Texas, too, on hold as state lawmakers await an outcome

By MARY JACOBY

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000

AUSTIN, Texas -- It took some swagger to claim the presidency. But even George W. Bush must have doubts about the ultimate outcome of this election as he has made no move to relinquish his day job as governor of Texas.

In a mini-version of the presidential waiting game under way in the rest of the country, Texans also are awaiting word about who will run their state come January.

Despite all the drumrolls, will they still have a Gov. Bush? Or will Vice President Al Gore's legal challenges fall flat, clearing Bush's path to the White House and elevating Texas Lt. Gov. Rick Perry to the state's top office?

Kathy Walt, a spokesman for Perry, a Republican, downplayed any sense of suspense. "It's a little bit frustrating, like it is to a lot of this country. But beyond that, we're preparing for session. Bills are being filed. All of that kind of work that would have been done anyway is getting done."

If Bush becomes president, Perry will serve out the rest of his term, which ends in January 2003, and then likely run for governor in his own right.

When asked if chaos loomed in state government, Walt laughed. "No, not by a long shot," she said.

But other lawmakers with less at stake acknowledged some turmoil as the Legislature prepares for a 140-day session beginning in January.

"Normally during this time of year the lieutenant governor is asking us which committees we'd like to serve on and talking about the legislative agenda," said state Sen. Royce West, a Dallas Democrat. "Those things aren't happening right now."

Instead, the halls of the state Senate are abuzz with talk of who would succeed Perry as lieutenant governor. The state Constitution says the Senate must elect one of its own members to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office.

Who is thinking of running? "Oh, I think all 31 of us are," said West, referring to the 16 Republicans and 15 Democrats who make up the Texas Senate.

A successor to Perry will most likely be a Republican since the Senate is controlled by the GOP. However, one Democrat, Bush supporter Ken Armbrister of Victoria, Texas, has an outside chance of being selected, observers say.

What is not happening, though, is pressure on Bush to resign. No lawmaker, Democrat or Republican, has called on the governor to make an exit, even as a Bush supporter marched outside the Governor's Mansion after the Florida vote was certified Sunday evening with a sign that read: "Al Gore: Get Out of Cheney's House."

The sign referred to Bush's running mate, Dick Cheney, who will move into the vice president's official residence in Washington should the Republican ticket prevail.

In another part of the Capitol, in a high-ceilinged office adorned with the heads of deer and antelope he has shot over the years, Republican state Rep. Edmund Kuempel of Seguin, Texas, expressed confidence that Bush will prevail.

"We are looking forward to Gov. Bush becoming President Bush," said Kuempel, an 18-year House member.

But even Kuempel thinks Bush should hedge his bets. "I believe he will be the next president. If not, he will continue to be governor," Kuempel said. "We've been as happy as hogs in slop with his leadership ability."

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