AP: Texas

07/28/2005

By JIM VERTUNO  / Associated Press

Former one-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Bell announced his bid for Texas governor on Thursday in an e-mail to supporters.

"(Gov.) Rick Perry is an inspiring leader," Bell told The Associated Press. "In fact, he's inspired me to run for governor."

Bell, a Houston lawyer, was elected to the U.S. House in 2002. He lost his seat to Democrat Al Green after his district was redrawn.

Bell planned to discuss his plans at an Aug. 14 rally in Austin, said his aide Jason Stanford. But Bell agreed to an phone interview with the AP on Thursday.

Part the reason he decided to run, Bell said, was the frustration Texans expressed over the Legislature's failure to pass a school-finance plan.

"People have lost patience with the whole embarrassing process," he said. "Our candidate for governor needs to bring ideas to the table.

Bell is best known nationally for accusing House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of ethical violations. DeLay, a Republican, was instrumental in the GOP-led Texas congressional redistricting effort that resulted in Bell's defeat.

Although DeLay was admonished by the House, Bell also was criticized for exaggerating misconduct allegations against the GOP leader.

Bell has been exploring a campaign for governor for months. However, he has struggled to gain firm footing as a candidate who could win not only the Democratic nomination, but also the Gov.'s Mansion in a state dominated by Republicans.

The GOP has held every statewide office since the 1998 elections. No Democrat has occupied the Gov.'s Mansion since Ann Richards, who defeated Republican Clayton Williams in 1990 and served just one term.

"If you ever want people to question your sanity, explore running for statewide office as a Democrat in Texas," Bell said in his e-mail.

Bell reported raising about $153,000 in campaign contributions during the first six months of the year. Meanwhile, Maverick independent candidate Kinky Friedman, a musician and author, raised $300,000 in the same period.

Bell also is well behind the millions raised by the top Republicans in the 2006 primary, Gov. Rick Perry and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

Despite the GOP's dominance, Texas Democratic Party Chief of Staff Mike Lavigne said Perry is vulnerable.

"He's been unable to lead in finding a solution for school finance," Lavigne said. "I think Texans are ready for a change. Evidence that (Perry) is beatable is that he has a primary opponent, which is unusual for an incumbent."

In his e-mail, Bell said he was ready to lead the "new mainstream" of Texas voters, "the disaffected majority of Texans who know that Rick Perry couldn't lead a silent prayer."

Perry's campaign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democrats also are waiting to see if former state comptroller John Sharp will run for governor. Sharp lost races for lieutenant governor in 1998 and 2002. The political committee for Ryan & Company, an accounting firm where Sharp is a principal, gave $200,000 to Strayhorn's campaign.

Felix Alvarado, a middle school assistant principal from Fort Worth who ran for Congress in 2002 and 2004, has also said he'll run for governor as a Democrat.

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Associated Press Writer Wendy Benjaminson contributed to this report from Houston.