FORT WORTH -- The race for state Senate District 10 has gotten so negative that the candidates had to pause Thursday night when asked to say something positive about their opponent.
There was a definite moment of silence in the third debate of the race when incumbent Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, and her challenger state Sen. Mark Shelton, a Republican, were asked to share any redeeming quality about their opponent."We can honestly disagree on policy, but I do believe Mark and I have voted similarly on many things," Davis, an attorney in Fort Worth, said. "Mark has certainly demonstrated his care and concern."Shelton spoke about the courage it takes to be a public official -- speaking in public at events such as debates and serving as well."I left my comfort zone way back there," Shelton, a pediatrician in Fort Worth, said while pointing behind him. "It is very clear that Wendy has that courage to be brave. This isn't always easy."It was a brief and rare moment of accord during the more than 90-minute debate that played out before a standing-room only crowd of more than 350 at the Texas Christian University Kelly Alumni Center.Davis and Shelton are locked in a hotly contested battle for state Senate District 10, which includes part of Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Colleyville and other areas of south and Northeast Tarrant County.The two candidates addressed the same issues they have in previous debates, including the state budget, Medicare funding, taxes, the nation's health care system, public health and more. Both renewed accusations of improprieties and dishonesty.Shelton on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against Davis with the Texas Ethics Commission for "not disclosing her business relationships with state lobbyists." He alleges that Davis didn't disclose that two of the three employees of her law firm who lobby for "subject matter" interests that overlap committees Davis serves on."Wendy's firm has registered lobbyists ... [and she] failed to report this," he said. "It's important that if you have people in Austin representing you, we need to know where their money is coming from."Davis admonished Shelton for his accusation."Mark, everything you've just said is not true," Davis said. "I have complied absolutely with every ethics law in the state of Texas."She added that her law partner does not lobby her on behalf of their law firm and neither does she."We have been open, honest and very transparent," she said.When Shelton was asked why he didn't raise these issues earlier, if he was concerned about possible conflicts of interest on Davis' part, Shelton's response was "I was not aware of this until after the last legislative session."Davis repeated her belief that Shelton, by supporting a budget that claimed to be balanced, backed a dishonest product that shorted women, public school children and Texans in general.When asked whether she could see how others might consider her business relationship as a possible conflict of interest, Davis replied, "If they continue to listen to the lies my opponent is putting on his TV ads, I can understand" concerns."Every single bill I have voted on in this legislature has been in the interests" of the people in this district, Davis said. "Mark is throwing these accusations at me because he has a record he is ashamed of and he is trying hard to make sure attention is diverted ... so he doesn't have to focus on [his] record of failing to represent families here in Tarrant County."Regarding the Ethics Commission's complaint, workers at the commission say the complaint process is confidential. In general, employees there said workers will determine whether the complaint was filed correctly, give the person the complaint is directed against time to respond and determine whether to investigate the claim. The full commission won't address the issue until weeks after the election.Shelton called on Davis to release a list of the government entities she is working for, saying he has filed a Freedom of Information request for these and other documents."We are following [the rules] ... of what is to be released," Davis said. "I think you are going to be awfully disappointed, Mark ... when that information is released. Nothing is there.""Do not stand here today and pretend there is some big, hidden secret," she said. "If there was anything there you'd be disclosing it."Shelton's response: "Since you think I'm going to be disappointed, I think those records could be released tomorrow."Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
