Remember – to vote Independent, stay away from the primaries

2/20/2006
Associated Press

Texans can make their voices heard in the governor's race beginning with Tuesday's start of early primary voting.

Or, they can sit back and wait.

Independent gubernatorial candidates Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman could benefit if voters don't participate in the March 7 primaries. That's because each needs more than 45,000 petition signatures to make the November ballot – all from registered voters who didn't vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries.
Turnout in Texas primaries is traditionally low, anyway. Some voters said today they may skip the major party primaries, but not necessarily because of the independents.
On the Republican primary ballot, Gov. Rick Perry is the heavy favorite against lesser-known opponents Larry Kilgore, Robert “Star'' Locke and Rhett R. Smith.

Among Democrats, former congressmen Chris Bell and Bob Gammage and store manager Rashad Jafer are vying for the party nomination for governor.
Other state offices also are on the ballot, and voters in some regions will decide heated congressional, legislative and local races.