said, “She has the understanding of working
man’s problems through earning her own
living despite handicap of blindness.”
Blair was also studying for her doctorate at
the College of the Mines and thought she
could get support from her fellow students.
“I want to make sure that the college is not
overlooked in funds for expansion programs,”
she told the El Paso Herald Post.
In one of her newspaper advertisements
Blair talked about her experience and
education that qualified her for the job: “After
earning two college degrees, Miss Blair has
conducted and managed her own business
throughout the United States for seven years
without the assistance of any other person
and in spite of her blindness. As a professional
educator and student of government she can
apply her knowledge of lecturing, radio, and
public relations to carry out her platform.”
Blair claimed she was first in qualifications
and was first on the ballot. She took on her six
male opponents declaring, “My opponents
have not committed themselves to any specific
platform - my position has (been) entirely
clear.”
Blair had a strong showing in the first
primary. Blair led her opponents by 3,200
votes but was not able to avoid a runoff
because she got under the fifty percent
requirement. So, the field was narrowed
between her and Police Chief Willard
Woolverton.
Blair had a big lead over Woolverton, whose
campaign seemed to be weak and was low
key. He did not provide a strong platform, and
the race had no issues. Blair started
campaigning for the runoff on primary
election night after the results came in.
In the runoff election, Blair found herself in
a bitter race. Someone was spreading rumors
that she was against the unions and that she
would beat Fawn. Both rumors were false.
Blair told the El Paso Times that while the
accusation was absurd, it angered her
because her father was a union carpenter. She
also said she grew up with no hard feelings
against organized labor and that there was
nothing in her platform that could be
considered to be against the interests of
working people. “Whoever is misinterpreting
my remarks must be more interested in my
opponent than in organized labor,” she told
the El Paso Times.
Blair accused Woolverton of only running
on his record as police chief and not having a
platform: “My opponent has never been
quoted on a platform; his campaign is solely
based on the fact he has been in public office
for forty years,” she told the Times.
In one of her campaign fliers, Anita went
after Woolverton: “He makes it clear that he
considers the Texas Legislature a place where
old policemen go to rust!”
Neither major El Paso newspaper endorsed
a candidate. However, Post Columnist B.U.L.
Conner urged people to vote for Blair writing
that she was “no dope” and that people should
give her a chance, citing her Master’s degree
and her lecturing experience. He believed she
had good ideas and would work at the job -
“When we think of some of the people who
have been sent to the Legislature, we are sure
we will work for Anita Blair in this muddy
election.”
After a hard-fought campaign Blair won by
a wide margin over Woolverton. After her
win, Blair reflected back on the campaign.
“The men just didn’t realize that I’d be a
threat when I went out and campaigned on
Anita Blair and her second seeing eye dog.
my merits.” Her victory made national
headlines; even Time magazine did an article
about her victory. Blair won unopposed in the
November election after local Republicans
refused to run a candidate against her.
After her victory Blair left for Austin to take
her seat in the Texas State House of
Representatives and to take her place in
history. Her election was proof that big money
or meddling political bosses could not stop a
young woman who wanted to serve and prove
her worth to her male colleagues. Blair would
not be silenced and was not going to be a
pushover. She planned to show the male
dominated political and business
establishment what a strong, independent
woman politician looked like.
26 Cenizo Summer 2020