Three Tarrant County legislators draw challengers for 2010 races

Fort Worth Star-Telegram | ANNA M. TINSLEY | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009

Three more North Texas lawmakers have drawn opponents for next year’s legislative races, more than a week before the official filing period begins.

Former Bedford City Councilman Jeff Cason will challenge Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless; former Arlington City Councilwoman Barbara Nash will challenge Rep. Paula Pierson, D-Arlington; and former Rep. Bill Zedler, a Republican, will seek to regain his old seat from Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, according to the Tarrant County Republican Party.

These newly declared candidates announced their intentions to the Tarrant GOP this week, county Chairwoman Stephanie Klick said.

House District 92

Cason, a Republican, said he’s running for District 92 because “Smith does not represent the values of his conservative constituency well.”

“I’m a successful businessman and former police officer who share(s) the conservative values of our district,” Cason said. “I’m a member of the National Rifle Association, the Northeast Tarrant County Republican Club and the Heritage Alliance.”

Smith, who has served in the House since 1997, had this to say: “Because I have an unquestionable 20-year pro-life, pro-family, pro-education, pro-second-amendment, pro-business record of public service in the H-E-B area, I look forward to providing my constituents with an opportunity to ratify that record.”

House District 93

Nash, a Republican, has been an Arlington councilwoman, school board member and community volunteer. She is also the mother of John Chupp, the newly appointed judge for the 141st District Court in Fort Worth. She did not return a telephone call about her candidacy Tuesday.

Pierson, who has represented District 93 since 2007, said she heard that several Republicans may be recruited to face each other in the primary. “My district is very Democratic, it was four years ago, and if Toby [Goodman, who Pierson beat to win the seat] couldn’t hold on to it, no one could.”

House District 96

Zedler, who lost the District 96 seat to Turner in 2008, has been at a number of Republican activities in recent months. He said he was encouraged to run. He did not return a telephone call about his campaign Tuesday.

Turner, who began his term in January, said: “I look forward to campaigning on my record of working for the people of this district, campaigning on a proven record of fighting for veterans and working families in Tarrant County.”