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State Rep. Mark Shelton refiles ethics complaint against Wendy Davis

FORT  WORTH -- State Rep. Mark Shelton has re-filed an ethics complaint against state Sen. Wendy Davis for "not disclosing her business relationships with state lobbyists."

The original complaint Shelton, a Republican, filed earlier this month was dismissed last week by the Texas Ethics Commission for not meeting "legal and technical form requirements."

Shelton's campaign staff said they fixed the problem cited by the commission and resubmitted the complaint late Friday.

Davis, a Democrat, and Shelton are locked in a contentious battle for state Senate District 10, which she currently represents.

This is one of the most watched political fights in Texas, as Republican leaders in Congress and statewide stand with Shelton in an effort to reclaim the district for the GOP and Democrats statewide stand with Davis in her quest to serve another four years in the Texas Senate. In 2008, in another fierce battle for this district, Davis unseated longtime Republican state Sen. Kim Brimer of Arlington.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Texas sec'y of state pays Tarrant County a visit

Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade met with Tarrant County Elections Administrator Steve Raborn and his staff (Eduardo Montoya, seated at left, and Johnathon Almaguer, far right, shown here) at the Tarrant County Elections Center on Tuesday in advance of the Nov. 6 general elections. (Photos by Paul Moseley)

Clinton - Bill, that is -- heads to San Antone

Texas is still Democratic-friendly in some parts. Former President Bill Clinton will be in San Antonio Thursday to rally Democrats and help give a boost to Texas Rep. Pete Gallego, D-San Antonio.

Gallego is neck-and-neck in a race with frosh U.S. Rep. Quico Canseco, R-San Antonio, for the 23rd congressional district, which stretches from San Antonio to the ouskirts of El Paso.

“President Clinton's visit will play a huge role in energizing and mobilizing supporters," Gallego said in a news release. "President Clinton is hugely popular and highly regarded around here for his exceptional public service on behalf of middle-class families. It will be an honor to share the stage with President Clinton, particularly at a time when there are many crucial issues facing middle-class families.”

-- Maria Recio

Fort Worth Police Association says Chamber wants pension cuts so more money's left for tax abatements

The Fort Worth Police Officers Association stepped up its campaign to at least stop Tuesday’s City Council vote on pension cuts, with a robocall and mailer over the weekend.

In the robocall, Sgt. Steve Hall, association president (pictured left), says the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce wants the pension cuts so more money is available in the city budget for tax abatements to business.

"The chamber's plan tells police that tax abatements are more important than law enforcement," the glossy mailer says.

"The Fort Worth Chamber's proposal to cut our line of duty glossy pension benefits is a direct order to police officers to not take RISKS when protecting our citizens."

The letter also says “the Fort Worth Chamber is telling police officers to not risk their lives saving citizens.”

The robocall asks citizens to contact Mayor Betsy Price. The mailer asks citizens to contact Price and their council members.

A group of business leaders affiliated with the chamber has been pressing the city for pension cuts, arguing it’s the only way to bring the city’s unfunded pension liability under control.

The city's proposed pension cuts would be for future service, but not affect benetits already accrued, which is barred by state constitution. The police association argues that cutting current officers' future benefits is the same as cutting vested ones and is unconstitutional.

Here's Sunday's print story in the Star-Telegram on the pension: "Fort Worth city employees seek delay in pension vote"

Here's some recent Star-Telegram print coverage:

"PR campaign gains steam as Fort Worth city pension vote draws near"

"Fort Worth council members wrestle over proposed pension changes"

"Fort Worth Police vote to hike pension contributions in exchange for keeping benefits formula"

"Fort Worth Council starts clock ticking on pension changes"

- Scott Nishimura, Star-Telegram Fort Worth City Hall reporter

 

Last debate for the U.S. Senate is tonight

Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Paul Sadler face off tonight in their second and final debate at 7 p.m. in the battle to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate next year.

The hour-long debate will be held at public television station KERA's Dallas studio and will be broadcast on more than 40 commercial and public radio and television stations. It also will air live on C-SPAN.

Locally, you can listen to the debate live on KERA-FM 90.1 or watch it live on KERA-TV, Channel 13.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

 

Big turnout for Texas Senate District 10 debate

FORT WORTH -- With just about 15 minutes to go until the third debate between state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and state Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, kicks off, seats are running out quickly.

The debate at TCU's alumni center kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs until 8:30 p.m. and the more than 300 seats set up for the event are nearly all gone.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Tonight: Texas Senate 10 debate

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and state Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, have their third debate at 7 tonight in their battle for the Texas Senate District 10 seat.

The debate will be at TCU's Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center ballroom, 2820 Stadium Drive.

It is free, open to the public and scheduled to last 90 minutes. Seating begins at 6:45 p.m. The debate is hosted by the TCU Forensics Team, which competes in public-speaking and debate events.

Those not able to attend may listen to the debate on the radio at 88.7 FM, KTCU, or watch a livestream of the debate on the CBS 11 news website, according to TCU officials.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Wendy Davis and Mark Shelton face off in first Texas Senate 10 debate today

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and state Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth,

square off for their first debate at 9:30 a.m. today at the Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus.

The two are locked in a hotly contested battle for the state Senate District 10 seat that Davis currently holds. The district includes part of Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Colleyville and other areas of south and Northeast Tarrant County.

The contentious race has been marked by heated television commercials, allegations of possible criminal activity and fiery rhetoric.

Shelton and Davis will debate from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Energy Auditorium, 300 Trinity Campus Circle. The debate is sponsored by the Texas Prosperity Project.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Fort Worth Herd adding another new steer: Texas Red, from Illinois

The Fort Worth Herd is receiving another Longhorn steer: Texas Red, at seven months, the youngest steer to ever join the Herd, is enroute from Illinois and scheduled to arrive Thursday morning.

The 500-pound steer, a tri-colored brindle with a black face, is coming from a ranch in Illinois. Johnston Legal Group, a Fort Worth law firm that is a member of the Herd board, bought him from a Texas Longhorn breeder and donated him to the Herd, Kristin Jaworski, the Herd’s trail boss, said.

Texas Red is the 19th steer in the Herd, joining recent newcomers James and Joel, donated by a farm in Missouri.

The Herd will look to retire one of its older steers to keep its numbers at 18, Jaworski said.

"I want to use 16 every day and have a couple of spares," she said.

Texas Red, who currently has just nubs for horns, will be an important addition to the Herd’s youth educational programs, Jaworski said.

His horns will reach full length at age 10, so children will be able to see the difference between Texas Red and a mature Longhorn.

"This’ll give the kids an opportunity to learn more about the Texas Longhorn," she said.

Former Fort Worth City Councilman Jim Lane headed up the formation of the Herd in 1999 to honor the city’s heritage. The Herd initially started at 15 steers, one for each decade of the city’s history, and grew from there.

The Longhorns take a twice-daily stroll through the Fort Worth Stockyards and are a popular tourist attraction.

- Scott Nishimura, Star-Telegram Fort Worth City Hall reporter

Town of Romney sign spray-painted 'Obama'

The roadside sign announcing you've arrived at Romney, the tiny Eastland County community about 120 miles southwest of Fort Worth, has been spray-painted and now says "Obama." According to Sandy Koonce who lives about five miles away, the graffiti has been there since at least last Tuesday when her 10-year-old daughter, Danielle, spotted it on the way home from soccer practice. "She said 'Mom. Look!'" Koonce said. "She thought about it for a minute and she got it." A dispatcher at the Eastland County Sheriff's office Monday said she knew nothing about the defaced sign and that no investigators were on duty because of the Columbus Day Holiday. Koonce has no idea who spray-painted the sign but wonders if it was political or not. "Of course we have a lot of pranks around here," Koonce said. "Kids are doing stuff all the time. You never know who would do something like this."

-- Bill Hanna