Fort Worth senator center of attention as Legislature opens special session

By Aman Batheja

abatheja@star-telegram.com

AUSTIN -- Before 10:44 p.m. Sunday, Wendy Davis was just one of 12 Democrats in the Texas Senate, a freshman from Fort Worth whom many expected to have trouble winning re-election next year.

But once Davis began her instantly famous filibuster -- a 79-minute speech that blocked passage of a key school finance bill and forced Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session -- she became one of the most revered figures in the Texas Capitol. And one of the most reviled.

All day Monday, Democrats heaped praise on Davis, 48, calling her "courageous" and "inspiring" while Republicans derided her as attention-seeking and in over her head.

"We come here to work," Gov. Rick Perry said early Monday as Republicans were scrambling to find a way around Davis' filibuster before the session ended that evening. "We don't come here to be show horses."

For Davis, the speech, in which she read letters from constituents and decried how the Republican proposal doesn't keep up with school enrollment growth, was her only option left.

"I proudly stood up for keeping public education adequately funded," Davis said. "I think we cannot be, should not be, silenced based on threats that it could be worse."

All eyes were on Davis on Sunday night when she walked on to the Senate floor. Democrats had been discussing whether one of their own should filibuster the bill, and Davis' name was circling.

A tell-tale sign

Onlookers observed a resolved yet restless look on her face. Some took note of the sensible flats on her feet and read it as a sign. Along with her strong stances on public education and the environment, Davis is an unabashed lover of high heels and is rarely, if ever, seen on the Senate floor without them. The whispering quickly intensified as several Democratic senators stood around her desk in a huddle. Just over an hour later, she began her speech.

"I know a lot of you didn't want to see the session end this way," Davis told her colleagues. "I didn't want to either."

Under the Senate's rules, she only needed to speak until midnight to block the passage of Senate Bill 1811, a bill with finance provisions that needed to pass in order to balance the state's books.

The response from Republicans was swift and merciless. Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said Davis had delivered "a gift to the governor" by giving him political cover to include key measures sought by Republicans in the special session, an arena where the rules make it more likely they will pass.

"I think she created more problems for herself and for the Democrats," said Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington.

Davis acknowledged Tuesday that the budget may pass unchanged and that other issues she opposes may now become law.

"I think what's worth it, even in that instance, is that the people of Texas know that we stood and we tried and that's the most we can do," Davis said.

Making waves

It wasn't the first time Davis has gone on the offensive against those in power, although it may wind up being the one that causes the biggest blast.

In her first City Council run in 1996, she made waves by saying that a law firm had not hired her because of her vocal protest of a plan to turn a park field near the Fort Worth Zoo into a parking lot, a project supported by some of the firm's clients. She lost the race but won a seat three years later. While on the council, she drew the most attention for her battles with powerful entities such as drilling companies over royalty agreements and local police and fire associations over pension reform.

"If she feels strongly about something, she's probably going to do it," said state Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth. "I've never known her to make political decisions based on what's safe."

Her popularity in her district along with a compelling biography -- the Harvard Law School-educated lawyer and single mother held down two jobs while attending Tarrant County College -- drew chatter that she was destined for higher office. In 2008, Davis unseated state Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, in an intense race in which opponents tried twice to get a judge to knock Davis off the ballot. She drew 2.4 percent more of the vote than Brimer.

This year, Davis saw some of her bills go nowhere while nearly identical versions offered by Republicans advanced more easily.

Last week, her bill that pushes police departments to test backlogs of untested rape kits was sent to Perry's desk.

Vulnerable district

Austin-based Democratic consultant Harold Cook said Davis hasn't acted like a senator who just barely won her seat.

"She does not mince words at all and you always know where she stands, and that's a pretty good trick for someone who represents the most Republican district in Texas represented by a Democrat," Cook said.

Davis is widely considered the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate. Republican lawmakers redrew her district this session so that it would lean more Republican. Perry and the federal government must still sign off on the map. For those who see Davis as unlikely to win re-election in 2012, Sunday's filibuster was viewed as an act by a politician with little to lose.

Cook has been among those talking up Davis recently as a potential statewide candidate.

When asked about it, Davis said, "That's very nice. We'll try and keep my Senate seat first."

Aman Batheja, 817-390-7695

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