The Dallas Morning News endorses BILL WHITE!

Editorial: We recommend White for governor

11:01 AM CDT on Saturday, October 16, 2010

Rick Perry's campaign suggests that his cowboy swagger and his disdain for Washington, D.C. should be enough to convince voters that he's the leader Texas needs.
Elections 2010

The state's longest-serving governor is so certain his tenure should be extended that Perry has glided through this re-election bid with an impervious air, shrugging off tough questions and offering few specifics. Trust me, Perry tells voters, I know what I'm doing.

But in fact, Perry, 60, has done relatively little during a decade at the helm of state government. He can lay claim to few signature achievements. He lacks allies in the Legislature, and whether the issue is school finance, transportation or juvenile justice, he has not managed to see needed reforms through to conclusion.

The Republican governor is counting on the state's relatively strong economy to secure his third full term in office. But Texas' business-friendly environment predates Perry and will extend beyond his time in office. And now, with a deficit of up to $21 billion looming, more than budget bravado and a "taxes bad" mantra will be required to keep Texas on solid financial footing...

Perry ... has done relatively little during a decade at the helm of state government

Texas Tribune 10/18/10
Midland Paper "Reluctantly" Backs Perry

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The thrust of the Reporter-Telegram's argument is this: White is a good candidate who knows a lot about energy and isn't the Obama clone the Perry campaign is making him out to be, even if he should have released those tax returns, while Perry has refused to debate, is "thumbing his nose" at editorial boards by not appearing before them, meddles (their word) in higher education policy, has former staffers who are now lobbyists shaping policy, etc.

Plainview Daily Herald 10/18/10
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Bill White, Democrat, for governor. He will bring a strong and diverse range of experience to the statehouse in Austin as governor. As a businessman, he has experienced and overcome the ups and downs of the private sector. As a former deputy secretary of the U.S. Energy Department, he has been at the helm of a large federal agency. And as mayor of Houston for six years, he performed marvelously and near flawlessly while under fire when he brought the state's largest city through the twin disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita without the massive loss of life and crumbling municipal infrastructure experienced in New Orleans. White was a highly effectively and bipartisan leader of a diverse city, an experience that should serve him well in Austin. We like his no-nonsense style and campaign rhetoric free of hyper-partisanship and quick-fix promises. White has met with Texas newspaper editors and representatives on multiple occasions, and personally sought the Herald's endorsement during a post-primary visit to Plainview. On the other hand, his opponent, Gov. Rick Perry, has not met with nor asked for the support of any Texas newspaper. By arrogantly spurning Texas publishers and editors, he is turning his back on those who seek to bring fair and impartial information to all Texans and has demonstrated a tremendous disregard for newspaper readers and voters across the state. Gov. Perry doesn't appear to want our support, but Bill White has sought it and, we feel, richly deserves yours.