Special election has its merits

I read with interest Gene Powell's assessment in his July 10 column in the Odessa American of the process being used to fill the state representative's seat recently vacated by the death of Buddy West.

While I, like Powell, may wish that the procedures were different, the procedure to fill a vacancy is specified in state law. The governor has virtually no discretion in how the replacement is determined. The following points should be clarified:

>> The governor MAY NOT appoint a replacement. A replacement must be selected by a special election.
>> The law specifies that the governor SHALL call a special election to elect a replacement. He cannot just let the position remain vacant.
>> Furthermore, there are only two days each year that special elections may be held: they are the regular election dates in May and in November when all other elections are normally held.

It appears to me that the governor has done everything as required by law in filling this vacant seat.

From the standpoint of the citizens in this district, if Tryon Lewis will run for this unexpired term and is elected, it will be very much to our advantage.

If this happens, Lewis, after the November election, could immediately have an office in the Capitol and begin to hire staff, and would be well ahead in being prepared for the upcoming session of the Legislature.

But more important, he would be senior to all of the other new state representatives who are elected for the first time this November. And in the Legislature, seniority (even by only a couple of months) is very beneficial.

So this is a heck of a deal for the people in this district.

Charles R. Perry
Odessa