The Brief: July 27, 2010

THE BIG CONVERSATION:

Some Texas sheriffs want a new governor in town.

At least, that's what their endorsements indicate.

Democrat Bill White, after addressing the Sheriffs' Association of Texas in Fort Worth on Monday, claimed support of eight of the 15 Texas sheriffs whose counties border Mexico. Though seven endorsed challenger Gov. Rick Perry, who also spoke to the association Monday, support among the border coalition has eroded for the governor, for whom all 15 sheriffs made public appearances in his 2006 re-election fight, according to the San Antonio Express-News. (White claimed support from 10 border sheriffs Monday, but the Perry camp provided signed endorsement cards from the Zapata and Zavala sheriffs, whose support White originally touted.)

The sheriffs, though, may simply be falling in step with their constituents: The Tribune's Matt Stiles reported Monday that endorsements largely aligned with the 2008 electoral map.

White also took the opportunity Monday to hit Perry for news that surfaced Sunday of a real estate deal from which Perry may have unethically profited. Perry, by way of a little political favoritism, may have bought a piece of land below its market value and sold it above, The Dallas Morning News reported. "This is one of the red flags there is for official corruption," White said.

Perry continued to defend the land deal. "We did everything open and honest, at arm's length," he said before his address to the sheriffs' association. "I think just about anybody that invested in Central Texas property between 2000 and 2007 probably showed a profit." Perry also didn't miss a chance to criticize White for accusing Perry of shady deals when White has yet to release tax returns dating back from his time in the Clinton administration.

CULLED:

• In one of the state's most closely watched races, Republican Bill Flores is calling on his opponent, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, to return campaign contributions from U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, the embattled House veteran now caught in an ethics storm. Edwards has received $42,000 from Rangel since 2000, but his staff says he won't be returning any money, as he hasn't received any funds from Rangel since 2007.

• The saga continues in the state vs. the feds battle over air pollution, with Texas officially filing suit against the Environmental Protection Agency.

• The Tribune has its third of three joint stories with the El Paso Times on the Texas political map. This one's on the political clout that often accompanies high voter turnout.

MUST-READ:

TEA: Austin school district wrong to fire diversity director — Austin American-Statesman

Remember the trademark Alamo's new rallying cry — San Antonio Express-News

Texas has 3rd-highest teen birthrate among states, study says — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Program screens illegals' prints — The Associated Press