UT alumnus and former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell spoke to a group of Austin activists Wednesday night about his possible bid for Texas governor.
Bell is the first person to deliver a campaign speech for the 2006 elections and, so far, the only Democrat to say he will run.
Bell's speech focused on the need for moral and fiscal reform in the current Texas government. His comments about the important role "high-rolling lobbyists and entrenched partisan ideologues" play in state politics were greeted with applause.
"Rick Perry only listens to divisive, partisan screeching or the gentle cooing of his staffers who cycle on and off the retainers of state contractors," Bell said.
He also criticized recent tuition increases in higher education and said the increases reflected the state's moral and fiscal priorities.
"Budgets are moral documents because they reflect our common priorities," he said. "No budget is balanced that relies on raising the barriers to a college education."
The Austin chapter of Democracy for Texas, a progressive group committed to providing grass roots training for local activists, invited Bell to speak at one of their meetings before he announced his bid for governor.
"I wasn't aware that he was thinking about running for governor, but I'm certainly delighted it worked out that way," said Fran Vincent, executive director of DFT.
Vincent said she asked Bell to speak after he filed an ethics complaint in 2004 against U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land. Bell accused DeLay of bribery, money-laundering and abuse of power. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct investigated Bell's complaint and eventually reprimanded DeLay for many of his actions.
Since then, Bell has gained a reputation for his strong stance on ethics and is known in some circles as a "reform candidate."
"I respect someone who has the courage to uncover the corruption involved with Tom DeLay," said Larkin Campbell, a government junior and University Democrats volunteer coordinator who attended the event.
Bell has not yet filled out the forms necessary to officially run for governor and says right now he is merely "exploring the possibility" of running.
James Henson, a government professor at the University who teaches classes and directs a Web site about Texas politics, said Bell did not yet have the statewide name recognition or the funding necessary to win a Democratic nomination in the primaries next March. But Bell's early start on campaigning might help him overcome those problems, Henson said.
"We decided we couldn't wait around for other people to make their decision," Bell said.
In his speech, Bell said he knew he faced a tough challenge. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, and Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn are both rumored to be running for the Republican ticket, in addition to Perry.
"Here's the million-dollar question on the mind of any Democratic candidate: 'If I run against Rick Perry, I have a 50/50 chance of winning. If I run against Kay Bailey Hutchinson, I have zero,'" said Rick Coter, member of Democracy for Texas.
Henson said the Texas Democratic Party needs "a better message, and better candidates to carry that message" in order to win the governorship.
"They're at a disadvantage given the demographics of the state right now," he said.
But Vincent didn't seem too discouraged.
"I really think that if we are able to be clear about what we stand for people will realize that their values are much more in line with the Democrats," Vincent said.
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