Session over, but the politics of 2010 elections set to pick up
Friday, June 5, 2009
tate Sen. Kirk Watson was among the 10 best members of the Texas Legislature this session, according to Texas Monthly.
The magazine released its much-anticipated list of the 10 best and 10 worst lawmakers. Here they are, in no particular order:
Watson, D-Austin
Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas
Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston
Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands
Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano
Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton
Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock
Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond
The 10 Worst:
Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center
Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas
Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball
Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview
Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston
Rep. Richard Pena Raymond, D-Laredo
Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball
Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands
Also:
Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, was put on the “honorable mention” list, along with Reps. Dan Branch, Ruth Jones McClendon and Michael Villarreal and Sens. Kip Averitt and Bob Deuell.
Dishonorable mention: Reps. Norma Chavez, Carl Isett, Betty Brown, David Leibowitz, Tommy Merritt.
Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, was named “furniture,” meaning members who make little more contribution than the desks and chairs. (actual chairs, not chairmen). Other members deemed furniture were Reps. Doc Anderson, Fred Brown, Al Edwards, Joe Farias, Chente Quintanilla, Solomon Ortiz Jr. and Ralph Sheffield, plus Sens. Eddie Lucio and Chris Harris.
Rookie of the Year: Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth.
Read the magazine’s excellent write ups at Texasmonthly.com. Also on the Web site is a podcast with magazine editors and writers discussing each of the 10 best and 10 worst.
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