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→State senatorial service
===State senatorial service===
===State senatorial service===
Mengden was sometimes called "Mad Dog Mengden" for his opposition to many bills supported by his more [[liberal]] colleagues,<ref name=hmh/> but he remained popular in District 13, as it was then configured, having been reelected in 1976 and 1980 with little opposition. Mengden was particularly known for his sponsorship of "law-and-order" legislation backed by law-enforcement agencies and appealing to conservative voters concerned about the crime rate. The Sheriff's Association of Texas, in its publication ''Texas Lawman,'' named Mengden the "Most Outstanding Member of
Mengden was sometimes called "Mad Dog" Mengden for his opposition to many bills supported by his more [[liberal]] colleagues,<ref name=hmh/> but he remained popular in District 13, as it was then configured, having been reelected in 1976 and 1980 with little opposition. Mengden was particularly known for his sponsorship of "law-and-order" legislation backed by law-enforcement agencies and appealing to conservative voters concerned about the crime rate. The Sheriff's Association of Texas, in its publication ''Texas Lawman,'' named Mengden the "Most Outstanding Member of
the Legislature" in both the 64th and 65th sessions. In the 66th session, the Texas District and County Attorneys Association cited Mengden in its publication ''Texas Prosecutor'' for his anti-crime activities. Mengden worked to secure constitutional limitations on state and local taxation as well as silent prayer in public schools.<ref name=senate>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/texas_senators/Public/Texas_Senate_67.pdf|title=Walter Mengden|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> He also sponsored a [[creation science]] bill in the Senate.<ref>''Texas Monthly'', July 1981, p. 111</ref>
the Legislature" in both the 64th and 65th sessions. In the 66th session, the Texas District and County Attorneys Association cited Mengden in its publication ''Texas Prosecutor'' for his anti-crime activities. Mengden worked to secure constitutional limitations on state and local taxation as well as silent prayer in public schools.<ref name=senate>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/texas_senators/Public/Texas_Senate_67.pdf|title=Walter Mengden|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> He also sponsored a [[creation science]] bill in the Senate.<ref>''Texas Monthly,'' July 1981, p. 111.</ref>
Mengden also pushed, unsuccessfully, for the adoption of [[initiative]] and [[referendum]] in Texas, having lobbied for the reform measure during the 1974 state constitutional convention, which adjourned without a new governing document.<ref name=iTenit>{{cite web|url=http://www.iandrinstitute.org/Texas.htm|title=Initiative and Referendum Institute|publisher=iandrinstitute.org|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> In the initiative, which started in [[South Dakota]] in 1898, voters can write their own legislation and submit to a popular referendum, thus bypassing the legislature in certain situations. Instead, Texans can vote only on state constitutional amendments, usually held in November of odd years. These amendments are usually parochial and non-controversial in nature and thus attract little interest. An exception was the 1991 amendment to establish the state [[lottery]]. Initiative and referendum enjoyed large support from grassroots Republicans, but Governor [[Bill Clements]] never called the promised special session of the legislature to consider the measure. Thereafter, Governor [[George W. Bush]] had initiative and referendum removed from the party platform, and support for the reform has since languished.<ref name=init/>
Mengden also pushed, unsuccessfully, for the adoption of [[initiative]] and [[referendum]] in Texas, having lobbied for the reform measure during the 1974 state constitutional convention, which adjourned without a new governing document.<ref name=iTenit>{{cite web|url=http://www.iandrinstitute.org/Texas.htm|title=Initiative and Referendum Institute|publisher=iandrinstitute.org|accessdate=September 10, 2011}}</ref> In the initiative, which started in [[South Dakota]] in 1898, voters can write their own legislation and submit to a popular referendum, thus bypassing the legislature in certain situations. Instead, Texans can vote only on state constitutional amendments, usually held in November of odd years. These amendments are usually parochial and non-controversial in nature and thus attract little interest. An exception was the 1991 amendment to establish the state lottery. Initiative and referendum enjoyed large support from grassroots Republicans, but Governor [[Bill Clements]] never called the promised special session of the legislature to consider the measure. Thereafter, Governor [[George W. Bush]] had initiative and referendum removed from the party platform, and support for the reform has since languished.<ref name=init/>
===Campaign for U.S. Senate, Republican primary 1982===
===Campaign for U.S. Senate, Republican primary 1982===
In 1981, Mengden was one of four senators named as Senate President Pro Tempore. He soon left the Senate to contest the 1982 Republican nomination for the [[U.S. Senate]] to challenge the two-term [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Lloyd Bentsen|Loyd Millard Bentsen, Jr.]], also of Houston, an icon in the eyes of most Texans at the time. Mengden lost the nomination to then [[U.S. Representative]] James Mitchell "Jim" Collins (1916-1989) of [[Dallas]]. Mengden accused Collins of having focused in [[Washington, D.C.]], primarily on killing "bad legislation," rather than passing needed bills. "Our problems are so great that even if that was valid sixteen or seventeen years ago, it's not today," said Mengden, who claimed to have obtained passage in the state Senate of ninety-one bills.<ref name=davis/> Both candidates ran as active supporters of President Reagan.
In 1981, Mengden was one of four senators named as Senate President Pro Tempore. He soon left the Senate to contest the 1982 Republican nomination for the [[U.S. Senate]] to challenge the two-term [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Lloyd Bentsen|Loyd Millard Bentsen, Jr.]], also of Houston, an icon in the eyes of most Texans at the time. Mengden lost the nomination to then [[U.S. Representative]] James Mitchell "Jim" Collins (1916-1989) of [[Dallas]]. Mengden accused Collins of having focused in [[Washington, D.C.]], primarily on killing "bad legislation," rather than passing needed bills. "Our problems are so great that even if that was valid sixteen or seventeen years ago, it's not today," said Mengden, who claimed to have obtained passage in the state Senate of ninety-one bills.<ref name=davis/> Both candidates ran as active supporters of President Reagan.