Alternate History The State of the Future TL

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COMING SOON

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It was Tuesday, November 4th, 1986 & the campaign for the TX Governor's Mansion between TX Governor Mark Wells White, Jr., (D) & former TX Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R) had been very nasty, ugly & downright hardcore aggressive with hard-hitting campaign commercials driving up negatives of both candidates.

16 million Texans had begun casting their votes in deciding who would lead the Lone Star State for the next 4 years. What would happen next would alter the course of Lone Star State politics....

This TL begins from November 4th, 1986 & Onwards; I've got a sketch outlined to help guiding me. Enjoy!

November 4th, 1986: White wins reelection with another upset victory & the aftermath (The TL)

 

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Outline Tidbits on the TL:
Chapter 1:
1.) Election Day
2.) Results on the downballot statewide offices
3.) Results from the legislative front
4.) Segment from Clements HQ
5.) Segment from White HQ

Chapter 2:
1.) Retraction on projected winner
2.) Statewide recount in the 1986 Gubernatorial election begins
3.) The Lone Star State awaits a winner during the long statewide recount
4.) A winner has been declared
5.) The ramifications

Chapter 3:
1.) Inauguration Day: Tuesday, January 20th, 1987
2.) Inaugural Ball festivities
3.) Highlights of the 70th Legislature

 

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Chapter 1 will get started sometime during the Memorial Day holiday break.

 

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Chapter I: Election Night!
7:00 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986

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Voice-over by Doug Tisdale: "You're watching Ch. 13 KTRK-TV Houston, # in Texas.... Now Eyewitness News with Dave Ward, Action 13's Marvin Zindler, Bob Allen's Sports & Ed Brandon's Weather.....

(Circle 13 logo doing the loud swishing sound) Now Ch. 13 Eyewitness News Tonight!"

Ward: "Good evening friends, I'm Dave Ward & today is Election Day, where 16 million Texans are casting their votes to determine what the next four years will bring all Texans as the hotly-contested battle for the TX Governor's Mansion between incumbent Governor Mark W. White (D) & former Governor William P. Clements (R) will be settled tonight after months (the past four years) of non-stop mudslinging, non-stop negative TV advertising commercials on both sides, nasty attacks, snide comments to describe the other, etc.,

With us tonight inside the Ch. 13 Studios: University of Houston political science professor Dr. Richard Murray, Marc Campos of Texas Southern University & Houston City Councilman Albert Hall."

 

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Election Returns....
7:37 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986
Ch. 13 KTRK-TV Houston Studios, Houston, TX

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Shara Fryer: "Good evening Dave. We have some early returns on Election Night as the viewers watching "The '86 Vote" right here on Ch. 13, will be looking at the bottom scrolls of your television screens. I believe the Eyewitness News Election Night Decision Desk has some of the earliest returns coming in right now...."

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(TX Governor: 29% of the precincts reporting)
William P. Clements (R): 488,016 (56.43%)
Mark W. White (D-incumbent): 300,986 (43.14%)

(TX Lieutenant Governor: 45% of the precincts reporting)
William P. "Bill" Hobby, Jr., (D-incumbent): 1,073,591 (58.43%)
David Davidson (R); 683,673 (37.16%)

(TX State Attorney General: 36% of the precincts reporting)
James A. "Jim" Mattox (D-incumbent): 1,687,903 (55.26%)
Roy Barrera, Jr., (R): 1,256,173 (44.73%)

(TX Comptroller of Public Accounts: 55% of the precincts reporting)
Bob Bullock (D-incumbent): 1,999,773 (88.16%)✔
George Meeks (LIB): 73,000 (6.77%)

(TX Commissioner of Agriculture: 28% of the precincts reporting)
Jim Hightower (D-incumbent): 1,583,773 (61.41%)
Bill Powers (R) 1,016,387 (36.56%)

(TX Commissioner of General Land Office: 43% of the precincts reporting)
Garry Mauro (D-incumbent): 1,663,771 (63.79%)✔
MD Anderson (R): 1,000,556 (32.88%)

(TX State Treasurer: 69% of the precincts reporting)
Dorothy "Ann" Willis Richards (D) 1,999,073 (92.14%)✔
Robert F. Reid (LIB) 63,800 (6.55%)

(TX Railroad Commissioner-Place 2: OPEN: 29% of the precincts reporting)
John Sharp (D): 1,383,125 (57.38%)
Milton Fox (R): 973,783 (41.00%)

 

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BREAKING: TX LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILL HOBBY (D) OVERWHELMINGLY REELECTED TO 5TH TERM
8:00 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986

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Ward: "Eyewitness News & the Associated Press can both project TX Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby (D) has won reelection to an unprecedented 5th term very easily, defeating David Davidson (R) by a very wide, large margin. With the fifth consecutive landslide victory in a row, Lieutenant Governor Hobby, who is already the state's longest-serving Lieutenant Governor in TX history, will have served up to 18 years by January 15th, 1991. He will be taking office on January 20th, 1987 & is mentioned as a potential contender for the TX Governor's Mansion in 1990, here are the latest numbers..."

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(TX Lieutenant Governor: 80% of the precincts reporting)
William P. "Bill" Hobby, Jr., (D-incumbent): 1,987,056 (60.27%)✔
David Davidson (R); 1,000,782 (36.17%)

 

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I'll be posting segments on the election returns for the down-ballot statewide offices including the legislative level next week.

 

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Coming up tomorrow: More segments on the election returns....

 

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TX GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION TOO EARLY TO CALL
8:20 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986

Projected outlook on what the map would look like as the returns coming in
across the Lone Star State.
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Fryer: "According to the preliminary reports & how the vote is going to be tallied tonight, we're anticipating that former Governor Clements is expected to dominate East TX, sweeping the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, perform very well in Southeast TX & overwhelmingly dominate West TX. It's 8:20 PM & here's another update along with the Exit Polls while we're almost done with Early Voting numbers..."

(TX Governor: 43% of the precincts reporting):
William P. Clements, Jr., (R): 948,348 (53.41%)
Mark W. White, Jr., (D-incumbent): 928,773 (46.16%)

(Exit Polls: TX Governor)
(Anglos)
Clements: 60%
White: 36%

(African Americans)
White: 87%
Clements: 12%

(Latinos)
White: 67%
Clements: 30%

(Dems)
White: 93%
Clements: 7%

(GOPers)
Clements: 96%
White: 4%

(Independents)
Clements: 55%
White: 42%

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BREAKING NEWS: TX STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM MATTOX (D) REELECTED

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Fryer: "Eyewitness News & the Associated Press can both project that TX State Attorney General Jim Mattox (D) has secured another four years as the state's chief law enforcement officer, having survived a strong challenge from Bexar County State District Judge Roy Barrera, Jr., (R). You can believe that Mattox will be mentioned as one of the early contenders for the TX Governor's Mansion in 1990 or possibly the United States Senate. Mattox's first term was very tumultuous & with lots of controversy: Mattox was indicted in 1983 by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle (D) for commercial bribery. The political background of Mattox's prosecution was related to an attempt to concealing the delivery of corporate funds to an election campaign. Mattox had received a campaign contribution of $125,000 from his sister, Janice Mattox, a Dallas lawyer. Janice, in turn, obtained a similar amount from SeaFirst Bank in Seattle, WA St, which had close ties to Mattox supporter Clinton Manges, a controversial South TX rancher-oilman who was the successor of George Parr, the corrupt "Duke of Duval". Manges was co-plantiff with the State of TX (represented by Mattox) in major litigation against Mobil Oil Company. Mobil had attempted to depose Janice concerning the SeaFirst transaction, which led Mattox to threaten Mobil's law firm, Fulbright & Jaworski, with loss of its tax-exempt bond practice, one of the powers held by the TX State Attorney General.

Looking at the results, Mattox gained the support of a majority of Latino voters, as well as Mattox highlighting his accomplishments in office such as the state's accelerated efforts of helping mothers collecting child support from divorced or unwed fathers. His aggressive attacks on alleged wrongdoing by corporations gained him considerable popular support."
(TX State Attorney General: 56% of the precincts reporting)
James A. "Jim" Mattox (D-incumbent): 1,566,057 (54.29%)✔
Roy Barrera, Jr., (R): 1,363,173 (43.73%)

BREAKING NEWS: TX COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS BOB BULLOCK (D) REELECTED OVERWHELMINGLY; CONSIDERED POSSIBLE CONTENDER FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 1990

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Fryer: "Eyewitness News can also project TX Comptroller of Public Accounts Bob Bullock (D), who briefly flirted a primary challenge against Governor White before backing out & deciding to seek reelection to his current post, has been overwhelmingly reelected defeating George Meeks (LIB). Bullock swept all 254 counties very overwhelmingly as he secured a 4th term as the Lone Star State's Chief Financial Officer: first elected in 1974 & reelected in 1978, 1982 & again tonight, Bullock is being mentioned by political analysts as a possible contender for Lieutenant Governor in 1990 if Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby (D) doesn't seek reelection to a 6th term."

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(TX Comptroller of Public Accounts: 73% of the precincts reporting)
Bob Bullock (D-incumbent): 2,187,573 (92.6%)✔
George Meeks (LIB): 100,346 (8.76%)

 

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Coming up next week: More highlights from "The '86 Vote" as more election results come in....

 

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BREAKING NEWS: TX AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER JIM HIGHTOWER (D), TX COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL LAND OFFICE GARRY MAURO (D) & TX STATE TREASURER ANN RICHARDS (D) REELECTED
8:31 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986

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Fryer: "Eyewitness News can project TX Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower (D) will win reelection defeating Bill Powers (R). He's being mentioned as a potential contender for the United States Senate in 1990. I am told by Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Wrigley that the gubernatorial race between Governor White & former Governor Clements is too close to call & we cannot, will not project a winner at this time because there's more votes to be counted....."
(TX Commissioner of Agriculture: 76% of the precincts reporting)
Jim Hightower (D-incumbent): 1,773,987 (57.33%)✔
Bill Powers (R): 1,056,388 (35.99%)

"Eyewitness News Decision Desk & the Associated Press both can also project TX Commissioner of General Land Office Garry Mauro (D) has been reelected to a second term despite being targeted for defeat by the TX GOP twice. You can bet they'll target him again in 1990 when he's also being mentioned as a possible contender for TX State Attorney General or the United States Senate; whatever the future holds for Mauro, we'll find out any political future once he announces it at the appropriate time. We'll also project TX State Treasurer Ann Richards (D) will win reelection overwhelmingly, having swept all 254 counties; she's a rising star in TX statewide politics as well as on the national level considering she spoke at the 1984 DNC Convention in San Francisco, CA; Richards is being mentioned as a possible contender for higher statewide office in four years from now. We're not sure which statewide office she'll be running for, but we can bet all Texans will be staying tuned for Richards' next steps in the future."
(TX Commissioner of General Land Office: 80% of the precincts reporting)
Garry Mauro (D-incumbent): 1,770,999 (60.16%)✔
MD Anderson (R): 1,099,676 (35.88%)

(TX State Treasurer: 81% of the precincts reporting)
Dorothy "Ann" Willis Richards (D-incumbent): 2,183,973 (88.21%)✔
Robert F. Reid (LIB): 176,879 (6.87%)

 

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Ward
9:46 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986
Ch. 13 KTRK-TV Houston Studios, Houston, TX

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Ward: "Thank you Shara for giving us the latest results coming in so far. Welcome back to Eyewitness News Tonight's special coverage of "The '86 Vote" as we're still getting a stronger determination of the TX state map of 254 counties being filled by our Eyewitness News Election Analysis Team; the red colors are for Clements & the blue colors for White. When we began tonight's coverage, former Governor Clements was ahead by 13 percentage points once the first batch of Early Voting numbers started coming in & as the returns from the Election Day votes are coming in... wait a minute (getting more information via earpiece) Ok, I'll report that right now..... We are seeing reports of strong turnout in Houston, San Antonio, Austin & the Rio Grande Valley, which should be good news for Governor White as those numbers are coming in fast . Now here's the latest update...."

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(TX Governor: 73% of the precincts reporting)
Mark W. White, Jr., (D-incumbent): 1,656,673 (49.16%)
William P. Clements, Jr., (R): 1,650,000 (48.69%)

"Governor White just took the lead for the first time this evening about just six minutes ago & it's going to be interesting to see if he can hold on as Election Night continues. I am now told that we're seeing more results coming in from the Panhandle Area & West TX...."

 

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BREAKING NEWS: STATE SENATOR JOHN SHARP (D-VICTORIA) ELECTED TO THE TX RAILROAD COMMISSION; MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE CONTENDER FOR TX COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS IN 1990
10:00 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986

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Ward: "We're getting another projection from the Eyewitness News Decision Desk Team, State Senator John Sharp (D-Victoria) has been elected to an open seat on the TX Railroad Commission defeating Milton Fox (R) for the right to replace to retiring Railroad Commissioner Clark Jobe (D), who was appointed by Governor White to replace then-Railroad Commission Chairman Buddy Temple (D), who chose not to seek reelection & resigned from office in order to venture into the private sector. Sharp, who previously served in the TX House of Representatives from 1979 to 1982 & then served in the TX State Senate since November 1982, will be taking office in January 1987 & according to many political analysts, they view him as a rising star in TX statewide politics considering he's being mentioned as a contender for TX Comptroller of Public Accounts in 1990, when State Comptroller Bob Bullock (D) is expected to seek the Lieutenant Governorship by then. Here are the numbers coming in..."

(TX Railroad Commissioner-Place 2 [OPEN]: 84% of the precincts reporting)
John Sharp (D): 1,796,777 (58.16%)✔
Milton Fox (R); 1,201,888 (41.00%)

 

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BREAKING: TX SUPREME COURT JUSTICES JAMES P. WALLACE (D), RAUL A. GONZALEZ (D) & ROGER M. CAMPBELL (D) REELECTED TO TX SUPREME COURT; OSCAR MAUZY (D) ELECTED TO REPLACE RETIRING SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SEARS MCGEE (D); TX COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS REMAINS IN DEM CONTROL; TX DEMS RETAIN CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE TX STATE LEGISLATURE
10:16 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986
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Ward: "Eyewitness News & the Associated Press can project the following winners of the following statewide contests: TX Supreme Court Justice Place 3 James P. Wallace (D) has been reelected; TX Supreme Court Justice Place 4 Raul A. Gonzalez (D), who was appointed by Governor White in 1984 as the first Latino to serve on the state's highest judicial branch, has won election to fill an unexpired term; TX Supreme Court Justice Place 5 Roger M. Campbell (D) has been reelected; Oscar Mauzy (D) has been elected as TX Supreme Court Associate Justice Place 9, replacing the retiring Sears McGee (D). TX Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Marvin Odell Teague (D) has been reelected; On the legislative front, the TX Dems will be projected to retain control of both chambers of the TX State Legislature as the incoming legislative session of the 70th TX Legislature will ensue on January 13th, 1987.
(TX House of Representatives)
Dems: 90 seats
GOPers: 60 seats

(TX State Senate)
Dems: 25 seats
GOPers: 6 seats

 

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COMING UP IN THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
1986 TX Gubernatorial Election still too close to call as rumors of possible voter intimidation rises.....

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Coming up this weekend: Segments on the Clements & White campaigns as the election results keep coming in....

 

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COMING SOON IN CHAPTER III OF THE STATE OF THE FUTURE
Inauguration Day Tuesday, January 20th, 1987

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Election Analysis
10:17 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986
Ch. 13 KTRK-TV Houston Studios, Houston, TX

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Ward: "Welcome back to Eyewitness News Tonight's special coverage of "The '86 Vote" & here with us tonight: University of Houston Political Science Professor Dr. Richard Murray, Political Analyst Marc Campos of Texas Southern University & Houston City Councilman Albert Hall to discuss the latest election returns coming in being shown. I want to start the conversation with Dr. Murray first: What's going on with the returns coming in the hotly-contested Gubernatorial election between Governor Mark W. White (R) & former Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R) ?"

Murray: "Thank you Dave for having me & the rest of the crew here talking about politics & the election returns. I believe the reason why this is so close is that if you're looking at the returns & votes being counted from across the state & pointing out the large GOP dominance of West TX & the TX Panhandle, which is where Clements overwhelmed White by record margins over there. Some polling suggested that the White campaign gave up campaigning over in the Panhandle & West TX such as Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, etc.,

Another factor: the TX economy had been undergoing a very rough patch under Governor White's administration. Unemployment had rose to 9%, massive unemployment increased in Dallas, Houston & other cities due to budget cuts to basic necessities, job losses, economic turmoil in the aftermath of Reaganomics; It also did the Governor no favorable favors that there's an economic recession, which had hamstrung many Gulf Coast States such as TX; massive layoffs in the Oil & Gas Industry which resulted in similar layoffs angering many employees at some of the oil refineries, whose livelihood are based on those jobs for their families. Plus, the backlash over the so-called "No Pass, No Play" bill known as HB-72 which had alienated many teachers, parents, student-athletes, coaches, high school athletics boosters. Particular, the student-athletes, who had to miss out on sporting events in order to take academic exams. Many Texans in polling surveys justified their reasoning in voting for Clements: only to vote against the White administration for their incompetence, broken promises & failed leadership. Other justifications on why people are rejecting Governor White: the White administration's inaction on boosting the TX economy, handling rising interest rates, utility bills skyrocketing, disastrous economic recession & its devastating ramifications, violent crime in our major cities as well as the failure of providing leadership.

Ward: "Councilman Hall. In the exit polls we've seen, Governor White had garnered 86-87% of the African American vote including 69% of Latinos. What's causing many of the traditional constituencies turning out in favor of the Governor in an election that many believe to be close as it was four years ago ? "

Hall: "Dave. I believe it's based on not going back to the politics & harsh budgeting cuts of the past. Many Latinos & African Americans as well as other minorities had already viewed the four years of former Governor Bill Clements & Texans rejected his politics of harsh bluntless & politics of division back in 1982, they just don't want to go back to that experience again. Especially, the days of harsh, vicious budget cuts on services which Clements arrogantly slashed many programs & services that was relied upon by many poor & rural Texans. I would like to discuss this so-called "Secret Plan" Clements boasted about during this campaign. For the past few months, I haven't seen one detail or specifics on this plan, have you've seen it Dave ? Anyone else ? I don't believe Texans shouldn't fall for that trick. There are most Texans who voted for Clements in 1978, later ended up being betrayed. I am confident they're going to think twice before making that decision again."

Ward: Thank you Councilman Hall. We'll be back with Eyewitness News' special coverage of "The '86 Vote" in just a moment...."

[Commercial breaks ensue]

Ward: "Welcome back to Eyewitness News' special of "The '86 Vote", where we now speak with Marc Campos, Political Analysts of Texas Southern University. Marc, what's been the most defining moments throughout the campaign this year ?"

Campos: "The White campaign has been rightfully defining Clements as someone, who in their view, as insensitive & callous to the needs of the average Texan. The Governor's campaign accurately pointed out & painted Clements as a rich man, who seeks to protect the interest of big business & other wealthy individuals. I really don't think the former Governor really cares or even seems to not understand the plight of working Texans & their families. If he had his way, he would go even further by cutting & gutting programs that would be for helping people in need. Clements, if he had his way by getting back in office, would roll back & launch devastating cuts on education, highways, transportation, health care & many other priorities a majority of Texans consider important."

 

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Clements
10:29 PM CST, Tuesday, November 4th, 1986
Clements Campaign HQ, Austin, TX

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Watching the election returns inside his hotel room in Austin, former Governor Clements had been in contact with Karl Rove on the latest developments as the numbers kept coming in (El Paso was going to take long to counting their votes due to being in the Mountain Standard Time Zone MST). Present watching the returns were Clements' wife, Rita, former US Rep. Kent Hance (D-TX), who recently switched to the GOP in 1985, United States Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX). The back & forth twists of who was leading, who was behind in the votes was going to be a close, photographic finish as it was just too close to call.....

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