By: Dave McNeely
Some who think Patrick is a problem for public education say the fight isn’t over just yet.
They suggest looking at the Democratic primary as well as the Republican, to better gauge the Patrick opposition.
In November, Patrick will face Democrat Mike Collier, a Houston accountant and auditor, who worked his way up at PriceWatershouseCoopers, one of the world’s biggest accounting firms, for years before becoming chief financial officer of a successful oil company he helped start.
But at least one of those who voted in the Republican primary in March will be crossing over to the Democratic column to vote against Patrick.
Scott Milder, in a brief statement just after his primary loss to Patrick, insisted he didn’t view it as a defeat.
“I am not delivering a concession speech, but rather an absolute victory speech,” Milder said.
“We rallied many rational Texans to the polls in a very short period of time with less than $100,000 in campaign funds against the well-funded lies and misleading rhetoric of a disingenuous incumbent,” said Milder – who did not go quietly into the night.
“What we achieved is quite extraordinary,” Milder said, “and this is just the beginning of our rational rebellion against the irrational, out-of-touch politics of our Lieutenant Governor and his posse.”
Milder has said he’s a pretty good Republican, but party loyalty has its limits.
“In November, I will be casting my votes for the Republican candidates in every race with one exception,” Milder said. “I cannot in good conscience vote for a man I know to be a liar, nor can I vote for a man who willfully ignores and disrespects his legislative colleagues and his constituents.
“Dan Patrick . . . is the biggest bully in Texas,” Milder charged.
“I will be casting my vote for Mike Collier, the rational Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, and will strongly encourage all Texans who voted for me in this race to cast their votes for Mr. Collier as well.”
Milder thanked all the folks who worked and voted for him, and promised to “continue to rally rational Texans in this fight for rational leadership in every election. We are just getting started!”
Read more at the Katy Times…