Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 33

I Section A Page 14 I ARMIN Fort Worth Stcg-Telegram I Tuesday June 27 1995 Congressman 2 Tarrant judges switch loyalties to 0 Laughlin of West Columbia switched allegiance to the Republican Party yesterday Laughlin held a separate news conference in Victoria to announce his decision In Austin Gov George Bush BYJOHN GONZALEZ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Nineteen Democratic officeholders including Tarrant County District Judges George A Crowley and Randy Catterton and US Rep Greg scribed himself as a moderate and not a staunch conservative "I made a commitment to the family lawyers that I would do everything I could to keep this court running effectively" said Cat-tenon who was appointed in 1993 by Democratic Gov Ann Richards "I decided the way I could do that was to switch to the Republican Party" In Tarrant County Republicans hold about 78 percent of elected offices county GOP Chairman Steven Hollem has said After yesterday's switches Tarrant County has only four Democratic judges and three Democratic justices of the peace made the change after much deliberation and encouragement from friends Some social conservatives however have criticized Crowley for past rulings in abortion and school prayer cases "In all fairness I would have to say it will be more easy to become elected as a Republican in Tarrant County On the other hand there will be other Republicans seeking to hold the office as well" Crowley said "But my principal motivation for making the change was not political" he said citing his affinity for the GOP's conservative beliefs Catterton family judge of the 231st District Court said he made the decision to switch after discussing his position with state and local Republican leaders He de tended the news conference "Some of us have resisted and dragged our feet" said Chisum a House member since 1989 "As you have more conservative Democrats move away you're going to find that the ones left are going to be the more liberal factions" he said Ed Martin Texas Democratic Party executive director said the losses won't hurt his party "After boasting that as many as a half-dozen Democratic state legislators would switch parties today the Republicans were able to produce only one Warren Chisum best-known for divisiveness and demagoguery" Martin said Crowley judge of the 67th District Court since 1983 said he and US Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison R-Texas welcomed the new Republicans to their party "To some of you Pm going to say 'welcome' and to some of you I'm going to say it's about dad-gummed time" Hutchison said adding "We are thrilled" Added Bush: "It helps to broaden our base" Among those who switched parties were six judges four constables three sheriffs two county commissioners a district attorney and a justice of the peace mainly from the Houston area and the Panhandle Also switching was state Rep Warren Chisum of Pampa leader of the Conservative Coalition whose decision was embraced by a dozen GOP lawmakers who at Introducing The lbw Cody Vic2-3 1 This unique support system eliminates stress to the legs neck and spine for total relaxation The New Body Wedge System is mailable in various sizes and designer cover colors r- 0 Body vi 3" rit Cr IL "111I OW 6 Wil (tty Go- 4 4 i101110111611 la a I 1 4 4 4 support system eliminates to the legs neck and spine for total relaxation tew Body Wedge System is mailable bus sizes and designer cover colors 1 4 i 7) A 9 I 1 Staff writer Kristin Sullivan contributed to this report Available exclusively at Relax The Backe Stores REM 01 Am Lincoln Square Collins I-30 Arlington (Behind Black-Eyed Pea) STORE THE et )2657359 zt pzzzo metro tol US Rep Laughlin switches to Republican Party 1 Go WILD at the All-Star FanFestl Afoiit IN48 July 7 11 1995 Dallas Convention Center 0 NhLt 3 kAVASTNII FANFEsi "I think he should do the honorable thing" Frost said He noted that Phil Gramm ran in a special election after he switched to the GOP in 1983 as a representative from College Station Gramm is now Texas' senior US senator Laughlin said in his statement that he will not run in a special election The switch means that Texas' House delegation is composed of 12 Republicans and 18 Democrats Overall the House has 232 Republicans to the Democrats' 202 members One House member is an independent Frost also demanded that Laughlin pay back more than $79000 that the campaign committee contributed to his campaigns since he first ran in 1986 Laughlin won the seat in 1988 Laughlin had a close race in the last election and Frost vowed yesterday to recruit "an active candidate" to beat him In addi By MARIA RECIO Fort Worth Star-Telegram Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Rep Greg Laughlin of West Columbia made it official yesterday: he became a Republican Speaking in Victoria the largest city in his district the lawmaker who served 612 years in Congress as a Democrat told his constituents: "In view of the changed dynamics of the House of Representatives after the 1994 elections my constituency requires me to change my affiliation from the Democratic to the Republican Party if I am to best represent the conservative principles upon which I ran" Democrats wasted no time in turning on their former colleague Martin Frost of Dallas who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee urged Laughlin to resign his seat and run as a Republican in a special election tion the ex-Democrat's GOP rival in I 994 Blanco rancher Jim Deats said he will mount a primary challenge Texas Democratic Party Chairman Bob Slagle called Laughlin's party switch "an ill-advised act of a damaged politician who is selling out his district to Newt Gingrich for a choice Ways and Means Committee seat" The addition of Laughlin to the committee would give Texas three members on the tax-writing panel: Bill Archer RHouston the chairman and Sam Johnson R-Dallas Laughlin's assignment to Ways and Means is expected to go through this week although one sticky issue has been the matter of seniority One Republican source said some GOP members of the panel have their "noses out ofjoint" because Laughlin could possibly outrank them Win tickets for 2 to Major League Baseball's All-Star celebration! To enter the drawing complete mail the coupon below postmarked no later than June 29 1995 Winners will be called Wednesday July 5th No menet necessary to wit Decision of the judges we fent 1 YES! I want to go WILD at the All-Star Fan Fest Name Address City ZIP Daytim Phone Evening Phone Evening Phone -1 Mail entries to: Mansfield's court ofrecord passes its first test Fort Worth Star-Telegram Wild CardAll-Star 685 John Sias Mem Pky Fort Worth TX 76134 Harris Methodist 51 molt approved a first vote to create the court last night If approved on two more votes next month the court would begin operation Sept 1 City Manager Clayton Chandler expressed concern about the projected $32700 start-up cost for the court and said he hopes to whittle down the expenses before the measure comes up again next month Chandler said he was not able to examine the figures earlier because he has been on vacation Health Plan he said "We have to sit down and refine them" Of the $32700 in new expenses about $6800 is needed to hire an additional court clerk and bailiff for the remainder of the fiscal year along with $5600 for recording equipment $7000 for various documents and forms and as much as $13300 to remodel the courtroom and court offices Court officials have said the new court would bring in as much as $60000 per year in additional revenue but the real benefit will be BY ROBERT THARP Fort Worth Star-Telegram MANSFIELD Speeding tickets code enforcement and other misdemeanor citations could have added muscle under a new court approved on first vote by City Council members last night The new court of record should significantly reduce frivolous appeals of traffic tickets and aid efforts to bring residents and business owners into compliance with city codes city leaders said Council members unanimously greater compliance with the laws Under the current court system in Mansfield misdemeanor convictions can be automatically appealed to county courts which are so busy that the appeals are often never heard In a court of record appeals are allowed only if an error is made at the initial hearing At the request of city leaders earlier this year state Rep Kim Brimer R-Kennedale sponsored a bill that made creation of the court in Mansfield possible A rt411 I i 1 "All those costs are estimates" Reality puts on free choice of schools )' rn COME LEARN How TO MAKE THE MOST OF MEDICARE I 4a I t's'01-- rii 4 Bud Kennedy Irealize that Texas schoolteachers are all aflutter about the imminent invasion of some smart but unlicensed new teachers and that school trustees have been busy reviewing Maya Angelou's poetic license but another important change in schools has gone unnoticed As of this fall if you live in a neighborhood or town with a disappointing public school you can do something about it Leave Pick a school Any school Students are free to leave I 3 Fort Worth elementary schools four middle schools and MITAR Polytechnic High for example and transfer anywhere Arlington Or Addison Or Angleton Even in the 'burbs students can jump ship and leave any school where half the kidsflunked a state test within the last three years "You're about to see an awful lot of kids moving around" said Arlington State Rep Kent Grusendorf a relentless tub-thumper for "school choice" along with his unsuccessful plan for state vouchers to pay kids' way into private schools The idea of letting kids leave slumping schools Grusendorf said was lifted from his failed voucher plan Lawmakers kept it for kids stuck in any school with a history oflow scores or designated as a "low-performing school" In Fort Worth for example the The Harris Methodist Senior Health Plan covers everything Medicare covers and more: $700 doctor's office visits 100 percent inpatient hospitalization 100 days of skilled nursing facility care Routine physical exams Home health care attendance-zone walls have been torn away and students are free to leave Polytechnic High Rosemont Meacham Forest Oak or Meadowbrook middle schools Dunbar Sixth Grade School and elementary schools Briscoe Denver Avenue Dillow Glen Park Jara Logan McRae Mitchell Boulevard Moore Oaklawn Sims Walton and Washington Heights The state pays their bill to any school or district with available classroom space "I don't think they'll have any trouble finding another school" Grusendorf said "Schools want revenue" Transfers arrive bearing a hefty chunk of state money Arlington trustees expect the arrival of Fort Worth students Board President Carlton Lancaster said Arlington will "welcome" students under the plan but he expects "only a few" because parents must work out their own transportation As for the dwindling schools left behind Grusendorf said the law "puts the pressure on" to improve Especially in cities he said "this gives a lot of parents a new freedom of choice That's what we ought to have in a free society" Let's see how many inner-city students really apply and get "welcomed" in other school districts Then we will know whether Fort Worth parents really have a new freedom of choice 'Michael Vaughan MD PA aattounces the closing 0his office 1650 Rosedale St Suite 305 338-4065 Effective 63095 Please call office for transfer i of records and referrals Plus discounts on Hearing screenings and hearing aids Eye wear Dental care Bud Kennedy's column appears Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays and in Star Time on Fridays Phone (817) 390-7538 fax 390-7789 Internet E-mail to Bud Ken (4) aolcom Star Text E-mail to ID 120087 FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION and the FORT WORTH NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS PROGRAM with the cooperation of the FORT WORTH DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES present a frItiA telrimtrziE) 14 4 ALL WE g8ED ts Meals On-Wheels: 336-0912 Zero plan premiums and virtually no claim forms Medicare beneficiaries on the Harris Methodist Senior Health Plan will also enjoy: Special pricing on prescription drugs No deductibles for hospital visits Worldwide emergency care DATES: May 31 June 14 June 28 TIME: 8:45 am hAcE: Luby's 701 North Watson Arlington Texas FORT WORTH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Starring 'Of nA I 4-1 1 il Ai I Gavin MacLeod liTlintiritillP The LT: Boat (115 toll ida Aide TUESDAY JUNE 27 AT 7:30 PM NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER NW 18th Street and Harrington Avenue 871-7666 The Fort Worth Neighborhood Arts Program is funded by the City of Fort Worth the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County and the National Endowment fbr the Arts For more information call 921-2676 It I ij I 1 4 Fs) vatokfirAt-if.