Heated race for newly drawn District 9

08:06 PM CST on Monday, February 23, 2004

By Nancy Holland / 11 News

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Early voting kicked off Monday for the Democratic and Republican primaries. Registered voters can cast early ballots at any polling place through March 5. But come Election Day, March 9, people may only vote at the precinct where they are registered.

One hotly contested race expected to lure people to the polls is the newly redrawn Congressional District 9 that replaces District 25.

Some of District 9's most desirable voters are committed enough to be working for candidates in other races, they are likely to vote, know their issues,

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And some are undecided.

Al Green came to Sunnyside to pose with a check from the Congressional Black Caucus. It was needed money for a campaign on a tight budget.

Posing with political powerbroker Maxine Waters was another plus, especially since her support makes her against a Democrat already in Congress. "What the people of this country want is people who get out of the club," says the California congresswoman. "And stop just acting like a club that's only there to protect each other."

But in a district that has been drastically redrawn, it is difficult to get candidates to draw firm lines between each other.

"I have been to Cuba and I've met with Fidel Castro, I've been to Angola Africa and met with the head of state there," says Al Green. "I'm a senior democratic whip, I have great committee assignments, international relations and the financial services committee."

Bell's campaign says it will run on a record. But truthfully this was his first term. Additionally his campaign must deal with voters who may have doubts they are still in his district.

In a good year it's hard to get people to vote in a primary. Confusion makes it worse.

So the scrap for the most loyal goes on with the goal that it's okay for the signs to be on the fence, not the voters.

Lesser-known democratic challenger Beverly Spencer is up against Green and Bell.

Two Republicans are also on the primary ballot to represent District 9.