Thursday, March 09, 2006

"The jury remains out on the political power of the toll road issue."

Urban Affairs:

Power of toll issue hard to gauge

March 09, 2006
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2006

Sal Costello and the Austin Toll Party were quick to claim victory Wednesday, taking credit for the defeats of two toll road supporters: Travis County Commissioner Karen Sonleitner and state Rep. Carter Casteel, R-New Braunfels.

Toll opponents certainly have a case to make with the defeat of Sonleitner, given victor Sarah Eckhardt's enthusiastic embrace of the anti-toll cause. But given the margin of victory — almost 15 percent — and other campaign dynamics, it's difficult to know for sure whether tolls made the difference.

As for Casteel, opponent Nathan Macias benefited from more than $600,000 in campaign cash from San Antonio conservative and school voucher proponent James Leininger and a political action committee Leininger controls, and still won by only 45 votes. Chalk that one up to vouchers, not tolls.

Then there's state Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County, chairman of the House Transportation Committee and the Godfather of Toll. A candidate endorsed by toll opponents took him on and lost by 28 percent.

Former Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert Nichols, a tireless toll road advocate, easily won a GOP primary for the state Senate in East Texas over three opponents, while David Stall from Fayette County, the Trans-Texas Corridor's leading critic, came in a distant third in another state Senate race.

The jury remains out on the political power of the toll road issue. November's governor's race, with a direct challenge to a sitting governor who has made tolls the centerpiece of his transportation policy, could provide the answer.

© 2006 Austin American-Statesman: www.statesman.com

pigicon