Sen. Van de Putte (D) Considering Run for Lieutenant Governor

[TexasTowelie]

The Austin American Statesman finally heard the words many Texas Democrats had been waiting and hoping to hear out of Sen. Leticia Van de Putte's mouth earlier today. When reporter Jonathan Tilove asked Sen. Van de Putte about running for Lieutenant Governor in 2014, she responded:

First and foremost my thoughts are waiting to see what my sister colleague, Wendy Davis, is going to do, and then visiting with my family. It's not out of the realm of possibilities, but I have not made any decision.

This is the first time, publicly, that Sen. Van de Putte has acknowledged she is considering a statewide run for the 2014 cycle. During the 83rd regular session, Sen. Van de Putte was elected President Pro Tem of the Texas Senate by her colleagues and had the privilege of serving as Governor for a Day. Sen. Van de Putte was first elected in a special election in 1999 to State Senate District 26 based in downtown San Antonio, where she serves currently. Unlike Sen. Davis, Sen. Van de Putte would not have to leave the Texas Senate if she chose to run for a statewide office. Senate District 26's next regularly scheduled election is scheduled for 2016.

Sen. Van de Putte had plenty of thoughts on the current state of Texas governance and the importance of family.

On our current Republican government:

"History will show that we have had 20 years of solid Republican rule and in those 20 years, I've seen our infrastructure needs (she cited water, transportation and education) ignored, until this very recent session, and what we're trying to do, as the speaker put it, with our highway funding is a band aid. It becomes really easy for those in office to say `no' and be so afraid of the next primary that they are very hesitant to say `yes' to even an increase in fees or a gasoline tax, which we haven't had in 22 years."

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14053/sen-van-de-putte-d-considering-run-for-lieutenant-governor .

[Gman]

1. No doubt Leticia would be great

And it's good she isn't up again as senator until 16. So now it's how much money can she raise versus how much money will bundlers and the national party suck out of Texas.

[longship]

2. Leticia Van de Putte is one class act.

I remember her 30 second speech on the night of Wendy Davis' filibuster which shook the Texas senate chamber to the rafters. The Republican leadership never again regained control and the filibuster succeeded.

What a fantastic person! And a class act.

R&

And an extra for Senator Van de Putte.

[mbperrin]

3. Someone make these two great Texans run!!!!!

Please!!!!