ustxtxb_obs_1978_04_28_50_00005-00000_000.pdf

I I I I I I I I I Governor: John Hill U.S. Senator: Joe Christie Attorney General: Price Daniel Jr. Lt. Governor: John Hill Westbrook Court of Criminal Appeals: Sam Houston Clinton Supreme Court: Franklin Spears Railroad Commission: Jake Johnson Railroad Commission: John Thomas Henderson State Treasurer: Harry Ledbetter Agriculture Commissioner: Nobody Land Commissioner: Bob Armstrong Comptroller of Public Accounts: Bob Bullock OBSERVER SLATE CARD Look for these names on the Democratic ballot Jerry Benedict Mary Jane Bode Art Brender Ernestine Glossbrenner Chris Miller Ron Waters For State Senate Phil Hardberger Jim Lane Referendum Loan Rate Increase: Against For Congress 6th District: Lane Denton 8th District: Bob Eckhardi 18th District: 24th District: Martin Frost Statewide Candidates For Texas House distinction seems to be that he was the first TV weatherman to serve in Congress. One incumbent of special meritBob Eckhardt of Houstonfaces a serious primary challenge from a heavily bankrolled lawyer who is charging that Eckhardt is soft on communism and hard on trial lawyers \(some of the lawyers are mad at Eckhardt for his support of a nocrat is one of the natural resources of Texas, and every effort should be made to keep him in Congress. The Legislature All joking aside, the Legislature is not that far from becoming a respectable wing of the state government, and if things break right next weekend, there is at least a mathematical possibility that a moderate-progressive majority could emerge in the House to dump Billy Clayton out of the speaker’s chair. With a John Hill governorship providing some leadership in 1979, such a Legislature might be capable of more than doling taxpayers’ money to special interests and terrorizing welfare mothers. At least it’s something to dream about on a lazy spring day. There’s not room here to cover all the important legislative races, so rather than attempt a comprehensive rundown, we draw your attention to a handful of good progressive candidates who are in tight contests that Observer readers could swing the right way. Phil Hardberger, the maverick San Antonio attorney, would be the finest addition to the state Senate since spittoons. He’s running for the 26th district seat now held by Frank Lombardino, whose record is appalling. It is not merely that Hardberger’s populist votes would be more to our liking, but that his intelligence and drive would assure him a major leadership role in the Senate, where he’d likely team up with Lloyd Doggett, Bill Patman, Babe Schwartz and Carlos Truan to form a progressive core capable of significant legislative achievements in the 31-member body. Another attorney with a populist bent, Jim Lane of Fort Worth, is making a good race against arch-conservative incumbent Bill Meier, and it’s hard to think of a better trade \(unless someone would take Bill Moore for a low draft choice to In the House, five incumbents get our voteJerry Benedict of Angleton, Mary Jane Bode of Austin, Ernestine Glossbrenner of Alice, Chris Miller of Fort Worth and Ron Waters of Houston. In addition, we endorse and urge you to support Fort Worth attorney Art Brender, who is running for the House seat vacated by Roy English. Eds. THE TEXAS OBSERVER