Joe Barton To Retire in 2010

What started as one of those “off the record” conversations was confirmed by numerous Arlington-area Republican sources of mine who have kept talking about the 2010 retirement announcement (supposedly) by Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis. (the Star-Telegram keeps referring to Barton, who lives in southern Arlington, as R-Arlington, which is retarded)

Barton was first elected in 1984 and CD-6 (Congressional District-Sixth District) is safely and solidly Republican, but look for a scrambled pack of candidates in the GOP primary to commence on this one.
Arlington is the district’s biggest anchor, so a candidate who captures GOP votes there will become our next congressman.
The last person to try to run for CD-6 in the GOP primary was – believe it or not – me. I got national media attention of the deal. It was pretty cool.
Here are my guesses as to who – so far – would be candidates in 2010:

1) County Judge Chad Adams
2) Former Arlington Councilman Ron Wright
3) State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington
4) Ennis Mayor Russell Thomas
5) Former Midlothian Councilwoman Paula Baucum

Those are just my personal “guesses.” Nothing is set in stone, but the 2010 primary could be crowded. Of course, with more moderates, the chances are good that we finally elect a conservative for this district.