The Evening Brief: June 8, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• At Convention, Romney Booed, Dewhurst Gets Some Cheers: "After some at the GOP state convention booed Thursday at Gov. Rick Perry's mention of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, he got a mostly positive reception Friday during his own speech. That wasn't the case for Mitt Romney, whose name drew jeers from the audience during a speech from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison."

• Straus Warns That Internal Bickering Could Hurt Texas GOP: "At the state GOP convention, House Speaker Joe Straus said Friday he was confident he would keep his job for the next session. And he indicated that Republicans could hurt themselves if they focus only on demanding ideological purity."

• Texas Democrats Look Hopefully to the Future: "Julián and Joaquin Castro and Houston Mayor Annise Parker — at the Texas Democratic Party's convention in Houston — have some ideas about what Democrats will have to do to be viable again."

• For Libertarians, Greens, Convention is Primary: "Like the two major parties, the Libertarians and the Greens will also hold conventions this weekend. Neither party has primaries, so the conventions will decide which candidates will be their nominees for state and federal offices."

• Interactive: How Cost of Water in Texas Stacks Up: Texas cities have traditionally enjoyed lower water rates than most metro areas in the nation. Use this interactive to see how Texas cities compare in regard to water rates, single-family usage and weather.

Culled:

• Is statewide office in Parker’s future? (Houston Chronicle): "Speaking to reporters at the Democratic convention, Mayor Annise Parker acknowledged, perhaps, for the first time publicly, that she would at least consider running for statewide office when she is term-limited out as mayor. Her response to a question about her political ambitions, her answer was intentionally vague and couched in qualifications, although she made it clear she wanted to continue in some kind of public capacity after 2016, the end of her third term."

• San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro says Ted Cruz will defeat David Dewhurst for GOP Senate nomination (The Dallas Morning News): "Julian Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio and rising star in the Texas Democratic Party, says Ted Cruz will snatch the GOP Senate nomination from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. 'It’s clear Republicans have gone radical,' Castro said in Houston. 'Moderate is a four letter word.'"

• Munisteri re-elected state GOP chair: "Chairman Steve Munisteri of the Republican Party of Texas was easily re-elected without opposition by convention-goers Friday. 'No one wants to speak? Well, looks like it’s a little easier than the last time,' quipped Munisteri, who in 2010 prevailed in a three-way battle including then-GOP chair Cathie Adams and Tom Mechler."