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Moron with Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and State Rep. Gonzalo Barrientos. able to attacks from his Republican opponent Mike Richards. Richards, 43, is a banker, financial consultant and former congressional candidate on the Democratic ticket. Richards was instrumental in prompting Travis County D. A. Ronnie Earle’s investigation of charges that Jones’ office staff was used to send out campaign materials. Both Richards and Clower challenger Dee Travis are graduates of Abilene Christian College and both are running well-organized campaigns. So who’s out to get Babe Schwartz, the dean of the Senate? Start with the auto dealers, then add bankers, realtors and every lobbyist who hates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. If these folks have their way, Schwartz, Clower and Jones will be out of the Senate in time for another attack on the best interests of Texas consumers. Gene Fondren, lobbyist for the auto dealers, has already announced his plan to “amend” the law so that victims of fraud will have almost no remedies remaining. Other hot Senate races are shaping up in the 15th and 16th districts \(Houston nated by Bryan/College Station and Stephenville/Cleburne. Republican Richard Parker, former chief legislative counsel to U.S. Sen. John Tower, has, with the help of Gov. Bill Clements, managed to raise enough money to seriously challenge Sen. Jack Ogg, a two-term incumbent from Houston. In Dallas, former Republican county chairman John Leedom is hoping voters will choose him over former Democratic county chairman Ron Kessler for the senate seat vacated by Bill Braecklein. Kessler is considered moderate, Leedom ultra-conservative. This race would seem to hinge mainly on personality and party loyalty. Democrats have a real grudge against Jay Brummett, however. Brummett is a former aide to State Sen. Peyton McKnight, D-Tyler, and nephew of Claudia Brummett, a former officer in the Texas Democratic Party. Now Brummett is running for the Senate as a Republican from Cleburne. His opponent is Bob Glasgow of Stephenville, who is described by admirers as an independent, tough-minded populist and former district attorney. In the Bryan/College Station area, Bill Moore’s. nemesis, Kent Capteron [Obs., May 231, still has to overcome the hurdle of Republican opponent N. A. McNeil. Whether this contest is a horserace may depend on what the old Bull of the Brazos does. \(Moore has been seen with John Connally and Bill Clements in chance of taking this seat but not a good chance. Bill Sarpalius, a conservative Democrat from Hereford, is trying hard to oust the superconservative Republican incumbent Bob Price from his seat in the Senate. Whether the highly independent voters in the Panhandle will trade in Price for Sarpalius is anybody’s guess. arrests were the result of an investigation into thefts occurring in February and March 1979. According to Moron, the sheriff’s office “offered deals” to everyone arrested in return for testimony against Moron and a plea of guilty. The deal was accepted by one of the ex-cons, who told the grand jury that he and Moron stole six aluminum windows from the Hurst Lumber Co. on Feb. 1, 1979. MorOn says he does not know the man who testified against him, that he did not take the windows and does not even use that brand. The grdnd jury never got to hear his side of the story, even though some members of the grand jury asked for additional evidence. The foreman of the grand jury called for a vote. Although some members of the panel did not feel prepared to make a decision on the Moron indictment, the vote was taken and the nine votes needed under Texas law were recorded. A short time later, the four MexicanAmerican members of the grand jury asked if they could call more witnesses to testify about the thefts. The foreman put it to a vote. Eight Anglos voted ‘no,’ and four Mexican-Americans voted `yes.’ Then the four asked if they could \ake another vote on the indictments. That question was put to a vote, with the same eight to four result. With less than nine yes votes, the indictment was dismissed. These facts came out when MorOn’s attorney filed a motion to quash the in dictments and Judge Ronald Yeager held a hearing last month on the matter. The Beeville Bee-Picayune, in its never-ending search for justice, has suggested that the defendants be reindicted by a new grand jury. To quote from a recent editorial: “We are sure several of those indicted would welcome the opportunity to go to trial and clear their names. We are equally certain that a new grand jury must be impaneled which will serve the cause of justice and in so doing reestablish Bee County’s good reputation.” The newspaper is not alone in its con cern for Bee County’s reputation. Says Moron, “The damage was not only to myself but to Bee County. I think \(this County throughout the state.” “A lot of Mexican-Americans are upset,” about the indictments, “and Anglos too,” according to Moron. “It’s really sad because it’s just a small percentage of people who are instigating it at the expense of all the taxpayers. “It makes me real angry but I’m not bitter,” says the candidate. He has no time for bitterness. He has to get out the vote one more time to defeat Republican Jay Reynolds. Jo Clifton THE TEXAS OBSERVER 9