Bryan-College Station's 'The Eagle' Recommends a Vote for Bill White for Governor

Bryan-College Station's The Eagle Endorses Bill White for Governor:

Gov. Rick Perry, Republican vs. former Houston Mayor Bill White, Democrat

In the past 15 years or so, the election for governor hasn't been much of a race, but this year it is. Former Houston Mayor Bill is mounting the strongest Democratic challenge to Rick Perry since Perry became governor with the resignation of George W. Bush 10 years ago. Perry already has served longer as governor than anyone in Texas history, and it is time for his tenure to come to an end. White is the right person to make that happen.

In recent years, Perry has divorced himself from the people of Texas, refusing to appear before any but the most adulatory audiences. If you aren't a Perry fanatic, you don't get in to his events. Perry no longer meets with editorial boards at newspapers across the state. That is his prerogative, of course, but his refusal to answer questions from the media or from the people of Texas has left him ignorant of the concerns, the wants and the needs of the state he hopes to lead for another four years. It is an arrogance unseen in Texas governors of the past.

White, on the other hand, has met with editorial boards -- including this one -- with reporters and with Texans of all political persuasions. He has listened to what the people are saying and is prepared to address their concerns if elected governor. He isn't particularly dynamic or bombastic, but we have had a governor for show for the past decade and now it is time to have one who actually can lead and get things done.

One of the biggest concerns facing Texas is a projected $18 billion shortfall in revenues when the Legislature meets in January. While that deficit cannot be blamed directly on Perry, his stubbornness in refusing to accept offered federal funds penalized the state and added to our financial problems. Further, Perry has done little to address the economic crisis other than try to shift the blame to others.

That budget shortfall will force lawmakers to make difficult and most likely unpopular choices. This is where Texas needs a better governor. Our governors lack any real power -- that actually lies with the lieutenant governor as leader of the state Senate -- but the one power they can use most effectively is leadership. The governor must lead legislators in making the decisions necessary for Texas' future. Perry has not done so in the past and there is no indication he is capable or willing to do so now.

White, however, has already said that public education, higher education and public safety must receive the greatest attention from lawmakers in the spring. He said the state needs more Tier 1 universities, but not at the expense of Texas A&M and The University of Texas. He said the state's colleges and universities must be more affordable and accessible to Texas families.

White said Texas schools must provide better education and job training so the state can better compete in a global economy. He has an education plan to cut the state's way-too-high dropout rate, improve reading skills and bolster vocational-technical training throughout the state. He criticizes Perry for cutting funding to early learning and after-school programs.

Perry for the most part has ignored other Texas universities, preferring to focus -- harmfully -- on his alma mater, Texas A&M. He has packed the administration and the Board of Regents with political cronies to the detriment of the university. His meddling has brought faculty and staff morale to a low unseen in decades. Because of the governor's interference, A&M's reputation as a first-class university is eroding and there is grave danger that the school will be unable to attract the best faculty in the future. Why any Brazos County voter, why any loyal Aggie would vote for Rick Perry is beyond us.

White said he will appoint people to the Board of Regents who can raise private funds and take A&M to the next level. He also called for an outside audit in the wake of some questionable dealings with private companies.

Ten years of Rick Perry as governor are more than enough. It is time for a change and Bill White is that change. He is a strong fiscal conservative who proved as mayor of Houston that it is possible to do more with less. We've had the less. Now it is time for the more.

The Eagle recommends a vote for Bill White for governor.

http://www.theeagle.com/opinions/Eagle-recommendations-for-Congress--College-Station-Council-and