Texas candidate loses after photos showed him in dresses, one of Texas
GOP runoff elections

MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, April 14, 2004


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



(04-14) 07:04 PDT HOUSTON (AP) --

A candidate who stuck to his campaign despite photos showing him
wearing dresses has lost his bid for office in Texas runoff elections
that also picked GOP candidates for five congressional elections.

Sam Walls, 64, who sought a seat in the Texas House, had said he would
not give in to "blackmail" from whoever circulated the photos, saying
they tried to use "very old, personal information" to force him out of
the race.

Walls, a businessman, had seemed the favorite over real estate broker
Rob Orr, but GOP leaders urged him to withdraw after the pictures
surfaced, and on Tuesday Orr won with 4,630 votes, or 60 percent, to
Walls' 3,031.

"Some people have said they feel sorry for me, but let me tell you how
wonderful it has been for me," Walls said after his loss. "If you have
not had the opportunity to find out that all your friends are true
friends, then I feel sorry for you."

He has said his family had "dealt with" the dress issue, and he
apologized to supporters for any embarrassment caused by "a small part
of my personal past."

In the Republican congressional runoffs, the 10th District contest was
the most expensive congressional race in the country as political
rookies Ben Streusand and Michael McCaul spent a total of $5 million.