ustxtxb_obs_1980_10_17_50_00010-00000_000.pdf

House races Democrats would love to replace prolobby Rep. Bob Davis, R-Irving, with Democrat Carroll Brown. Brown, a real estate man and former Methodist minister, is the Democrats’ number one choice to replace an incumbent in the House. But Davis is tough and can be expected to wage an effective campaign to keep his seat. Paul Colbert, former staff member of the Senate Education Committee, is another Democrat singled out for special attention this year. Colbert, a young and articulate Houstonite, beat seven other candidates for the chance to meet Dan Downey, the Republican, in the general election. Downey is the incumbent, although he has never served, since he won a special election in February. Democrats point with some pleasure to the fact that Downey is from Michigan and has only been in Texas for three years. Garland Rep. Anita Hill is another Republican on the Democrats’ hit list, since she switched parties last year. Hill apparently has a slight edge over her Democratic opponent, Mary Nichols. Rep. Bob Ware, R-Fort Worth, had the distinction during his first term of being named to Texas Monthly’s list of 10 OCTOBER 17, 1980 “10 Worst” legislators. Fort Worth attorney Dick Price, a moderate Democrat, will attempt to unseat Ware, a “lobby mooch” who does little to earn his legislative keep. In Lubbock, voters will have a chance to choose between longtime city council member Caroline Jordan, a Democrat, and Republican incumbent Nolan “Buss” Robnett. Democrats saythe woman from West Texas has “an outside chance” of beating Robnett in this very heated race. Voters in San Antonio’s Dist. 57-H have a chance to elect a solid progressive in the person of Joyce Dorrycott this year. Dorrycott is running in a tough race against Republican Kae Patrick for the spot formerly held by Don Cartwright. Dorrycott, a teacher at Southwest Texas State University, beat Cartwright, her former boss, in the June 7 runoff. Democrat Ted Kloesel of Baytown could beat an incumbent Republican in the working class, union-oriented 78th district Kloesel, described as liberal to moderate and a union member, is seeking to oust Rep. Ed Emmett. Emmett voted wisely on only three of 15 important issues during the last session, according to Observer records [Obs., June 8, 19791 Rep. Jerry Benedict, D-Angleton, is the kind of incumbent progressives should like to see re-elected. Benedict voted against higher interest rates, for consumer protection, against price-fixing by truckers, and generally stood up for the interests of Texans in 1979. He is opposed this time by Republican George Gabriles of Lake Jackson. Benedict will probably win, but this is another race that could be determined by the fortunes of Reagan and Carter. Rep. Ted Lyon, D-Mesquite, served a distinguished first term in the House in 1979 and is expected to become a strong leader if re-elected. His opponent, Republican Jim Airhart, is hoping the CBtoting voters of this district will dump Lyon along with Carter. Three moderate Democrats and three Republicans round out our list of candidates in hotly contested races. Democrat Mary Haynes is expected to have a tough race against Republican Jack C. Vowell for the El Paso seat vacated by Luther Jones. Vowell sits on the board of First City National Bank in El Paso, has been president of his own construction company and a teacher at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and UT El Paso. \(So why does he another El Paso race, Rep. Mary Polk is running against her old political opponent, S. L. Abbott, an optometrist who won a special election but lost in the general election of 1978. Republican Don Whitefield, leader of a neighborhood tax revolt in Houston, is taking on Rep. Clint Hackney, the Democratic incumbent.