This year, for the first time in a generation, Texas Democrats increased our numbers in the Texas House of Representatives. With Bush polling 62 percent at the top of the ticket, Hubert Vo (a Houston Democrat) knocked off a powerful Republican incumbent by just 31 votes.
Now the GOP machine in Austin is trying to throw the contest in the state House, where their majority can vote to seat the loser. Please click this link
to help Hubert defray the legal expenses associated with the recount.
Hubert Vo won a stunning upset on Tuesday in his rookie race for State Representative, toppling Talmadge Heflin, the 22-year veteran and most powerful member of the Texas Legislature. Hubert Vo came here 30 years ago from Vietnam because he had faith in our democratic system. He has worked hard and succeeded as a businessman and now as a first-time candidate.
His opponent, Talmadge Heflin, the powerful head of the Appropriations Committee, has not conceded and is threatening to contest the election in the Texas House of Representatives.
A recount, however, is not a necessary prerequisite to contest the election. Heflin has until Dec. 8 to do that. The election would then be thrown to the House of Representatives, which could either seat Vo or overturn the election and require a new vote. With an 87-62 Republican majority (excluding the contested seat) in the House, partisanship could become a factor.
This is the same extremely partisan House of Representatives that passed Tom DeLay's redistricting plan in 2003. Please don't let them steal this election from Hubert Vo. Click here to contribute.
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For more information on Hubert Vo, see this recent editorial from the Houston Chronicle:
Two Cities: Immigrant's win in state House race shines a light on Houston's political and social future.
This year's race for state representative, District 149, can be seen as a tale of two cities. In one city, year after year, the white Republican residents in the majority choose a white, Republican representative committed to low taxes and inadequate government services. In the other city, the population is diverse and growing more so. An immigrant from Vietnam is able to get slightly more than half the vote by expressing concern for children's health insurance, education and other social services.
The first city is an historical reference point. The second city constitutes today's reality and sheds light on Houston's future.
The Chronicle endorsed the candidacy of incumbent Republican state Rep. Talmadge Heflin, in part because of his assurance that he would work in the coming session to restore funds cut from children's health and other social programs. The Chronicle congratulates Democrat Hubert Vo on his apparent victory, secured by the slender margin of 31 votes.
Vo embodies Houston's open and constantly changing society. A native of Vietnam, Vo gained his education in Houston and made the most of his business opportunities. Vo's grass-roots campaign imparts the lesson that in evolving suburban districts, Republicans cannot take victory for granted.
Heflin's supporters say he has not decided whether to ask for a recount. A recount holds little promise. The electronic voting machines and hand canvassing of absentee and provisional ballots are under the purview of Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, a Republican whose office is a stranger to scandal.
Heflin could also protest the election in the Republican-dominated Texas House. The House could either seat Vo or order a new election.
Heflin has another alternative; he could graciously concede. Last week Sen. John Kerry provided an excellent example of how it is done.
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For information on Heflin, including his attempt to take away the child of his off-the-books maid, click [here http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2004-10-21/sidebar.html] and [here http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:azufbS5qfKMJ:andrew-d.mydd.com/+talmadge+heflin&hl=en] (Andrew's Diary on My DD)