February 26, 2007
Some Republicans are threatening to withhold future political support for County Judge Robert Eckels unless he backs a high-profile elected official as his successor rather than a relatively obscure former lawmaker."This decision is extremely important to whether the base will get behind Eckels if he runs for higher office," said County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill.
Although Eckels is stepping down to become a partner in the Fulbright & Jaworski law firm, he has said he eventually may seek statewide office.
Many GOP precinct chairs want Eckels and the Commissioners Court to tap a Republican official already holding countywide office, such as District Clerk Charles Bacarisse or Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, Woodfill said.
But Ed Emmett, a transportation consultant and former state representative, appears to be the consensus choice of the Republican majority on the Commissioners Court.
The body consists of Eckels and the four county commissioners — fellow Republicans Steve Radack and Jerry Eversole and Democrats Sylvia Garcia and El Franco Lee.
Eckels, who may resign as early as the next meeting March 6, said he has not decided whom to support as his successor. "This will be about who the court is comfortable with and who will provide the best leadership for the community," he said.
But Radack said Emmett appears to have the votes. "Based on a conversation I had with Eckels, I have the impression he will recommend Emmett," Radack said.
An Emmett appointment would be a bad move on the part of Eckels and his colleagues, as I've said from the beginning. The people of Harris County deserve a COunty Judge who has stood before us and received our votes for office, not a political crony who hasn't held elective office in two decades. I'd be happy with either Paul Bettencourt or Charles Bacarisse, or even Beverly Kaufman -- all tested leaders who have been shown support by the people of Harris County.
Posted by: Greg at
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Speak for yourself. I am a grassroots Republican who supports Ed Emmett and I know many others of us do too.
Posted by: Dave at Tue Feb 27 03:06:49 2007 (6MzdY)
Speak for yourself. I am a grassroots Republican who supports Ed Emmett and I know many others of us do too.
Posted by: Dave at Tue Feb 27 03:06:49 2007 (6MzdY)
First - of the three candidates mentioned, Kaufman doesn't want it and Bettencourt is getting ready to run for CD 22. That leaves only Bacarisse - the least known and lowest profile official out of the three just mentioned.
Woodfill just screwed up (as he's been prone to do) by basically threatening to blackmail Eckels over this. Of the 3 Republican commissioners, Eckels was probably the one who was most open to somebody other than Emmett. The absolute LAST thing Woodfill needed to do was piss him off with a rudely worded threat. I'm betting now that it will only make Eckels dig in and push him into the Emmett camp with Radack and Eversole.
Posted by: PWM at Tue Feb 27 10:58:54 2007 (DRjzY)
Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Tue Feb 27 23:01:54 2007 (sSleD)
I don't think Woodfill's demand has anything to do with him coming to this meeting on Monday. Just like Paul, he's one of those elected officials who doesn't need to be told to come to anything and probably would've come anyway since it is his last exec. comm. meeting as County Judge.
Posted by: PWM at Wed Feb 28 05:19:17 2007 (DRjzY)
Too bad he doesn't really seem interested in what anyone actually thinks about the fture governance of the county.
Posted by: Jacob at Wed Feb 28 06:41:48 2007 (4nXaP)
Congratulations on being a precinct chair, RWR, but Harris County wasn't won by self-important people meeting in a room four times a year to pass meaningless resolutions. It was won by hard work in the trenches - knocking on doors, making calls, putting up signs, and serious fundraising. Robert Eckels has done his part. He and Steve Radack, another guy you spokesmen for the grassroots like to dismiss, have done more to hold this county for Republicans than most of the precinct chairs put together. As a precinct chair who resigned out of boredom with your meetings, I've got firsthand.
Ed Emmett, for that matter, has done more than any single precinct chair I can think of to build the Republican Party in Harris County.
You admitted you hadn't been a precinct chair for very long, and evidently weren't involved prior (judging from your posts). Before you go around making pronouncements on behalf of the Grassroots, try to learn a little about the Republican Party, specifically in Harris County. Try to learn what it really means to be a part of the grassroots - hint: it ain't just sittin' behind a computer issuing proclamations.
And for the record, Jared Woodfill has neither the cerebrum nor the scrotum to compel a single member of commissioners court to do a thing.
Posted by: IJ at Wed Feb 28 15:56:45 2007 (8gJT+)
And by the way, please don't see me as an apologist for Jared, because I'm not. I personally see his maneuverings as a big part of why we lost CD22 this past election.
Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Wed Feb 28 22:59:25 2007 (DYCXj)
And yes, Woodfill's attempts to be a power player are really not helping the party longterm.
Posted by: IJ at Thu Mar 1 04:30:02 2007 (pvTK0)
Posted by: Jacob at Thu Mar 1 04:37:55 2007 (4nXaP)
Posted by: byron at Thu Mar 1 06:39:35 2007 (wY4u3)
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