The Galveston County Daily News

LA MARQUE — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will return to her hometown of La Marque next week to formally announce she will run for governor.

The announcement is not a surprise but will set in motion what promises to be battle royale in the Republican primary as Hutchison challenges incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

While her campaign staff would not confirm the early morning rally to be held at La Marque High School on Monday, La Marque City Manager Eric Gage let the cat out of the bag Tuesday morning when he posted an announcement on his Twitter page.

La Marque Mayor Geraldine Sam confirmed she is helping coordinate the event for Hutchison, a La Marque native and a graduate of La Marque High School.

Several of Hutchison’s close friends in Galveston County confirmed they had been asked to get crowds out for the announcement, and by Tuesday afternoon, the La Marque school district sent an e-mail alert confirming the high school would be the location for Hutchison’s gubernatorial announcement at 8 a.m. Monday.

The district said the campaign is leasing the high school gym for the event.

Hutchison’s campaign Web site is emblazed with a “Kay for Governor” logo, and a video on the site promotes Hutchison as the best choice for Texas governor.

The announcement isn’t the first time Hutchison has used her hometown as the backdrop for her political campaigns. Her first run for the U.S. Senate was launched near La Marque City Hall.

Kathryn Ann Bailey was the “All-American girl” and a La Marque High School cheerleader who went on to attend the University of Texas and earned a law degree from UT’s law school. Her first job was not in law but rather as a television reporter for KPRC-TV Ch. 2 in Houston.

She caught the eye of the power base within the Texas Republican Party and after a few political appointee posts successfully ran for the Texas legislature in 1972 and held office until 1976.

In 1982, she unsuccessfully ran for Congress and briefly left the world of politics for work in the banking sector. In 1990, she was elected state treasurer and three years later defeated Bob Krueger who had been appointed senator to replace Lloyd Bentsen who resigned from office to serve as treasury secretary for President Bill Clinton.

With her election, Hutchison became the first woman from Texas elected to the U.S. Senate.

In 2005, Hutchison toyed with the idea of running for governor but surprised many of her supporters when she decided instead to avoid a head-to-head match with Perry for the GOP nomination.

While a resident of the Dallas area for more than 20 years, La Marque has never been far from Hutchison’s mind. She brags about sending notes to La Marque football coaches each week offering encouragement and keeps in touch with high school chums who still live in the area.

“Growing up in La Marque allowed me to reach my full potential,” Hutchison said when she was awarded the Spirit of Education Award by her high school alma mater four years ago.

The kickoff announcement in the gym at La Marque High School will be followed by a trip to Austin for a rally at the University of Texas, the Austin-American Statesman reported.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Kay Bailey Hutchison gubernatorial campaign kickoff.

WHEN: 8 a.m. Monday; Doors open at 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: La Marque High School competition gym, 397 Duroux in La Marque.

INFO: Open to the public, but RSVPs requested at ryan(at)texansforkay.com or 713-471-3336.