Tired of getting your policy positions filtered through us or “the media”? Here are your chances to see State Senator Kim Brimer and his challenger, former Fort Worth City Councilmember Wendy Davis debate on the topics of the day.

(All information provided by the Davis Campaign and is accurate as of when I’m typing this post.)

Thursday, October 9 - Tarrant County League of Women Voters candidate forum. Bedford/Hurst Senior Center, 2819 R.D. Hurt Road, Bedford, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, October 13 - Coalition of Retired Employees/General Employees of the City of Fort Worth candidate forum. Botanic Garden Auditorium, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 14 - Tarrant County League of Women Voters candidate forum. University Christian Church fellowship hall, 2720 South University Drive, Fort Worth, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, October 27 - WFAA TV live debate (no studio audience - TV only). Channel 8, 7:30 p.m.

OK, I’m an established Wendy Davis homer, so you already know what I’d say about this, but I wanted to open this up for discussion:

From J.R. Labbe’s Sunday column: “Republican Kim Brimer and Democrat Wendy Davis are formidable political foes. Both are experienced public servants and savvy campaigners. If and when the day comes that the Texas Supreme Court says Davis is qualified to run for the state’s Senate District 10 seat, voters will have a tough decision to make on who will best serve their interests in the state capital.”

I thought the sentence had an interesting construction. Is this going to the Supreme Court? Does the Supreme Court need to rule Wendy eligible to run? I wasn’t aware an appeal had been filed or that the she wasn’t eligible to run today. Did I miss something?

And is anyone else tired of the courtroom stuff and wanting to discuss real issues? If so, what are your key issues in this race?

It’s official — Wendy Davis is a viable and threatening challenger for the Texas State Senate seat currently held by Republican Kim Brimer.

Today (just before the holiday weekend, a date certainly chosen to minimize news coverage) it was announced that Brimer is suing Davis, essentially claiming the exact same thing that those three firefighters claimed way back in December. (Both the firefighters and Brimer are employing the services of Republican strategist Bryan Eppstein. Coincidence?)

Why sue, and why now?

Well, a couple of weeks ago, two different groups released poll results showing that despite holding this office for five years (and being IN office for nearly 20), Brimer has no greater name recognition than Davis across the district. That’s nearly unheard of for an incumbent.

Earlier this year, Brimer was implicated in a scandal around a home he purchased then rented back to himself in Austin, and recently it’s come out that Brimer over-repaid himself for a couple of loans he made to his campaign way back in 1987.

Davis has been garnering tons (or what passes for tons in a State Senate race) of press coverage, she was a VERY popular City Council member in Fort Worth, and she is definitely benefiting (in the form of “throw da bums out!” sentiment toward incumbents) from the momentum created during the raucous primary season the Democrats have been having.

If anyone doubted her chances of winning against Brimer, then this lawsuit and its timing (which smacks of desperation, no matter what side you’re on) is proof that her opponent is definitely taking her seriously.

Pete Wann also contributed to this fine piece of internet bloggery.

• Can Wendy Davis Turn Fort Worth Blue? | The Texas Blue - “You can tell that [Brimer] is running scared,” Nieto said. “You can tell he’s seen the writing on the wall and he’s basically running for his political life.”
• Food and Fort Worth, Texas: More Restaurants: the Mid-Price Range “Indies” - A quick round up of the affordable independent restaurants in Fort Worth. “[T]he family owned and operated restaurants have moved aside to big business establishments[...]It is a market-driven reality, but, we have lost something”
• Two Fat Ladies: Way to Go Arlington! Fort Worth, What’s the Hold Up? - Eddie moved from Fort Worth to South Korean and he’s keeping a blog to document his adventures. Here he talks about life without plastic grocery bags, encouraging Fort Worth to follow Arlington’s lead.
• A Southern Missive–Fort Worth Reenactors - See what happens to Civil War re-enactors that try to get too friendly with the local saloon girls

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If you’re not going to Wendy Davis’ birthday party tonight, I highly encourage all of you to join me tonight at La Grave Field to watch the Cats take on the Sioux Falls Canaries on Opening Day.

The game starts at 7:05, and there will be fireworks after the game.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Cats are the best value in family entertainment in the city, and possibly the entire Metroplex. Tickets start at $4, and the most expensive seats in the house are only $12. You can’t even park at Whatever-the-hell-it’s-called-now Park in Arlington that cheaply, I don’t think. I know $4 won’t even buy a beer there. (Of course it won’t at La Grave, either, but it’s still cheaper.)

Seriously — drag the clan out on a school night for the festivities, you won’t be disappointed.

Editor’s Note:At about 5 minutes into the show, the air compressor kicks on in the bike shop. Turn your speakers down. It only lasts about 15 seconds.

This week’s guest is Don Young, the man behind the Friends of Tandy Hills and lead organizer of Prairie Fest, which will be held on Saturday, the 26th from 11AM to 7PM.

Also this week:

Don’t forget to get out and vote on Tuesday in the Democratic Primary runoff for Railroad Commissioner.

There will be a $60 buy-in charity poker tournament benefiting the Euless Trinity Trojans Football team this Friday at the Rahr & Sons Brewery. The tournament starts at 7PM. I have no info on prizes.

If you’re looking for a way to spend your morning on Saturday the 26th, you could do worse than to start at Dane Fest in Keller. (Why NOT hit two Fests in one day?) Normally we don’t plug things outside the city limits, but this is a good cause.

Special thanks to this episode’s sponsor: Rahr and Sons Brewing. They tell me that Summertime Wheat is in the works and should be out within the next two months, just in time for 100 degree weather. The Monk tells me that local beer is the best no matter the style, because it’s as fresh as it can be without drinking directly from the bottling line hoses. (He also says that the “local is better” rule only applies if your local brewery makes good beer.)

 

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Wendy Davis turned back the latest legal challenge to her eligibility to run as the Democratic candidate for the State Senate in District 10. The State Second District Court of Appeals ruled this afternoon that three Fort Worth firefighters had no standing to challenge Davis’ eligibility. The court did not rule on any of the merits of the case.

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The State Second District Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in this morning in the case to determine whether Wendy Davis is eligible to run as a Democrat in the race for the State Senate District 10 seat currently held by Republican Kim Brimer. As one person said outside the courtroom after the hearing, you never know how a court is going to rule. Things can look like they are going one way and then they will head another.

That said, one of Davis’ attorneys — Buck Wood — seemed upbeat after the hearing. “The justices asked all the questions I was going to ask,” Wood said.

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Update, 9:15 p.m.: The Texas Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by three Fort Worth firefighters challenging Wendy Davis‘ eligibility to run against Kim Brimer for the District 10 State Senate seat. The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday afternoon, was dismissed without prejudice Monday morning, Davis’ campaign manager Matt Latham confirmed in a phone call this afternoon.

“We see this as a major victory,” Latham said. “We believe that the Supreme Court dismissing this case so quickly confirms that the case is without merit. All it shows is that Brimer is afraid of a campaign.”

However, QuorumReport.com says the Supreme Court simply indicated that because there was time, the more appropriate venue was the local Court of Appeals. Latham said that Davis’ name will appear on the ballot for the March 4 primary.

Updates to come? Probably.

The citizens of Fort Worth offered a fond farewell to outgoing District 9 City Council representative Wendy Davis last night. Council chambers were packed with well wishers who wore blue t-shirts inscribed with “Thank you, Wendy” or something like that. Newly minted District 97 Rep. Dan Barrett was there to show his support for Davis. Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks offered some last kind words. Davis herself offered some last emotional words. She was presented with rocking chair, a silver bowl and a quilt.

Of course, that was nothing compared to the going-away present offered by Mayor Moncrief.

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