Garcia bitter and as usual all about d'money.......one shoreline rent is expensive...ipod downloadable remedy.....process

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Political Pulse: 06.24.07

By Jaime Powell (Contact)
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Fulton persuaded Neal to come to surprise party.
Fulton persuaded Neal to come to surprise party.
Messbarger joked he went to Neal's 70th birthday 10 years ago.
Messbarger joked he went to Neal's 70th birthday 10 years ago.
McComb hasn't decided on further political campaigns.
McComb hasn't decided on further political campaigns.
Neal hinted for two men to take their hats off during Pledge.
Neal hinted for two men to take their hats off during Pledge.
Seaman has funds that could be used for a race, GOP chair says.
Seaman has funds that could be used for a race, GOP chair says.

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CORPUS CHRISTI — Hunter says rumor he'll oppose Rep. Juan Garcia is just talk

Austin Democratic campaign strategist Kelly Fero e-mailed state Rep. Juan Garcia that former Democratic state Rep. Todd Hunter met with Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick's daughter Christi Craddick last week and has agreed to run against Garcia as a Republican.

Besides being the speaker's child, Christi Craddick also is his well-paid political consultant.

According to Fero, his sourcing on the rumor is impeccable, and big money Republican campaign donors including school voucher proponent James Leininger reportedly are ready to pony up the cash necessary for Hunter to mount a challenge against Garcia.

Hunter denied it.

"The answer is no, and I have not met with anybody," Hunter said Friday. "I am glad to be on the rumor list. I got called night before last by the political papers in Austin. I have been asked if I would consider state rep. or Congress, but I still have not decided. Call me next week when they say I met with George Bush."

Nueces GOP chair cites leftover Seaman funds

Nueces County Republican chairman Mike Bertuzzi said Thursday night that he is not sure if Hunter is going to run. But former Rep. Gene Seaman, whom Garcia beat in the heavily Republican district, is definitely eyeing a rematch, he said.

"He has still got $75,000 in leftover campaign funds, and we can't get any of it out of him," Bertuzzi said.

County GOP chair's wife to run for court

Bertuzzi also officially let the cat out of the bag regarding his wife Caroline's political aspirations. The Democrats have been saying for weeks that Caroline Bertuzzi was planning to run for the 13th Court of Appeals against Justice Dori Contreras Garza.

Bertuzzi said that's a sure thing, and the Republicans believe that she can beat Contreras, a Rio Grande Valley Democrat.

Garcia host list for event spans spectrum

In the meantime, Garcia is raising money for the fight.

The 62-person Host List for his June 27 fundraiser at the Padre Island home of Glenn and Crystal Lyons spans both ends of the political spectrum with stalwart Democrats such as lawyer Mauricio Celis and U.S. Senate hopeful Mikal Watts, and community Republican cornerstones such as American Bank President Al Jones and CCISD board member John Longoria.

"Some people might say that seeing those folks in the same room is the eighth sign of the Apocalypse," Garcia said Thursday. "But in a country increasingly divided into 'Red' and 'Blue' factions, we're speaking 'Purple,' and people are responding."

Search for manager draws suggestions

During Monday's Ingleside City Council special meeting, members discussed the possible state and national employment Web sites on which to post the city's opening for city manager.

Suggestions included the Texas City Managers Association and www.monster.com.

Councilman Willie Vaden tossed in his vote.

"How about eHarmony.com?" he asked before he and other council members broke out in laughter. "I bet you we can get tons of hits."

Mayor Elaine Kemp tried to maintain order by banging her gavel.

"This is serious," said Kemp before breaking into a smile.

Ingleside mayor's cakes are a hit

After almost two hours discussing Naval Station Ingleside and the open city manager's position, Ingleside City Council members took a break before going into closed session to discuss previous applicants for the position.

Mayor Kemp, known for her baking skills, had brought a tray of different cakes to share with those attending the meeting. Vaden, who had grabbed and consumed at least two handfuls of the sweets, appeared to dance a two-step as he walked from his seat to the door for a break.

"I'm just too full from that cake to walk right," he said, smiling and dancing away.

Regents say leader's pay not yet negotiated

When asked Tuesday how much newly selected Del Mar College interim president Travis Kirkland would be paid, college regents Bill Martin and Trey McCampbell said that issue had yet to be negotiated.

With Kirkland listening in only minutes after learning he had been selected, however, Martin jokingly offered a lowball figure.

"We are very pleased that he has agreed to work for free," he kidded.

Neal sternly hints hats-off for Pledge

When it was time to say the Pledge of Allegiance at Wednesday's commissioners court meeting, County Judge Loyd Neal eagle-eyed two veterans at Wednesday's meeting and pointed to the hats that both men had forgotten to take off.

Noticing the mayor's stern look, they both looked baffled until Neal pointed at their hats and both sheepishly removed them.

Port engineer grouses about Wal-Mart fight

Listening to a report from city staff about ongoing developments at a Metropolitan Planning Committee meeting Thursday, Port of Corpus Christi engineer Greg Brubeck grumbled at a presentation about the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for the Southside.

The site has been one of the most contentious public fights recently, with some residents near the proposed Wal-Mart complaining they don't want it.

"As many people will complain that they don't have a Wal-Mart when this is over," Brubeck said.

County judge needled at his surprise party

Strolling into the main ballroom of the Corpus Christi Country Club Thursday night with Fulton Coastcon principal Joe Fulton in tow, County Judge Neal was awestruck by the 350 people gathered for his surprise 70th birthday party.

Fulton played a key role in bamboozling Neal into showing up.

"I was just going to dinner with Joe Fulton," a beaming Neal said. "I'm going to kill him."

Standing nearby, Kingsville Economic Council executive director Dick Messbarger was laughing.

"I swear I went to Loyd's 70th birthday 10 years ago! I swear I did."

Difference was wider than fork in the road

Fulton, who is a very active behind-the-scenes player in local politics, strolled up to former County Commissioner Joe McComb, who lost a recent bid for state representative against Solomon Ortiz Jr.

"What do you plan to run for next?" Fulton quizzed.

McComb said he had not decided.

Fulton, with a sly grin, asked if maybe McComb might be interested in retaking his old commissioner's seat, which is currently held by McComb's fellow Republican Chuck Cazalas.

"What about your boy Chuck?" McComb asked.

Fulton replied that he and Cazalas had a parting of ways.

"It wasn't a fork in the road," Fulton continued. "It was a split."

Garcia'd like Coastal Bend to see Obama

Reps. Garcia and Ruth Jones-McClendon, D-San Antonio, are co-hosting Garcia's law school classmate and presidential aspirant Barack Obama in San Antonio today. They'll have a private brunch, followed by a rally at Sunset Station next to the Alamodome.

"I don't agree with Barack on every issue, but he's bringing people to the political process that have never been interested before, and he's speaking in bipartisan terms," Garcia said. "We'll have him down here before the election, and I want the Coastal Bend to meet him."

Political Pulse is compiled and written by Caller Times politics reporter Jaime Powell. This week's contributors include Powell, Israel Saenz and Beth Wilson. Have a tip? Contact Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@caller.com

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Posted by no on June 24, 2007 at 4:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"He has still got $75,000 in leftover campaign funds, and we can't get any of it