Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r sAbout the author

W. Gardner Selby is editor of the Austin American-Statesman’s PolitiFact Texas, the first state-level version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact truth-testing project, created by the St. Petersburg Times. He’s been around Texas politics since boyhood and has written about state government and politics since the early 1980s.

30 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010

Rick PerryNever-beaten, governor for life?

Mike ToomeyLobbyist, presumed frequent adviser to pal Perry

Dan PatrickRadio stations’ owner, talk show host and state senator who exacts sway while speaking up on what’s askew

James HuffinesBanker, quiet adviser to Perry and other top officeholders

Bill HammondPresident, Texas Association of Business, former Texas House member

Susan CombsState comptroller, former state representative; seeks third term in wake of nudging Formula 1 racing to contemplate Texas

Joe StrausSurprise House speaker, so relaxed some forget he overtook predecessor in 2009, partly thanks to House Democrats

David DewhurstLieutenant governor, capable of self-funding 2010 re-election bid, maybe races to come

Deirdre DelisiChair, Texas Transportation Commission, former Perry chief of staff and a campaign manager, bolstered by political consultant-husband, Ted Delisi (they’re rearing twins)

Dave CarneyHonorary Texan; New Hampshire-rooted consultant to Gov. Rick Perry, once worked for White House (ahem)

Matt AngleWashington, director, Texas Democratic Trust political committee, master strategist for Dems yearning for statewide resurgence

Lisa BlueDallas lawyer-philanthropist, widow to John Edwards’ confidante Fred Baron, pivotal funder of Dem groups including trust

Tommy TownsendExecutive director, Texas Trial Lawyers Association

John Eddie WilliamsHouston lawyer, mega-donor, among state-retained attorneys in tobacco case of 1990’s

Bill WhiteFormer Houston mayor, gubernatorial nominee

Karl-Thomas MusselmanPublisher, Burnt Orange Report, made it a must-see blog

Leland BeattyAustin consultant, strategist, maybe visionary

Dan McClungHouston consultant, remembers when (and why) Texas Democrats won statewide races

Ron KirkU.S. trade representative, Obama adviser in 2008 Texas primary, former Dallas mayor, lost ’02 Senate race to John Cornyn; little seen, but many, connections

Becky MoellerPresident, Texas AFL-CIO, poked Perry for living in taxpayer-funded suburban digs by offering trailer near the Capitol; what else does she have in store?

Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s

The Top 10 Republicans

The Top 10 Democrats

The breakdown that follows of the 50 most influ-ential Republican and Democratic figures in Texas politics and government is imperfect, limited by the

unreality that seeps in whenever anyone purports to take in Texas in one slurpy gulp.

Can’t. Be. Done.Still, it was a pleasure to try.This approach is my own, though it draws partly on pri-

vate suggestions from members of the state’s power-political intelligencia, their own lists understandably marked with cross-hatches and disagreements.

In the end, I resisted the inclusion of too many officehold-ers as well as many lively partisans who ably carry out plans

and ideas rather than hatch them. I also tabled my initial in-clination to focus on 20 super-significant GOP players and around 10 Democratic counterparts—a take arguably justi-fied by the uneven, pro-Republican results of jockeying at the Texas Capitol in recent years, but one failing to account for hot speculation within both parties that changes in pow-er and politics are on the way. Such changes will play out, in my view, when a cause or candidate (from either party) stirs Latino residents toward greater public involvement. Boiled out, this list reflects the shift in Texas from Democratic to Republican dominance cemented in statewide elections nearly 20 years ago, and expected shifts beyond the immedi-ate horizon. Oversights are all mine.

T e x a s G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s

L O B B Y I S T S

T e x a s G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s

L O B B Y I S T S

32 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010

Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s

Rosie CastroSan Antonio mother to wunderkind twins Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, and Joaquin Castro, state representative

Ben BarnesFederal lobbyist, former lieutenant governor after House speaker, premier networker

Kirk WatsonAustin state senator, 2002 nominee for Texas attorney general, former Austin mayor, must-see Central Texas politico along with U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin

Scott McCownExecutive director, Center for Public Policy Priorities, liberal-leaning think tank, former state district judge, ever ready with calming advice

Leticia Van de PutteSan Antonio state senator, co-chair 2008 Democratic National Convention, stepped back from statewide run in 2010

Robert JonesPolitical director, Annie’s List, committee devoted to electing Democratic women to legislature and state offices

Lisa TurnerOwner-president, the Turner Group; wife to state Rep. Chris Turner of Arlington

Tom “Smitty” SmithDirector, Texas office of Public Citizen, respected non-partisan player in Capitol halls

Rodney EllisHouston state senator, once acting lieutenant governor, proud protégé of late U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland

Trey Martinez FischerSan Antonio state representative, chairman, Mexican American Legislative Caucus; relentlessly on prowl for his cause

Garnet ColemanHouston state representative, wizened budget/policy wonk

Wendy DavisState senator, former Fort Worth City Council member, unexpectedly unseated GOP incumbent in 2008, eyed for statewide office

Jack MartinFounding chairman, Public Strategies Inc., home at times to consultants Matthew Dowd, Mark McKinnon and the late Kelly Fero (whose political spirit abides)

Katie NaranjoNational president, College Democrats of America, also business partner with Matt Glazer, GNI Strategies, online messaging and fundraising; part of party’s youth core including Rick Cofer, member of Democratic National Committee

John SharpAvowed aspirant for U.S. Senate in 2012, former state comptroller, member of Texas Railroad Commission, state lawmaker

Aimee BoonePresent development director at Texas Democratic Trust and former finance director for the Texas Democratic Party.

Sylvia GarciaHarris County commissioner, former Houston city controller; statewide next?

David MatthiesenHouston lawyer, pivotal in plotting Democratic wins of local judicial races in 2008

Hector GutierrezSemi-retired El Paso lobbyist, has helped candidates in both parties, senior adviser to Gov. Perry when Perry was lieutenant governor

Marc StanleyDallas lawyer, former president, Texas Trial Lawyers Association

The Next 20 Democrats

August 2010 | Campaigns & Elections 33

Peggy VenableState director, grassroots-stirring Americans for Prosperity

Kelly ShackelfordPresident-CEO, Liberty Institute, cause-oriented lawyer with political muscle

Brooke RollinsPresident/CEO, Texas Public Policy Foundation, think tank churns material for R-majority Legislature

Rusty KelleyLobbyist, long-ago roots as aide to (now-late) Democratic House Speaker Bill Clayton

Randy ErbenLobbyist, steeped in state, federal issues

Reggie BashurLobbyist, studious former underling to GOP Govs. Bill Clements, George W. Bush

Dick WeekleyChairman-CEO, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, tort reform advocate Greg AbbottAttorney general seeking third term with eye on lieutenant governor spot—or more Carol ReedDallas, founder and CEO, Carol Reed Associates, Inc.

Todd OlsenAustin direct-mail authority, teamed with Heather and Kevin Shuvalov, firm descended from Karl Rove & Company

Neal T. “Buddy” JonesLobbyist, co-founder, Hillco Partners, former state representative Steve MunisteriHouston lawyer, chairman, Republican Party of Texas. Among founders in 1980’s of Young Conservatives of Texas. Cathie AdamsDallas, longtime Eagle Forum cheerleader, immediate past state GOP chair Rob JohnsonAustin, campaign manager for Perry, former chief of staff to Dewhurst, wired in

Michael Quinn SullivanAustin, President/CEO, Empower Texans, flair for stump, not fearful of tea-party crowd

Bob PerryHouston homebuilder, reclusive mega-donor

Hector De LeonBoard co-chair, Associated Republicans of Texas, figures in GOP bids for legislature John ColyandroExecutive director, Texas Conservative Coalition, the conservative caucus of the Texas state legislature. Onetime Tom DeLay aide carrying unresolved indictment. Ray SullivanChief of staff, Governor’s Office, also one-time aide to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison Boone PickensEnergy entrepreneur, shoulda been a contender (for governor)

The Next 20 Republicans

Upstream Communications

Congratulates

Todd OlsenFor being named

in the...

Texas Influencers

List

Upstream wants to wish good luck to some of our

clients for 2010:

NRSC

Sarah PAC

Grassley for US Senate

Dan Coats for US Senate

Joe StrausTexas Speaker

Pete Olson for Congress, TX

Dee Margo for Congress, TX

Bill Flores for Congress, TX

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34 Campaigns & Elections | August 2010

Senfronia ThompsonHouston, state representative, makes things happen

Ed Martin Former executive director, Texas Democratic Party; writer-son Philip rising Democratic activist

Tom MeredithAustin donor-adviser in Texas and beyond, former chief financial officer, Dell Inc.

Alexa WesnerAustin donor-adviser in Texas and beyond

Anna BennettWashington, pollster, Bennett Petts & Normington, range of Texas Democratic clients

Bernard RapoportWaco insurance magnate, long-time Democratic backer

Eddie AldreteSan Antonio banker, kitchen cabinet member for many, brother to respected Austin consultant James Aldrete

Julian CastroSan Antonio mayor; what next?

Cecilia BooneDallas philanthropist, past chair Planned Parenthood of North Texas

Mark HomerParis, state representative in Republican-rich district, holdin’ party’s conservative flank

Alonzo CantuRio Grande Valley mega-donor, gatekeeper

Nelson WolffCounty judge, Bexar County (San Antonio)

Garry MauroAustin lawyer, lost to Bush for governor in 1998, steered Hillary Clinton’s ’08 near-win in Texas, writer-son David is a rising activist

Glenn SmithConsulting manager, Texas Progress Council, runs research for progressives alongside Sandra Haverlah, council’s executive director

Rafael AnchiaDallas state representative, already dubbed governor by Texas Monthly’s political lion, Paul Burka

Jim DunnamWaco state representative, sometimes wearied chairman, House Democratic Caucus

Jose RodriguezLong-time El Paso County county attorney, Democratic nominee, Texas Senate

Marc CamposPresident, Campos Communications, Houston

Gary BledsoeAustin lawyer, longtime powerhouse, Texas NAACP

Harold CookFormer executive director, Texas Democratic Party, humorist

The Last 20 Democrats

Te x a s I n f l u e n c e r s

Michael WilliamsMember, Texas Railroad Commission, riveting speaker eyeing U.S. Senate prospects

Luis SaenzLobbyist, former assistant secretary of state, past stints with Perry, Hutchison and two-term Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn Allen BlakemoreHouston founder, Blakemore & Associates, political consultancy, with wife, Elizabeth; once an aide to Sens. John Tower and then Phil Gramm

Bill MillerLobbyist, co-founder Hillco Partners; every other reporter’s confidante

Ernest AngeloFormer RNC member, former Midland mayor

Ted CruzFormer state solicitor general, paused on plans to run for state attorney general Debra MedinaPlainspoken Libertarian-leaning former GOP candidate for governor David BartonNational president, Wallbuilders, focused on religion in nation’s roots; former state party vice chairman

Mike BaselicePresident, Baselice & Associates, Perry’s spot-on pollster

Tom PaukenChairman, Texas Workforce Commission, former state party chair, about the last guy in

Austin who invites anyone out for (one) beer.

Rick ScarboroughFounder-president, Vision America, mobilizes pastors James LeiningerSan Antonio mega-donor, private-school voucher advocate Daron ShawAustin pollster, professor of government, University of Texas

Bryan EppsteinDividing his time between Ft. Worth and Austin, when the legislature is in session. Founder, the Eppstein Group, political consultant with many, many clients. Joe PojmanFounder/executive director, Texas Alliance for Life

Tim LambertLubbock, president, Texas Home School Coalition, former RNC member

Steve HotzeHouston, president, Conservative Republicans of Texas Tom PhillipsFormer chief justice, Texas Supreme Court, was on leading edge of GOP wins of every statewide office in early 1990s

John CoppedgeLongview physician, judicial focus

Tom CraddickMidland, long-time state representative, former House speaker

The Last 20 Republicans

Two continents,Three perspectives.

Digital editions are now available for the US, Canada, and Latin America.

For archives and subscription info, visit campaignsandelections.com.

Two continents,Three perspectives.

Digital editions are now available for the US, Canada, and Latin America.

For archives and subscription info, visit campaignsandelections.com.

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