The Ellis County Press: State Sen. Kip Averitt draws primary challenger

State Sen. Kip Averitt draws primary challenger
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Editor on 10/22/2009 11:52:00


STAFF REPORT
The Ellis County Press
ELLIS COUNTY - State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor, has drawn a primary
challenger for the first time since his election in 2002.
Burleson's Darren Yancy, who had been a candidate for U.S. Congress against
Democrat Chet Edwards, withdrew from that race and focused on the sprawling
10-county District 22, which includes Ellis County.
"It is no secret that my wife and I have been in an eminent domain struggle with
one of the largest natural gas producers in the country, XTO Energy," Yancy
said.
"In March of this year, after I had begun my campaign, they filed for
condemnation against our homestead for substantial pipeline construction.
"For months we have been working to re-negotiate the conditions of the
condemnation, but have failed. This month we were to have a trial to settle the
value of the damage to our home.
"That trial has now been moved to March 23, 2010 after the primaries.
"This places uncertainty on my ability to compete in the federal campaign
circuit."
Averitt, first nominated in the GOP primary in 2002 against Ovilla resident and
former congressional candidate Ed Harrison, is rumored by several national
political Web sites to be in the running for Edwards 17th District congressional
seat.
As a state representative representing the Waco suburbs, and as a state senator,
Averitt has ranked in the 30s and 40s on conservative voting report cards.
Yancy said he would present himself as the conservative alternative in the March
2 GOP primary.
Candidates have from Dec. 4 to Jan. 4 to file for the November 2010 general
election ballot.