by Sandy » Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:30 pm
I live in Tom's district. There are some Republicans who are mouthing about how this is political, how this is just like many other cases the Travis County D.A. has done before, where nothing came of it, etc. etc. To give credit where credit is due, however, there are some Republicans, including some well-respected leaders in this area, who do want to see ethical government and aren't automatically jumping over to Tom's side. Senator Hutchinson's indictment, which came from the same place and which she dodged on a technicality, probably ended her political career. She's stepping down from the Senate, declined to run for Governor when she saw the poll numbers and probably encountered some Republicans who want to see the party retain its hold on this state, and know that continued corruption will bring it down.
The county that forms the heart of Tom's congressional district, Fort Bend County, is made up of some of Houston's wealthier, more prosperous suburbs, particularly on the east side of the county, where Tom is from. This is a heavily Republican area that has dominated county politics here for at least 20 years. From the County Judge's office to the Sheriff Department to local precinct managers to constables, the corruption in local government here boggles the mind. I've lived here 11 years now, and I can't remember a time when someone in either the county government, sheriff's department or the precinct leadership of the road and bridge department wasn't under investigation or indictment. The big business in this area is real estate development, and that gets them every time. Yes, most of the county politicos are in the real estate business. And while it may be a heavily Republican area, it is also one of the most unchurched areas in the state, with fewer than 15 percent of the people claiming any kind of church affiliation. Bad combination. Tom's been in it with these people for years, they're the ones that put him in Congress.
The light at the end of the tunnel may be approaching, however, and we may be Delay free next November, if he doesn't go to prison sooner than that. Some of the more respected and influential Republican leaders in the county are either remaining silent, or are speaking out against him. Public opinion shows that a majority of registered voters think he's guilty but he'll use his power to get off. Even if he manages to pull strings and avoid a trial, or gets off on a technicality (the evidence is quite substantial and shows him to be clearly in violation of state law) he may have to go the way of dear Kay, and step down graciously to avoid an embarrassing defeat at the polls.