Bill White’s Wife Talks Up Husband’s Tour

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White’s wife, Andrea, is talking up her husband’s trip to East Texas this week. Mrs. White says the campaign is going well, but her husband is still trying to introduce himself to Texans. She says, “A lot of people still haven’t heard of him, so that’s one reason he’s working so hard — but then, he works hard all the time.” Mrs. White is also promoting “Expectation Graduation” — a program Bill White started in his hometown of Houston, where he once served as mayor. The object is to get kids to re-enroll in school. Mrs. White explains that in September, project workers go door-to-door and ask kids who have dropped out to consider returning. So far, she says, the program has gotten over 8,000 Houston-area kids back in school — and has now spread to other towns.

Bill White’s East Texas swing includes stops Thursday in Tatum, Carthage, Longview and Henderson. He’s set to host education town hall meetings at 2 p.m. in Carthage; 4:30 p.m. at the Greggton Community Center; and 7 p.m. at the Henderson Civic Center on Thursday. He kicks off the day at noon, when he tours Tatum Independent School District facilities before a community lunch of grilled burgers at the Tatum High School Cafeteria. On Wednesday, White plans stops in Palestine, Rusk and Jacksonville before a stop Thursday in Tyler prior to his Tatum visit. White faces Republican Rick Perry in the Texas governor’s race in November. Perry has been governor since 2000.