| Todd J. Gillman: Perry makes a point with visit to Kirk 12/19/2000 By / The Dallas Morning News The day after Lt. Gov. Rick Perry officially, finally and irrevocably became governor-in-waiting, he paid a call on Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk.
"I don't know that I would have predicted that would be his first visit," Mr. Kirk said. "I was pleased. I thought it was a fairly shrewd political and governing gesture on his part."
Actually, Mr. Kirk wasn't the first person Mr. Perry visited. That distinction went earlier the same day to Dallas County Judge Lee Jackson, a Republican. But it was the Kirk visit that raised eyebrows, because Mr. Kirk is not only a Democrat, he endorsed Mr. Perry's rival in the 1998 election, John Sharp.
That, in fact, was the mayor's only formal endorsement since taking office, though he did offer kind words when Vice President Al Gore passed through town a few times this year.
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said, "I think he's gone out of his way to show his bipartisanship." She added that Mr. Perry's choice of Democratic state Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo as secretary of state, more than anything, is a "clear indication that he will be extending the olive branch across the aisle."
Mr. Kirk has already made amends, to be sure. Two years ago, he served as honorary co-chairman at a fund-raiser that brought in $50,000 toward retiring Mr. Perry's campaign debt from his narrow win over Mr. Sharp.
This time, with Mr. Perry poised to replace President-elect George W. Bush, they talked about transportation and a proposed four-year university for South Dallas. And the next governor got the chance to be seen reaching across party lines.
"It could be that he wants to borrow a page from Governor Bush's book," said University of Texas at Arlington political scientist Dr. Alan Saxe. "Governor Perry wants to be a popular and strong governor. To meet with the mayors of these big cities is a politically important thing to do."
Mr. Kirk has always walked a tight line on partisanship.
Appointed by Gov. Ann Richards as secretary of state, his Democratic credentials have never been in doubt. But Dallas elects its mayor on a nonpartisan basis, and from his own 1995 victory to the arena and Trinity River campaigns, Mr. Kirk has managed to pair his natural base in Democratic southern Dallas with backing from downtown business leaders.
He kept his head down during the 1998 gubernatorial campaign, for instance, staying off the Bush bandwagon but giving no aid to Democrat Garry Mauro.
Had Mr. Gore won the presidency, there was speculation that Mr. Kirk might be in line for housing secretary or some other appointment. The mayor remains on the wish list of some Democrats as a candidate for statewide office.
"And he would be a formidable one," Dr. Saxe said, adding that this also might explain Mr. Perry's eagerness to meet. "The Democrats have been looking at him as a possible person to bring back the party. The Democrats have to find a strong personality to lead them out of the desert, and Mayor Kirk could be that. ... Perry may be wanting to head off any potential opposition."
Mr. Kirk dismisses talk that anyone needs to steer him away from any run for higher office. Nearly from the outset of his tenure, friends and critics alike have floated such rumors. He's sticking with his standard denial:
"I have a job. I'm happy with my job," he said. "I've got a couple of major things I still want to accomplish."
Todd J. Gillman can be reached at 214-977-8027 or at
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