Traveling Perry meets East Texas lawmakers
By JIM EPPERSON News Herald staff

Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) disagreed with the Austin gossip mill that said Gov. Rick Perry's recent visit to East Texas was to mend relationships after a rough session and to prepare for a 2010 run for governor.

The Associated Press reported that Perry has been chit-chatting with lawmakers across the state while he was on his book tour, something that does not seem newsworthly - except to Austin political consultants.

Consultants told the Associated Press that Perry has ground to make up after the 2007 session. He createded hard feelings with his agenda that was overshadowed by the scandal over abuse of juvenile jail inmates and he upset his party by trying to order schoolgirls to get an HPV vaccine. He added to conservatives' irritation by endorsing moderate GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

"Certainly the sessions leading into a major statewide election cycle get more scrutiny and can be higher stakes than offyear sessions," said Austin-based political consultant Ray Sullivan to the Associated Press.

He called Perry's outreach a wise move, particularly since there haven't been any recent special sessions to give him a chance to huddle with lawmakers in Austin.

But Sen. Eltife said when the governor comes to EastTexas he usually tried to visit with the leader of the state, even if they have differences.

"Whoever is in office holds the power," Eltife said, "and lawmakers have to work together."

"I disagree with him on a lot of policy issues, but I have a good relationship with him," Eltife said. "But I didn't see as out of the ordinary."

The Associated Press reported that Perry is trying to make sure he's not seen as a lame duck easing out of office. He recently announced he would seek a third full term in 2010 that may mean a Republican primary against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst or U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or state Sen. Dan Patrick.

Bill Miller, another capital consultant, tool the Associated Press that Perry is trying to spread the message: Take me seriously. I'm not a lame duck.

"He's trying to establish himself as a governor who's going to be there and be in charge," Miller said, adding that the meetings let Perry assess legislators' responses to his ideas and help guard against any criticism later that he surprised lawmakers, as he did with the HPV vaccine proposal last year. "Everybody hates surprises, good and bad."

But Eltife said politicains and consultants should not be thinking about who is running in 2010. "We have a lot to do," Eltife said, talking about the 2009 legislative session.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.