By W. Gardner Selby
Austin American-Statesman
Published: 08-06-07
Austin American-Statesman
Published: 08-06-07
He’s a bald bouncy speaker wears colorful bow ties and black boots and last lost an election more than 20 years ago with young George W. Bush as his campaign manager.But Michael Williams remains little-known for a reason: He hasn’t held an office that draws notice.
Williams 54 stands out as the first African American elected to nonjudicial statewide office in Texas. Appointed by then-Gov. Bush to the Texas Railroad Commission in 1998 he then won election twice at the polls. Colleagues just gave him a second round chairing the commission which oversees the oil and gas industries.
The Midland-born lawyer is hunting re-election next year but he could try for attorney general in 2010 if incumbent Greg Abbott runs say for lieutenant governor or the U.S. Senate.
Williams was born to schoolteacher parents who by his recollection kept him in Catholic schools until Midland schools desegregated in 1969. That’s when Williams tried out for the high school football team coached by his father. He and Dad quibbled about his quarterbacking potential so Williams focused on track. He ended up walking on as a hurdler at the University of Southern California.
Williams was born to schoolteacher parents who by his recollection kept him in Catholic schools until Midland schools desegregated in 1969. That’s when Williams tried out for the high school football team coached by his father. He and Dad quibbled about his quarterbacking potential so Williams focused on track. He ended up walking on as a hurdler at the University of Southern California.
Politics clearly thrills him. “I’m an exhorter” he said. “I am the guy that rallies and that mobilizes that generates the energy of troops around an issue.”
He ran for student body president in fourth fifth sixth seventh eighth and ninth grades. He later was president of USC’s Black American Law Student Association.
At 31 he ran for county attorney in very white conservative Midland. After a poll suggested some voters would spurn him because of his color Bush and the candidate agreed to avoid traditional coffees and similar events—basically keeping him out of sight.
Later the pair realized the strategy was foolish and reversed course. Williams still got stomped in the primary.
As a commissioner Williams champions the prospect of a public-private partnership bringing a 10-year $1 billion project to build a zero-emission coal-fueled power plant in Texas.
Williams who’s had jobs in three federal agencies recognizes that Republicans may have soured on Washington. Some are disappointed even down in the dumps he says in campaign videos. “But I firmly believe that we can regain revitalize and reclaim our conservative spirit. Get our swagger back.”
His core constituency he said are social conservatives such as Cathie Adams who heads the Texas Eagle Forum. She rates Williams a conservative who can be trusted when the heat is on.
If a Democratic challenger surfaces she or he would try to be the first Democrat to win a statewide race since 1994. Maybe they’d gain momentum as national Republican troubles affect Texas.
If a Democratic challenger surfaces she or he would try to be the first Democrat to win a statewide race since 1994. Maybe they’d gain momentum as national Republican troubles affect Texas.
Williams said of possible foes: “Does one have a record to run on? Do they have the vision? That’ll be a whole lot more important than someone’s DNA.”
