Complimentary to churches ft < \L k' <f/'<r t / < /' of< and community groups jEtnnrft^ ©pportuntty Nchis 2730 STEMMONS FRWY STE. 1202 TOWER WEST, DALLAS, TEXAS 75207 AOV VOLUME 7, NO. 13 November 1-15, 1998 TPA Who should lead it into the New Millennium? Mayor Ron Kirk: Electronic Urban "Become Involved Report: Now That's With Big Brothers" Entertainment! From the Editor \ Chris Pryer Republicans, Democrats and everything in between TPA endorsements for Election '98 It's election time again, and all the Texas Publishers Assn. Wire Service What most of the major media terms ing legislation for welfare-to-work and the bellicose campaign rhetoric that goes The Texas Publishers' Association rep­ 'women's issues' are often 'family issues'. Texas Tomorrow Fund. At a time when along with it. The airwaves are pregnant resents more than 20 newspapers that are When it comes to collecting child support, many are trying to find a way to enroll stu­ vnth the vicious and vilifying invectives owned and managed by African Ameri­ children's rights, domestic violence, and dents in private schools, Raymond is call­ reproductive rights, Jim Mattox has a note­ ing for investment in public schools to of men and women seeking to prove that cans. Through its news wire service, the worthy record of solid support and nation­ strengthen our children's education, they are the right choice for the public state's 1.3 million African American read­ ers gain an important forum whereby al recognition for these progressive strides. office in contention, and that their oppo­ shared issues and timely concerns are He also helped author and steer passage of nent is qualified for nothing more than Susan Combs, Agriculture prominently presented. slate legislation that today affords open Commissioner doing hard time in the state penitentiary. This year TPA members interviewed meetings and open records. Most impor­ More dirt being hurled than you can find all candidates for major state offices, pos­ tantly, he is a lav^ryer who respects and val­ This office serves as an advocate for farm­ at a construction site. You gotta just love ing the questions that reflect the spectrum ues federal laws ^at protect our particular ers and ranchers, while also administering the democratic system. of hopes and dreams shared by African interests. programs to protect consumers. With eigh­ Of course by now we all are pretty Americans across the state. Then every teen years of running her own cow calf much numb to it, accustomed to not hav­ TPA member cast a vote for each candidate. Carole Keeton Rylander, Comptroller of operation on 50,000 acres in Brewster ing the foggiest idea where the lies end It was through this process that all Public Accounts County, Combs knows first-hand agricul­ and the truth begins (and fast approach­ endorsements were made. tural concerns. Two terms in the Texas ing the point of not much caring). Issues Old folks used to say, "Every tub has When it comes to managing money, a per­ House help too. She believes that con­ are given superficial lip service—for the to sit on its own bottom." TPA took that son who has had to do a lot with a Uttle is a sumers are entitled to the world's safest most part,lhere is more of "Let me tell sage advice and used it as an important, good choice. A person who has demon­ food supply, wants a healthy economy and you what my opponent did last summer" guide. Each candidate was judged on his strated the ability to effectively address a an equally healthy environment. As envi­ than any kind of constructive, articulate, own merit, with no regards to party loyal­ ronmental issues continue to emerge as a concern for African Americans, a informed and knowledgeable discourse on the ty. TPA carefully looked at what the candi­ [^ TEXAS PUCU5HERS ASSOCIATION social problems of the day and how to dates have done just as much as what they PKOUUIT ENOORSES THE FOUOKIN* CASTwOArEs lott THISB and experienced person in this office will solve them. have said. STATS WIDI Offices be an ally. GOVERNOR JUSTICE SUPREME ,. As a result, TPA's 1998 endorsements Ccoi^ W. Bush. Republican COURT PLACE 4 Tune v^ras, though, when Black folk UNEXPIRED TERM cut across party lines. We believe that lead­ LIEUTENANT }trTy Scubrout^ Dnruxral Joe B. Henderson, Railroad Commission­ didn't have to muddle through all this GOVERNOR ership, like ability and talent, have no color . John Shup, Dctnocnl RAILROAD er campaign noise. They went to the polls COMMISSIONER COMnHOLLCX OF or gender. We proudly endorse the follow­ Jo« B. Hcnilcnfit^ Ocmocral and voted Democrat— high, wide and • FUBUC ACCOUNTS ing candidates in the upcoming election: C*rolc Ktv-tm XyUnder, COMMISSIONER OF While most major public offices offer a 4- handsome. No questions asked. And R«pgblican AGRICULTURE Susan Cotnb^ Republican none answered. And that was the prob­ ATTORNEY GENERAL year term; Railroad Commissioner affords Jim Mitloi^ Ocmocnl JUDCt COUKTOF lem. The Brethren got tired of feeling George Bush, Governor CRIMINAL APPEALS, 6 years. Beyond the obvious transportation JUDGE, COURT Of F1ACE3 CRIMINAL APPEALS, Larry S. Ptfty, Dnnocrat concerns, this office also has the responsi­ taken for grar^ted by the Democratic PLACES Education is always a major concern of vot­ JUSTICE; SUPREME ' bility for monitoring the oil and gas indus­ Party. Started taking a peep—this was all Winiton Cochnn, Dcmocnl COURT PLACE 1 No EnJoncment try—typically corporations .with deep closet action at first, mind you-^at the ers. Governor Bush has made teaching JUDGE, COURT OP every child to read his top priority. Today, CRIMINAL APPEALS, JUSnCE, SUPREME pockets and wealthy PACS. Henderson Republicans (the'R" word!). Started tak­ PLACE I COURT, PLACE t far too many of our children graduate from Ourici F. (CKarlic) Paint Craig T. Enoch. RrpuUlcan proudly proclaims he is not bound to any ing a harder look at the philosophy of the Dvmocnt high school without basic reading skills. COMMISSIONER OF THE special interest. He also wants to seek out individual candidates rather than contin­ JUSTICE, SUPREME GENERAL LAND OFFICE COURT, PLACE 3 Richard Raymonil. The ability to read is inextricably tied to the DctHKral public interest groups to help him perform uing to swallow the party spiel hook, line. David Van Oi. Democrat hisjobwelL and sinker. Started realizing that not all; ability to succeed. Bush's 'Lone Star Lead­ I TPA •ncDunjr* «vtryon« to caxtfix (h«lr ri^ tv rolw Ntrr. 3 ! ers' initiative speaks to the heartfelt fami­ i "Th« African Ainrricin Frew of Te\a»' i Democrats are 100 percent Democrat,' ly concerns for after-school care. No par­ Craig T. Enoch, Texas, Supreme Courts and not all Republicans are 100 percent ent should be forced to choose between Republican. ; range of concerns and challenges 'ain't too Place! •'} earning a living for their family and pro­ shabby eithet As Austin's former mayor, And, like most everybody else. Black viding quality care for their chUdren dur­ Rylander has demonstrated the ability to This experienced jurist supports opening folk started realizing that a lot of what ing after-school hours. Our children need do it all—and do it well. The former court records to the public and to the cam­ ails them as an ethnic group is not going both. teacher came out of the classroom to serve eras. He would also like to see partisan to be solved by 100 percent Democratic in government, and still managed to be a concerns removed from the judicial policies. (Even Bill Clinton, the White John Sharp, Lt Governor loving mother to five chUdren and grand­ process. man who would be Black, has been mother to two. Her pledge to taxpayer accused, at times, of being a Republican An elected official whose personal actions fairness, creation of jobs and economic Texas Supreme Courts Place 2, in Democratic clothing.) Each party, stop tax income tax increases, while simul­ opportunities, and maintaining her life­ No Endorsement given the chance to do things just the way taneously saving a whopping $8.5 billion long commitment to education make Car­ it wants to, would probably run this in taxpayer dollars, has earned support. ole Keeton Rylander TPA's choice for David Van Os, Texas Supreme Court, nation straight to hell. This common sense administrator pre­ Comptroller of Public Accounts. Places So we see-saw back and forth. served welfare benefits for the poor, while Republican Congress, Democratic Con­ curbing welfare fraud. Children of the Richard Raymond, Commissioner of the With a background of representing people gress. Republican President, Democratic working poor and unemployed who have General Land Office instead of corporations. Van Os wUl ever President. Republican scandal. Democra­ no insurance, do have a friend in John be mindful of serving the people's inter­ tic scandal. No matter what your fancy, I ^harp. Last year, he proposed a plan to pro­ It has been said that 'you cannot talk what ests. As for judicial reform, he believes in think we can all agree that too much of vide insurance coverage to a million cWl- you don't know; and you cannot lead proportion^ representation - a system that either one of our political parties would­ dren, John Sharp lives up to his name—he where you don't go'. Richard Raymond would facilitate people of color serving as is sharp. n't be healthy. has 'been there, done that" when it comes jurists. Van Os would also open court to the General Land Office. A former exec­ records to the public. i Personally, I like my Democratic cof­ Jim MattoT^ Attorney General utive assbtant in this office, he also served fee with a little Republican cream.