Farouk Shami the owner of a hair care products company in Houston says he is the man that will lead the way to change in Texas while promising to spend $10 million of his own money in the Democratic primary. Eight years ago Democrats heard this song from a political outsider promising to bring a significant amount if personal wealth to the effort to win the governorship.
That candidate Laredo banker Tony Sanchez received 40 percent of the vote in the general election losing by a margin of almost one in five votes. Exactly how Shamis way to change differs from his principal opponent or any other wealthy businessman turned politician he has not clearly outlined.
His speeches begin
People are tired of what Republicans have done for our state. We are the Democratic Party who believes in everybody and gets everybody together. Farouk Shami is the only man who can beat the Republicans.
Members of the Democratic Party agree with his opening arguments. To convince voters of the last statement will require some work on Shamis part. Shami likes to say that his track record of consistent accomplishments and action speaks for itself. Through education and hard work Shami built an enterprise that is a debt free billion dollar company and exports to 114 countries. While his claim of accomplishment may prove true in the business world voters have almost no familiarity with Shami except possibly through his signature product the CHI. Special interests and a business as usual attitude control the agenda in Austin according to Shami and that needs to be changed he says. He offers business knowledge and experience and promises to accept no money from special interests. He will accept only $1 in salary per year as Governor. Though hes short on details Shami says hell bring 100000 jobs for all the people of Texas and resign if he fails to deliver on the promise in the first two years.
As Governor he will encourage business owners to stop sending jobs overseas and start creating jobs here in Texas through the use of innovative tools.
He guarantees that he will ensure that children have affordable health insurance and preventative care and will work with the drug and insurance companies to build a partnership with Texas rather than look at the citizens of this state as a profit center.
He also criticizes the current governor for allowing insurance companies to raise homeowner insurance rates to current levels.
Shami will place a priority on giving students the skills needed to compete in a global economy by emphasizing reading writing math & science. He will fight hard to make sure that public schools have the tools and resources to meet the challenge of educating our children.
When you rifle through the list of issues important to the Democrat base 
constituency like clean energy/environment and a womans right to choose on abortion Shami recites all of the correct policies.
What he lacks in business terms is market share.
Shami has never run for public office or established a presence in the Democratic Party. Other businessman turned politicians have run for statewide office for their initial run. The successful ones brought experience as donors or activists in the party structure and usually brought very positive name identification.
Shami lacks any of this experience.
The Book of Proverbs says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. The business of politics reaffirms the truth found in the proverb repeatedly.
The late Senator Ted Kennedy and former President George W. Bush certainly benefitted greatly from positive associations with their name especially in the party primary. Shamis opponent has very high name identification from winning past elections in Houston and service to the Clinton White House as Secretary of Energy.
Shami has very popular products in the hair care industry whether his name carries association with product will be put to the test.
If you want a businessman that espouses all of the necessary positions on 
policy issues for a Democrat and rejects the traditional approach to politics through the party structure Shami is your candidate.
If you doubt Bill Whites abilities to win the general election or govern effectively as an experienced politician Shami should be your candidate.
