TribBlog: The Uncandidate

Robert Grijalva isn't running for the Texas House.

The chief of staff to Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-Tornillo, says (via press release) that he poked around in HD-77 to see if the time was right to get into a House race.

That's not his boss' district — it's where Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso, is the current state representative.

The poking around apparently caused some consternation within the El Paso delegation, and Grijalva issued a press release — on state letterhead — to stop rumors of his candidacy.

Grijalva's mea culpa:

There have been rumors for some time now that I had decided to file as a candidate in State House District 77. In order to eliminate the uncertainty of the rumors, I am informing the public that I shall not seek office in the 2012 primary elections.

After returning from my duties during each of the past 3 legislative sessions, I initiated a process of evaluating my potential run for office. I had intended to do the same during the summer months following this session. The process was nothing more than assessing the political climate and my position in it. I shall not engage in this process after this session.

It is unfortunate that a rumor arose from my regular political evaluation. In this case, the rumor was given legs by overly enthusiastic friends or supporters. The rumor, and the way it spread, created the impression that there was a foregone conclusion about my intentions. This caused considerable angst among the El Paso delegation with the potential of a serious rift; understandably so.

I was responsible for preventing the situation from escalating and I failed. For that I apologize to the residents of District 77 and El Paso. I have spoken with the delegation and issued an apology personally to each.

It is my hope that by making this definitive statement the delegation can put this in the past and go forward with the session united.