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Candidates seek to take their Texas triumphs national
Austin American Statesman 10/21/02

They popped up on television last month and will stick around through Election Day: real people (accompanied by stirring music) who just want to tell you how much better their lives are because of Senate candidates John Cornyn and Ron Kirk.

In reality, though, Cornyn's record as attorney general and Kirk's stint as mayor were far more nuanced than any commercial can convey. Although both men had their successes and their supporters who are willing to go in front of the cameras, they also had their critics who don't want to give the candidates the chance to do for the country what they did for Texas.

Critics say Cornyn focused on helping companies and state agencies instead of consumers and citizens.

"Our work with his office, on balance, has been pretty positive," said Reggie James, director of Consumers Union, a nonprofit group that regularly requests public documents to monitor state agencies and officials.

James said Cornyn has prodded state agencies to release public information more quickly. But he also said that some agencies have begun to find ways around the law and that Cornyn's office hasn't caught up to those tactics.

Two mixed paths of public service
San Antonio Express-News 10/13/02

As a lawmaker, agriculture commissioner, lieutenant governor and now governor, Rick Perry has had plenty of time to ponder the principles on which he says his decisions are based.

Some said Perry has backed issues important to Texas, while others charge that he has backed big-money interests over Texans' interests.

Longtime Perry critic Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project contended that the governor serves as a "watchdog for the corporate interests of the state," while Reggie James of the Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office found good and bad.

"There have been some things I thought he did the right thing on," James said. "There have been some things that have raised concerns for me over the years."

As for lobby influence, James said, "That's not just his problem, that's the whole process' problem. They're all unduly influenced by the lobby, with maybe one or two exceptions."