Pickett Bailing Out to GOP?

Who says we won’t have David Pickett to kick around anymore? The recently ousted Democratic County Commissioner claims he’s retired to a quiet life of practicing law. But those close to him say he’s still plenty interested in politics – enough to be contemplating a switch to the Republican Party and a 1982 congressional bid.

Pickett is known to have considered GOP affiliation as early as 1972, when he ran for the State Legislature. His decision to stay with the Democrats was a matter of practicality: At that time state representatives were still elected at large, and the Democrats had a stranglehold on the delegation’s slating. Unfortunately, a federal court threw out the at-large system and mandated single-member districts before that spring’s primaries – placing Pickett in a Republican swing district in East Dallas and sending him to defeat at the hands of Republican Frank Gaston.

Many observers feel he’s burned for good with the county Democratic Party and that the GOP, always short on young, articulate candidates, is his only chance. Whatever Pickett decides, he is apparently covering all bases. While maintaining his Democratic Party contacts, he is rumored to be interested in hooking up with John Connally’s Presidential campaign to build some credibility with Republicans.