New Texas GOP Chief Wants Straight Scoop From Senator

[ccharles000]

The new leader of the Texas Republican Party wants Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to clarify if and when she plans to resign to concentrate on her bid for governor.

Cathie Adams, who was elected party chair Oct. 24, prefers that Hutchison's plans be known by Jan. 4, the candidate filing deadline for the March 2 primary.

The Jan. 4 date is noteworthy because some Republican officeholders on 2010 ballots might want to run for Hutchison's seat in a special Senate election that her resignation would spawn. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst presently is running for re-election, but he's seen as a potential candidate for Hutchison's seat.

"It would help the people of the state of Texas to know more clearly, especially by Jan. 4, because if she resigns after that, we're going to throw things into quite an unknown," Adams said, according to the Austin American Stateman.

Under Texas law, the special Senate election would be held on May 8, though Gov. Rick Perry, could invoke emergency powers to schedule it for a different date.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/10/new-texas-gop-chief-wants-sen.html