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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1989)
The Battalion TATE & LOCAL 3 Wednesday, August 2,1989 >rt I Texas groups seek racing license I Hearing may award permit for pari-mutuel tracks in Houston att cBurnei imnlst U of a man “> a womat >2 years and '• Apparei ed as a Id is the the perpl 03-MPH Off His If: eature son rth toT ve ston who plan t seems ill ing thee covered :ge27. esting anie e Sun's stor his article,- eer's ranee Apparent; > boat was: ave. The ;ouIdn'tuiii g. Hesoone iked beans float. Then jrds, “I lot* fins.” he fough; i tor fishai rsts of stini ghteningih experience story, with g of Virgih ny 75 cent ie seconds >rds strange lies red piciutc gal randcJ every t'4 jirth corctj ibloids aref md creati'1 estigadon s . that the If relatively -reality i ’aken "i he storiest funny ie actuall'l 75 cents.' AUSTIN (AP) — A Sept. 8 hearing on two ap- I plications for a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racing I license for Harris County could award the permit I many experts say could become the crown jewel I of Texas thoroughbred racing. Two Houston investor groups, Houston I Downs and the Houston Turf Club, are seeking I the license, but there is no guarantee that the I Texas Racing Commission will grant it to either. A big question, experts say, is whether either proposal is economically feasible. Many horse men complain the 5 percent state tax share on each dollar bet is too high to make a big track profitable. Although the state’s racing law allows Ken tucky Derby-style, Class 1 horse tracks in the Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio areas, the only applications received by the Rac ing Commission were for the Houston area. Both Houston groups are optimistic about their proposals, one of which would cost about $56 million and another about $72 million. Four years before voters approved pari-mu tuel wagering, John Bannerman formed the company called Houston Downs with the goal of someday building a horse racing track in the state’s largest city. Bannerman has long been associated with ef forts to bring pari-mutuel racing to the state. His ? c plenty of land. “We felt that we needed to be within the city of Houston, the Houston Independent School Dis trict and Harris County and also within proxim- We felt that we needed to be . .. within proximity to the other sports and entertainment facilities in Houston.” —John Bannerman, License applicant ity to the other sports and entertainment facilities in Houston,” Bannerman told the Houston Chronicle. The site chosen was 361 acres of pasture land located a few minutes’ drive from the Astro dome. “We’re easily accessible. We’re within 20 min utes of many major hotels, restaurants, bars and Hobby Airport. We’re 10 minutes from the (George R. Brown) Convention Center, 15 min utes from the Galleria and five minutes from the Astrodome,” Bannerman said. Under the proposal, Houston Downs would be a $72 million facility with seating for 8,000 pa trons in a four-level, air-conditioned, glass-sided grandstand. Exterior bench seating for several thousand more is planned. In all, the track could accommodate 30,000 people, including some who would stand. In addition to the standard dirt race track, which would have a turf track inside, Bannerman plans to build a separate training track and more than 1,200 fireproof stalls. Bannerman said Houston Downs would em ploy 834 people — most local residents. Target date for opening day would be Oct. 5, 1991, with 100 racing days during the first season. Unlike a lot of Texas horse racing enthusiasts, Kirwin Drouet, organizer of the Houston Turf Club proposal, didn’t grow up with horse ma nure on his boots. But he is betting that his experience in putting together oil and gas deals will ensure that the Turf Club doesn’t turn out to be the equine equivalent of a dry hole. “I am not a horseman,” says Drouet, a certified public accountant who was graduated from Rice University. “But I will also say this: I bet I know more about track ownership than just about any body in Texas.” GOP 4 straw poll ’: Rains leads race for governor FROM STAFF & WIRE REPORTS Former Secretary of State Jack Rains, Class of ’60 and a Republi can gubernatorial hopeful, was a happy camper after a straw poll taken at the 11th annual Camp Wannameetagop retreat. In the unscientific straw poll of GOP elected officials and party activists. Rains received 14 votes, gaining the lead in the four-man pack of Republican gubernatorial contenders, Rains’ campaign an nounced Tuesday. Texas Railroad Commission chairman Kent Hance was second with 12 votes; businessman Clay ton Williams , Class of ’54 and alumni center namesake, was third with 4 votes; and business man and corporate raider T. Boone Pickens received 2 votes. Two voters were undecided. The poll, conducted by secret ballot, also asked the GOP insid ers whom they considered the most likely 1990 Democratic Party nominee. Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox received 22 votes; Texas Treasurer Ann Richards, 8 votes and former Gov. Mark White, 4 votes. The informal gathering took place at a retreat between Nava- sota and Brenham. In another political devel opment, state Sen. Hugh Parm er’s July 31 campaign contribu tion and expenditure report shows that he raised more than $330,000 between March 8 and June 30 for a race against U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas. “Phil Gramm will obviously outspend us, but his Grammstanding and our fund raising will be enough to over come his attempts to buy the elec tion,” Parmer said. Senator calls spending on Texas Legislature by lobbyists ‘obscene’ AUSTIN (AP) — Calling lob byist spending on the Texas Leg islature “obscene,” a state senator Tuesday proposed new restric tions to dam a flow of cash so large he said it could have bought lawmakers 5,120 martinis a day. “It’s time to send lobbyists a message and send it loud and clear: the party’s over,” Sen. Chet Edwards, D-Duncanville, sai- d.“It’s clear that something’s wrong. You can’t make laws at Mardi Gras.” According to reports filed with the secretary of state, lobbyists spent more than $1.86 million on entertainment and gifts for law makers during the 140-day regu lar legislative session, which ended May 29. Lobbyists wined and dined law makers, took them to Mexico, and gave them gifts such as ski va cations, hunting trips, fishing ex cursions and golf games at exclu sive private clubs. Edwards calculated that the $1.86 million spent was enough to purchase lawmakers 62,000 games of golf, 2,066 weekend trips to Acapulco, or the 5,120 daily martinis. “The cumulative effect of all these freebies is to compromise the integrity of the Texas Legis lature,” Edwards, who is seeking Democratic nomination for lieu tenant governor, said. “This should be the state Capitol, not the entertainment capital of Texas.” The senator predicted reject ion by voters in November of a proposed 300 percent legislator pay raise unless lawmakers move quickly to squelch lobbyist lar gesse. “The legislative pay raise is ab solutely dead in the water until we show we’re willing to clean our own house,” he said. Edwards urged Gov. Bill Clem ents to add lobby reform to the agenda of this autumn’s planned special session. Edwards suggested five changes in current lobbying laws, which he described as “absolutely ajoke.” His proposals: • Require full disclosure of all spending over $25 by both the lobbyist who pays and the law maker who takes. • Ban pleasure junkets, such as trips lawmakers took to Mex ico, a Utah ski resort and a Las Vegas, Nev., boxing match. • Expand disclosure require ments to all statewide elected offi- I his should be the state Capitol, not the entertainment capital of Texas.” — Chet Edwards, Texas senator cials and top state employees, such as agency administrators and a governor’s aides. • Fund the currently budget less Texas Ethics Commission so it can enforce lobbyists regula tions. • Strip a lobbyist of his right to lobby after repeatedly violating the rules. A full disclosure of gift giving would stop much of the excess, Edwards predicted, because law makers are concerned about pub lic opinion. “Realistically, full disclosure will stop the extravagances dead in their tracks,” he said.“Legisla tors aren’t going to want to go on luxurious trips when they know the public and their voters are going to find out about it in (news) reports.” House expands Texas board investigation to include consultants paid to win parole AUSTIN (AP) — A legislative investigation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has been expanded to consider whether paid consul tants may be violating state law by working to win paroles for convicted criminals. Members of the House General Investigating Committee said Monday they want to determine whether the so-called parole advocates — who in clude two former agency officials — may be prac ticing law without a license or using improper in fluence at the board. “We have been told by an informant that there are two or three instances where a (prison in mate) was turned down eight or nine times for parole and was then paroled less than a month after he hired one of these consultants,” DeWitt Hale, committee general counsel, said. “The implication here is that these people have influence within the agency and can get a parole,” he said. “That’s a very serious matter, if true.” Henry Keene, chairman of the parole board, said among the advocates are former board member Antonio Morales of Austin and Paul Mansmann of Fort Worth, former parole com missioner. Neither Morales nor Mansmann is a lawyer, Keene said. Rep. Doyle Willis, D-Fort Worth, said he has instructed Hale to contact the State Bar of Texas to determine whether such consultants must be licensed attorneys. Willis is chairman of the House committee. “I can’t see anything wrong with them — con sultants or lobbyists, whatever you call them,” Keene told the committee. “They just present information on behalf of a parolee. They don’t get any special privileges or anything, as far as I’m aware,” Keene said. Under state law, parole board members and commissioners decide which convicts to free based on an extensive check of background and records by the agency. Keene said the consultants submit additional information to help convicts’ chances for parole. “It’s no different than (former) legislators be coming lobbyists before the Legislature. Where do you draw the line?” he said, responding to a query from Hale on whether it is ethical to have ex-officials lobby the parole agency. “The ethics are with the decision-makers,” Keene said. Bush’s son forgoes bid for Texas gubernatorial seat DALLAS (AP) — Oilman and baseball team owner George W. Bush, the president’s oldest son, said Tuesday night he would not run for governor of Texas next year. “I have had time to think and sort things out, and at this time, I am not a candidate for governor in 1990,” Bush said during a speech to the lawyers division of the Dallas Jewish Federation. Bush added he has learned to “never say never” in politics, but said he could think of few circumstances that would lead him to change his mind. “I think that’s a very honest and forthright statement,” Fred Meyer, state GOP chairman said. “I do be lieve at some point he’s going to be a factor on the political scene because I think he handles himself very well.” Bush, 43, was widely viewed as a likely candidate for governor since returning to Texas last year after helping his father’s presidential campaign. He said family considerations and business opportunities, which in clude his role as managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, prevent him from entering the race. Bush’s mother during a visit to Dallas several weeks ago reportedly told him not to run. But Bush said her opposition was not the main rea son he decided not to run, the Dallas Times Herald reported He said when he told his parents of his decision, his mother, Barbara, replied, “Good. Next subject.” His speech Tuesday was his first public declaration that he would not enter the GOP primary for the seat Republican Bill Clements said he will vacate. “I urge any of my friends who feel so compelled to pick a candidate, get off the sidelines and get involved in the race for governor,” Bush said. Former secretary of state Jack Rains, Class of ’60, and Midland businessman Clayton Williams, Class of ’54 and alumni center namesake, have said they will run for governor in the Republican primary. Other Republicans considering a run in clude Kent Hance, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, and T. Boone Pickens, the well-known cor porate takeover artist who recently moved part of his business from Amarillo to Dallas. Three Democrats have an nounced their candidacy for gover nor: Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox, Texas Treasurer Ann Rich ards and former Gov. Mark White. Former sheriff’s deputy shoots woman, kills self FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Tarrant County Sheriff s deputy killed himself and shot his for mer girlfriend Tuesday night, ending a nearly seven- hour standoff that began when the man took the woman hostage in a courtroom. Authorities told a TV station they believe the suspect may have seized the woman because she filed an assault charge against him Monday. The woman, Juanita Hermasilla, was taken hostage when the man entered Justice of the Peace Bob Ash more’s first-floor courtroom at the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. Police special weapons and tactics units were dis patched to the scene but left about 5 p.m., when the Sheriffs Department said they would take over, Fort Worth police spokesman Doug Clarke said. “Judge Ashmore said he worked with the man and knew him,” Clarke said. “The sheriff said he worked with him and knew him.” A sheriffs department dispatcher who did not wish to be identified said the suspect “worked here as a dep uty years and years ago. He then became a bail bonds man until he went bankrupt about a year ago.” She said the standoff continued past 7:30 p.m. with “no end in sight.” tiorelm wiiuniM] Time's Running Out! 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