Rives eyes a run at state office

Despite a planned campaign fund-raiser this Friday, ECISD trustee Randy Rives remains mum about his intentions to run for the District 81 state representative seat.

Rives, an Ector County school district trustee since May 2004, doesn’t plan to kick off his campaign for state office at the fund-raiser, he said, and he remains in an exploratory mode for the office held since 1993 by Rep. Buddy West.

“We’re trying to see what the availability of funds are,” Rives said of the Friday event scheduled at the home of Eddie and Kathy Rhodes. “… We’re not ready to announce, (but) we’re actively pursuing the race.”

West, a fellow Republican, said he received an invitation to Rives’ pledge campaign. West hasn’t announced his re-election intentions and doesn’t plan on attending the event.

“It doesn’t bother me,” West said of the invite. “That’s how I found out that he was going to do it.”

The invitation was out of courtesy to West, Rives said, and he wants West to attend.

“I’m not hiding the fund-raiser,” Rives said.

Rives filed his treasurer appointment 26 days before West’s emotional speech on the House floor where he publicly announced his health may keep him from returning for a ninth legislative session.

The treasurer filing date was arbitrary, Rives said.

“It didn’t have anything to do with Buddy one way or the other,” Rives said.

West’s health has improved, and with it so too has his outlook on seeking re-election, he said last week.

Rives filed a campaign treasurer appointment form with the Texas Ethics Commission on May 1. The one-page 10-section document names Jane Hext as his treasurer and lists the state representative District 81 seat as the targeted office.

“We’ve got a good start,” Rives said. “We’ve already got some key things going on. Right now, we’re real happy with the things going on.”

Hext, an Odessa philanthropist, has previously given campaign contributions to West, including a $250 gift on Aug. 16, 2005, and a $250 gift on Jan. 8, 2004, according to West’s online campaign finance reports with the ethics commission.

During a luncheon about nine months ago where school legislation was the main topic of discussion, Rives talked with West of his possible pursuit of West’s office, Rives said.

“Early in the game some thought that Buddy wasn’t going to run, and some people encouraged me and talked to me about running,” said Rives, who declined naming financial contributors and supporters without their permission.

Rives visited West in the hospital following West’s health announcement at the Capitol, he said, as a sign of respect and to encourage West through his kidney ailment.

Rives said he hasn’t talked to West about an endorsement if West retired from the office. The state representative doesn’t plan on endorsing anyone at this time, he said.

“I wish him the best of luck,” West said. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s his choice.”