"The voters have made a decision."
Harris ungracious after runoff defeat
Collin: He doesn't plan to help in transition, but Self wants to talk
April 13, 2006
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
Collin County Judge Ron Harris, trounced by Keith Self in a bitter Republican runoff, said Wednesday that he will not speak to Mr. Self or cooperate in the transition.
Less than 24 hours after his stunning defeat Tuesday night, Mr. Harris issued a sarcastic assessment of Mr. Self's abilities.
"He supposedly knows the job. He knows how to get roads built quicker. He's the one who knows all the money we're losing in all the places," said Mr. Harris, who has served as county judge since 1990.
Mr. Self, who has no Democratic opposition in the fall, will take office Jan. 1. He said Tuesday that he would like to meet with Mr. Harris despite his acerbic comments.
Mr. Harris' irritation and decision not to congratulate his opponent is unusual in politics. Most losing incumbents wish their successors well and agree to help ease them into the new office.
"The two of us will need to talk," said Mr. Self, a retired Army officer. "I want to hear what he has got to say about the job and the office.
"Of course, he controls the transition. He's the one in office. For the time being, I need to leave it at that."
Mr. Harris, who has not had an opponent since his first term, said he was surprised that he lost and thought Mr. Self made false statements throughout the campaign.
Mr. Harris said that on state highway funding, for instance, Mr. Self used misleading figures to assert that Collin County wasn't getting its fair share. Mr. Self denied that the figures were incorrect.
"He certainly didn't take the hint on anything I tried to correct him on, particularly in the final days," Mr. Harris said.
He said he didn't know why Mr. Self would want to meet with him.
"I don't see any need to be an albatross around his neck," Mr. Harris said.
During the campaign, Mr. Self favored cutting the county property tax rate, capping increases in home appraisals, reducing the budget and securing more state highway funding.
He pounded those messages home over and over.
"We weren't going to allow ourselves to be distracted," he said.
Mr. Harris finished slightly ahead of Mr. Self in the three-man Republican primary March 7. But he didn't receive a majority, making Tuesday's runoff necessary.
Mr. Self took a huge early lead as partial returns were posted on the county Web site. He steadily built his advantage, finishing with 63 percent of the vote.
The county judge, who earns $119,000 a year, heads the five-member Commissioners Court, which approves the county budget and sets the tax rate.
On Wednesday, three commissioners said they wanted to work with Mr. Self as he prepares to assume office.
"We have to start letting him transition in," Commissioner Jerry Hoagland said. "You can't expect the guy to come in there Jan. 1 and learn everything that's been going on.
"I'll probably start having some meetings with him ASAP."
He said he expected that Mr. Harris would change his stance and help Mr. Self in the transfer of power.
"I think he's shocked about the whole thing and still wondering what happened," Mr. Hoagland said. "I expect him to come around. It may take a little bit of time, but I think he's a bigger man that that."
Commissioner Joe Jaynes said "the voters have made a decision."
"We owe it to everyone to work together," he said.
Mr. Self said he had already talked to several commissioners and was eager to work with them right away.
"I'm going to be dialoguing with them, totally unofficially," he said. "I have no authority. I just want to start building those bridges."
Mr. Self said he planned to attend a Regional Transportation Council meeting today. The 40-member group, which approves most road projects in North Texas, will discuss whether to make State Highway 121 a toll road. Area leaders have wrangled over the issue.
"My first priority is to get deeper into transportation," Mr. Self said. "I think we are fixing to have some decisions made on Highway 121, and I don't know how good those will be for Collin County."
Mr. Harris said he is unsure what he will do when his term expires. Some commissioners suggested he could become a political consultant or lobbyist.
"I'm paid until Dec. 31, and I will be there, doing my due diligence to get things done," he said.
E-mail ehousewright@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com
Collin: He doesn't plan to help in transition, but Self wants to talk
April 13, 2006
By ED HOUSEWRIGHT
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
Collin County Judge Ron Harris, trounced by Keith Self in a bitter Republican runoff, said Wednesday that he will not speak to Mr. Self or cooperate in the transition.
Less than 24 hours after his stunning defeat Tuesday night, Mr. Harris issued a sarcastic assessment of Mr. Self's abilities.
"He supposedly knows the job. He knows how to get roads built quicker. He's the one who knows all the money we're losing in all the places," said Mr. Harris, who has served as county judge since 1990.
Mr. Self, who has no Democratic opposition in the fall, will take office Jan. 1. He said Tuesday that he would like to meet with Mr. Harris despite his acerbic comments.
Mr. Harris' irritation and decision not to congratulate his opponent is unusual in politics. Most losing incumbents wish their successors well and agree to help ease them into the new office.
"The two of us will need to talk," said Mr. Self, a retired Army officer. "I want to hear what he has got to say about the job and the office.
"Of course, he controls the transition. He's the one in office. For the time being, I need to leave it at that."
Mr. Harris, who has not had an opponent since his first term, said he was surprised that he lost and thought Mr. Self made false statements throughout the campaign.
Mr. Harris said that on state highway funding, for instance, Mr. Self used misleading figures to assert that Collin County wasn't getting its fair share. Mr. Self denied that the figures were incorrect.
"He certainly didn't take the hint on anything I tried to correct him on, particularly in the final days," Mr. Harris said.
He said he didn't know why Mr. Self would want to meet with him.
"I don't see any need to be an albatross around his neck," Mr. Harris said.
During the campaign, Mr. Self favored cutting the county property tax rate, capping increases in home appraisals, reducing the budget and securing more state highway funding.
He pounded those messages home over and over.
"We weren't going to allow ourselves to be distracted," he said.
Mr. Harris finished slightly ahead of Mr. Self in the three-man Republican primary March 7. But he didn't receive a majority, making Tuesday's runoff necessary.
Mr. Self took a huge early lead as partial returns were posted on the county Web site. He steadily built his advantage, finishing with 63 percent of the vote.
The county judge, who earns $119,000 a year, heads the five-member Commissioners Court, which approves the county budget and sets the tax rate.
On Wednesday, three commissioners said they wanted to work with Mr. Self as he prepares to assume office.
"We have to start letting him transition in," Commissioner Jerry Hoagland said. "You can't expect the guy to come in there Jan. 1 and learn everything that's been going on.
"I'll probably start having some meetings with him ASAP."
He said he expected that Mr. Harris would change his stance and help Mr. Self in the transfer of power.
"I think he's shocked about the whole thing and still wondering what happened," Mr. Hoagland said. "I expect him to come around. It may take a little bit of time, but I think he's a bigger man that that."
Commissioner Joe Jaynes said "the voters have made a decision."
"We owe it to everyone to work together," he said.
Mr. Self said he had already talked to several commissioners and was eager to work with them right away.
"I'm going to be dialoguing with them, totally unofficially," he said. "I have no authority. I just want to start building those bridges."
Mr. Self said he planned to attend a Regional Transportation Council meeting today. The 40-member group, which approves most road projects in North Texas, will discuss whether to make State Highway 121 a toll road. Area leaders have wrangled over the issue.
"My first priority is to get deeper into transportation," Mr. Self said. "I think we are fixing to have some decisions made on Highway 121, and I don't know how good those will be for Collin County."
Mr. Harris said he is unsure what he will do when his term expires. Some commissioners suggested he could become a political consultant or lobbyist.
"I'm paid until Dec. 31, and I will be there, doing my due diligence to get things done," he said.
E-mail ehousewright@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, April 13, 2006
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