By Bud Kennedy
bud@star-telegram.com
Six months from now, Fort Worth may have two new congressmen.
Or none.
Democrat Marc Veasey and Republican Roger Williams are in July 31 runoffs, hoping local voters turn out in midsummer to support them against opponents from Dallas and Gatesville, respectively.
Both led voting going into the runoff. But both face rallying opponents who have a vocal following, maybe enough to win on a sultry election day.
Neither Dallas Democrat Domingo Garcia nor Gatesville Republican Wes Riddle found much local support in the May 29 primary, maybe because they were up against a home team. Garcia took only 14 percent of the Tarrant County vote in District 33, Riddle a paltry 7 percent in the Tarrant and Johnson county portion of Central Texas' District 25.
To show how Fort Worth-centric the District 33 campaign has become, try watching the Garcia-Veasey debate replay on KERA/Channel 13 on Friday night or Sunday afternoon, or online at
texasdebates.org.
Count how few times you hear "Dallas."
Garcia and Veasey debated which fighter jet is best for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, whether General Motors' Arlington-built SUVs have been worth federal help and whether Veasey has too much support from Fort Worth business executives.
Afterward, standing in a TV station in Dallas, Veasey sounded like a Cowtown congressman when he said Lockheed's F-35 would be "a fighter Fort Worth will be proud of."
Speaking in Spanish and English for different reporters, Garcia countered by listing his local supporters, such as Fort Worth City Council members Sal Espino and Kathleen Hicks and school Trustees Juan Rangel and Carlos Vasquez. Garcia called them "the people who know Marc Veasey the best."
The far-flung District 25 campaign has taken Williams away from home, to a new apartment in the hills above west Austin and to debates in towns like Whitney and Stephenville and last weekend, Dripping Springs.
Mostly, he and Riddle debated whether voters should choose a business owner like Williams, a Parker County car dealer, or a constitutional scholar like Riddle. (A replay is at
smmercury.com.)
Riddle was endorsed the other day by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Williams has backing from several Johnson County mayors and officials and expects the endorsement today of a prominent Republican.
(Let's just say his initials are also R.P.)
Bud Kennedy's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538Twitter: @budkennedy
Looking for comments?
