T.J. Connolly a.k.a. Political "Nostradamus"

by T.J. Connolly (photo)
a.k.a. Nostradamus

Days after the final votes were counted in the City Council run-off races in Districts Five and Eight; attention was quickly turning to possible Council resignations later this fall if certain primary challenges emerge.

District Nine Councilman Kevin Wolff is keeping an eye on Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson’s seat if Larson resigns to challenge United States Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

District Three Councilman Roland Gutierrez is being encouraged hard to take on the Dean of the Bexar Delegation, State Rep. Robert Puente.

Rep. Puente has come under heavy scrutiny over a legal land deal and close association with a friend of over two decades who also happens to be one of Austin’s top lobbyists. Puente has nearly $300,000 in the bank, and will begin raising more shortly. But some political watchers view Puente as vulnerable for the first time in 17 years.

Rumors…and I underline rumors persist that long-serving Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo may retire from Commissioners Court. If that were to happen, many expect that State Senator Leticia Van De Putte would secure the appointment to fill Elizondo’s seat. If that happened, many in the Bexar House Delegation would look at the open State Senate seat with longing.

One of them would be State Rep. David Leibowitz. If Leibowitz were to jump into a State Senate primary battle, newly ensconced District Four City Councilman Philip Cortez, who just won his race with over 70% of the vote would have to give serious consideration to Leibowitz’ State House seat.

So you see, just when you were beginning to figure out where everyone sat, folks may be playing musical chairs in the months ahead. We will need a whole new seating chart before all this is over.