State
Wednesday • December]^
Morales says he will
not seek re-election
Court considers free-speech deb
Constitutionality of abortion-clinic buffer zones questioned by<
Morales
AUSTIN (AP) — Attorney General Dan
Morales will not seek re-election next year.
The seven-year incumbent said Tuesday
that despite a high approval rating and name
recognition, he will focus his immediate fu
ture on his new wife and her two children.
Morales, 41, mar
ried for the first time
earlier this year. He
will serve out the re
maining 13 months of
his current term but
did not indicate what
he will do after that.
“It’s unlikely I’ll go
into a traditional legal
practice,” Morales
said. “We all recognize
there are more lucra
tive opportunities in
the private sector. But that was not a ma
jor consideration. It really was more relat
ed to time, energy and commitment di
rected toward my family.”
As the state’s highest elected Hispanic,
Morales had been expected to draw Hispanic
voters, mainly Democrats, to the polls next year.
He said he does not think his decision will dis
suade Hispanics from voting.
“There are a number of qualified and com
petent Hispanic elected officials who are ready
to carry the banner,” Morales said. “‘I really dis-
agree... that my absence as a formal candidate
on the ticket will depress the Hispanic vote.”
Morales and Democratic Party Chair Bill
White pointed to state Rep. Richard Ray
mond, D-Benavides, as a strong Hispanic
running for statewide office.
Raymond, who is running for land com
missioner, said Morales’ departure could
draw more interest to the election.
“When you have a wide-open race, you
tend to have more participation than when
you have a popular incumbent,” Raymond
said. “It’s just too hard to say today that less
people in South Texas or wherever are not go
ing to vote because Dan isn’t running.”
Morales is the second high-ranking in
cumbent Democrat to announce he will
not seek office next year.
Lt. Gov. Bob. Bullock, the state’s top
elected Democrat, earlier said he would not
run again. The two other Democrats in
statewide office — Land Commissioner
Garry Mauro and Comptroller lohn Sharp
— are seeking their party’s nominations for
governor and lieutenant governor.
Susan Weddington, who chairs the state
GOP, said Morales’ decision was bad news
for the Democrats.
“Dan Morales was the best candidate
the Democratic Party had on their ’98 tick
et,” she said.
Former Republican chair Tom Pauken —
one of three men seeking the GOP attorney
general nomination — also said he believes
Democrats will miss Morales.
“Clearly, an incumbent who’s been in of
fice as long as Morales has some real advan
tages statewide,” Pauken said. “You take that
away, and it’s going to be tough for the De
mocrats.”
Fellow Republican candidates, Railroad
Commissioner Barry Williamson and former
Supreme Court Justice John Cornyn, praised
Morales for his service and his commitment to
his family.
Morales’ decision left — at least tem
porarily — only Texas Court of Criminal Ap
peals Judge Morris Overstreet in the Democ
ratic primary race.
But Morales said he believes other De
mocrats will enter before the candidate filing
deadline on Jan. 2. He would not say who he
expects to enter the race.
Others mentioned as possible Democratic
candidates included state Sen. Rodney Ellis of
Houston; state Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson;
Houston businessman Paul Hobby, who has al
ready announced for state comptroller; Hous
ton Mayor Bob Lanier; and former attorney gen
eral Jim Mattox.
“The attorney general’s job is the best job
I’ve ever had,” Mattox said. “It’s a wonderful
opportunity to provide public service. I’m se
riously considering it.”
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas
Supreme Court is considering
whether buffer zones keeping
anti-abortion activists away
from clinics and doctors’ homes
may be an unconstitutional re
striction of free speech.
The court heard oral argu
ments Tuesday from anti
abortion groups appealing a
ruling that found they had con
spired to hinder business at
Planned Parenthood and nine
other clinics during the 1992
Republican National Conven
tion in Houston.
Attorneys for Planned Parent
hood of Houston and Southeast
Texas also made arguments.
Benjamin Bull, attorney for
Operation Rescue, Rescue
America and two anti-abor
tion activists, said the court
did not consider less-restric
tive options, such as banning
protesters from obstructing
entry to clinics.
The anti-abortion protest
ers are appealing a 1994 in
junction of fixed buffer zones
at Houston-area clinics and
doctors’ homes.
“We believe that a ban on
obstruction (of entry into a
clinic) would have been
enough,” he said. “And now
we’re left to wonder whether
a smaller buffer zone would
have been effective.”
A Harris County jury in 1994
found the anti-abortion ac
tivists had conspired to interfere
with business at abortion clinics
“ We believe that a ban
on obstruction would
have been enough.”
BENJAMIN BULL
ATTORNEY, OPERATION RESCUE
during the 1992 GOP National
Convention in Houston. The
ruling, plus $1.01 million in
damages, was upheld by the
14 th Court of Appeals.
The anti-abort
have appealed the
Supreme Court,wL^
set time table tortile
“This is notak
lion of speech,"C
die, attorneyforPL |
enthood, said.
Peddie remind:
tices that memb:
Supreme Court-
can didates — are
from coming with
voters on election
Peddie added
cerned the courts
ing out laws sped!:
t ion issues.
"Just treat it like
case," she said.
h
Senate committee hears testimoi
on easier access to public informatM
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Public infor
mation should be readily available via
paper documents or new technology,
but some laws and government offi
cials limit access, open government
advocates testified Tuesday.
“Despite what some individuals believe,
public information is for members of the
public, not just for newspapers,” Thomas
A. Stephenson, senior vice president for
operations and administration at the San
Antonio Express-News, said.
Stephenson was the first of about a
dozen witnesses to testify before the
Texas Senate Interim Committee on
Public Information, chaired by Sen. Jeff
Wentworth, R-San Antonio.
The committee is holding hearings
throughout the state before issuing its fi
nal report in October 1998.
Stephenson provided an update on a
lawsuit filed by the Texas Daily Newspa
per Association and Texas Press Associa
tion challenging a new state law limiting
public access to traffic accident reports.
A state district judge in Austin is ex
pected to decide Friday whether to
make permanent a temporary order
blocking parts of the law from taking
effect, Stephenson said.
Under the law, anyone seeking infor
mation about a traffic wreck must know
the name of at least one person involved
and either the locat ion or date of the wreck.
The law also limits access to motor vehicle
records containing personal information
and makes it illegal for that information to
be posted on the Internet without permis
sion from the person involved.
The city of San Antonio supports the law.
City Attorney Frank Garzas
businesses that sell wreck report'; 1
and medical providers have tumeq
accident reports department fc
market,” creating such congestion
difficult for all citizens togetsenuj
The city wants to charge forp
costs associated with providing
ports, Garza said.
Reggie James, director of tlieS
office of Consumers Union,!
mittee some government agencies'
cumvent the Texas Public Infomi;:
by seeking opinions from thelexasd
generals office on whetherinfonrJ
public even when they already tol
Some also classify informal
related to pending litigation
though it is only vaguelyconnej
a lawsuit, James testified.
Doug Walker’s
Maroon & White Report
BEAT THE HELL OUTTA FINALS!
College Station, Texas 77842-0642
WITH THE A66IE STUDY BREAK!
Ph: 409-696-5911 • Fax: 409-696-7785 • Email: lnfo@agsports.com
THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT
WHO: EVERYONE
FOR THE TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL FAN!
WHEN: DEC. 10, 4-6PM
• The most extensive coverage of A&M recruiting.
0 s* 0R, X WH ERE: 342 MSC ^ OR, %
• Recruiting news 5 nights a week from Jan. 4 through Feb. 5.
• A variety of subscription packages starting at $30.
•(a? < nKKn f mi
• Candid coverage of A&M football and recruiting all year long.
SPONSORED BY: AGCIE
• Newsletter: 25 issues, 12 months a year.
• Fax or Email: 70 updates plus special reports.
ORIENTATION LEADER PROGRAM
• Internet service: http.7/www.agsports.com
ALSO, CLASS SHIRTS 099, 'OO, '01) WILL BE ON
Subscription packages via mail, fax, or email from $30
SALE MONDAY - THURSDAY I N TH E MSG!
CALL 409-696-5911 TO ORDER TODAY!
Don’t
Worry
T Tluniol
when an accident or
sudden illness occurs
CarePlus is open when you
need them 7 days a week
with affordable medical
care.
CarePlus
Family Medical Center
2411 Texas Ave. and
Southwest Parkway
696-
1 0% A&M student dis:
YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO AUSTIN (jj
FOR GREAT JEWELRY S GIFTS
discover
2 16 N. Bryan
Bryan
Downtown
779-8208
Hours:
Mon. ■ Sat.
- 6 pm
r tfcv/Vr t
Celtic Crosses • African Masks
Wind Chimes • Incense S Oils A
Museum Reproductions • Tarot Cards
Great Sterling Silver Jewelry 9
fllterncitive clothing,
occe/zorie/
end bocird/
UIUIUI.
GUPPY42
• com
rep/ wonted
for info, emoil
rep/@
guppij22.com
&
MSC Hospitality
presents
London Cultural Trip
March 13-20, 1998
Sign up by December 5, 1997
In Room 227M MSC
Trip costs include:
• airfare
• airport transfer
• hotel accommodations
• continental breakfast
two (2) theatre productions
• trip to York
• attend rugby match
Tours of:
• London & York
• Kensington Palace
• Parliament
• Lloyd’s of London
• Westminster Abbey
The British Museum
City
Caml
for /) ) i
• Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
If you have any questions, please contact Charlotte Jamieson or Paul Henry at 845-6790.
Sponsored by the MSC MBA/Law Committee
JJL.
^^Memorial Student Center
4G
If you have any special needs, pleastf.
at 845-6790 to inform us of these ne»
&
&
tt
&
(be
OA/intzx fJn c^dqqis.jCand
Holiday Craft Fair
Thursday
10a.m. to 5p.m.
Friday
10a.m. to 4p.m.
Throughout the MSC
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification
three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities.
ChM/hC
Join the MSC
Committee for the Awareness
of Mexican American Culture
for 3Po£a&a£~
WHEN:Wednesday, December 3, 1997 @ 7pm
WHEREIN Faith's Chapel with a procession
to the Academic Plaza
Wh
0 Wh
" 1 Wh
WHY: Because you'll learn about this traditional celebration
and there's FREE FOOD and CULTURE POINTS!!!!! i ) Wh
SEE
YOU
THERE!!
ck
Persons with disabilities please call 845-151 5 to inform us of vow
special needs. We request notification three (3) working davs prior
to the ervent to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities