State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor announced on Monday his plans to resign his state Senate District 22 seat at noon March 17.
Averitt’s announcement came six days after winning the March 2 Republican primary in which he defeated challenger Darren Yancy by a vote of 37,682 to 25,028.
No Democratic candidates entered the race. SD-22 covers 10 counties including Johnson County.
“Your vote of confidence last Tuesday, election day, was most gratifying,” Averitt said. “I am humbled by your support. Now the time has come for me to step down. This will allow the governor to call a special election on May 8. My immediate priority now is to see that the voters in central Texas get to pick their next senator.”
Averitt won the primary despite having withdrawn from the race in January for health reasons.
Averitt’s withdrawal would have left Yancy as the sole candidate, but he withdrew too late to have his name removed from the ballot.
Several SD-22 residents encouraged voters to vote for Averitt instead of Yancy in the primary, raising concerns that Yancy would be ill prepared to represent SD-22 in the upcoming redistricting, a charge Yancy disputed.
“The laws are specific on that, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there about that that’s just not accurate,” Yancy said.
If elected, Yancy said he has no intentions of breaking up the district or McLennan County.
Yancy initially refrained from making any comments after the March 2 primary to allow Averitt to comment on his future plans.
But two days later, when no announcement had been made, Yancy told supporters on his Web site that he intended to get back in the race.
Yancy said the margin of defeat has not hampered his desire to run.
“In short, it is estimated 14,000 to 15.000 Democrats crossed over to vote for Kip,” Yancy said. “We know the Democrat early voting totals were abysmally low compared to historic numbers for the district.”
The reason Democrats would do so, Yancy said, is so they can put a Democratic candidate back into the race, possibly thinking that with Averitt, a 17-year incumbent, out of the race would may stand a better chance at beating a newcomer.
Yancy also said Averitt might appeal to Democrats.
“His votes, especially on tax policies, probably appeal to Democrats,” Yancy said. “Kip claims to be conservative, but his votes show that he’s not in line with the values of our conservative region.”
Yancy said Tuesday that he is waiting for clarification as to whether Gov. Perry is required to call a special election or whether he has the option of leaving Averitt’s seat vacant until the end of his term.
Should Perry call a special election, he will file immediately, Yancy said.
That scenario would allow any interested and qualified Republican, Democratic or independent candidate to enter the race.
“Obviously, in the primary for a percentage, I wasn’t as well known, didn’t have the name recognition that Kip has,” Yancy said. “We got out in the district during the primary, though, and I think I’m better known now, and my name is fresh in everybody’s minds.”
A second option
Yancy said that Averitt remains on the November ballot. Calls to Averitt’s office and the Secretary of State’s office to confirm that assertion were not returned.
If Yancy is correct, a scenario arises in which the 10 county chairpersons in SD 22 would select a Republican nominee. Democratic chairs in the district would have the opportunity to do the same.
Should that happen, Yancy said, he has the support of enough district chairs to ensure nomination as the Republican candidate.
Local News
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Discussion
Averitt to resign March 17
Yancy ready to run
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