On April 8, voters had a choice to vote for one of two Democratic candidates for the position of governor of Texas-Ann Richards or Jim Mattox. Either of these Democrats is preferable over their Republican competitor, Clayton Williams.

The obvious choice is Richards, who has been the Treasurer of Texas since 1982. Richards won the runoff election over Mattox. Richards began her career as a member of the Travis County Commissioners Court, and was later elected to the office of State Treasurer.

The treasury, which is custodian for the state’s financial dealings and taxes, was an office of outdated practices upon Richards’ arrival. After Richards’ restructuring, the office was an efficient agency which produced maximum return on investments of State deposits. A down-to-Earth person who is concerned about education, Richards exhibits integrity, morality, and an ability to get things done.

The second choice of Jim Mattox is still preferable over Williams, but if Mattox had been elected over Richards as a candidate of two Democrats, Mattox would have been the lesser of two evils.

The widespread use of mudslinging by Mattox has left most voters in doubt as to whether he actually concentrated on the issues of the gubernatorial race, but instead made insinuations about his opponent’s recovery from alcoholism. Richards, who concentrated on the issues, was the obvious choice between the two.

The Democratic Party’s Republican rival is Clayton Williams, a multimillionaire Texas businessman and founder of Claydesta Communications Incorporated.

Williams has proposed programs to put achieving high school students through their first two years of college. A commendable idea, but hardly realistic.

Also during his campaigning, Williams, comparing rainy weather to rape, said, “if it’s inevitable, just sit back and enjoy it.” He told this “joke” to the press!

Williams may be an accomplished businessman, but he seems to lack political sensitivity-given that half the electorate is female. Richards, with her experience as Treasurer, is just as reliable with money management matters, if not more so, as Williams. Richards also has political experience and knows how to play the game, while Williams has made serious political mistakes.

Yet, one thing is true about Williams’ campaign. Because he has had no political experience, “you don’t know Clayton Williams.”

In the end, Richards was the logical Democrat over Mattox, and is now the logical candidate over Williams.

This article was published in The Shield on April 20, 1990.