Bush's Texas Replacement Called 'Friend of Racing'

• Email
• Print
• Tweet

Between now and the time George W. Bush is sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States next month, Lt. Gov. Rick Perry will replace Bush as Texas governor. What isn't known is who will be named to replace Perry as the state's No. 2 elected official. That replacement could play a major role as the Texas horse industry looks to legislation permitting in-home wagering, since the lieutenant governor is the leader of the state Senate and controls the appointment of committees.

Perry is a Texas A&M University graduate who served as the Texas Agriculture Commissioner prior to being elected lieutenant governor in 1998. He is described by Robert Spellings, a lobbyist for the Texas Thoroughbred Association, as "genuinely and generally in favor of the horse industry. He's a friend."

Spellings said he had no idea which senator would be elected lieutenant governor by the 31 members of the Senate. "All 31 think they are going to be lieutenant governor," he joked. He did say at least a few of the people most often mentioned as potential replacements have been sympathetic to the horse industry and "fought our fights" in the Senate. Rules of the election were being worked out in late December, with a secret vote among senators one possible scenario. President-elect Bush has not indicated when he would resign as governor, setting the stage for the election.

Spellings said the industry has "no chance" of getting off-track betting legislation during the 2001 session, but there is some optimism that account wagering could pass if the various segments of the industry can agree on a bill. However, Spellings cautioned that "the industry still hasn't got itself together."

• Email
• Print
• Tweet