Changes

Baskin was active in the promotion of the Midland Independent School District. His last official action as a judge was the swearing in of MISD trustees on May 11, 2005. He was a long-term member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, in which he promoted scholarship endeavors. He served on the University of Texas College of Communications Foundation.<ref name=pmbaskin/>

Baskin was active in the promotion of the Midland Independent School District. His last official action as a judge was the swearing in of MISD trustees on May 11, 2005. He was a long-term member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, in which he promoted scholarship endeavors. He served on the University of Texas College of Communications Foundation.<ref name=pmbaskin/>

From 1968 to 1972, Baskin was a member of the Midland City Council, the last two years of which he was Mayor Pro-Tem. In 1972, Mayor Edwin H. Magruder, Jr., did not seek a third two-year term, and Baskin entered the nominally non-partisan contest against two rivals, [[Ernest Angelo, Jr.]], and Brad Patteson. Baskin was the former chairman of the Midland County [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee; Angelo, an [[oil]]man, was then and remains involved in the [[Republican Party]] in the Permian Basin. Texas state Representative [[Tom Craddick]], Angelo's friend and neighbor in Midland and later the Speaker of the House, and former Representative Frank Kell Cahoon (1934-2013) of Midland recruited their fellow Republican Angelo to challenge Baskin. Craddick believed that Baskin would use the mayoral office to attempt to derail's Craddick's bid for a third term in the state House in the [[general election]] on November 7, 1972.<ref name=wtha/>  

From 1968 to 1972, Baskin was a member of the Midland City Council, the last two years of which he was Mayor Pro-Tem. In 1972, Mayor Edwin H. Magruder, Jr., did not seek a third two-year term, and Baskin entered the nominally non-partisan contest against two rivals, [[Ernest Angelo, Jr.]], and Brad Patteson. Baskin was the former chairman of the Midland County [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee; Angelo, an [[oil]]man, was then and remains involved in the [[Republican Party]] in the Permian Basin. Texas state Representative [[Tom Craddick]], Angelo's friend and neighbor in Midland and later the Speaker of the House, and former Representative [[Frank Kell Cahoon]] of Midland recruited their fellow Republican Angelo to challenge Baskin. Craddick believed that Baskin would use the mayoral office to attempt to derail's Craddick's bid for a third term in the state House in the [[general election]] on November 7, 1972.<ref name=wtha/>  

Angelo agreed to run for mayor if Cahoon would seek one of the at-large city council seats. The deal was struck, and both ran and won.<ref name=wtha/> Angelo defeated Baskin, 3,743 (45.6 percent) to 3,593 (43.8 percent). Patteson polled 873 votes (10.6 percent). Angelo hence won by 150 votes of the some 8,200 ballots cast.<ref>City of Midland, Mayoral election returns, April 4, 1972</ref> Angelo won by plurality, as no runoff election was required. Baskin made party affiliation an issue in the race, and Angelo considered Baskin a "[[liberal]] Democrat". However, Baskin subsequently switched parties, as West Texas veered increasingly away from the Democrats, and he served for twelve years as a Republican state court judge. Angelo recalls that Baskin was "a gentleman," popular by virtue of his friendly personality and his involvement in community theatre.<ref name=wtha>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Ernest Angelo, Jr., of Midland and the 96-0 Reagan Sweep of Texas, May 1, 1976," ''West Texas Historical Association Yearbook'' Vol. 86 (2010), p. 83.</ref>​

Angelo agreed to run for mayor if Cahoon would seek one of the at-large city council seats. The deal was struck, and both ran and won.<ref name=wtha/> Angelo defeated Baskin, 3,743 (45.6 percent) to 3,593 (43.8 percent). Patteson polled 873 votes (10.6 percent). Angelo hence won by 150 votes of the some 8,200 ballots cast.<ref>City of Midland, Mayoral election returns, April 4, 1972</ref> Angelo won by plurality, as no runoff election was required. Baskin made party affiliation an issue in the race, and Angelo considered Baskin a "[[liberal]] Democrat". However, Baskin subsequently switched parties, as West Texas veered increasingly away from the Democrats, and he served for twelve years as a Republican state court judge. Angelo recalls that Baskin was "a gentleman," popular by virtue of his friendly personality and his involvement in community theatre.<ref name=wtha>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Ernest Angelo, Jr., of Midland and the 96-0 Reagan Sweep of Texas, May 1, 1976," ''West Texas Historical Association Yearbook'' Vol. 86 (2010), p. 83.</ref>​