antonio)
Garry MauroAustin lawyer, lost to Bush for governor in 1998, steered Hillary Clinton’s ’08 near-win in Texas, writer-son David is a rising activist
Glenn SmithConsulting manager, Texas Progress Council, runs research for progressives alongside Sandra Haverlah, council’s executive director
Rafael AnchiaDallas state representative, already dubbed governor by Texas Monthly’s political lion, Paul Burka
Jim DunnamWaco state representative, sometimes wearied chairman, House Democratic Caucus
Jose RodriguezLong-time El Paso County county attorney, Democratic nominee, Texas Senate
Marc CamposPresident, Campos Communications, Houston
Gary BledsoeAustin lawyer, longtime powerhouse, Texas NAACP
Harold CookFormer executive director, Texas Democratic Party, humorist
The Last 20 Democrats
Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s
Michael WilliamsMember, Texas Railroad Commission, riveting speaker eyeing U.S. Senate prospects
Luis SaenzLobbyist, former assistant secretary of state, past stints with Perry, Hutchison and two-term Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn Allen BlakemoreHouston founder, Blakemore & Associates, political consultancy, with wife, Elizabeth; once an aide to Sens. John Tower and then Phil Gramm
Bill MillerLobbyist, co-founder Hillco Partners; every other reporter’s confidante
Ernest AngeloFormer RNC member, former Midland mayor
Ted CruzFormer state solicitor general, paused on plans to run for state attorney general Debra MedinaPlainspoken Libertarian-leaning former GOP candidate for governor David BartonNational president, Wallbuilders, focused on religion in nation’s roots; former state party vice chairman
Mike BaselicePresident, Baselice & Associates, Perry’s spot-on pollster
Tom PaukenChairman, Texas Workforce Commission, former state party chair, about the last guy in
Austin who invites anyone out for (one) beer.
Rick ScarboroughFounder-president, Vision America, mobilizes pastors James LeiningerSan Antonio mega-donor, private-school voucher advocate Daron ShawAustin pollster, professor of government, University of Texas
Bryan EppsteinDividing his time between Ft. Worth and Austin, when the legislature is in session. Founder, the Eppstein Group, political consultant with many, many clients. Joe PojmanFounder/executive director, Texas Alliance for Life
Tim LambertLubbock, president, Texas Home School Coalition, former RNC member
Steve HotzeHouston, president, Conservative Republicans of Texas Tom PhillipsFormer chief justice, Texas Supreme Court, was on leading edge of GOP wins of every statewide office in early 1990s
John CoppedgeLongview physician, judicial focus
Tom CraddickMidland, long-time state representative, former House speaker
The Last 20 Republicans
Two continents,Three perspectives.
Digital editions are now available for the US, Canada, and Latin America.
For archives and subscription info, visit campaignsandelections.com.
Two continents,Three perspectives.
Digital editions are now available for the US, Canada, and Latin America.
For archives and subscription info, visit campaignsandelections.com.
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