Burnt Orange Report

Matt Glazer for HD 122

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

A personal friend of mine, Matt Glazer, who traveled with me to the Democratic National Convention last summer from SD 25 (and was the youngest Texas delegate all of 15 minutes before I was elected out of SD 24) has announced that he is forming an Exploratory Committee to run against Rep. Corte in HD 122, a San Antonio seat that he hasn't been really challenged in since 1992.

It's one of those 75/25 districts on the surface, but when incumbents sit unchallenged for too long it's hard to gauge what their true level of support is. Personally, I know it's a long shot, but then again, everything in Texas is these days. And though I'm not expecting massive wins in Texas in 2006, I support Matt's effort because by running he helps build the Party on a local level where it hasn't been tended to for a decade.

In addition, 40 Precincts (or was it 40%, have to check) of HD 122 overlays CD 21 where John Courage is running against Lamar Smith so it provides yet another underlying house seat that will have a Democratic candidate active on the ground, (adding to pieces of Strama's seat, Baxter and Keel's challenges seats, as well two of Patrick Rose's counties). John and Matt are well acquainted which is all the better to the both of them.

Included in the extended entry is a letter from Matt about this race. Please leave your thoughts and comments below.

UPDATE: The Jeffersonian has a bit of a profile on the district here and Kuff just weighed in with his thoughts.

Dear Friend,

San Antonio and its neighbors to the north deserve a Representative who listens to their concerns and fights for their beliefs. Currently, House District 122 has a selected official that has twice been elected as one of the worst legislators in Texas by Texas Monthly. He is a man who champions the interests of Houston businesses over the needs of his own district. He consistently votes against women and minorities, and he supports measures that make our public schools unequal and inadequate according to Texas Supreme Courts standards.

Right now, in San Antonio, progressive groups are trying to find a conservative candidate who is less radical than Mr. Corte. They believe the only way to win is to take him on within his own party. A handful of passionate Democrats have started searching for a progressively minded individual to protect the rights of Texans in district 122, San Antonio, and across Texas.

I believe that we can never be truly successful if we are required to pick the lesser of two evils. I am a man who believes that it is time Democrats and progressively minded groups and individuals banded together to win back key seats in the Texas legislature.

In response to this call for new leadership, I have asked different community leaders and organizations about the possibility of running for this position. Today I am officially announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to establish the necessary legal structure, secure key endorsements, build a diverse and extensive coalition, and most importantly, inquire about the viability of my candidacy. I am inviting you to join this exploratory committee.

I would like your thoughts on this expansive goal. I want to begin having conversations with people across the district and I want to ensure that this campaign makes lasting change. Frank Corte has gone virtually unchallenged since 1992, and that will not be the case in 2006.

House District 122 will show a clear signal that Texans across the state believe that the environment is a right and not a privilege, that women’s rights deserve to be protected, and that education reform requires solutions that produce real results.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you,

Matt Glazer