Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams no-shows for DMN debate

by Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex

Michael L. Williams

Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams was a no-show for a Dallas Morning News editorial board meeting on Tuesday which would have pitted him against Democratic opponent Mark Thompson in a face-to-face exchange before the editorial board of the state’s second largest circulation daily newspaper (also the nation’s 15th largest daily newspaper).

Williams’ cancellation is particularly interesting because it occurs the same week that Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV’s Brett Shipp is schedule to release a televised expose on the Texas Railroad Commission, set to air tonight (9/11/08).

WFAA-TV and the Dallas Morning News are both companies owned by the Belo Corporation.

The invitation to both candidates for Texas Railroad Commissioner on the ballot in 2008 was (so far) the only scheduled event featuring both the Democrat and Republican in the same room before voters decide Nov. 4. It would have been the closest thing to a face-to-face debate this race has seen.

Here is what the campaign of Mark Thompson, the Democratic Nominee for Texas Railroad Commission, had to say about the incident:

The editors said Williams had confirmed for the meeting. “They were surprised he wasn’t there,” Thompson said.

We can only speculate as to Williams’ reason for the no-show — perhaps it was because he does not want to answer Mark Thompson’s charges of being ‘bought and paid for’ by the oil and gas industry — or perhaps he is busy measuring the drapes in the U.S. Senate or some other higher office. One thing is clear — Michael Williams thinks he does not have to win the trust of voters and editorial boards alike in order to keep his current office.

Democrat Mark Thompson made his case to the editors and said it was unfortunate that Williams chose to skip the opportunity to defend his case for re-election in person. Thompson said Thursday that it’s a shame voters won’t get to see both candidates for Railroad Commissioner side-by-side.

Maybe Williams thinks he is such a national celebrity now that editorial board meetings are just too small for him.