As November nears, and I familiarize myself with the five candidates for governor in the state of Texas, I can't say that I'm overly pleased with the choices. It appears that "more of the same" will win the day, and it is increasingly possible that the incredibly incompetent Rick Perry may win the day, something that means only that Texans will lose.

I haven't spoken with Democratic candidate Chris Bell, but I'm hoping to catch his ear when he makes a campaign stop in Amarillo this weekend (here's hoping the fates agree with me). To date, he is the only candidate besides Rick Perry with whom I haven't attempted communication, and I already know I don't want to vote for Perry.

My party's candidate, James Werner, is basically a paper candidate, and hasn't even participated in most of the candidate forums for the party. He's not running the race to win, which is fine, but I intend to cast my vote for someone who is.

Kinky Friedman has turned into a high profile disappointment. During his brief stop in the Panhandle, he pretty much shrugged off campaigning here, insisting that there are no votes to be had. Huh? In my district alone, there are 80,000 registered voters, 39,000 of whom can be reliably depended upon to show up in November. There are two other state House districts in the Panhandle, being, of course, similar in size, meaning Friedman is conceding over 100,000 votes, which causes me to seriously call into question his sincerity in running for office.

Carole Keeton Strayhorn offers a little promise, but so far fails to deliver. I'm suspicious of her running as an independent, as she's no more a political "outsider" than George W. Bush was when he attempted to cast himself as such in the 2000 presidential race. She's a lifelong Republican, and her connections go directly into the White House, with her son being former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan.

Chris Bell may offer some relief, but unless he is decidedly different than just about every Democrat I have ever met, he's not likely to offer the relief that we need in Texas. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, though, until I have had the chance to find out what he is about.

I am very much uncommitted in my vote for Texas governor (about the only race I know which way I'm voting on at this point is Texas House District 88).  But I'm becoming concerned that this election may pretty much go to the Apathy Party.