Democrats for George Antuna

Longtime readers of the blog know that I've been watching the district 118 race for the Texas House. George Antuna is the sort of candidate Republicans should be supporting, as it is essential to the future of the Texas GOP that it develop a crop of future Latino candidates.

Antuna is in the midst of a tough race on San Antonio's South Side in a Democratic-leaning district, but he just might win it. Check out this column by Ken Rodriguez:

At 38, Antuna seems to know more about relevant funding tools for District 118 than Farias, 60.

That may be one reason Antuna is cutting into Farias' Democratic base.

Tuesday morning, Antuna began rattling off names of his Democratic supporters. Among them: Former state Rep. Jerry Beauchamp, former City Councilwoman Toni Moorhouse, former City Councilwoman and County Commissioner Helen Dutmer, and family members of the late Congressman Frank Tejeda.

...

He may be the smarter, more polished and better spoken candidate, but Antuna needs to secure Democratic votes to win.

He needs help from people like Blas Guzman, 68, a longtime South Side Democrat. Antuna won Guzman's support only recently.

"I like the way he talks and explains things about the district," Guzman says. "He moved into the barrio over here. A lot of people would have had second thoughts about that. He's not pushy. He's got humility. I don't think he's a true politician. I think he's a people person."

Once Antuna connected with Guzman, Guzman began talking him up to friends and family.

"It's hard to turn some around," Guzman admits. "They are old, die-hard, straight-ticket voters."

Still, Antuna has more crossover appeal in 118 than does Farias.

Some Democrats are working openly for Antuna. Lillie Tejeda, mother of the late congressman, placed an Antuna sign outside her South Side beauty shop. Others are block-walking and talking to friends.

Farias?

"Do you have any Republican support," I ask.

"No," he says.

... (this is actually the beginning of the article)

At a recent political forum, a questioner asked District 118 House candidate Joe Farias if he would support the Texas Enterprise Fund.
In a stunning show of transparency, Farias pleaded ignorance.

"I'm not familiar with that program," he said.

That's not like Carole Keeton Strayhorn admitting she doesn't know the name of Mexico's president-elect. It's worse.

Yikes. Farias didn't have a clue whether he supports the Texas Enterprise Fund. Antuna has the support of a number of prominent Democrats, and his experience in politics obviously makes him more equipped to jump into the state house. If this weren't a tough year for the GOP, one would have to think Antuna would win this seat.

Antuna has certainly convinced Ken Rodriguez that he's the better candidate, and that it isn't particularly close.

Posted by Evan @ 10/25/06 11:25 PM

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Comments

I'd hate to be Joe Farias. He's going to end up being the first democrat to ever lose in a race for district 118. Everyone else in 118, on the other hand, should be pretty happy about Antuna's chances of winning.

Posted by Gregory @ 10/28/06 08:48 PM

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