Houston's Al Edwards relishes return to state House

He's armed with an ambitious agenda
By MATT STILES Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

State Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, isn’t making any apologies.
Not for his “booty bill” that would have restricted sexually suggestive high school cheers, or for his proposed law to cut off drug dealers’ fingers, or for defying his party’s leadership during recent partisan fights.

In fact, Edwards has two words for those who thought his political career ended in 2006, when he lost the Texas House seat he’d held for more than a quarter century.
“I’m back,” he said on the floor recently with a chuckle. “I’m back.”
The real estate broker, who regained the seat in fall’s election over insurance salesman Borris Miles, returns with his seniority intact — and an ambitious legislative agenda.
Edwards, 70, has logged more time in the House than all but two members, and he’s already enjoying the trappings of that longevity.
“I got the number one parking spot. I’ve got the number one office. And I got to pick my seat,” he said. “Everything has been my choice first.”

Criticism from own party
Edwards, still sporting his scruffy moustache, also returns with baggage.
Critics say he has not accomplished much for his south Houston district since a promising start in 1979, when his bill created the Juneteenth holiday.
Some fellow Democrats have criticized his past support of former House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, who was ousted from power a few weeks ago.
Craddick used the support of Edwards and a handful of other Democrats in recent years to retain power and push a partisan agenda through the House.
Edwards, in turn, got choice committee spots but also angered Democrats with his votes and by not joining in their 2003 trip to Ardmore, Okla., in a bid to block a GOP redistricting plan.
Those votes “gave heartburn” to his fellow party members, said Gerry Birnberg, chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party.

Defends his actions
Edwards remains defiant, saying he only followed his conscience.
“I’m here not because of them,” he said. “They were not on my side. I couldn’t care less about what the House Democrats say about me.”
Edwards would rather talk about his agenda for the legislative session, which runs through June 1.
He’s filed roughly a dozen bills so far, including one that would require service stations to have emergency power generators so they could remain open following a devastating storm like Hurricane Ike.
Edwards also wants to increase a tax exemption for small businesses, regulate college tuition increases again and approve pay increases for state teachers. He said he is concerned about his constituents’ access to health care and about the needs of the elderly.
One bill that could spark controversy, at least in law-enforcement circles, would require all police officers to drive clearly identified vehicles, perhaps making it more difficult for impersonators.
“If you’re the policeman, you’re the policeman. Don’t be ashamed of it,” he said.

Calling it ‘good sense’
An ordained minister, Edwards partially sees his role as a purveyor of “good sense,” someone who speaks out for what is right.
That perhaps is one reason that his past legislation, like his 1989 bill to punish drug dealers by chopping off their fingers, sparked controversy.
“It is not right for drug dealers to be out, in our communities, on the corners, selling an illegal drug to our children,” he said, tapping his finger on the desk of his spacious office for emphasis. “If drug dealers knew that they would have something physically done to them, then they wouldn’t be selling drugs out there.”
The bill that gained the most attention, including on national television, was a 2005 measure that would have prohibited sexually suggestive performances by public school dance, drill and cheerleading teams.
“Those young girls are out on the field, performing and marching, and all those sexual gyrations, as if they were young prostitutes or something,” he said recently. “How could you not want to stop that?”

Other ‘critical issues’
Others say he is out of step with the times, a preachy relic from a past era.
“There are so many critical issues that are facing that district that need to be placed on the front burner,” said Carl Davis, a former vice chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. “I wish that he would look at those issues, too.”
But friends and supporters, like state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, said voters decided to give Edwards another try.
“He offered himself to the people of his district again, and they said ‘yes,’ ” Turner said.
Though Edwards could face a challenge during the next election, he said he hopes to keep it as long as he is physically able to serve.
The lawmaker doesn’t yet see the end of his career on the horizon and still plays tennis three to four times a week.
Asked how he could make this new session successful, Edwards replied, “I shouldn’t have a problem with that, because I vote my conscience.”
matt.stiles@chron.com