O’Hare-Price match up likely to set Tarrant County’s political direction with Betsy Price

Show Notes:

Wise Guy Talks invites Tarrant County Judge, candidate, Betsy Price, to come on the show and debate Tim O’Hare as to who is the real conservative.

Highlights: Why one-time Southlake Mayor, Laura Hill is endorsing Betsy Price, along with Glen Whitley and The Dallas Morning News. Has Southlake Mayor John Huffman endorsed Mr. O’Hare. The definition of Tarrant County Judge. Betsy Price’s record as Fort Worth mayor. Her relationship with diversity, equity, and inclusion multi-million dollar programs - Race and Culture Task Force with input from Pete Buttigieg. Her police chief taking a knee for black lives matter. Her support of abortion rights.

Republican primary a battle over experience vs. conservative credentials

by Jacob Sanchez January 17, 2022

The Tarrant County Courthouse is located at 100 E. Weatherford St. in Fort Worth. (Rodger Mallison | Fort Worth Report)

A site paid for by a conservative political action committee poses a single question to visitors: “Who is the real Betsy Price?”

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Price, a Republican, is seeking to replace outgoing Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. The former Fort Worth mayor is considered a top contender for the county’s top elected position. Tim O’Hare, a former Tarrant County Republican Party chairman, is another top candidate for the job.

The site goes through Price’s record as mayor. Its conclusion? “Betsy Price is too liberal for Tarrant County,” the large, white text reads.

This ideological purity test is one of the key parts of the campaign to clinch the GOP’s nomination for county judge. That question is one O’Hare wants Republican voters to consider as they head to the ballot box starting Feb. 14. But Price doesn’t see her race against O’Hare — and three lesser known candidates — as that. Instead, she says it’s about filling the looming vacuum of experience that awaits the Tarrant County government next year.

Election dates

Early voting in the primary elections starts on Monday, Feb. 14. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. To find more information about polling places and voting by mail, visit Tarrant County’s elections website.

Whether O’Hare or Price is right about their intra-party debate will emerge on March 1. The winning argument, though, will almost certainly set the political direction of Tarrant County for the next four years.

“Most of the folks who are elected, especially countywide, a Republican is going to end up winning in the fall,” Whitley, a Republican, told the Fort Worth Report.

Thomas Marshall, a political scientist at the University of Texas at Arlington, expects the primary will have high turnout because the national climate is more favorable for Republicans and most of the competitive races are on the right.

“This race may be watching up until the last few minutes,” Marshall said.

Fight over conservative title

O’Hare and Price recognize the favorable environment for their party and the odds of a Republican likely succeeding Whitley, who has thrown his support behind the former Fort Worth mayor. Both candidates are touting their conservative bonafides — and attacking their chief rival — to ensure they get to the general election.

Former Mayor Betsy Price introduced newly elected council members at the Fort Worth Convention Center on June 15, 2021. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)

“I’ve got a conservative legacy and have proven I can protect taxpayers and deliver to diverse communities and grow our economy,” Price said. “People have to look at the straight shooters here who are telling the truth, who are positive and proactive — and that would be me.”

O’Hare, a former Farmers Branch mayor and council member who moved to Southlake in 2013,...