Davis' pro-education stance invokes wrath of Texas Republicans

By Bud Kennedy

bud@star-telegram.com

Local Republican campaigns have two new dirty words.

Not Barack Obama.

Wendy Davis.

The state Senate Democrat from Fort Worth has suddenly become the Evil One in local campaigns, apparently for thinking Texas should rank higher than 49th in funding public schools.

When Republican candidates for the Texas House and Senate spoke Thursday in Arlington, they slung mud at absent opponents by tying their names to Davis'.

North Richland Hills chemical executive Kelly Hancock, running for an open state Senate seat, might have won some sort of triple-word score by wedging Davis' name into the same sentence with that of opponent Todd Smith and the word tax.

For most of Smith's Texas House career, the Euless Republican has argued that instead of charging Northeast Tarrant County drivers new tolls, the state should finance highways statewide by adjusting the 22-year-old gas tax a few cents.

Hancock, trailing Smith in local endorsements, said that he's against any gas tax increase and that "the only person who agrees with [Smith] is Wendy Davis."

That was the third mention of Davis at the forum, each time to a growing chorus of growls and a few boos.

Then, a club official brought cheers when she said Republican women's goal this fall is to "knock Wendy Davis right out of Austin."

Considering that Arlington children are worth $2 a day less than the average Texas schoolchild under the current formula, and $5 a day less than Austin children, the club should be knocking sense into its own Republicans in the Texas Legislature.

Davis' Republican challenger, Fort Worth pediatric specialist and state Rep. Mark Shelton, got off to a rough start.

His table card spelled his name Shleton.

But he was cheered when he said he was running against Davis and "proud to be in my hometown, Arlington, Texas."

Shelton grew up in Arlington and was a drum major in the Lamar Vikings band. He's on the Public Education Committee.

He called Davis a "liberal who does not reflect our values."

Even incumbent Arlington state Rep. Bill Zedler got in on the name-dropping, aligning Davis with his absent opponent, Mansfield Republican and school district Police Chief Mike Leyman.

"Both my opponent and Wendy Davis believe we should be showering more money into public education," Zedler said.

He made it sound bad.

Bud Kennedy's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538.

Twitter: @budkennedy

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