Republican Rick Perry: " A professional Politician "

Perry makes pitch to teachers

Incumbent can't match challenger's promises.

By W. Gardner Selby
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, June 30, 2006

Republican Gov. Rick Perry, facing re-election challengers who say educators merit a pay raise propelling them toward the national average, delivered a pep talk to teachers Thursday without signaling pots of money in their future.
The "good in public schools starts with our outstanding teachers," Perry told members of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association at its summer meeting at an Austin hotel.
Members, poised to hear today from Perry's principal opponents, welcomed Perry's positive tone, though they said they're undecided on whom to back for governor in November.
"A professional politician," Nancy Anderson of Brownwood said after Perry's appearance.
She said "change would be good" in the governor's office, though she's not ready to commit to independents Carole Keeton Strayhorn or Kinky Friedman or Democratic nominee Chris Bell. (Libertarian James Werner also will be on the ballot.)
"Pie in the sky isn't necessarily going to buy my vote," Anderson said.

source: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/30perry.html