Perry Plans To Return To Mansion After Restoration

AUSTIN (AP) – Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday he expects to move back into the Governor’s Mansion and that some Texas country music stars want to help raise money to restore the torched landmark, according to newspaper reports.

Perry told the San Antonio Express-News and the Houston Chronicle that after the mansion is rebuilt, he expects to be living there again “unless it takes ’em through 2015” – a reference to his plans to run for re-election in 2010. “I don’t think it’ll be that long.”

Country performers Tracy Byrd, Marc Chesnutt and Clay Walker, all from the Beaumont area, have offered to help raise money to rebuild the severely damaged mansion.

Investigators are still searching for an arson suspect in the June 8 fire.

The Perrys moved out of the mansion last year to allow for the building to be renovated.

Perry said press reports about security “have been rather accurate” and that mansion security needs may be reassessed. He was referring to reports that some security cameras and alarm systems were not operational and only one state trooper was on guard rather than the usual two.

“Obviously, I’ve got concerns, but I’m not going to assign any blame until we have done the appropriate and full investigation,” Perry said. “At that particular point in time, I would suspect that if anyone is at fault, it will be appropriately pointed out and dealt with in a correct manner.”

The suspected arsonist’s entry onto the grounds wasn’t the first time that someone had intruded onto the property, Perry said. He said such things occurred even when the Perrys lived there, but he described previous events as pranks and said the intruders were stopped.

Department of Public Safety troopers have said they’d expressed concern about inadequate security before the fire, which investigators say was arson. A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.

“I think the public and the legislators and myself will be asking the appropriate questions about the security at the mansion, but I think we’re still a little bit early in the process to clearly say, ‘Here was a breakdown that allowed for this individual to penetrate in that close to the mansion,”‘ Perry said in an impromptu interview after a speech.

Also Wednesday, a historical architect who is involved in the mansion’s restoration said workers are still pulling debris from the building and that one of their first priorities would be to dry out the basement to stop mold from spreading.

Tere O’Connell also said workers are trying to stabilize the structure so that the destroyed roof can be removed without further collapse.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)