Texas Today

**** UPDATE ****
Due to a federal court order, early voting for District 23 will begin tomorrow, Dec. 2nd. More updates to follow. This is for sure in Bexar County, but it should apply to all of Dist. 23. Contact your Election Administrator for more information.
**** UPDATE ****

If you live in Dist 23, don’t forget about the runoff election between Henry Bonilla and Ciro Rodriguez. Early voting starts on Dec. 4th, and election day is Dec. 12th.

While I haven’t check all the claims, nor do I endorse the Burnt Orange Report, there are some interesting points raised in this comparison article. While it is obviously from a pro-democratic perspective, the article does give rise to some questions on Henry Bonilla’s voting record.

On the opposite side of the equation, it bothers me that Ciro backed down from a scheduled debate for Dec. 1st.

In an email to me from San Antonio radio talk show host, Chris Duel, he wrote:

A debate was agreed upon by the Rodriguez camp and the Bonilla camp. It was to be this Friday December 1st at The Plaza Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

It was sponsored by the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. I was to be the moderator. (SA radio personality Chris Duel.)

At a meeting last week with representatives of each candidate, including Phil Ricks for the Bonilla campaign and Gina Casteneda of the Rodriguez campaign, along with South San Antonio Chamber President Cindy Taylor and other Chamber members, the representatives for Mr. Rodriguez said they weren’t sure they were happy with the date.

Cindy Taylor pointed out that both campaigns had already agreed to December 1st. Phil Ricks made it clear that the Bonilla campaign would honor its commitment to the December 1st debate.

Nonetheless, the Rodriguez campaign pulled out of the debate.

I see this as a huge Politics 101 fumble by the Rodriguez camp. It’s so difficult to get the incumbent to debate, Rodriguez should have maintained his “anytime, anywhere” position on debating.

Now the Bonilla campaign can truthfully say, we honored the date for the debate and you guys backed out.

I was very disappointed in this decision by the Rodriguez campaign.

While the stands Bonilla has taken are quite alarming, so is backing out from a debate. I now have to rethink my vote, as I live in Dist. 23.

From the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce:

November 21, 2006

Dear Members,

The South Chamber had every intention of hosting the 23rd Congressional District Debate. Our committee was moving ahead and finalizing details but unfortunately, we have just been informed by Ciro Rodriguez’ campaign that they will not be able to comply with the December 1, 2006 date. The South Chamber does not want to proceed without both candidates participation, so the debate has been canceled.

Having already voted for Ciro the first time, this only hurts his chances of earning my vote the second time around, although Bonilla also has a lot of ground to make up in my book. Third party candidate where are you?