John Sharp wanted to be Texas lieutenant governor so badly he ran twice for the office, but lost – in order – to Rick Perry and David Dewhurst.

But as the Texas Tribune reports, these two men – one of whom is a college classmate of Sharp – have become his major political allies. And it’s bringing good things to the institution that Sharp now leads.

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/03/24/m-sharp-charts-smooth-course-major-changes/

Sharp has had his share of electoral success in politics. He served as state senator from Victoria, as a Texas railroad commissioner, as state comptroller (and was the last Democrat to win a statewide office when he won re-election in 1994). He ran for lieutenant governor in 1998, losing to Perry by a narrow margin and again in 2002, losing to Dewhurst also narrowly.

Then the Texas A&M University System needed a chancellor. Who were Sharp’s biggest fans? Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, who argued that  Sharp’s legislative skill would serve him well as the Aggies’ chancellor, and finally, Gov. Perry, who appointed his former rival-turned-pal to the post in 2011.

It’s paying dividends for the system, which has taken off on smooth waters while stormy seas have made life difficult for the folks over at the “other” university, the University of Texas – or as Aggies are fond of calling it, “tu,” which is shorthand for “texas university.”

UT regents are being accused of micromanaging the school’s flagship campus in Austin. UT-Austin President Bill Powers has been in a snit with his bosses over some regents’ alleged interference in administrative matters. Meanwhile, Sharp has been steering the A&M System through some legislative funding successes.

Texas Democrats have been looking for someone to break the Republicans’ elective-office stranglehold in this state. Sharp has come close twice in his most recent bids for statewide office.

Something tells me John Sharp isn’t about to surrender the good gig he’s enjoying in College Station. After all, how much better can it get when the Aggies bolt to the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, more than hold their own on the football field and then have one of their own win the Heisman Trophy?

I’m guessing Chancellor Sharp is a happy man these days.