So who in the world is Charles Soechting?
In his brief tenure as the new chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Charles Soechting has quickly developed a reputation as a bit of a loose cannon.
No More Back Room Deals
On Tuesday, Chairman Soechting announced his resignation for personal reasons relating to family and business. Sadly, that’s not the reason he expressed in the calls over the last weeks.
As I’ve heard the story repeated by many, he is doing this because the insiders have decided that Glen Maxey might be elected at the State Convention. I’m flattered that they believe the delegates would elect me. However, I’m appalled that they think this fast move to give their candidate the “incumbency” advantage won’t be noticed for what it is: a slap in the delegates’ face, yet again.
Dropping out and calling a quick election wasn’t right when Republicans Todd Baxter and Ray Allen resigned from the Legislature and allowed Rick Perry to try to set up a short-lived “incumbency” for their successors. It smelled when Perry did it, and it smells when our Democratic leadership does it.
And smell it does. In mentioning Baxter and Allen's early resignations and special election maneuvering, Maxey picked the perfect comparison. Do we really need a special election by the SDEC just 49 days before the state convention is going to elect a permanent chairman? Maxey believes we should just let the Vice Chair serve out the remainder of Soechting's term. I think that sounds perfectly reasonable.
A Houston lawyer said he recently told Soechting that he was supporting Friedman and that Soechting replied: "He ought to run as a Democrat."
The lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, who backed Democratic gubernatorial choice Tony Sanchez in 2002, said Soechting seemed serious about considering Friedman.
"Politics has gotten to be such a mess," DeGuerin said. "It's gotten so polarized that someone needs to shake up the status quo. The Democrats have been in disarray. They've let the Republicans run all over them."
Soechting confirmed DeGuerin's recollection, saying he'd like to visit Friedman to gauge his Democratic Party values.
"No question he's a real smart guy; people like him," Soechting said. "A lot of people would like to see a candidate for governor appear to have a little wild man like Kinky in him. There's something to be said about being a little wild, a little unpredictable. I've been accused of that myself."
Friedman, who has previously indicated no yen for running as a Democrat, said: "I'm flattered at the possibility of being the Democratic pallbearer, I mean standard-bearer. . . . I'm open to talking to them. I don't think it's going to happen."
Great endorsement rep. What's next? You taking a photo with a donkey!
