"Governor" Bill Ratliff spoke to the Texas Republican Party Convention in Dallas on 8 June 2002 and was quoted the next day by The Dallas Morning News.

"History is replete with elements that want to dictate exactly what people will believe. For those of us who would not sign such a document, because such documents are always too simplistic, it's just a good thing we don't have the rack or burning at the stake anymore because they might be gathering firewood."

He made these remarks in criticism of a proposed rule that would have required all Republican candidates to sign an "oath of allegiance" to the party platform, strictly, so that no "moderate" Republicans would be able to run for office. Are these zealots desperate, or what?!

Anyway, if you substitute the word "do" for the word "believe" in "Governor" Ratliff's remarks, then he sure sounds like a hypocrite when it comes to Marvin Nichols, n'est-ce pas?

Appended below are two letters to the editor of The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune, published on Wednesday, 6 March 2002. They followed the publication of an anti-reservoir newspaper ad, attacking Mr. Ratliff's personal and financial involvement in the Marvin Nichols Reservoir project. Unfortunately, I did not save that ad. If I acquire it later, I'll add it here.

For the record, Mr. Ratliff's state senatorial office is at the same address as his local engineering firm in Mount Pleasant -- 110 South Madison Avenue, tel. 903-572-1846 or 903-572-1887.

This sordid scenario reminds me of a quote from The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, where Justine advises Darley, "When one has something to hide, one becomes an actor. It forces all those round one to act as well."

To be frank, I can't understand why Mr. Ratliff would allow his name to be used by an engineering firm with questionable ties to this project, if he himself is no longer affiliated with the firm. "Where there is smoke, there is fire"; and suspicions abound! JOIN THE RESISTANCE! Roberto

No Affiliation With Firm

Dear Editor : It is my normal policy not to answer public criticisms of my position as a state official, since I believe all citizens have the right to disagree with me, as they see fit. However, I must correct at least one factual error being widely disseminated by opponents of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir. Mr. Bill Pasley [of De Kalb] refers to "Senator Ratliff's former engineering firm, of which his son is still a partner."

First, I have had no affiliation with Bucher, Willis & Ratliff for thirteen years. Second, my son worked for Bucher, Willis & Ratliff for only one year and was never a partner in the firm. Third, my son left this firm over six years ago, and has had no affiliation with the firm since that time. To insinuate "family members geting rich off of pork barrel projects" is the essence of irresponsibility when there is absolutely no factual basis on which to make the charge.

One has to wonder, if Mr. Pasley would attack someone's integrity using absolutely false information, is it reasonable to think that he has his other facts correct?

Bill Ratliff
Lieutenant-Governor of Texas

Receives No Benefit

Dear Editor : I would like to comment about Lieutenant-Governor Bill Ratliff and his benefit from the company of Bucher, Willis & Ratliff. At some of the Region D Planning Group meetings in Mount Pleasant, statements have been made during the public comment period that the Lieutenant-Governor is benefitting from studies conducted by the firm of Bucher, Willis & Ratliff. The Lieutenant-Governor's name is still used by the firm, but he has no interest in the company, nor do any of his family benefit from the company. It has been stated that his son still works for the company, but his son has not worked for the firm for the last six years.

The Sulphur River Basin Authority advertised this past year for proposals from several engineering firms around the country for conducting studies regarding the Marvin Nichols Reservoir. One proposal included several firms in a group that included the Bucher, Willis & Ratliff firm. The SRBA chose another group of firms to conduct these studies. This contract is still pending.

Michael Burke, Administrator
Sulphur River Basin Authority
P.O. Box 916
Texarkana, Texas 75504-0916

This article appeared on 5 July 2002 in both The Dallas Morning News and Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune., Associated Press, By Jim Vertuno

AUSTIN -- Just over a year ago, acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff surprisingly dropped out of the 2002 election not long after he got in. At the time, he called it a "gut-wrenching" decision. Now, Mr. Ratliff says, deciding not to run for lieutenant governor was one of the best choices he ever made.

The Republican from Mount Pleasant instead chose to run for re-election in his Senate District 1 and leave one of the state's top political jobs to someone else.

"I get more comfortable with it every day," said Mr. Ratliff, known as a straight talker who upsets party leaders at times with his candid assessment of issues and candidates. "Everytime I watch television or read stories about statewide candidates, knowing that if I were a statewide candidate I'd have to be guarded about calling baloney, giving the people realism rather than campaign rhetoric," Mr. Ratliff said. "There's a great deal of freedom where I am right now."

Case in point: In March, he called on fellow Republicans to denounce political mailings distributed a week before the primary by a right-wing political action committee that associated some candidates [including Ratliff, and Bo Pilgrim was partly behind this effort] with gay rights efforts.

And in May, he warned that an impending state financial crunch, political promises for new state programs and the reluctance of legislators to impose new taxes could lead to "draconian" budget cuts.

Mr. Ratliff was an 11-year Senate veteran when George W. Bush was elected president in 2000. That meant then-Lt. Gov. Rick Perry, also a Republican, assumed the governorship. The 31-member Senate elected Mr. Ratliff to take over the lieutenant governor's duties presiding over the chamber until the next statewide election. The move thrust Mr. Ratliff from his role as sage of finance and education to managing the Senate on hot-button issues dealing with race and capital punishment."

"I think he was remarkably well-regarded by his colleagues," said Harvey Kronberg, editor of the Quorum Report.

Yet he also angered party leaders, who have questioned his commitment as a conservative Republican. Mr. Ratliff has said he considers himself a Republican "at least 51 percent of the time." Mr. Ratliff drew scorn from Republicans last year when he named Sen. Rodney Ellis -- a Democrat -- to be chairman of the Finance Committee in charge of writing the state budget. Mr. Ellis also sponsored controversial bills strengthening the punishment for hate crimes and banning the execution of mentally retarded inmates.

Nonetheless, Mr. Ratliff decided he would run for a full term and announced his candidacy two days before the end of the legislative session in May 2001. A week later he changed his mind, saying he wasn't comfortable with the politics involved in running a potential $10 million campaign. Privately, Republicans say Mr. Ratliff got out when it became clear his rift with party leaders and the GOP's big backers would keep him from raising the money he needed.

"Whether you like it or not, it's a difficult thing to sit down and dial for dollars," said Austin political consultant Bill Miller. "Ratliff's style is not like that. He's viewed as a maverick. Unpredictable."

The state GOP keeps a stiff upper lip when asked about Mr. Ratliff's relationship with the party. "I don't think that Lt. Gov. Ratliff ever set out to build a political career based on ambition for higher office," said party spokesman Ted Royer. "He has primarily been concerned with following his personal philosophy before anything else. I don't think he ever intended to get into politics because of personal ambition. From the party's perspective, we would always like to see everyone be more Republican," Mr. Royer said.

Mr. Ratliff's proudest moment of his short term registered nary a blip on the public radar screen. During the highly partisan debate on redistricting, the redrawing of voting districts, a Democratic lawmaker suggested that the Senate should trust Mr. Ratliff to determine whether any amendments should be considered for the bill. The rest of the senators agreed in a show of bipartisan spirit, Mr. Ratliff said. "I don't think I've ever been paid that great a compliment," he said.

But the bickering with his own party didn't end when the session did.

As a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board, Mr. Ratliff sided with Democratic House Speaker Pete Laney in voting against a redistricting plan supported by Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, Attorney General John Cornyn and Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, all Republicans. Mr. Ratliff and Mr. Laney lost.

"My party had severely criticized the Democrats over the years for gerrymandering for partisan advantage," Mr. Ratliff said. "And the first time we get the pencil in our hand, we can't resist doing exactly the same thing."

Mr. Ratliff chastised Mr. Dewhurst and other Republicans in March in the dispute over anti-gay mailings by the Free Enterprise PAC that targeted Mr. Ratliff, other Republicans and Democrats. He said GOP candidates didn't do enough to denounce the mailings.

Mr. Ratliff so far has not endorsed either Mr. Dewhurst or Democratic nominee John Sharp in the race for lieutenant governor. Mr. Ratliff said his term is not yet over and he should remain neutral as long as possible. Dewhurst spokesman Nick Voinis, who worked for Mr. Ratliff before joining the Dewhurst campaign, suggested that any conflict between the men has been resolved.

"David respects and looks up to Bill Ratliff. He's met with him several times and seeks his advice and counsel," Mr. Voinis said.

The two men may have to work together next year if Mr. Dewhurst wins and presides over the Senate. With his expertise on the state budget and public school funding, Mr. Ratliff is likely to be a key senator next session.

Mr. Ratliff won 70 percent of the vote in the March primary for his Senate seat and is a heavy favorite in November against Democrat B.D. Blount.

His success, he said, proves he's in touch with voters. "Much of the hierarchy of the party may not be my biggest supporters," he said. "I think the rank and file of the Republican Party I'm OK with."