If the names Borris Miles and Al Edwards seem familiar to you, imagine how they seem to each other. This is the fourth time the two men have faced each other in a Democratic primary for the state house.
State Rep. Miles says he's just getting started in helping the part of Houston he's always called home.
"I'm a son of Sunnyside. I've never turned my back on Sunnyside. I've been true and faithful to the district," Miles said.
It's a district though that for 28 years was faithful to his opponent, Edwards. In 2006, Miles ran against the 14-term incumbent and beat him. But then, he lost to Edwards in 2008 amidst heavy turnout.
"The onslaught of Obama voters brought voters that were not in-tune to what was really going on in the state house and local levels," Miles said.
Two years later, Miles won the seat back by a mere eight votes.
"We've got a stronger record than we did in our first term or our second term. We've done a lot of things in the legislature. We've been identified as a leader on the house floor," Miles said.
Miles points to his growing record in the capitol. Edwards reminds us of his nearly three decade head start.
"My reason for going back is, I go back with 30 years of seniority. It puts District 146 from the bottom back up to the top," Edwards said.
Edwards says he's most concerned about Social Security -- a federal issue not touched by the legislature -- health care and the price of college tuition.
"I would place in the hopper, legislation to put a moratorium on increasing college tuition until our economy changes," Edwards said.
Miles also talks about better funding for education and health care and temporarily increasing taxes on certain industries.
"Texas doesn't have enough money. We've got to find ways, in my opinion, find ways to subsidize our sales tax," Miles said.
Both men say they want what's best for District 146. But who will the voter's think is best this time, in a race of familiar political foes?
"Ding ding. Round four," Miles said.
Both men, by the way, have more in common than the seat they seek. Both are members of the same college fraternity and even live on the same Houston street.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »local, tom abrahams
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