No sooner had our weekly e-mail newsletter left the servers than word arrived that Houston attorney Grant Harpold is making plans to run for Senate District 17. That seat will be open because of Dr. Kyle Janek’s expected resignation in the next several weeks. Harpold is a Republican precinct chairman and his campaign treasurer is former Harris County Attorney Michael Fleming.
Harpold says that he is seeking the seat because of the “apparent disconnect between some in Austin and the rest of who are conservative and still work and pay taxes.” He specifically cites the new gross margins tax as voilating the “bedrocks” of conservative philosophy.
Harpold has been involved with this organization for more than a year, and I had the pleasure of getting to know him recently. He announced his decision to run at the Harris County Republican Party quarterly meeting.
Also announced is Austen Furse, who I’ve worked around over the course of more than a decade. Depending on when Janek actually resigns, official filing wouldn’t be until sometime in August and the election to fill the unexpired term would be held in November, concurrent with the general election.