Dateline North Houston
March 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
One of the key races in the so-called “Craddick Primary” is between Democrats Armando Walle and incumbent Kevin Bailey in north Houston’s District 140. Bailey has been a prominent Craddick supporter while Walle has promised to oppose the speaker if elected. Bailey has been seen as one of the most vulnerable Craddick Ds.
Today, I hung out at the Clark Community Center in a pleasant working class neighborhood where voters from five different precincts in the district are voting in the Democratic Primary. By 4 p.m., 368 people had voted at the community center, an especially high turnout in a district in which only 1,300 people total voted in the 2006 primary.
Outside the polling place Walle and Bailey campaigners passed out fliers and mingled amicably, sharing food and political tidbits. “We’re all Democrats,” the two sides chimed almost in unison.
It’s impossible to gauge how the candidates are doing at this point, or what effect high voter turnout will have, but most voters interviewed said they had voted for Walle. One man, Carlos Venegas, sounded a theme. At first he struggled to explain why he liked Walle. Finally Venegas said, “[Walle] knows where we come from. In this area it’s a lot of Hispanics, very working class.” Identity politics may be a major factor in deciding this race. Ironically, union support for Clinton has driven Hispanics to the polls in this district, even though the same unions support Bailey. (The incumbent pushed important collective bargaining provisions through the Lege.) It is assumed that increased Hispanic turnout will help Walle.
Another voter, George Hernandez, approached a Bailey supporter to tell him why he would be voting against the incumbent. Hernandez said he was offended by a mail piece he received from the Bailey campaign. The piece accuses Walle’s campaign of destroying Bailey signs and includes a picture of Walle holding a beer at a University of Houston football game. “I took it personally,” said Hernandez. “I interpreted it as being down on Hispanics.” Jesse Sifuentez, the clerk of the Urban Affairs Committee that Bailey chairs, said that was clearly not the intent of the mail piece.
Sifuentez argues that turning out a nine-term veteran of the House in exchange for a young unknown will hurt the district. At least one voter agreed. “He’s gotten a lot of projects done that needed to be done,” said David Hulsey. “I know know Bailey has worked hard for this area.”
Walle has had to work hard to overcome Bailey’s 18 years in office and the power of incumbency. “I’m confident that wearing my boots out is going to pay off,” said Walle, standing outside the polling place. “In politics there is no secret weapon - it’s just hard work, shoe leather.”
March 5th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Congratulations to Armando and his awseome, youth-driven campaign. They ran a great grassroots organization. In the process, a community became energized and engaged. I know Armando will be a great representive and a hard-working advocate for our neighborhood - two things that are badly needed!