Kyle Janek - 2008 Election

2008 Election

Janek finally resigned his seat in June 2008, but the decision also ignited a controversy of its own. The resignation was intentionally timed to fall after the Texas uniform election date to fill legislative vacancy, ensuring that the seat would remain vacant until the November 2008 general election. This decision was offered as a favor to Janek's former political consultant Allen Blakemore, who was having trouble recruiting a successor client to run for the District 17 seat. Blakemore initially planned to run former Houston Oilers star Spencer Tillman with Janek's endorsement, until it was discovered that Tillman also lived outside the district. Janek accordingly postponed his resignation date until Blakemore found a client, Houston businessman Austen Furse.

Janek immediately endorsed Furse in the wide-open race for the seat, which also attracted fellow Republicans Grant Harpold and Joan Huffman and Democrat Chris Bell. Janek also transferred $300,000 from his campaign war chest into a newly created Political Action Committee called the "Best of Texas" PAC. According to Houston Chronicle columnist Rick Casey, the PAC was apparently created for no other purpose besides helping Furse by attacking his opponents. Allen Blakemore was chosen to administer the PAC.