HispanicBusiness

UT regent and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez discussed his campaign platform at a Hispanic Heritage luncheon held at the Capitol Marriott Hotel Wednesday, during which he expressed the need to legalize prayer in public schools.

"I really do want to see it back, but under a lot of conditions," Sanchez said, adding that under no circumstances should students be coerced into recognizing a particular faith.

"I want the children to be able to pray if they want to," Sanchez said. "It worries me that these young children get intimidated when they are asked to pray and bow their head, but it may not be their faith."

His remarks came less than a week after incumbent Gov. Rick Perry took part in a Christian prayer in a Palestine, Texas, middle school gymnasium during a patriotic service last week. A 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Murray v. Colett, prohibits school-organized prayer.

Will Harrell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said prayer in schools is legal, if conducted on an individual basis, but school-sponsored prayer is illegal.

"There is nothing that prohibits people from praying," Harrell said.

He said the line between church and state was a blurry one prior to last year's U.S. Supreme Court rule banning prayer before a football game. The case took five years to resolve, costing Texas' Santa Fe Independent School District and the state "a considerable amount of money," he said.

He said state governors or candidates have no place in pushing the issue, because it is "flatly" unconstitutional.

At the event, which ended in a prayer, Sanchez said the driving force behind his campaign is to improve the educational system. He stressed the need for more money, resources and technology to improve the system to a crowd of state legislatures, lawyers and activists.

"We have an educational system that is failing us, failing us miserably," said Sanchez, a Laredo businessman.

In order to improve the state's quality of education, the state must make certain all students, especially those of African-American and Hispanic heritage, receive the tools to compete in the job market, he said.

"Those who don't have the knowledge and those that don't have the information are not going to get the jobs," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said he not only had the passion to hold the position of governor, but census and election results indicate that the Democratic Party would win the 2002 election ballot.

"If you have a well-run campaign, a well-financed campaign and a recognizable Hispanic surname is on the ticket, at the top, there is a high probability that the Democratic Party is going to be successful top to bottom," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said he consulted his family before deciding to run for office, making certain they were ready for his battle with a "highly partisan" Republican Party.

"I think the Republican [Party] has got a well-deserved reputation of being very, very partisan and that can get out of hand sometimes," Sanchez said.

Ted Royer, spokesman for the Texas Republican Party, said they have no intention in tarnishing the Sanchez campaign.

"The 2002 gubernatorial election will be as dirty as Tony Sanchez wants to make it," Royer said, adding that Sanchez has resorted to negative campaigning to achieve his political goals.

Royer said the Republican Party is favored by Texas voters, citing that all statewide elected offices are held by Republicans.

"The election data has been overwhelming in favor of the Republican Party," Royer said. "Mr. Sanchez is going to be in for a surprise."