Thursday, March 28, 2024 Mar 28, 2024
61° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement
Publications

WHO WILL REPLACE TOWER?

By Aimee Larrabee |

When it comes to politics, one thing is certain: By the time next April rolls around, six Texans will swear that they know the state better than anyone else. Those six men want to replace Republican Sen. John Tower.

They’re three Republicans and three Democrats. According to a recent Dallas Morning News survey, one of the Democrats, Robert Krueger, is leading the race, and U.S. Rep. Phil Gramm, a Republican, isn’t far behind. Dallas is obviously an important city to all six, so the question remains: Who’s supporting whom?

Krueger is considered to be the philosophical middleman as far as the Democrats are concerned. The 48-year-old from New Braunfels ran against Tower in 1978, which gained him considerable name recognition. Krueger was an English literature professor at Duke University, and he also served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico. His local supporters include Jess Hay, chief executive officer of Lomas and Net-tleton (and a major Democratic fund-raiser); A. Mack Rogue, a real estate developer; Harmon Schepps of Schepps Dairy; Jack Knox, owner of Café Pacific restaurant; and Tom Dunning, an insurance man who is a friend of Gov. Mark White.

Lloyd Doggett, a 37-year-old Democratic state senator from Austin, has been categorized by some observers as philosophically to the far left -perhaps the most liberal candidate in the race. His supporters include consumer and labor groups, as well as developer Steve Van; state Sen. Oscar Mauzy; ex-Dallas City Councilmember Ricardo Medrano; Celeste Guerrero, aide to Rep. John Bryant; Sandy Kress, an attorney with Johnson & Swanson; and Bill Allensworth, an attorney with Haynes and Boone.

Kent Hance, the third Democratic candidate, is currently a U.S. representative and is considered to be a “Boll Weevil” Democrat. The 40-year-old from Lubbock is a former state senator and an attorney who taught business law at Texas Tech University. His Dallas support comes from Cloyce Box, a local investor; Ed Redlhammer, president of Multi-Amp Corp.; Roy Orr, a banker and former Dallas County commissioner; Tom Gauber, a DeSoto contractor; and Dan Petty, president of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

Gramm leads the Republican race so far. The Georgia-born former economist for Texas A&M was a “Boll Weevil” Democrat unrtil his recent tangle with some House Democratic leaders over his sponsorship of the Reagan budget cuts. His local supporters include former GOP state chairman Ray Hutchison, an attorney and bond counsel for DART; Louis Beecherl, retired chairman of the board of Texas Oil & Gas Co.; H. R. Bright, chairman of the board of regents for Texas A&M University and partner of Bright & Co.; and Martha Crowley, wife of Dallas County Judge Frank Crowley.

Rob Mosbacher, another Republican nominee, is a former aide to Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. The 32-year-old Houstonian is currently working for his family’s oil company. Topping Mos-bacher’s list of local supporters are Bill and Sally McKenzie (Bill is an attorney and a former Dallas County GOP chairman; Sally is a longtime local GOP activist). Also on the list are local oil magnate Edwin L. Cox; real estate developer Harlan Crow; Republican political activist Dorothy Golden; and attorney Bill Elliot.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the third Republican candidate, is an obstetrician/gynecologist from Lake Jackson. The 43-year-old Paul, who reportedly has a strong following among members of the “New Right,” chose not to release the names of his supporters.

Related Articles

Image
Hot Properties

Hot Property: This Preston Hollow Modern Has Limestone as Old as Dinosaurs

Designed by Todd Hamilton, the mansion features lots of organic elements, including a shell stone only found in Texas.
Image
Restaurants & Bars

Vinito Is the Little Wine Shop That Could—Sell Mexican Wine

In Oak Cliff, two best friends are quietly wooing customers with the vines and unique blends of Mexico.
Image
Business

Experts Weigh In: What the NAR Settlement Could Mean for DFW’s Residential Market

Rogers Healy, Briggs Freeman's Russ Anderson, and Allie Beth Allman's Keith Conlon share insights on the landmark National Association of Realtors lawsuit.
Advertisement