http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/topstories/stories/120908dntexsharp.42adf930.htmlAUSTIN — Former Comptroller John Sharp announced Monday that he will run to succeed Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who could resign next year to challenge the Republican governor.
Mr. Sharp, a moderate Democrat and political veteran, said he will file the paperwork Jan. 1 to begin raising money for the race.
Ms. Hutchison has opened an exploratory committee to challenge Gov. Rick Perry in the 2010 Republican primary for governor.
That would trigger a political scramble for her Senate seat. Her term runs through 2012, but if she leaves Washington before then, a special election would be held to fill the seat.
On Monday, Mr. Sharp, 58, served notice he intends to seek the seat whenever it opens.
"I will be a candidate whether the election is in 2012 or any time before then," Mr. Sharp said. "Texans face tough challenges that call for innovative solutions, and that’s what our campaign is all about."
Mr. Sharp is a pro-life Catholic with potential appeal to rural and suburban voters who are among the state GOP’s most reliable voters in recent elections. He has long been seen as the Democrat best positioned to win a statewide race, though he lost bids for lieutenant governor in 1998 and 2002. The latter came against Republican David Dewhurst, a potential GOP candidate for Ms. Hutchison’s seat.
The Sharp camp was heartened by a recent survey by a GOP pollster that found the Republican Party is losing support among Texas voters who say they are more open to voting for Democrats.
Republican consultant Craig Murphy said that there are some demographic trends that Democrats hope will benefit them “but not something overnight” likely to shake GOP dominance in state politics.
"We just had an election, and that's a poll to beat all polls," he said, noting Texas voters supported John McCain for president and re-elected Republican John Cornyn to the Senate.
Mr. Sharp’s early announcement was seen as an effort to discourage other potential Democrats. Among potential Democratic contenders are Houston Mayor Bill White; former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, and Dallas state Rep. Rafael Anchia.
Among Republicans mentioned are state Sen. Florence Shapiro, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, and Mr. Dewhurst.
Mr. Sharp served in the state Legislature from Victoria and was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission and as comptroller.
He and Mr. Perry were students together at Texas A&M but became politically estranged until 2006, when San Antonio megachurch pastor John Hagee brokered a reconciliation that led to the governor appointing Mr. Sharp to lead a commission to craft a property tax overhaul.
Mr. Sharp was instrumental in crafting the new tax code that cut school property taxes and created a new business tax. He works for the Dallas-based business tax-consulting firm Ryan & Co.
