King wins re-election

Published Thursday, March 6, 2008

By Mandy Bourgeois

At 9:15 p.m., just over two hours after polls closed on election day, Joe Tison admitted that his campaign for District 61 State Representative was over.

"Well, I think it's pretty obvious that the race was won in the early voting," Tison said.

Wise County residents gave Tison 554 early votes to King's 1,076 in the Republican primary.

"We've just kind of had our tears with each other here tonight," Tison said, saying he had just said goodbye to the people attending his watch party. "We've had a good time and I owe a debt of gratitude to people who have helped me in both Wise and Parker County."

Regardless of the loss, Tison said that the experience was well worth his time.

"I wanted to send a message that the people of Wise and Parker County need to be represented by the people they elect," Tison said, pointing to the growing area as an important part of Texas. "We need constant contact with things that are going on in Austin. I wanted to send that message and I hope that message has been received."

Incumbent Phil King was gracious about his victory against Tison and said the experience should provide future political candidates in the area with an important lesson.

"I'm surprised we got off to such a good start. But I think this experience should serve as a gentle reminder to everyone that (Tison's) negative campaigning will backfire on you, especially in our small hometowns," King said.

King said no previous political opponent of his had ever put forth a campaign that was "so fiercely negative."

"This was exceptionally out of character for my opponent," King said, adding representatives from the gambling industry had too strong of an influence over Tison's campaign, especially when they placed their own advertisements on the air that challenged King's worthiness to serve.

"The vast majority of his money was coming from the casino gambling lobby. The candidate is always in charge and he should have told those people to stop putting those ads in the race," King said.

King wants to make amends with Tison and move on, he added.

"I have a lot of resect for Joe Tison. He's had an honorable record of serving. But now we must forgive and forget and focus on our party's chances in November," King said.