Gore, Rives endorse West

Jesse Gore said he was in bed last week, praying, when it came to him how he could make his endorsement of Buddy West visible across Odessa.

 

The former candidate for the District 81 seat in the state House of Representatives grabbed a can of spray paint and changed his own signs from "GORE" to "GO WEST."

 

"I thought it was a clear message of support that I was conveying for my candidate of choice," he said.

 

Gore said Monday that his support of West was a no-brainer for him.

 

"I've known Buddy for some time," Gore said. "... More importantly, I believe he's the more conservative candidate of the two.

 

"Tryon's a good man," Gore said. "He's a pleasurable, well-spoken individual who's very kind - he's just too moderate in some of his leanings."

 

Gore said that according to the Eagle Forum, an ultra conservative group that describes itself as "leading the pro-family movement since 1972," Lewis takes moderate leanings on stances like abortion.

 

"He's pro-choice," Gore said.

 

However, that's not completely accurate. According to the Texas Eagle Forum, Lewis responded that he's pro-life with the exception of rape or incest. Rives, West and Gore responded that they're solely pro-life.

 

"It may sound pro-choice to him, but it's the same as George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan," Lewis said, noting he'd also accept abortion if the pregnancy threatened the life of the mother.

 

"I think one of the things we can look to do is to stop abortion on demand," he said. "And that's one of the things I'll try to get done."

 

Lewis also disagreed with the other three candidates on two other issues. Gore, Rives and West support banning foreign language ballots and banning the sale of taxpayer-owned property to foreign investors, according to the survey. Lewis said he's not in favor of such a prohibition.

 

"We should all know English to become a citizen, but if someone needs the translation of something complicated like an amendment, then that's a good thing," he said. "I think everyone who is citizen of the United States should be able to vote and understand what they're voting on."

 

West announced Monday that both Gore and Randy Rives - West's former opponents - have endorsed him in a runoff against challenger Tryon Lewis.

 

"Yes, sir, I'm real proud of that, and I appreciate their help," West said.

 

Lewis said he's not disconcerted by the endorsements.

 

"They all know each other well," he said. "Both Jesse and Randy ran a good race, and if they want to endorse him, that's their prerogative."

 

In fact, Lewis said some of Rives' and Gore's supporters have contacted him and said they'll back him in the runoff.

 

"I'm very thankful to have received the endorsement and help from a great number of the people who were supporters of theirs," Lewis said, specifically naming Alice Belew and Bob Neidert, who both contributed to Rives' campaign. "There are a number who've contacted me and said they'll be backing me."

 

Efforts to reach Rives were not successful Monday.

 

However, in a news release prepared by West's office, Rives was quoted as saying, "I told Buddy at the beginning that if the district didn't choose me to do the job, then I hoped that they would choose him. I support Buddy as a personal family friend, and my family supports Buddy."

 

West said he expects the endorsements to help him out in the April 8 runoff. Meanwhile, he's preparing his campaign.

 

"We're just working on some stuff, getting more signs ready," he said, adding that his chief of staff Erin C. Tresner is working on his campaign and would discuss strategy more with him today.

 

In the meantime, Lewis said his campaign is in full gear.

 

"We're working on lots of things," he said.

 

"We're going to go throughout the district campaign very hard and very long on the issues we think are important to the citizens out here - primarily getting something done about welfare benefits and other government benefits provided for illegal aliens, for total reform of the accountability system for our public schools - get away from the TAKS test and that sort - and to work on a legislative program for West Texas," he said.

WANT TO VOTE?

>> March 31: First day of early voting in primary runoff.

>> April 4: Last day of early voting in primary.

>> April 8: Primary runoff election.

 

FACT FILE

>> Seat: District 81 state representative.

>> Term: Two years.

>> Annual salary: $7,200.

>> Per diem allowance: $17,920.

>> Candidates: Incumbent George E. "Buddy" West and challenger Tryon Lewis.