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wolfram - Lone Star-1
Lone Star-1
1987-1988: Bill Clements (R)
def. Mark White (D)
def. Bob Bullock (D)
def. Tom Craddick (R)
def. John Sharp (D), David Cobb (E)
def. John Whitmire (D), Dan Patrick (V)
def. Senfronia Thompson (D)
def. John L. Odam, Jr. (D)
def. Judith Zaffrini (D)
Tom Craddick had been a member of the Texas House for over two decades. Unlike Hobby, he could effectively dominate the legislature, but that came at a cost - he alienated many legislators through his autocratic rule, and he became the public face of opposition to the popular "Robin Hood" school finance reform plan. Despite the Republican wave of Tsongas's first midterms, Craddick was defeated by Comptroller John Sharp.
Sharp oversaw the implementation of Robin Hood during his first year in office. His next three, however, were much less successful. The passing of the Christopher-Gaidar agreement saw a glut of oil bring economic chaos to Texas, not helped by the 1997 collapse of Enron. Sharp's attempt to swing towards the center on oil only succeeded in alienating liberals, who coalesced around Ecology Party candidate David Cobb. Austin Mayor Carole Keeton Strayhorn was elected.
Strayhorn's tenure was controversial. Too moderate for conservatives and too conservative for moderates, she seemed at times to govern by approval rating. Still, she managed to get elected in both of President Alexander's midterms, while modifying and expanding Robin Hood and SCHIP. Refusing to run for re-election in 2006, she nevertheless became the longest-serving Texas Governor in history.
Michael L. Williams was the first African-American Governor of Texas. A more reliable conservative than Strayhorn, Williams made headlines for a standoff with President Glendening over abortion. This raised his profile enough to make him the favorite for the 2012 Republican nomination. Resigning from the governorship to run, he defeated Vice President Murray for the Presidency.
Christi Craddick, daughter of former governor Craddick, has thus far been a popular if quiet Governor. Her environmental policy has drawn criticism, but is fairly popular in Texas itself, while her state's restrictions on abortion were narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court. Going into the 2018 election, rumor has it that she's going to try to break Governor Strayhorn's 8-year record...
1987-1988: Bill Clements (R)
def. Mark White (D)
"Question: Shall Governor William Perry Clements be impeached?
"The impeachment prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 45."
1988-1991: Bill Hobby (D)"The impeachment prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 45."
"I will not run to seek a full term as Governor."
1991-1995: Tom Craddick (R)def. Bob Bullock (D)
"This so-called 'Robin Hood' plan steals from the poor and gives to the government."
1995-1999: John Sharp (D)def. Tom Craddick (R)
"Our economists anticipate that oil prices should return to normal within the next three months."
1999-2007: Carole Keeton Strayhorn (R)def. John Sharp (D), David Cobb (E)
def. John Whitmire (D), Dan Patrick (V)
"I would rather spend the money to educate our students now than to imprison them later."
2007-2012: Michael L. Williams (R)def. Senfronia Thompson (D)
def. John L. Odam, Jr. (D)
"I accept the nomination for President of the United States."
2012-????: Christi Craddick (R)def. Judith Zaffrini (D)
"We know what needs to be done to balance the environment and the economy of Texas better than Washington does."
The vote to impeach Governor Clements for his assisting with the cover-up and maintenance of a "slush fund" for players on the SMU football team while a member of the Board of Governors was controversial and narrow, but enough Republicans abstained to allow it to proceed. Longtime Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby was thrust into the limelight, but he could not exert his influence as effectively as in the Lieutenant Governor's office, and decided not to seek another term in 1990.
Tom Craddick had been a member of the Texas House for over two decades. Unlike Hobby, he could effectively dominate the legislature, but that came at a cost - he alienated many legislators through his autocratic rule, and he became the public face of opposition to the popular "Robin Hood" school finance reform plan. Despite the Republican wave of Tsongas's first midterms, Craddick was defeated by Comptroller John Sharp.
Sharp oversaw the implementation of Robin Hood during his first year in office. His next three, however, were much less successful. The passing of the Christopher-Gaidar agreement saw a glut of oil bring economic chaos to Texas, not helped by the 1997 collapse of Enron. Sharp's attempt to swing towards the center on oil only succeeded in alienating liberals, who coalesced around Ecology Party candidate David Cobb. Austin Mayor Carole Keeton Strayhorn was elected.
Strayhorn's tenure was controversial. Too moderate for conservatives and too conservative for moderates, she seemed at times to govern by approval rating. Still, she managed to get elected in both of President Alexander's midterms, while modifying and expanding Robin Hood and SCHIP. Refusing to run for re-election in 2006, she nevertheless became the longest-serving Texas Governor in history.
Michael L. Williams was the first African-American Governor of Texas. A more reliable conservative than Strayhorn, Williams made headlines for a standoff with President Glendening over abortion. This raised his profile enough to make him the favorite for the 2012 Republican nomination. Resigning from the governorship to run, he defeated Vice President Murray for the Presidency.
Christi Craddick, daughter of former governor Craddick, has thus far been a popular if quiet Governor. Her environmental policy has drawn criticism, but is fairly popular in Texas itself, while her state's restrictions on abortion were narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court. Going into the 2018 election, rumor has it that she's going to try to break Governor Strayhorn's 8-year record...
- Wolfram
- Word Count: 590