The retirement announcements keep coming this week. As of today, there will be one open seat in the Texas Senate and eight open seats in the Texas House. Will there be more? We will know soon enough as the January 4th deadline approaches. Candidates have until midnight on the 4th to file to run.
Rep. David Swinford (R-Amarillo) announced that he will not seek reelection to the House District 87 seat that he has held since 1991. Democrat Abel Bosquez has filed to run for the seat.
Amarillo restaurant owner Victor Leal will seek the Republican nomination for the seat. Anette Carlisle, president of the Amarillo Independent School District board of trustees, who unsuccessfully challenged Swinford in the 2006 Republican primary, said she is considering the possibility of running for the seat again.
Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio) is also calling it quits after 18 years in the Texas House. Former Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson quickly announced that he will run for the House District 122 seat. Larson will join Denise Barnhill in the Republican primary for the seat.
Republican Mark Griffin, a former member of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, has filed to run for the House District 84 seat being vacated by Rep. Carl Isett (R-Lubbock). Former Lubbock County Commissioner Ysidro Gutierrez who recently switched parties, will join Griffin in the Republican primary for the open seat. Republican Thomas “T.C.” Kincaid, Jr. has filed to run for the House District 74 seat currently held by Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine).
Republican physician J.D. Sheffield will run for House District 59 against incumbent Rep. Sid Miller (R-Stephenville).