| Transcript |
Who deserves to win?
(continued from page 3)
ANTHONY HALL
However, the Observer concluded that
"He had gotten to the nitty gritty of the
problem faced by many liberal legislators.
He had made a choice between a progressive candidate (Farenthold) and practical
politics (Briscoe)."
Because Briscoe courts the support of
the business community and the middle-
class and has a dismal record on progressive issues, Hall's "Briscoe image" hurts
him with liberals.
"Sure. The black community has
gotten only crumbs in return. But
conservative crumbs are like liberal
crumbs. Crumbs are crumbs."
However, he did not vote for the conservative West Texan, Billy Clayton, for
Speaker of the House as did some liberals, including Mickey Leland.
Another black observer of the political scene agrees the "Briscoe image" is
the most serious detraction about Hall,
but he adds, "Sure. The black community
has gotten only crumbs in return, [noting
Briscoe's handful of black appointments
to state agencies]. But conservative
crumbs are like liberal crumbs. Crumbs
are crumbs.
"But," this same person says, "Anthony has the least negatives. He is keeping
his nose clean and everyone loves his
wife. He does everything right. He's the
successful, straight American who joins
all the right clubs. This makes you pure
and clean."
Hall's father-in-law is an active union
member. He has been called "Hall's meal
ticket into organized labor."
(continued from page 3)
MICKEY LELAND
Leland's detractors say that he lacks
effectiveness, that he has accomplished
little as a state legislator. However, black
women leaders with the National Women's Political Caucus in Washington are
reported to be really interested in this
political race and in Leland. They believe
that he has shown the leadership ability
vitally needed by the Congressional
Black Caucus and that he could add some
spark to the leadership on Capitol Hill.
An article in the Texas Observer, July
2, 1976, reported that at the June Democratic State Convention, Leland was the
choice of the Black Caucus for a seat on
the Democratic National Committee. He
was running against Hall, who was Briscoe's choice for the position. The Observer quotes Linda McGowan, a black from
Austin, who explained the caucus' reasoning: "If we're gonna have a black on the
DNC, we want one whose main interest is
blacks. Barbara Jordan was too busy and
Anthony Hall's main interest would be labor. So we voted for Mickey."
He says his constituency has expressed
the greatest interest in the issues of unemployment, housing, transportation, inner-city development, and education. He
perceives these as the issues of the campaign, but he says other canditates are
campaigning on personality differences.
Leland has been criticized for treating
women too familiarly, "He is terribly attracted to women. He puts his hands on
them and they are really offended," say
several feminists who worked in Austin
during the last legislative session. In response Leland says, "I am the kind of
person who touches, but I am suppressing
this because I have become conscious that
women perceive this as treating them as
sex objects."
A liberal State Representative from
Houston said recently, "Mickey has
grown up in the last two years and become much more serious about his work.
And I trust his heart."
(continued from page 3)
JUDSON ROBINSON, JR.
community-that of being the "most de-.
spised among men." This story broke on
the front pages of the Houston Chronicle.
After only eight weeks on the city
council, Robinson, in a few words, "negated the source of black concern for the
past eight years," a March 4, 1972 For-,
ward Times editorial charged. "It appears
that Robinson was either insenitive, ignorant or easily misled."
"Judson Robinson got elected
because he wouldn't disturb the
status quo."
Robinson's campaign slogan is "Making Headway, Not Headlines." His critics
suggest he makes no headlines because he
does nothing newsworthy. One feminist
characterizes him as lukewarm on women's issues and says, "He's not aggressive. It's my personal reaction he doesn't
stand for anything. When pushed in a corner hell vote right."
In November, 1976, a number of individuals and organizations brought suit
against Mayor Fred Hofheinz and the
city council members to implement single-member district elections and representation on city council. One of the
witnesses for the plaintiffs was Moses
LeRoy. He is president of the Citizen's
Participation Committee of the Community Development Program.
The court transcript of the suit records
the following:
M.L.: He (Robinson) got elected because
Judson Robinson wouldn't disturb the
status quo.
Q.: . . . Isn't it true that in 1971 Mr. Judson Robinson ran at-large against an incumbent and defeated that incumbent?
M.L.; Yes, he did, by 18 votes . . .
Q.: In a city wide . . .
M.L..... Judson Robinson did win. In all
respect to Judson Robinson, I have nothing against him as an individual, but he
won by about 18 votes. The rationale
there was that, Judson, you go. We're not
even going to count these votes. Mr.
Welch told (incumbent) Curly Miller, "Go
about your business. I'll take care of
you. " They wanted Robinson on there
because they knew Robinson wasn't going to rock the boat.
(continued on page 29)
THE ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ATTORNEYS
has endorsed
JUDGE WELLS STEWART
for the 308th District Court
We as women attorneys have personal experience of his fairness and ability:
Mary E. Bacon
Zinetta Burney
Joann Doughtie
Bonnie Fitch
Jo Ann Gerhardt
Gladys Goffney
Haroldeen Hartsfield
Carolyn Hopson
Juanita Keen
Bettye Lambert
Bernice Davis Leavitt
Phoebe Lester
Bette Pesikoff
Iris Hefter Robinson
Ann Morgan Zimmerer
If you have any questions about his record of fairness and ability, call any one of us listed above.
Political advertisement paid for by friends of Judge Wells Stewart.
APRIL 1978
HOUSTON BREAKTHROUGH
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