The Shorthorn - Faculty member to write book on Mike Moncrief

Faculty member to write book on Mike Moncrief

Written by Matthew Reagan

Wednesday, 23 January 2008 07:56 PM

Political science professor Allan Saxe said he plans to pen a chronicle of the Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief’s political career and life — with the help of his students.

Saxe has known Mayor Mike Moncrief professionally for more than three decades and worked on his campaign for state senate in the early 1970s. Saxe said Moncrief is a compelling political leader with strong core values who came from a prominent family with East Texas oil ties.

“Here’s a man who could have gone in a variety of directions and didn’t have to go into politics,” Saxe said. “He’s not afraid of a fight, and he’s the kind of person you want on your side.”

In the fall, Saxe announced his intentions of writing the book, and students immediately voiced interest in assisting him with this endeavor. He enlisted 10 past and current students from his Politics of a Texas City: Arlington City Politics class to help him research and interview.

Two or three students will cover each era of Moncrief’s state political career from his time as a Texas state representative to his current position.

Moncrief has held several high-ranking titles in Texas government, including state senator and county judge, at one time had aspirations of running for governor, Saxe said.
The students involved in the project are gaining valuable insight into the local political scene and investigative research methods, he said.

“It’s good for them because they are learning to do primary research,” he said.

Political science senior Valerie Hodges is one of the students assisting Saxe in the undertaking. She said she plans to do extensive research in the next few months.

“I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “How often do you get to do this kind of thing?”

Saxe published his first book, Politics of Arlington, Texas: An Era of Continuity and Growth, in 2001 and has also co-authored a history textbook.

He expects to be complete this project by the end of this semester.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 23 February 2008 09:25 PM )

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