May 26, 2005

Legislators Endorse Ex-Moreno Staffer
as Governor Sets Special Election Date

By Mike Hailey
Capitol Inside Editor

A dozen Democratic legislators are throwing their support at an Austin fundraiser tonight behind a former Capitol staffer who plans to run in a special Texas House election for the east Houston Texas House that opened when the late State Rep. Joe Moreno died in a highway crash earlier this month.

Governor Rick Perry on Thursday ordered the special election for House District 143 to be held November 8. The governor's proclamation calling the special vote requires candidates to file with the Secretary of State's office by 5 p.m. October 24. Perry's only other option would have been to declare the vacant seat an emergency - an option that might have been more likely if the governor planned to call lawmakers back into a special session between now and the fall.

While the special election still more than four months away, an array of political and community leaders from Houston and other places around the state have already rallied behind a former Moreno staff member - Houston lawyer Ana Hernandez. Several Democrats and a couple of Republicans have weighed possible bids for the seat, which is located in a section of the city dominated by Democratic voters.

There had been speculation that State Senator Mario Gallegos would be taking sides in a special election campaign with Laura Salinas - the niece of a former House member - who's also considering a race for HD 143. But Gallegos is listed among the House and Senate members who have endorsed Hernandez and plan to honor her at an event at the Four Season's Hotel.

Other names that have been mentioned as potential contenders include Democrats Jose Medrano and James Rodriguez and Republican Al Flores, who forced Moreno into a Democratic primary runoff in 2002 before switching parties. Rodriguez is an aide to Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado while Medrano and Hernandez both worked for State Rep. Jessica Farrar, a close friend of Moreno's and former boss.

Farrar has backed Hernandez from the outset. An attorney in Houston for Conoco/Phillips, Hernandez also has picked up support from hometown State Senator Rodney Ellis and Houston State Reps. Garnet Coleman, Senfronia Thompson and the husband-wife team of Melissa Noriega and Rick Noriega, an Army Reserves officer who's currently stationed in Afghanistan. The list of legislators for Hernandez also includes State Reps. Norma Chavez of El Paso, Jim Dunnam of Waco, Pete Gallego of Alpine, Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio and Dora Olivo of Rosenberg.

Lobbyist Nick Krajl is hosting the fundraiser for Hernandez.

Moreno, who represented HD 143 for seven years, was killed while driving back to Austin late at night after attending an NBA playoff game in Houston. Dallas State Rep. Rafael Anchia was riding in the passenger seat but escaped serious injury in the crash. Monica Pinon, the chief of staff to State Rep. Joe Pickett, has been recovering from injuries that she sustained while riding in the back seat of Moreno's pickup truck.