ustxtxb_obs_1982_04_09_50_00012-00000_000.pdf

Good books in every field JENKINS PUBLISHING CO. The Pemberton Press John H. Jenkins, Publisher Box 2085 \(I Austin 78768 in Houston ?? 485 LUXURIOUS ROOMS & SUITES!! Across From Texas Medical Center Convenient to Everything: 5 Min to Domed Stadium & Domed World Rice Stadium Zoo Golf Course Fat Stock Show TIDES 11 MOTOR INN 6700 South Main, Houston CALL 713-522-2811 Mattox… Continued from page 11 Mattox’s liberalism was latent long before he developed political ambitions. It sprang from his religious background. He sees politics as a way to carry out a certain amount of Christian responsibility. He said the things he would emphasize as attorney general are the same things he’s always highlighted civil rights, consumer protection, and taking care of the less fortunate. “Everything Jim does comes from the Bible,” an aide says. “That’s why he isn’t always there on environmental issues, for instance. The Bible isn’t as clear there as it is on these other things.” Mattox says a priority in the attorney general’s office would be enforcing the antitrust laws “to keep the big businesses from destroying the small businesses.” He also said there needs to be a “re-birth of the attorney general’s consumer-protection division.” On the prison lawsuit, which the next attorney general likely must deal with, Mattox said a settlement will take “a change of attitude” on the part of the state. “I think about half of Judge Justice’s order is correct,” he said. “It’s terribly overcrowded down there. We’re housing violent criminals with less than violent ones. That’s no good.” Mattox said he would like to make the regional AG offices strong enough “to where people can get to them and get help with their problems.” Having been through two harrowing congressional campaigns against nowACTION director Tom Pauken, Mattox is aware that some of his ideas won’t attract much money. “It’s pretty obvious that I’m not going to have the support of the big lobby groups in this campaign,” he said. But, he thinks he’s what the people want. “The people want an attorney who will represent them. They’re tired of having the state capitol that’s become a plaything for rich people,” he says. “If Bill Clements and the powers that be haven’t liked me representing them in Washington, they surely won’t like me watching them every day in Austin.” Some people apparently agree. Since his endorsement in January, Mattox has picked up endorsements from the Texas AFL-CIO, the Mexican-American Democrats, the Coalition of Black Democrats and the Progressive Voters League of Dallas. The PVL endorsement is curious, since it was that group’s board chairman, John Wiley Price, who lobbied to have Mattox’s congressional district converted to a Republican seat so Martin Frost’s 24th District would be a minority district. “This is Jim’s home turf, and he’s gonna be a hard son-of-a-bitch to beat,” Price said, adding that there were no hard feelings about the redistricting figtt. “If I’d been going strictly on the basis ‘ of redistricting, I’d have taken Jack Ogg what we wanted done,” Price said. Citing the endorsements, the number of people who’ve heard his name, and his organizational ability, Mattox claims he is the strongest candidate in the race. “The other guys have never led anything before,” he said. “Throughout my career, I’ve proved that I can lead.” During two terms in the Legislature, Mattox led the opposition to the conservative leadership. He was floor leader for the marijuana law-reform effort and helped establish the Public Utility Commission. He also formed the House Study Group, a gathering of moderate and liberal legislators who researched potentially harmful bills and found ways to defeat them. Mattox’s opponents say no one has high name-identification in this race. Former U.S. attorney John Hannah says that Mattox, like Ogg and retiring West Texas State University president Max Sherman, are politicians, not lawyers. On this, Mattox cites a program he wants to implement that would bring the best law-school graduates into the attorney general’s office. He thinks his leadership abilities and experience with four levels of government he was a precinct captain in East Dallas and worked for a time as a prosecutor in the office of Dallas District Attorney Henry Wade make him the most wellrounded candidate. “When people go out and interview for a job, they look at their resume,” Mattox said. “I have a good resume. I have the ability to deal with this new federalism that Mr. Reagan is talking about. I think I’m in a better position to know what problems states will face.” Although he says he hates to leave Congress, Mattox’s friends say he’s tired of campaigning every two years, and that he wants more of a voice than being 1/435 of a governing body provides. His voting record last year wasn’t particularly conducive to re-election in the Fifth District before the judges redrew the lines. Mattox voted with President Reagan only 29% of the time, one of the three lowest percentages m the Texas delegation. He also got his highest rating yet from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action, 55%. Ralph Nader’s consumer organization Public Citizen rated Mattox in agreement with its views 53% of the time, second-highest in the delegation. But, there are problems. Mattox has never run statewide before, and he said he hasn’t been this scared since he took his bar exams. Although he has a good organization, expanding statewide in a hurry isn’t easy. And there’s the money thing. The lobby money, he says, will likely go to Ogg. “No matter how much we raise, we will be outspent in this race,” Mattox told supporters. Jon Weist is the editor of the student newspaper at UT-Arlington. Personal Service Quality Insurance ALICE ANDERSON AGENCY INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE 808A E. 46th, Austin, Texas 459-6577 ginnys ‘ COPYING SERVICE Copying Binding Printing Color Copying Graphics Word Processing Austin Lubbock Son Marcos 12 APRIL 9, 1982