Though House Speaker Joe Straus and his hatchet-man Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) announced they would be “retiring” rather than seek re-election to the Texas House, one flag officer in their corrupt regime has announced he is planning to stick around. But that may change given he faces a tough rematch in the Republican Primary.
Fort Worth businessman Bo French announced on Thursday morning he will once again challenge State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) in the March 6th Republican primary after coming close to unseating him in 2016.
Geren, an eight-term incumbent, has been a fixture of the Straus regime ever since he helped depose Republican Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland in 2009. Indeed, Geren is the only politically surviving member of the famed “Polo Road Gang” of turncoat Republicans who partnered with the Democrats in order to orchestrate the coup.
Since then Geren has held considerable sway and clout in the Texas House and has used it to thwart conservatives’ efforts to pass reform legislation. Just this session, Geren partnered with Democrats to water down Gov. Greg Abbott’s sanctuary cities bill and then voted against conservatives’ efforts to strengthen the legislation on the floor—a point French emphasizes in his campaign announcement.
“Charlie and the liberals in the Texas House killed Greg Abbott’s property tax reform. They killed legislation that would prohibit local governments from paying for abortions,” said French. “They killed legislation that would allow parents of special needs students to have more choices to get their kids into other schools which can meet their child’s needs.”
“I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to see Representative Geren teaming up with Democrats to kill these legislative priorities. He even watered-down sanctuary city legislation and then voted with every Democrat to block amendments that would have strengthened the final bill,” French added.
French’s announcement sets up a tough campaign for Geren who recently married his longtime girlfriend, lobbyist Mindy Ellmer. One would not be surprised if despite Geren’s announcement that he’s “not going anywhere” he still decides to hang it up.
For those wondering, I'm not going anywhere. #txlege
— Charlie Geren (@charliegeren) October 25, 2017
Then again, Geren might have to hang it up on March 6th regardless if voters choose Bo French instead.
