Tom Schieffer to announce bid for governor

by Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex

Former U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer, who served the Bush Administration as ambassador to Japan and Australia, will announce he is forming an exploratory committee for Texas governor on Monday, the Star-Telegram reports.

From the Star-Telegram:

“He indicated to me that if he was going to announce, it would be on Texas Independence Day,” said Austin attorney Joe Longley, a longtime friend.

Sources close to Schieffer said he would have a news conference in the Speaker’s Committee Room at the Texas Capitol. Rep. Paula Pierson, D-Arlington, said that she had reserved the room and that “possibly” Schieffer would be there.

In an interview in Washington, Schieffer, 61, said, “I will make a decision on Sunday after I meet with my family.” He first expressed interest publicly in the post two weeks ago in an interview with the Star-Telegram.

“I have continued to check with people I know all over the state, and I have received an incredible response,” said Schieffer, shaking his head. “I have been amazed at the reaction.”

Pierson said that when she heard Schieffer was thinking of running for governor, “I was drinking a cup of coffee on my balcony in Austin, and I nearly fell over.”

She said she will do whatever she can to help Schieffer, with whom she worked on the development of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in the 1990s when she was on the City Council and he was president of the Texas Rangers.

“He’s a visionary. He brings stature. He brings experience. He understands business and the global economy,” Pierson said. “I think he’s the type that appeals to both parties.”

Schieffer’s entry would add to an already competitive gubernatorial contest between Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, both Republicans.

It is interesting that one of the very things Pierson says makes Schieffer a good candidate – his work to develop the Ballpark in Arlington for the Texas Rangers – may cause a lot of Democrats, Republicans, and independents severe heartburn: the controversial use of eminent domain to secure the land for the stadium.

Given the fact that most of the state is more phobic about eminent domain than ever before thanks to the Trans-Texas Corridor, I’m not at all sure how Schieffer will play once his eventual opponents–Democratic and Republican–start reminding people about that.