• Gabe Semenza •
• Originally published August 20, 2009 at 6:57 p.m., updated August 20, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

• Primary info

  Filing for the Republican and Democratic party primaries is Dec. 3 and ends Jan. 3. The primaries, in which parties' nominees for the general election are decided, will be March 2.

  Online

  To view video of Hutchison's news ...

• SHOW ALL »

Primary info

Filing for the Republican and Democratic party primaries is Dec. 3 and ends Jan. 3. The primaries, in which parties' nominees for the general election are decided, will be March 2.

Online

To view video of Hutchison's news conference, visit www.VictoriaAdvocate.com and click this story.

Minutes before the senator's speech on Thursday afternoon, David Miller asked for one thing.

"I want her to say something like, 'The government should run its business and not interfere with people's lives,'" said Miller, a 41-year-old Victoria conservative. "I want to hear good 'Republican-ness.'"

He seemed pleased by what he heard.

Miller was one of about 40 spectators at Victoria Regional Airport to hear U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announce her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Texas governor. Hutchison visited Victoria as part of a five-day, 19-stop tour she dubbed the "Texas Can Do Better" announcement tour.

Hutchison, the state's senior U.S. senator, campaigns against Rick Perry, Texas' longest-serving governor.

"Fourteen years as governor is just too long," she said, smiling from behind a podium as her jab at Perry solicited applause. "This is our time for principled leadership, for reform. I will fight with every bone in my body against the government takeover of health care."

During her brief visit, Hutchison laid out in general terms her promises if elected. Highlights include:

A promise to set term limits for governors.

A change in basic education to include two years of college, a plan she calls "Pre-K through 14."

The end of the Trans-Texas Corridor.

"They can call it the Trans-Texas Corridor, they can call it something different. I'll tell you what I'll call it when I'm governor: Dead," she said.

"The Texas Department of Transportation is the most arrogant agency in the history of the state."

Commissioners, county judges, economic leaders and others offered praise for Hutchison.

"It's nice to know you can pick up a phone and have someone there who gets things done," said Gary Burns, a Republican Victoria County commissioner. "She's been so helpful in so many areas."

Burns introduced Hutchison to the crowd. Morgan Dunn O'Connor, a Victoria lawyer, then added her praise. "We need her here to lead our Republican party," she said.

After her speech, Hutchison said she included Victoria on her stop because of local relationships and past visits. She said she supports nuclear power and will work to increase federal loan guarantees, a speed bump that slows potential construction of a future Victoria County plant.

"I will do everything I can to increase those guarantees," she said. "We need nuclear power."

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