| Richardson School Board Member Challenges Goolsby |
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| by Carolyn Barta | Sun, Jun 22, 2008, 11:47 AM |
 Longtime Republican State Rep. Tony Goolsby faces a challenge in November from Richardson School Board member Carol Kent in one of the more closely watched legislative districts in the state. Democrats need five seats to take the state House back from the GOP, and strategists regard District 102 in North Dallas as a possible pick-off seat. Goolsby had to fight off a feisty opponent in 2006 and 2004, and the Democrat candidate this time is more firmly rooted in the district, in addition to running in a more Democrat-friendly election year. She says education will be her big issue.
Kent was one of the legislative candidates making the rounds at the recent Democratic State Convention. We caught up with her at the women's caucus, where she introduced herself as a sixth generation Texan who grew up in Garland and raised her children in Lake Highlands, where she was active in PTA work and other RISD volunteer work before she went on the Richardson School Board in 2004. The district includes parts of Dallas and Garland ISD but is mostly in the RISD. She said Goolsby, a 74-year-old insurance salesman, has been in office long enough at 19 years and is out of touch. Education is her strong suit. "People are eager to see somebody as active as I have been on the RISD school board" running for the Legislature, she said. "I'm tired of apologizing for the Legislature on education bandaids," she said, vowing that she would work to make every session an "education session." Kent is attractive, articulate, and should make a good candidate. In the last two elections, Democrat Harriet Miller gave Goolsby a run. In 2004, Goolsby got 53 percent, but only 2,500 votes separated the two candidates in the 40,000-vote turnout. In 2006, Goolsby staged a more aggressive campaign but Miller cut his margin to 52 percent. Now, in another presidential year, the climate is better for a Democrat because of President Bush's unpopularity, changing demographics in the district (a growing black and Hispanic population) and a depressed Republican Party since Democrats took over the county in 2006. Local Democratic analysts say that 2006 was about winning countywide offices but 2008 is going to about winning some perimeter legislative seats. They expect to benefit from a large and enthusiastic turnout behind presidential candidate Barack Obama and a suppressed Republican turnout, partly because of lack of enthusiasm for John McCain. One issue, however, is whether Kent can raise enough money to get some visibility against the well-funded Goolsby. Goolsby, also, is still subject to a libel suit that Miller filed against him and the Dallas GOP, claiming she was defamed during the '06 campaign when Goolsby alleged that she had committed voter fraud. The suit has yet to go to court. The worst outcome for Goolsby is that he might get some negatie publicity. The Burnt Orange Report (a progressive Demo blog) has listed District 102 as one of the seven most competitive House districts in the state, and the liberal Texas Observer has predicted "tough times for Tony Goolsby." However, Republican analysts say Democrats are dreaming to think they can deny election to somebody with the name identification of Goolsby in what has long been a Republican district. Besides, they say, Goolsby got his wakeup call when running against Harriet Miller, and he won't be caught cat-napping in the upcoming election. More information on Goolsby is available on the Texas House Web site. See Carol Kent's campaign Web site here. (This is the first of several reports on upcoming district races.)
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Comments (7)
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written by maximus , June 22, 2008 I just visited Ms. Kent's website. I agree that she's an attractive and intelligent candidate. She claims to be a "centrist" Democrat, but her website suggests that she will attempt to fix public education by throwing more tax dollars at it. She also cites her desire to expand taxpayer-funded insurance programs for children, and protect clean air. While she's undoubtedly attractive and articulate,her rhetoric suggests that she favors bigger government and higher spending. Are these "centrist" positions?
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written by Farinata X , June 23, 2008 It's not "bigger government," Mr. One-Note Maximus. It's "competent government," which guys like Goolsby have demontrated they are incapable of providing. And Kent has plenty of name recognition from her service with Richardson ISD. Besides, the contrast alone between this attractive, smart, capable woman and the tired old bag Goolsby should be enough to carry the day.
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written by mightcan , June 23, 2008 Ah yes, the old "throw money at the problem". Should teachers work for free? Should students pay each day for education? Budgeting wisely, spending thriftily, and planning smartly would seem to be centrist to most. Except of course to a Republican who believes that an educated population reduces the number of Republican voters. Of course they have to be against education! Maybe we can transfer some of that school building budget from Iraq back to the US. You mean, like IRAQ?
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written by Lenna Webb , June 23, 2008 You only have to talk with Carol and ask her the hard questions about what to do about education to find out that her experience in public and higher ed make her vastly qualified to bring some sanity to the legislature. She and the rest of the RISD members have accomplished so much in a district that is economically and racially diverse with very little money. Tony claims to have been a school principle ... yea, in a tiny school. How does that qualify him to know what is best for our schools?
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written by Old Red , June 23, 2008 Isn't Goolsby being sued over his actions in the last election? Write comment
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