Thursday, March 12, 1998

A clear lesson: Move primary back to May

March is just too soon to hold primary elections, and it's time the Legislature listened up.

First, having primaries so early in the year forces candidates to make decisions about running and to initiate fund-raising efforts too far in advance, which gives extra advantage to incumbents and discourages many good potential challengers from entering the field.

Thus, money -- the bane of political campaigning -- becomes even more likely to outweigh qualifications in swaying voters. For example, Republican attorney general candidate Barry Williamson, who raised a $1-million war chest as railroad commissioner, was able to finance an early blitz of TV commercials that put him way ahead of John Cornyn and Tom Pauken, despite Williamson's being ranked at the bottom of the list by members of the Texas legal profession.

Lame ducks

Second, incumbents who lose in March primaries remain in office for nearly 10 months with no accountability to the voters who pay them and expect them to fulfill their duties. In Taylor County, Justice of the Peace Sam Matta lost Tuesday to sheriff's Deputy A.L. Deatherage. Around the Big Country, justices of the peace in Brown and Erath counties, county commissioners in Haskell, Shackelford and Young counties and a county clerk in Knox County were defeated.

Losing a primary, of course, doesn't necessarily mean an officeholder won't responsibly perform his duties until the term's completion. But a couple of years ago, a U.S. congressman from the Houston area was defeated in the primary and simply quit showing up to vote, even when the interests of his district were at stake and despite continuing to collect his paycheck. His constituency was essentially left without representation and could do nothing about it.

Third, the too-early March date contributes to lower voter participation. Tuesday's statewide turnout fell to what might be an all-time low of 11.5 percent! Many factors may have contributed to this embarrassing figure, but common sense says March is too far in front of November's general election for most people to turn their attention to political campaigns.

That means the candidates chosen to go before the state in the general election are determined by a small minority of voters, which isn't good. Plus, that minority is more likely to represent the activist wings of both parties. In a representative democracy where the credibility of public officials depends on the participation and consent of those who are governed, this is not the best way -- or even a decent way -- to produce officeholders who are genuinely responsive to the entire population they're supposed to serve.

Failure in '97 session

In 1997, the Texas House, supported by Abilene state Rep. Bob Hunter, voted to move the primaries back to May. But the Texas Senate balked. Initially, an amendment was added to keep the Jan. 2 filing deadline for candidates -- clearly a move by incumbents who wish to retain incumbents' advantages in campaigning and fund raising. Finally, the bill fizzled altogether, and nothing was accomplished.

Would moving Texas' primaries back to May attract better candidates, make officials more accountable, bring out a greater number of voters and give Texans the best choices come November? Let's try it and see.