NOTE: I wrote this story as a freelance correspondent for the Associated Press. The copy below is exactly what I submitted, pre-editing.

Surrounded by about 100 enthusiastic supporters, Democrat Chris Bell formally kicked off his campaign for governor of Texas.

Bell addressed the crowd on Sunday at the University of Texas at Austin, in front of a statue of Martin Luther King Jr.

“Rick Perry just doesn’t get it,” Bell told his cheering supporters. “I know enough to listen when Texans tell me what they want.”

The event’s attendees, some of which came from as far as Houston and San Antonio, stood under the bright afternoon sun and tried to keep cool; lucky people found shade under oak trees. They displayed signs with messages including, “Got Bell?” and “Answer the Bell.”

Bell is a former U.S. Representative from Houston, best known for launching an ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom Delay. Bell has been a radio journalist, attorney, and Houston city councilman.

Houstonite Ford Stuart rode from Houston to Austin on a bus with 50 other supporters, many of which were members of Democratic organizations in the area. Stuart said his disapproval of Perry motivated him to travel to the rally.

John Cobarruvias, who rode the same bus, said he respects the fact that Bell launched an ethics complaint against Delay.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Chris,” Cobarruvias said. “He will get the job done for the people of Texas.”

People were serious at times, and cheered jubilantly at others as they listened to Bell outline the issues that will be front and center in his campaign.

Bell made a “pact with parents,” saying he’ll work to make Texas public education the best in the nation within 10 years by giving teachers the resources they need. Within a couple weeks the campaign will release a more detailed school finance plan, Bell said.

He said college tuition deregulation is a “miserable failure,” and he wants to again make higher education affordable for middle class families.

Another way to help families financially, Bell said, is to put limits on credit card interest rates, and health insurance rates. And to make sure every child is covered.

Other issues included improving sex education to cut unwanted pregnancies and abortion, new policies on stem cell research, and reform to Texas campaign finance laws.