I love the 80s - Rep. Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi) reelection in play

[theredstate]

Crossposted on http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4670">Burnt Orange Report

In a lightning-quick, tech-savvy and fun response to challenger Todd Hunter’s press release, the Juan Garcia Campaign has defined the race for HD-32:

The tired old crony power structure vs. The new generation of Texas leaders.

See http://trailblazers.beloblog.com/archives/2008/01/texas_house_garcia_battles_old.html">Dallas Morning News coverage and video below:

http://www.youtube.com/v/i7LJwQt-3N8&rel=1

A lot of you remember helped out in the great victory over Gene Seaman in 2006. The Rs have put up another insurance lobby shill to challenge Garcia. Tom Craddick & Dr. James Leininger are itching to take this seat back but Rep. Garcia is well loved by his constituents and it ready to fight for his district.

[sonias]

1. I loved the ad!

Stop that revolving door between the lobby and the legislature. I guess Todd Hunter was recruited by those big money interests who can't buy Juan.

One more thing I just have to add - just when Democrats are poised to make significant gains in the Texas House to change the dictatorial style of Tom Craddick, you have 3 "alleged" Democrats Judy Hawley, Hugo Berlanga, and Todd Hunter flip- flopping and turning out as republicans. That's what I would call Berlanga and Hawley if they're backing Hunter as a republican. This is such a disservice to the people of this district who want to move forward and have someone really represent them and not the insurance industry. Who is Berlanga working for?

Big money sure doesn't like being left out.

Sonia

[2bfree]

2. Todd Hunter.

When did he become a republican? People really like Garcia, I think he will be hard to beat.

[sonias]

3. Well he's one now

Since he's filed and running in the republican primary. That part of the story is not in dispute. Maybe someone from the district can look into the voter file and find out when Hunter started voting republican.

I think Juan is right not to take any challenge lightly. These industry types come loaded with cash.

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Texas Ethics Commission - Todd Hunter contributions

I did a quick search for Todd Hunter and he's given Texans for Rick Perry money at least since 2002. Big bucks too, at least $5,000 each election year. And he's given money to Tom Craddick and he'd given money to Gene Seaman the previous corrupt Republican Representative of District 32.

Who knows when he switched, but there is no doubt he's republican now.

Sonia

[susanr516]

5. Hunter officially switched parties in 2006

See http://caller.com/news/2006/apr/02/political-pulse-040206/ It's in the third topic: "Also at the (Nueces County) Republican convention was former state Rep. Todd Hunter. He too is coming out as a Republican, after years of allegiance to the Democratic Party."

Back in 2004,(IIRC)Garcia had definitely decided to run for office, but not which office. Lots of talk about him running for Mayor of Corpus Christi at that time. Hunter did some polling in the district (I got called)that same year. Rumor on the R side has it that Seaman was planning to retire in 2006, with Hunter filing as a Republican at that time. When Garcia jumped in on the D side, Seaman supposedly threw a temper tantrum and filed for re-election himself. What the Rs never counted on was Garcia winning.

[sonias]

6. Hunter's years of allegiance to the Democratic party

Hunter contributed to Rick Perry and Tom Craddick in 2002. With allegiances like that, Hunter was right to jump over to being a republican.

So let me see if I understand this part - Hunter actually filed in the 2004 republican primary and was beaten by Seaman? Or did he just explore a run as an R?

In any case, the whole shenanigans of trying to play the game of good Democrats is up. Hunter was at best a Dixie-crat, the good old boy type like Phil Gramm and Rick Perry. When the southern republican party suited their "conservative" tastes more they switched.

Thanks for the link.

There is also another good link to Berlanga's lobby interest in the race on Burnt Orange. Texans for Public Justice has a nice client list summary from his lightning fast revolving door exit from the House.

Berlanga exemplifies how government works in Austin as in Washington. He resigned as a powerful committee chair in March 1998 to become a revolving-door hired gun. By 1999, Berlanga billed 22 lobby clients between $635,000 and $1.3 million. One-third of these clients were health interests affected by his old committee.

Sonia

[susanr516]

7. Hunter did not file in 2004

I think he was exploring his chances in both parties when he was polling then. JMO, but I think Hunter decided he would have a problem winning a Democratic primary against a Hispanic challenger.

By the way, Hunter NEVER had an opponent, Democrat or Republican, when he ran--interesting. Democrat Patricia Eisenhauer lost to Seaman after Todd "retired."

Good BOR comment.

[sonias]

8. CC story

Boy the CC paper is so late to this game!

Corpus Christi Caller 1/20/08
Hunter picks up backing, clout of Berlanga, Hawley
CORPUS CHRISTI — Former lawmakers Hugo Berlanga and Judy Hawley have added their name recognition and political clout to former Democrat Todd Hunter's Republican run against Democratic incumbent state Rep. Juan Garcia.

(snip)

Asked about the team of experienced Austin operatives lined up against him, Garcia alluded to his military background -- he's a Navy pilot instructor in addition to being a lawyer -- and drew a distinction between himself and career politicians who become lobbyists. Hunter and Berlanga are lobbyists.

(snip)
In June, Austin Democratic campaign strategist Kelly Fero, who is not working for Garcia, e-mailed Garcia that Hunter was talking to Craddick's daughter, Christi Craddick, who serves as the speaker's political consultant, and that Hunter had agreed to run as a Republican.

This comment by someone in the comments section is made me laugh out loud

I love it! Hugo "bernalgas" that's what all the austin crowd calls him because he is nothing but a a*s kisser! ....

For those of you Spanish language challenged it's a play on words Berlanga is Hugo's last name but they are using "bernalgas". Anyhow "nalga" is slang for ass or butt cheeks. :rofl:


Sonia

[sonias]

9. Damn this comments thread is just too funny

Same CC story link above

----------------------------
Post 52 January 20, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tod Hunter! Tod Hunter! Tod Hunter! Tod Hunter! Tod Hunter!
VOTE FOR Tod Hunter! = )
------------------------------

Post 53 January 20, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I meant,......TODD HUNTER. DOUBLE D's
Vote for TODD HUNTER! = )
--------------------------------

Post 54 January 20, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Todd Hunter has DOUBLE DD's ????
Maybe he should work out more ...............

------------------------------------

Post 56 January 20, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post 52:
Juan Garcia! Juan Garcia! Juan Garcia! Juan Garcia! Juan Garcia!
VOTE FOR JUAN GARCIA!!! : )
LOOK, NO ,MISTAKES************
-------------------------

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Sonia

[nutsco101]

10. The Army Of Juan

just keeps growing and growing. And Nueces County politics just keeps getting funnier.
El Todd tiene double DD's
Hugo Bernalgas y Judy la hala
pinche vendidos siempre menten la pala.

[sonias]

11. Oh damn you are making me laugh so hard I'm coughing

:rofl::bounce::rofl::bounce::rofl:

:applause::applause::applause:

Sonia

[nutsco101]

12. We are serious about our politics too

To those DINOs who are under the impression that I believe in their bona fides when they come out in favor of a turncoat:

There is an easy way to make me believe you. Simply write a check for $7,000 to the Democratic Party coffers in Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and Nueces Counties.

I don't think it's gonna happen.

This is from one our Candidates who is running for Dem. County Chair.Carolyn "La Luna" Moon.
Hunter actually approached her at a meeting, came up behind her and said "We need to talk"
She was caught between those Double DDs and a Bernalga. We are going to have to curar la de susto.
Rub a brown chicken egg all over her body and pray and call her name. Then break the egg in a glass of water. She is really pissed off and freaked out.

[sonias]

13. Stop it!

Damn it, I'm splitting my sides here. The visual of being "between those Double DDs and a Bernalga" is just too much.
:spray::rofl::spray::rofl:

I would be freaked out too.

Sonia

[nutsco101]

14. Subject: Serious ,Serious, Serious about our politics

New group formed -Parteras United against Hugo Bernagas and anyone he supports especially male candidates with double DDs.

Because of his recent announcement endorsing Republican Todd Hunter(el Chichon) Hugo Bernalgas legislative record is under intense scrunity by various groups in Corpus Christi, Nueces County Tx.
Bill HB 2088 - Relating to the regulation of certain midwives; providing administrative penalties-
is creating a lot of anger on the part of many long time Democratic voters in the region.

"Le parto la cabeza" said one angry women. "Y yo le parto el sieso, va cuedar con nomas una nalga said another outraged partera."

It's getting crazier and crazier by the minuto. More to come.

[sonias]

15. No mas una nalga

Ay dios mio!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

These parteras are obviously wise women with a great sense of humor.

It is a shame that with health care being as expensive as it is, that we seem to be driving mid wives out of business.

Sonia