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State Rep. Terri Hodge planning re-election
State Rep. Terri Hodge planning re-election bid as bribery trial looms
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, November 1, 2009
By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News
gjeffers@dallasnews.com
Embattled state Rep. Terri Hodge, whose federal bribery trial is scheduled just days after the March 2 Democratic primary, says her legal troubles won't deter her from running for an eighth term.
The popular legislator faces a rare challenge from Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson.
"Yes, indeed, I am running and I am beginning now to do the work," Hodge said. "This kid has kind of rushed me a little bit. I'll come out with an official announcement in a couple weeks or so."
Johnson, who has been campaigning all summer, has saturated the district with signs. He has raised $100,000 in the past 100 days, building a hefty campaign chest that has outpaced Hodge's fundraising efforts.
"My race has never been contingent upon her criminal charges," Johnson said. "I'm in the race because House District 100 needs an effective representative in Austin, and right now we don't have one."
The contest, which will be waged mostly in the poor neighborhoods of South Dallas and Oak Cliff, will set an experienced politico with deep-seated alliances against a deep-pocketed upstart promising a fresh approach.
Looming, of course, is Hodge's trial on bribery charges.
Unlike former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, who received tepid support from the community he served, Hodge has been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for her legal defense fund and to persuade much of the Democratic establishment to stick with her.
But the larger question is how voters view her legal woes. Will her trial be a rallying point or the millstone that helps bring her down?
"Johnson will be the most credible challenger Hodge has faced since she was first elected," Dallas political consultant Brooks Love said. "But Terri has the advantage. She knows the district. The people in the district know her."
Love said Hodge's corruption trial won't have much impact on the race.
He said most Democratic officials are willing to support Hodge until the resolution of her case, and he expected voters to follow suit.
"Everyone knows all the negative things out there about Terri Hodge," Love said. "But they still think she's a good representative."
The race has other implications.
If Hodge wins the primary but is convicted on felony charges, she'll have to give up the nomination.
That would result in Democratic precinct chairs in House District 100 picking their party's standard bearer.
That would give local Democratic leaders tremendous influence over who represents District 100.
The allegations
Hodge has been charged with accepting a free apartment and new carpeting from Brian and Cheryl Potashnik in exchange for supporting their affordable-housing developments.
Her March 8 trial is the next phase of a sweeping probe that led to the convictions of Hill and his associates on bribery and extortion charges.
Despite her legal predicament, Hodge has been endorsed by two of the most powerful Democrats in Dallas County – U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and County Commissioner John Wiley Price.
"I appreciate Eric Johnson and what he's trying to do," Price said. "But it's not like Hodge hasn't represented her constituents."
Price's political organization is expected to help Hodge mine for votes and offset her fundraising disadvantage.
High-profile support
Johnson said he has received written endorsements from more than half of the precinct chairs in the district, though he has not released them.
He said he's not worried by Hodge's establishment support.
"Endorsements don't vote," he said. "People vote. We're going straight to the people of District 100 for their support."
But Johnson has also drawn some high-profile support, most notably from Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who is a distant cousin.
Watkins said he's endorsing Johnson because the district needs a fresh voice.
"Nothing against Hodge, but this is an opportunity to elect a young guy who has tremendous skills and can bring new leadership to the district," Watkins said.
Hodge acknowledged the challenge of juggling the demands of being a defendant in a major corruption trial with the need to walk door-to-door for votes.
"It won't be easy, but I'll do what I have to do," she said. "I love this job representing the people. I owe it to them. I can't give them any less. It means that I will have to work with my attorneys and prepare for trial as I still work and prepare to win this election."
Hodge said she's grateful, even moved, by the support from her Democratic allies, acknowledging that her legal woes could present a political liability for some.
"I wasn't going to approach these folks," she said. "I didn't want to ask them to put their names with my name. I didn't want to cause them any problems. But now I'm going to be forced to come up with a list of the folks who are endorsing me."
She said she wept when Eddie Bernice Johnson offered her support.
"I really cried about it," she said with emotion. "I was totally overwhelmed by that."
Hodge added that she realizes she'll be outspent.
"Having the money is one thing, but having the people is another," she said.
-----------------------------------------------
I live in her district and that boy Eric has come by my house, but I'm up in the air on this one... any comments ??????
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, November 1, 2009
By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News
gjeffers@dallasnews.com
Embattled state Rep. Terri Hodge, whose federal bribery trial is scheduled just days after the March 2 Democratic primary, says her legal troubles won't deter her from running for an eighth term.
The popular legislator faces a rare challenge from Dallas lawyer Eric Johnson.
"Yes, indeed, I am running and I am beginning now to do the work," Hodge said. "This kid has kind of rushed me a little bit. I'll come out with an official announcement in a couple weeks or so."
Johnson, who has been campaigning all summer, has saturated the district with signs. He has raised $100,000 in the past 100 days, building a hefty campaign chest that has outpaced Hodge's fundraising efforts.
"My race has never been contingent upon her criminal charges," Johnson said. "I'm in the race because House District 100 needs an effective representative in Austin, and right now we don't have one."
The contest, which will be waged mostly in the poor neighborhoods of South Dallas and Oak Cliff, will set an experienced politico with deep-seated alliances against a deep-pocketed upstart promising a fresh approach.
Looming, of course, is Hodge's trial on bribery charges.
Unlike former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, who received tepid support from the community he served, Hodge has been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for her legal defense fund and to persuade much of the Democratic establishment to stick with her.
But the larger question is how voters view her legal woes. Will her trial be a rallying point or the millstone that helps bring her down?
"Johnson will be the most credible challenger Hodge has faced since she was first elected," Dallas political consultant Brooks Love said. "But Terri has the advantage. She knows the district. The people in the district know her."
Love said Hodge's corruption trial won't have much impact on the race.
He said most Democratic officials are willing to support Hodge until the resolution of her case, and he expected voters to follow suit.
"Everyone knows all the negative things out there about Terri Hodge," Love said. "But they still think she's a good representative."
The race has other implications.
If Hodge wins the primary but is convicted on felony charges, she'll have to give up the nomination.
That would result in Democratic precinct chairs in House District 100 picking their party's standard bearer.
That would give local Democratic leaders tremendous influence over who represents District 100.
The allegations
Hodge has been charged with accepting a free apartment and new carpeting from Brian and Cheryl Potashnik in exchange for supporting their affordable-housing developments.
Her March 8 trial is the next phase of a sweeping probe that led to the convictions of Hill and his associates on bribery and extortion charges.
Despite her legal predicament, Hodge has been endorsed by two of the most powerful Democrats in Dallas County – U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and County Commissioner John Wiley Price.
"I appreciate Eric Johnson and what he's trying to do," Price said. "But it's not like Hodge hasn't represented her constituents."
Price's political organization is expected to help Hodge mine for votes and offset her fundraising disadvantage.
High-profile support
Johnson said he has received written endorsements from more than half of the precinct chairs in the district, though he has not released them.
He said he's not worried by Hodge's establishment support.
"Endorsements don't vote," he said. "People vote. We're going straight to the people of District 100 for their support."
But Johnson has also drawn some high-profile support, most notably from Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who is a distant cousin.
Watkins said he's endorsing Johnson because the district needs a fresh voice.
"Nothing against Hodge, but this is an opportunity to elect a young guy who has tremendous skills and can bring new leadership to the district," Watkins said.
Hodge acknowledged the challenge of juggling the demands of being a defendant in a major corruption trial with the need to walk door-to-door for votes.
"It won't be easy, but I'll do what I have to do," she said. "I love this job representing the people. I owe it to them. I can't give them any less. It means that I will have to work with my attorneys and prepare for trial as I still work and prepare to win this election."
Hodge said she's grateful, even moved, by the support from her Democratic allies, acknowledging that her legal woes could present a political liability for some.
"I wasn't going to approach these folks," she said. "I didn't want to ask them to put their names with my name. I didn't want to cause them any problems. But now I'm going to be forced to come up with a list of the folks who are endorsing me."
She said she wept when Eddie Bernice Johnson offered her support.
"I really cried about it," she said with emotion. "I was totally overwhelmed by that."
Hodge added that she realizes she'll be outspent.
"Having the money is one thing, but having the people is another," she said.
-----------------------------------------------
I live in her district and that boy Eric has come by my house, but I'm up in the air on this one... any comments ??????
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