State senate race rocked by new attack ad

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer targeted by lawsuit reform group

SAN ANTONIO – The mild-mannered race for Texas Senate District 26 has been jolted by an attack ad launched by Texans for Lawsuit Reform against Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer.

Martinez Fischer is one of two state House members who have been in the forefront of the race to replace Leticia Van de Putte in the state Senate.

Martinez Fischer and Rep. Jose Menendez have been playing nicely, each touting his experience and vision for San Antonio.

"Jose Menendez is an award-winning Texas legislator," one commercial for Menendez said.

Martinez Fischer touted his views on cooperation in another commercial.

"San Antonio's legacy is one generation fighting for the next," the commercial said.

But the attack ad by Texans for Lawsuit Reform amped up the negative energy in the race.

"Trey Martinez Fischer is a liberal politician and personal injury trial lawyer," the commercial said, going on to conclude, "say 'no' to liberal personal injury trial lawyers and Trey Martinez Fischer."

Martinez Fischer did not initially respond to requests for comment on the commercials.

Menendez said he had not seen it while spending time with family during the holidays, but agreed it could boost candidates other than Martinez Fischer.

"I don't know if it would help me specifically -- it would help any of the other candidates," Menendez said. "As far as our ads are concerned, we're trying to talk about the future."

Menendez said he tries to be positive in such a short race where every vote will count.

"The turnout's going to be low, so every vote will count 10 to 20 times what it normally does," Menendez said. "I've never run attack ads. I don't like them. I think attacking just tears things down and it's what's wrong with Washington, all the fighting, the bickering."

St. Mary's University Political Science Professor Dr. Henry Flores said he is not surprised candidates in this race are running TV ads and that the ones doing it are the most well organized and well-funded.

"I get mailings every day, I got called twice," Flores said. "The short duration of the campaign plays to the advantage of those people who can do that."

In this race, he said Menendez and Martinez Fischer were in a position to begin a competent campaign immediately while the others are not.

"They don't have time to get organized, they don't have time to get the consultants, they don't have time to get the printing and everything in a very short period of time," Flores said. "The short duration of the campaign plays to the advantage of those people who can do that."

As for the attack ad from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Flores compared how Martinez Fischer looks in his own commercials and how he looks in the attack ad.

"He's in good shape, family, a beautiful little family, everybody happy, Christmas trees, that sort of thing.," Flores said. "And then the Texans for Lawsuit Reform has him looking pudgy and dark. I'm thinking that what they're trying to do is split up the votes enough to get a Republican into a runoff against Trey."

If that's the case look for a lot more ads in the next week. The election is Jan. 6.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform is closed for the holidays and was unable to respond.

Martinez Fisher sent KSAT a statement after the story aired Tuesday night that said in part:

"I am surprised that candidates in this race have chosen to align themselves with this attack group. Voters in Senate District 26 expect more from their candidates than petty, baseless attacks."

Converse Mayor Al Suarez is also running on the Democratic side.

Republicans Alma Perez Jackson and Joan Pedrotti are also on the ballot.