Sadest news - The Geek of the Texas House - Scott Hochberg will not run for re-election

[sonias]

From: State Representative Scott Hochberg

Dear friends,

After much consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012.

I am deeply and sincerely grateful to all my friends and supporters who have allowed me to hold this position of honor for what will be twenty years, especially those of ordinary means and busy schedules who, year after year, gave their time and financial contributions to my campaigns.

I especially thank those who have worked so hard on my district and capitol staff throughout the years, providing our constituents with the service and attention that they should expect from their government, and always going the extra mile. Whatever success I have had has been in a great part their making.

I thank my friends in all levels of government for their support, encouragement, and even their challenges, with special appreciation to Speaker and Mrs. Pete Laney for their guidance starting from my first days as a member-elect.

My decision should not be thought of as any commentary on the current political environment, the challenges ahead, or, for that matter, the disappointment of soon having to endure the designated hitter rule when watching hometown Houston baseball. It's simply my desire to move on to new challenges, and find some other ways to be of service to our community and state.

I plan to serve the remainder of my term that runs until January, 2013. With the Legislature not in session, I will continue to work with local business leaders to complete the establishment of the new Gulfton Management District, as well as on other local matters. Beyond that, I have no specific plans.

Best wishes for a joyous and safe holiday season, and again, thank you.

Sincerely,

Scott Hochberg

State Representative District 137 - Southwest Houston
Pol. adv. paid for by the Scott Hochberg Campaign.
State Representative Scott Hochberg

This absolutely breaks my heart. Scott Hochberg was one of our very best. He was intelligent, honest, knowledgeable of complicated state issues and always defended the rights of his constituents. We was in the truest sense a fine public servant.

:cry::cry::cry:

I wish him the very best in whatever else he pursues. He certainly paid his dues to the citizens of Texas.
:patriot:

[sonias]

1. Hochberg, House Public Ed Expert, Won't Run Again

Texas Tribune 12/2/11
Hochberg, House Public Ed Expert, Won't Run Again

The Legislature's foremost expert on school finance and one of its top public education advocates, state Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, confirmed this afternoon that he won't seek reelection next year.

Hochberg, who took office in 1993 and is now the vice chairman of the House Education Committee and the chairman of the education subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, said the time had come for him to pursue something new.

"Being in this job and trying to do it well is a continual thing, as any member will tell you, after a certain amount of time, I think the grind just wears people down," he said, "I love working on all the problems we work on but it's 24/7 and it makes it hard to focus on anything in specific." He brushed off any suggestion that his absence would leave an void of leadership on school finance issues.

"Nobody's indispensable," he said. "The state survived a lot of years before I was in the legislature, and will continue to after I'm not."

:kick:

[Melissa G]

2. Sad News

Thanks to this past Lege our schools are in bad shape.

[PDittie]

3. Three rumored contenders

for this still-safely Democratic seat: Joe Maddon (c of s for Garnet Coleman), Jamaal Smith (former Harris County Democratic Party director) and Brandon Dudley (judicial candidate in last cycle; highly respected).

All three well-qualified. A spirited contested primary for this seat would be a good thing.

[sonias]

4. Glad to hear there will be a spirited competition

Seems like the constituents in this district will have good representation even after Hochberg.

Thanks for the update, PDittie!

:hi: