Good morning,

A sitting state senator is apparently being pushed out of his seat by a state representative… TASB wants to silence dissenting school board members… and readers offer their clear-eyed reviews of the race for Commissioner of Agriculture. 

All of that in today's action-packed Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, December 1, 2021
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But first… On behalf of the entire team, I want to express our gratitude for the outpouring of generosity we received on Giving Tuesday in online donations. Thank you!

Texas Association of School Boards Opposes 1st Amendment Rights of School Board Members

• In an amicus curiae – “friend of the court” – brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Association of School Boards supports censoring board members’ free speech. Sydnie Henry has the details.
   
• TASB is already under fire from lawmakers and education reformers for refusing to leave the leftist-controlled National Association of School Boards. NASB asked the Biden Administration to investigate parents critical of school policies as domestic terrorists.
   
• Now, TASB has taken the position that school board members critical of school board policies can be silenced.
   
• At issue is Houston Community College System v. David Wilson. The case centers around elected HCC Trustee David Wilson, who publicly disagreed with some of the actions taken by others on the nine-member board of trustees. In January of 2018, the HCC trustees censured David Wilson for his public comments disagreeing with the board’s decisions, including the HCC decision to fund a campus in Qatar.
   
• TASB’s position boils done to this: dissent must be squelched. These are the people responsible for the public education of Texas’ children. 

School Board Finally Notices Assault Allegations

• After months of outcry from the suburban community it encompasses, the Round Rock Independent School District school board is meeting Wednesday to potentially discuss serious accusations against the newly hired superintendent, Dr. Hafedh Azaiez. Jacob Asmussen reports on claims that surfaced earlier this summer that Azaiez allegedly had a mistress, demanded she get an abortion, and threatened her with violence when she refused.
        
• And after the woman approached RRISD trustees in July, the superintendent allegedly assaulted her. 
       
• Quite the charming role-model, eh?
       
• In early fall, the Texas Education Agency flagged Azaiez’ license according to records obtained by Texas Scorecard. “The Educator Investigations Division has opened a case file to review and investigate this information. The allegations are as follows: Assault.”
      
• The board will meet on Wednesday evening “in consultation with legal counsel to discuss the employment and performance of the Superintendent,” according to RRISD’s posted agenda.
    
• Azaiez’s hiring earlier this year came under a cloud of suspicion. Community members said the board rushed their decision and did the “entire superintendent search in closed session,” without providing reasons for choosing Azaiez as the sole finalist – despite far more qualified candidates being overlooked. Only two trustees of the seven-member board voted against hiring Azaiez, echoing parents’ concerns about the lack of both a public forum and consistent work achievement.
       
• And Round Rock ISD is supposed to be a “good,” “safe,” “conservative” school district… Watch for more coming soon…

Statewide Races Gearing Up

• In the first of a three-part series, Jeramy Kitchen reviews the crowded electoral fields two weeks out from the filing deadline to seek elected office in 2022. 
   
• As candidates file with their respective political parties and the Texas Secretary of State, some of the lists of candidates for elected statewide offices are becoming crowded, potentially providing for a compelling primary and general election cycle.
   
• In this installment, Kitchen provides a quick summary of the races as they stand today for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, ag commissioner, and railroad commissioner.
   

• The candidate filing deadline is Monday, December 13. As of right now, the primary election is scheduled for March 1, 2022, and the general election is November 2, 2022.
      

• “As of now” because various lawsuits filed by Democrats against the state’s new representational boundaries for the U.S. House, Texas Senate, and Texas House could delay the primary election.

Middleton Forces Taylor Out Of  Texas Senate…

• Bringing to five the number of state senators not seeking re-election, Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) made his retirement known yesterday – claiming he was forced out by State Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville). Taylor served in the Texas House from 2003 to 2013, and in the Senate ever since.
      
• “I tried to tell him, I’m just going to go one more time, why don’t you wait, but he’s ready to go and wanting to spend a lot of money,” Taylor told a newspaper in Galveston.
      
• For his part, Middleton wasted no time in confirming his bid for the seat – thereby moving his own House seat into the “open” column. Middleton was first elected to the Texas House in November 2018 and currently serves as chairman of the Texas Freedom Caucus. 
     
• By Jeramy Kitchen’s count, this makes a total of 30 incumbent state lawmakers (house and senate) not seeking re-election to their current post, whether retiring or seeking a higher office.

Clardy Draws Challengers

• One of the most liberal Republicans in the Texas House looks to face opposition in the upcoming primary election. Brandon Waltens reports multiple challengers are entering the race to knock out Rep. Travis Clardy (R–Nacogdoches).
   
• First elected in 2013, Clardy has amassed one of the most liberal voting records among his Republican colleagues. He earned a rating of ‘38’ out of 100 on the Fiscal Responsibility Index for his votes to grow government spending, as well as a failing score of ‘60’ from Texas Right to Life.
   
• The challengers include Mark Williams of Panola County, Greg Caldwell of Nacogdoches, and Rachel Hale of Henderson. All three challengers have indicated they are challenging Clardy from the right, with each taking aim at his soft position on key conservative issues.

Y’All Answered

Yesterday’s One Click Survey asked about the three-way GOP race for the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, pitting incumbent Sid Miller against State Rep. James White of Hillister and political newcomer Carey Counsil.

Mr. Miller led with 69.8 percent of readers, followed by Mr. Counsil at 18.4 percent, and Mr. White at 11.8 percent.

Here’s a sampling of the comments from the inbox…

• “Sid Miller is for Texas and Texans first. He has stepped on RINOs and Democrats toes, which is another reason RINOs like the governor and Speaker of the House is pushing White to run. Let's keep Sid for Texas.” – Gary Nelson
   
• “For now I'm with Sid Miller, although Texas farmers and ranchers need a serious explanation for why it became illegal this year to buy ‘non-certified’ wheat seed in Texas. This change means seed will cost more than double next year. We need an ag commissioner willing to protect farmers, not corporate interests.” – Francis Hamre
   
• “Right now I'm all about removing as many ‘Politicians’ as possible, and replacing them with citizens.” – Reid Davidson
   
• “I chose Counsil, actually it's too early to decide as I haven't researched the new candidates, but I am a believer now more than ever of new blood in politics! So anyone new deserves a look and some initial support.” – Doug Freeman

   

• “I’ve not got much objection to Miller, other than term limits. The endorsement by [House Speaker] Phalen counts against White.” – Rod Dixon
   
• “James White is a great guy.  I'd like to see him go far.” – Alton Moore
   
• “As of today, my vote would go to Miller but I'll keep an eye on Counsil. As for White, if Dade Phelan is for him then he'll never get my vote.” – Joseph Tortorice
   
• “Voted for Miller because he is the only one seemingly willing to stand up for what the citizens of Texas want.” – Lou Olson
   
• “I don't understand why good GOP candidates file against good incumbents!  Go file and run against RINOs instead of those that are actually doing what they were elected to do!  Unfortunately, there are plenty of rinos that need to be primaried.” – Virginia Choate