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Pickett: No state Senate run
State Rep. Joe Pickett, the El Paso Democrat who has been mentioned as a possible successor to retiring state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, said tonight he will not run for the seat.
That leaves several others in the field of “possible” candidates, including State Rep. Norma Chavez and judge Richard Barajas.
In a statement released a short time ago, Pickett ruled out a Senate race, citing his clout as chairman of the House Transportation Committee:
“I am incredibly grateful and appreciative for all the support and encouragement I have received over the past few days. I received phone calls from numerous legislators on both the House and Senate side, as well as calls from constituents, friends, and family urging me to strongly consider running for the open Senate seat.
“After serious consideration and prayer, I have decided that I can best serve my constituents, the citizens of El Paso, and the State of Texas through my current position.
“It is a tremendous honor for me to serve as the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and it is simply a position that I cannot, in the best interest of my constituents and the residents of El Paso County, relinquish. As a Chairman, I possess the ability to influence legislation that will best serve the region of El Paso and this is an opportunity that El Paso has never before possessed.”
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By ROBERT DAVIS
November 6, 2009 5:43 PM | Link to this
REPUBLICANS MIGHT PICK UP THIS SEAT. HISPANICS MORE AND MORE ARE VOTING REPUBLICAN AS THEY FEAR OBAMA WANTS TO GIVE AMERICA SOCIALISM LIKE MEXICO WHERE THEY FINALLY GOT AWAY FROM. FREE ENTERPRISE IS THE WAY TO GO FOR HISPANICS NOT SOCIALISM.
By pundito
October 21, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
looks like he figured beating chavez’s grassroots machine wasn’t gonna happen.