LWV LWV - the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area
Transcripción
LWV LWV - the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area
LWV non-partisan election material LWV – Vot e YO U R C h o ice ! Voters Guide L e a g u e o f Wo m e n Vo t e r s o f t h e H o u s t o n A r e a General Election ★ NOVEMBER 4, 2008 What’s on the Ballot? READ ABOUT: On November 4, Harris County voters will cast votes to elect President / Vice President U.S. Senators Representatives to U.S. Congress State Railroad Commissioner State & District Judges State Legislators Board of Education Trustees County Officials Probate Court Judges Justices of the Peace / Constables ★ Polls Open 7am to 7 pm ✓ Candidates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ✓ VotING FACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ✓ EARLY VOTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 ✓ The Electoral College. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ✓ Voting MachineS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 INDEX TO VOTERS GUIDE CANDIDATES: Constable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 County Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 County Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 County Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 County School Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 County Sheriff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 County Tax Assessor-Collector . . . . . 27 Court of Appeals Justice . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Court of Criminal Appeals Justice . . . . 8 District Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 District Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 District Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Justice of the Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Probate Court Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Railroad Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Special Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 State Board of Education Trustee . . . . . 10 State Senator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 State Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 State Supreme Court Justice . . . . . . . . 6 U.S. President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 U.S. Senator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 U.S. Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 VOTER INFORMATION: Early Voting Locations and Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 The Electoral College System– or Who Elects the President? . . . . . . . 3 Telephone Numbers/Web Sites . . 30 Voter Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Voting Machine Diagram . . . . . . . . 29 ABOUT THIS VOTERS GUIDE The League of Women Voters of the Houston area published this information to help voters cast an informed vote. Inside you will find candidates’ qualifications, answers to our questions and photographs. Our state organization, League of Women Voters of Texas, provided the information on the state-wide and national races. Races and candidates are listed in ballot order. Candidate replies are pub- lished without editing or verification. Replies exceeding word limit requirements are indicated by (///). No portion of this Voters Guide may be reproduced for use in political campaigns or advertising. Other proposed reproduction uses of the Voters Guide must have permission of the League of Women Voters - Houston Area Education Fund. The League of Women Voters is non-partisan. It DOES NOT support or oppose any political party or candidate. We thank and acknowledge contributors who fund the Voters Guide. See back page for a list of contributors. League of Women Voters of the Houston Area • www.lwvhouston.org • 713.784.2923 view your SPECIFIC ballot! WRITE-IN ELECTION PROCESS New precinct-specific information now on the Web! View your voting location and specific ballot. Enter your name or precinct number. ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ Go to www.harrisvotes.com Click on English, Spanish or Vietnamese Click on Election Info on left Click on 2008 Election box on right On drop down window click on Precinct Specific Voting Information On screen behind the drop down window scroll down Enter your name or your precinct – your information comes up! Anyone meeting the position and filing requirements and either paying a fee or petitioning with voter signatures, may run as a write-in candidate. The names of all certified write-in candidates will be posted in the voting booths. For each race in which certified write-in candidates are running, there will be a space on the ballot in which the voter may “write in” a candidate’s name. Using the eSlate this is done by turning the wheel and selecting the letters necessary to spell the candidate’s name. Voter Information Facts about Voting You can vote if: • You are a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of Harris County. • You are not on parole, probation, or in prison for a felony. • You have not been declared mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court. • You are registered to vote in Harris County. (October 6, 2008 was the last day to register for the November General Election.) How do I register to vote? Each county has a Voter Registrar. In Harris County the Voter Registrar is the County Tax Assessor-Collector. You may register in person at 1001 Preston Avenue – 2nd Floor; any of 15 Tax Office substations throughout the County; any Texas Department of Public Safety Office; each Public Library, including any branch or service outlet; several other state agency offices or you can mail in your application. Applications are available at those sites, on line at www.hcvoter.net or by calling 713.368.8683 to request one via mail. During voter registration drives you can register with a deputized volunteer voter registrar. After you register, you should receive your Voters Registration Certificate (VRC) within 30 days. Every 2 years, you will be mailed a replacement VRC. To maintain your registered status you must notify the Voter Registrar of any address or name change. Where do I vote? During the Early Voting Period, October 20 to October 31, 2008, you may vote at any of the designated Early Voting Locations. Go to page 31 for a list of these locations. They are posted on line at www.harrisvotes.com or you can call 713.755.6965. On Election Day, you must vote in the polling location designated for your precinct of residence. Polling locations for each precinct are listed in the newspaper the day of the election. Also, they are on line at www.harrisvotes.com or you can call 713.755.6965. Where do I find my Precinct Number? Your Precinct Number (Pct. No.) shows in the middle of the left side of your Voter Registration Certificate (VRC). Many Harris County precincts merged year-end 2005 and lines were redrawn. Check the precinct number on your VRC before going to the polling location. Or, you can contact the Harris County Clerk’s Office, 713.755.6965 / www.harrisvotes.com or the Voter Registrar, 713.368.8683 / www.hcvoter.net. What do I take to the Polls? Take your Voter Registration Certificate (VRC). This is all that is needed unless this is your first time to vote in this county for a federal office and your original application was mailed to the Voter Registrar without proper identification. Other identification, such as a Texas Drivers License, is accepted but it’s much faster to sign in with your VRC, which has helpful information on it. Keep it in a safe place. You can take this Voters Guide or other written material into the Voting Booth. However, voters are not allowed to display or share any campaign material in the polling place. What if my name is not on the list of registered voters and the Voter Registrar has no record of my registration but I think I have registered? If your name is not on the list and you think you have registered, the Precinct Judge will contact the Voter Registrar. If the Voter Registrar cannot affirm your registration, you may vote a “provisional ballot”. First, you must complete an affidavit stating that you are a registered voter in the precinct in which you are attempting to vote and that you are eligible to vote in this election and you must present valid identification. Your ballot will be counted only if state or local officials determine you are eligible under State law. You will receive a letter after the election notifying you whether your provisional ballot was accepted or rejected. What is “provisional voting”? See answer to previous question. To find out which U. S. Representative, State Senate and Representative Districts, County Commissioner Precinct, and Justice of the Peace Precinct you are in, look on the right half of your Voter Registration Certificate. Those designations, as well as other district/precinct designations are also available from the Voter Registrar, 713.368.8683 or the County Clerk’s Voter Information Line, 713.755.6965. The County Clerk’s Office will have your specific ballot on line at www.harrisvotes.com no later than October 20, 2008. You may view which races and candidates will be on your specific ballot. See instructions at the top of this page. To obtain this information via telephone, call 713.755.6965, the County Clerk’s Voter Information Line, during regular hours. When can I vote? You may vote: • On Election day - at your assigned precinct’s polling place • Early - at designated times and locations from Oct.6 to Oct 31, 2008 – see schedule on pg. 31. • By ballot-by-mail if you are at least age 65, disabled, confined in jail, or if absence from county will prevent you from voting. For this election your application to get a ballot by mail must be received by Sept. 5 - Oct. 28, 2008 (received, not Postmarked), and you must follow the requirements for voting by mail. Contact the County Clerk’s Office, 713.755.6405 for information or visit www.harrisvotes.com to print an application for a ballot-by-mail. How does a student who is a registered voter and attends school outside the county vote? • A student can return home to vote on Election Day or during the early voting period. • A student can vote absentee by using a ballot-by-mail. For ballot-by-mail instructions, see the answer to the previous question. What do I do if I change my address and still live in Harris County? Promptly notify the Harris County Voter Registrar of your address change. You can change your address on line at www.hcvoter.net or in writing by completing a voter registration change form or by correcting the information on your current voter registration certificate and returning it to the Voter Registrar. Voter registration change forms are available from the Harris County Voter Registrar, 713.368.8683, on line at www.hcvoter.net or the Texas Secretary of State’s office, 1.800.252.8683, or on line at http://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/sos/SOSACManager. You will be able to vote in your new precinct 30 days after your notice has been received by the Voter Registrar. Meanwhile, you may vote a full ballot in your former precinct if your registration has not become effective in your new precinct. What do I do if I change my address and move to another county? You must re-register. Complete an application and mail it or take it in person to the voter registrar of your new county. You will be registered 30 days after your application is submitted. You may be eligible to vote a limited ballot in your new county of residence after moving if you were qualified to vote in your former county at the time you moved, and if your registration in the new county is not yet effective. You must apply for a limited ballot and vote by personal appearance with the early voting clerk conducting the election in your new county during the early voting period – not on Election Day. What does the term “suspense” mean on a voter’s record? What can I vote on in this election? You may vote for candidates running for U. S. President, U. S. Senator, U. S. House of Representative for your district, Railroad Commissioner, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice and Justices, Presiding Judge and Judges – Criminal Court, Appellate Court Judge for your district, State Senator and House Representative for your district, State Board of Education Trustee, District Judges, Harris County offices – including District Attorney, County Judge, County Attorney, District Clerk, County Sheriff, County Tax Assessor-Collector, County School Trustee, County Commissioner for your precinct, Justice of the Peace for your precinct, Constable for your precinct. There will be a special election for State Senator District 17, unexpired term. On line at www.harrisvotes.com you can view which races and candidates will be on your specific ballot. Follow the directions at the top of this page. The term “suspense” is used to designate those voters for whom the Harris County Voter Registrar does not have a current address. A voter in “suspense” status on the rolls will be allowed to vote after completing a change of residence form. Once the address is corrected, the “suspense” designation will be removed from the voter’s record. On November 30 of evennumbered years, the Voter Registrar cancels registrations of suspense list voters if two general elections have occurred since the voter was first listed as a suspense voter if the voter has not submitted an address correction. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide S P E C IA L E L E C TIO N State Senator Member of the Senate must be at least 26 years old, registered voter for at least five years, and resident of the district for at least one year. The Senate confirms gubernatorial appointments to administrative and judicial posts. It participates in the initiation of proposals for constitutional amendments. It canvasses the QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position? (50 word limit) returns in elections for governor and lieutenant governor. The Senate tries officials impeached by the House. Senate members also serve as advocate for citizens in the members home district. State Senators are elected for a term of four years. Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) Austen Furse In spite of tremendous growth, technological breakthroughs helped keep oil consumption stable for over a decade after the 1970s oil criHusband, father, Houston businessman. sis. We must remove barriers to innovation, B.A., Yale. White House Director of Policy small business creation and entrepreneurship, Planning under Pres. George H.W. Bush. Led starting with the stifling new business tax. a series of grassroots efforts to protect taxpay- Funding research at Texas universities will ers with a tax revenue cap, promote a taxpayer also prime the innovation pump. The solupledge for legislators, require the fulfillment tion lies in encouraging innovation instead of costly mandates. of a promised transit vote, and more. Republican Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? (60 word limit) For the last thirty years, state revenues grew over twice the rate of population increase plus inflation! We need to rein in this tax explosion. In Houston, I pioneered an idea that has caught fire statewide: a Taxpayer Bill of Rights Revenue Cap. This proven solution succeeds in part because taxpayers receive back the excess revenues, encouraging a watchdog citizenry. More revenue should bypass the bureaucrats and go straight to classrooms and teachers. We should also pay teachers based on performance – in business that’s just common sense. Reducing red tape will allow teachers to spend more time teaching and less time filling out paperwork. We must institute these proven solutions quickly in order to match ever-faster technological and global change. No. We do not need more artificial means, such as increased taxes, to enable more revenue and more spending. In fact, the people need some tax relief, which is why the business margins tax needs to be repealed. Further, property values need to be frozen for 5-7 years to slow down the growth of spending and to give the property/// Funding for public education as increased dramatically in the last 10 years, much more so than the rate of enrollment. Therefore, more money is not necessarily the solution. There should be more accountability and transparency as to where the money is spent and for what. No. The state surplus should be used for basic needs such as schools and transportation infrastructure. If this is not sufficient, then I support finding additional revenues to pay for public schools and other needs, as well as a property tax cut for homeowners. We must stop the endless cycle of crisis funding by putting our public schools on sustainable financial footing. We need to explore increasing the state’s share of education spending (and decreasing the burden on homeowners) with a broad-based business profits tax. ken sherman, Republican – no response received stephanie e. simmons, Democrat – no response received grant harpold DISTRICT 17 Republican BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M, 1985; JD from South Texas College of Law, 1988. Practicing lawyer for 20 years; Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 1997; Partner, Hargis & Harpold, LLP, 1997-Present. I deal with people/business issues each and every day. A history of listening and responding /// Tax exemptions or relief for those companies or individuals who invest in or use alternative energy to power their business or home. Alternatives such as wind, solar and bio-fuel. Also, an effort should be directed to entities and individuals to install alternative ways of collecting and using water so as ease the strain on underground supplies and reservoirs. Joan Huffman, Republican – no response received chris bell Democrat I earned my B.A. from UT and my law degree from the South Texas College of Law. I represented this area on the Houston City Council as an at-large member for five years and in Congress for two years. By profession, I am an attorney. Gané mi B.A. de UT y mi Doctorado de Ley de la Universidad del Sur de Tejas de Leyes. He representado esta área en el Consejo de Houston como miembro, y por cinco años y en el congreso nacional por dos años. De profesión, soy abogado. I would favor requiring electric power utilities to meet 100% of the anticipated growth in energy demands through energy efficiency and demand management within the next 5 to 10 years. Incentivizing or requiring the use of energy efficient appliances and buildings, “weatherization” of existing homes and buildings, and programmable thermostats should also be done. Favorecería requerir que las utilidades de la energía eléctrica resolver 100% del crecimiento anticipado en demandas energéticas a través de rendimiento energético y de la gerencia de demanda en el plazo entre los 5 a 10 años próximos. Estimulando o requiriendo el uso de aplicaciones y de edificios económicos de energía, el “weatherization” de hogares y de edificios existentes, y los termóstatos programables deben también ser hechos. No. El exceso del estado se debe utilizar para las necesidades básicas, tales como escuelas e infraestructura del transporte. Si esto no es suficiente, entonces apoyo buscar fondos adicionales para fondar las escuelas públicas y otras necesidades, además una rebaja en los impuestos para los propetarios de sus viviendas. Debemos parar el ciclo interminable del crisis de financiamiento en poner nuestras escuelas públicas en una situción financiera sostenible. Necesitamos explorar aumentar la contribución del estado al gasto a la educación (y la disminución de la carga en propetarios de viviendas) con un impuesto de beneficios de negocio ampliamente distribuido THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM – or Who Elects the President? What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is a group of 538 selected citizens who meet after a presidential election to actually “elect” the president and vice-president. Each state and the District of Columbia have a designated number of electors. To be elected to the presidency, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the electoral votes (270). If there were more than two candidates for president and none received a majority, the House of Representatives would pick the winner with each state casting one vote. Why do we have an Electoral College system? Over two centuries ago when the United States’ form of representative democracy was designed into the Constitution, the choice of the president was to be made by “a small number of persons, selected by their fellow citizens from the general mass.” These persons “will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.” (Both quotes from Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers, No. 68.) It was a way to monitor a possibly uneducated and uninformed electorate and, in the beginning, it had considerable power to make a choice which did not reflect the popular vote. At that time there were no political parties or national campaigns. Today the sole function of the Electoral College is to confirm the decision made by the voters. How does the Electoral College system work? The number of electors chosen in each state is equal to the combined number of that state’s U.S. senators and representatives. Each political party and independent and write-in presidential candidate selects the allowed number of electors in each state. When voters choose a slate of president and vice-president, they are actually voting for electors pledged to that slate. Under this electoral system, voters do not directly elect a president and vice-president on a “one-person, one-vote” basis. In 48 of the 50 states, whichever candidate gets the most popular votes wins all of that state’s electors. Only Maine and Nebraska do not use this “winner-take-all” system but award electors based on who wins in each congressional district plus two votes for the winner of the popular vote. While states cannot opt out of the Electoral College system, they do have the authority to determine how they allocate their electoral votes. In Texas we have a “winner-take-all” system for our 34 electoral votes, the second largest number of electoral votes in the nation. California is first with 55. On a designated day in December after the November election at a designated location in each state, the electors who were selected by the winning slate (or slates in the case of Maine and Nebraska) for president and vice-president in that state will cast their electoral ballots. While the electors are not legally bound to vote for the slate to whom they are pledged, it is highly unusual for them not to fulfill that pledge. Observations on the Electoral College system. • The system allows someone to be elected president without receiving more popular votes than any other candidate. • It fosters the two-party system because independent and third party candidates get few electoral votes. • By voting for each state’s choice for the presidency, it reflects our federal system of government, which reserves important political powers to the states. • It discourages voter turnout if voters feel their choice will not win the popular vote in their state. The source for some of the above information is League of Women Voters Education Fund. Choosing the President 2004: A Citizen’s Guide to the Electoral Process. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press, 2003. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide president of the uNITED STATES Salary: $400,000 per year. Term: Four years. Limit of two terms. Duties: The President is the head of state of the United States of America and is the Chief Executive Officer and the Commander in Chief of all military forces. The powers of the President are described in the Constitution and federal law. Subject to Senate approval, the President appoints the members of the Cabinet, ambassadors to other nations and the United Nations, Supreme Court Justices and federal judges. The President, along with the Cabinet and its agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States. The President may also recommend legislation to the United States Congress. u.s. Republican: john mccain / sarah palin Democrat: BARACK OBAMA / joe biden Libertarian: Bob Barr / WAYNE A. ROOT Website: http://www.johnmccain.com/ Website: http://my.barackobama.com/ Website: http://www.bobbarr2008.com/ U.S. SENATOR Six-year term. Must be at least 30 years old, a resident of the United States for at least nine years, and a resident of Texas. One of 100 members of the U.S. Senate which has specific powers to advise and consent to presidential appointments and treaties and to try impeachments. Powers the Senate shares with the U.S. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) JOHN CORNYN Republican u.s. senator I’ve had the honor of serving Texas in many capacities; as a District Judge, a Texas Supreme Court Justice, as Texas Attorney General and now as your Senator. I believe in limited government and low taxes, the importance of families, opportunity for all, and maintaining a strong national defense. Richard J. (Rick) Noriega Democrat From my time in the Texas Army National Guard to the five terms I spent in the Texas State Legislature, I’ve worked hard for Texas. During Operation Jump Start, I worked to strengthen our borders as the Commander of the Laredo Section Checkpoint. After Hurricane Katrina, I served as the /// Yvonne Adams Schick Libertarian I am a “citizen candidate”. I have helped start and build a large, successful business demonstrating my ability to lead and make deci¬sions. I have all of the qualifications stated in the Constitution. House of Representatives include the power to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war. Authorized annual salary: $165,200 Do you support changes to our current immigration policy? Please explain. (75 words) What is your position on the renewal of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act, and what changes would you propose, if any? (75 words) What policies do you support to ensure that the United States has enough energy to supply its needs? (75 words) What actions do you support to improve the delivery and financing of health care in the United States? (75 words) In 2005 I introduced one of the first reform bills in the Senate. It specifies requirements for border security, interior enforcement, workplace enforcement, a plan to deal with future immigration and those already here without documentation. Border security must come first, including increased use of technology, more border patrol agents, adding requested barriers and fencing and a verifiable system for employers to identify legal workers. This overall approach is required to resolve this long-neglected issue. I support NCLB reauthorization, with changes. Education decisions are best made by parents and teachers, not Washington bureaucrats. I introduced legislation (Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act, A-PLUS) that gives greater flexibility to states, working in partnership with local school officials, to use federal education funds while maintaining high accountability standards. It also increases transparency of test results by allowing states, and not the federal government, to establish clear and consistent achievement benchmarks. My energy policy is simple: we need “All of The Above.” More energy from a wide variety of old and new sources is the only real answer in a world where fast-developing economies are competing for supplies that have been artificially constricted. We should pursue all viable solutions; nuclear, clean coal, wind, and solar, in addition to increasing domestic oil production in ANWR, in western shale areas and the OCS to ensure our energy independence. The key to better, more affordable, health care is giving people more choices and more control. I support reforms that ensure patients continue to pick their own doctor. We should put the cost and quality of health care online, so patients can easily compare prices and services. We must make insurance portable and we should give individuals and employees of small businesses access to the same tax advantages employees of bigger companies get. Our immigration system is broken, and we must take immediate action to fix it. As the National Guard Commander of the Laredo Sector during Operation Jump Start, I’ve worked to promote border security and stem the flow of illegal immigrants entering our country. For comprehensive immigration reform to work, we must secure our borders, crack down on employers who are driving down wages by hiring illegal immigrants, and create an earned path to citizenship that /// No Child Left Behind measures school and student performance based only on statewide test scores. It is a flawed accountability system that emphasizes teaching to the test and diverts time and attention from broader classroom instruction. States should be given the flexibility to design accountability systems that incorporate statewide assessments with other measures: local assessments, teacher-designed classroom assessments collected over time, student portfolios, and other measures of learning. And we need to make sure schools /// Ensuring that energy supplies are abundant, reliable, and reasonably priced will require extensive cooperation between the federal government and the private sector. I have proposed policies that will provide immediate relief for Texas families, move the United States towards energy selfsufficiency, and develop a sustainable energy and economic future for Texas. By increasing investment in alternative energy technologies and improving the efficiency of our cars and homes, we can begin to address our nation’s energy /// Everyone should be guaranteed access to quality, affordable health insurance and be expected to make responsible choices in return. State governments have been forced to develop solutions to their health care problems because Washington has refused to address the serious issues. I’ve called on the federal government to expand access to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid. I also propose providing tax incentives for small businesses that expand health insurance for employees, closing the /// I support securing our borders to halt illegal immigration. People without criminal backgrounds or intentions to cause harm should be allowed to immigrate legally without undue burden. We need willing worker who will add their productivity to our economy. Their entry needs to be in a controlled and legal manner. All control of education needs to be returned to the states and, better yet, to the local communities and families. The federal Department of Education needs to be eliminated. It has proven not to be effective at improving the quality of education. Tax dollars go to Washington only to be returned to the states after administrative costs are subtracted and with strings attached. This defies common sense. Remove federal regulations against drilling and production. A free market in energy is the only workable solution in the long term. No government subsidies for energy. Subsidies disguise the actual cost of energy and interfere with the natural order of supply and demand. The rise in prices as demand rises create a natural response of conservation and innovation for new supply opportunities. Deregulate the healthcare industry and encourage a free market in healthcare. Allow development of new healthcare delivery innovations. Allow insur¬ance companies to devise new products and sell across state boundaries so consumers have more choices. Support Medical Savings Accounts. Make all health¬care expenses 100% tax deductible. Replace FDA with a more responsive free market system to reduce cost of medications. Replace Medicare with system that give the users control over the cost and process. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISt 2 Ted Poe, Republican – no response received Craig Wolfe, Libertarian – no response received DIST 7 John Culberson, Republican – no response received Michael Skelly, Democrat – no response received Drew Parks, Libertarian – no response received DISt 9 Member of U. S. Congress. Serves in the House of Representatives. The House originates revenue bills and, by tradition, appropriation bills. The House brings charges of impeachment for trial in the Senate. Both the House and the Senate count electoral votes following a presidential election and, if no candidate receives Al Green, Democrat – no response received Brad Walters, Libertarian – no response received a majority of electoral votes, the House chooses the President from among the top three candidates. The member is elected for a two-year term. Rank-and-file member salary $169,300. Speaker of the House salary $217,400; Majority and Minority Leaders salary $188,100 League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide U.S. REPRESENTATIVE continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What is your position on a single payer health insurance system for all Americans? What should the government do to promote the development and use of alternative energy sources to reduce our dependence on oil? (60 word limit) Make the immigration process simpler and allow more work visas for Latin Americans. If we can provide a simple, more efficient way for people to immigrate and work, we can solve problems. Legal immigrants have auto insurance. Legal immigrants don’t need to steal Social Security numbers to pay taxes. If more workers do it legally we can effectively catch Terrorist. That it will make the gap between the rich and the middle class grow dramatically. The problem with our healthcare system is government manipulation and bureaucracy, giving Government more power will yield more problems. Rich people will go to private hospitals and the middle class will wait in lines for substandard care. Create a large, nation-wide market for alternative fuels and renewable resources by requiring government vehicles and agencies to use more alternative fuels and renewable resources in their everyday operations. The U.S. Government is the biggest business in America and the largest polluter, we as share holders should vote/tell our government to lead by example. Make Homeland Security reinstate the Alien Registration Act to track alien residents. Require non-citizens to identify themselves as alien residents when they come in contact with the judicial system. Enforce fines when employers do not following existing employee laws. Sue Mexico for health care provide to Mexican citizens. The federal government is not able to mange a single payer HIS! Making each individual/ family responsible for making their health care decision is a better system. Increasing the Health Saving Account and a $5,000 tax credit for each family is a beginning. The Federal Government has no constitutional authority to impose a national health insurance program. We should reduce our dependence on FOREIGN oil. We should develop all possible domestic energy sources. Many alternative sources are only economic viable with a government subsidy or when competing with high crude oil prices. The market will continue to drive down crude prices when we Drill Here, Drill Now will create job in TX 18 CD right now! What are your recommendations to address the problems of undocumented workers currently in the United States and those who wish to come to the United States to work? (60 word limit) (60 word limit) DISTRICT 10 Michael T. McCaul, Republican – no response received Larry Joe Doherty, Democrat – no response received Matt Finkel Libertarian I am in my second term representing Travis County on the Texas Libertarian Executive Committee. I am a two-time delegate to the Libertarian National Convention. I have lived in the district for 11 years. I am comfortable and experienced in representing large constituencies in large meeting with in-depth parliamentary procedure. John Faulk DISTRICT 18 Republican I am a graduate of Reagan High School (the same school my father attended), University of Houston BBA earned a Master of Business Administration at U of H Clear Lake. I successfully completed the Rice University Para Legal Program in 2007. I am a successful career as a businessman/fund raiser. Me gradué de la escuela secundaria Reagan (la misma escuela a la que mi padre asistió), la Universidad de Houston, BBA, obtuvo una Maestría en Administración de Negocios de la Universidad de Houston Clear Lake. Yo completé con éxito el Programa de Paralegal en 2007 de Rice University. Yo he tenido una carrera exitosa como recaudador de fondos y como empresario Hacer que el Departamento de Seguridad de la Patria reintegre la Ley de la Registración para Extranjeros para rastrear a los residentes extranjeros. Exigirle a los no-ciudadanos que se identifiquen como residentes extranjeros cuando ellos entren en contacto con el sistema judicial. Hacer cumplir las multas cuando los patrones no lo hacen siguiendo las leyes de empleo existentes. Demandar al país de México para que paguen por el cuidado de salud proporcionado a los ciudadanos mexicanos. ¡El gobierno federal no es capaz de administrar un sistema de salud de un solo pagador! Haciendo a cada individuo/familia responsable de las decisiones para cuidar su salud es un buen sistema. Aumentando la caja de ahorros de Salud y un crédito al impuesto de $5,000 para cada familia es un principio. El Gobierno Federal no tiene la autoridad constitucional para imponer el programa de un seguro de salud nacional. Nosotros debemos reducir nuestra dependencia del petróleo EXTRANJERO desarrollando todas las posibles fuentes de energía domésticas. Muchas fuentes alternativas sólo son económicamente viables con un subsidio gubernamental o al competir con los precios de crudo altos. ¡El mercado continuará abaratando los precios del crudo cuando nosotros Taladremos Aquí, Taladremos Ahora,lo qué también creará ahora mismo trabajos en el DC 18 de TX! Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat – no response received Mike Taylor, Libertarian – no response received Pete Olson Republican I served for almost 10-years in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a Navy Pilot and then in the Pentagon with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Senate Liaison Office. On Sen. Gramm’s staff, I was the point person for Texas projects, and then Chief of Staff for Sen. Cornyn. DISTRICT 22 Nick Lampson Democrat I am a five-term Representative and have focused my work on improving civility in Congress and bringing Republicans and Democrats together to reach common-sense solutions to our problems. I have fought for legislation to protect kids from online predators, secure funding for NASA, and ensure fiscal responsibility. John Wieder Libertarian DIST 29 USAF Vietnam Vet 68-72,College of Mainland 1976 AAS Computer Science, UH 1980 BBA Business Administration, Data Base Administrator UTMB 73-80, Owner/ Broker (2) Century 21 Wieder Realty’s 80-84 Converted to Seguros y Bienes Raices 8505 Includes American National, American General, Woodmen, Bankers, Royal Neighbors. Not a career politician, ready to /// We must start by enforcing all our laws, ending “Sanctuary City” policies, and securing our borders. The American people deserve to see the federal government working to STOP illegal immigration. I will also work to expand efforts between local and federal law enforcement to target criminal illegal aliens for apprehension and deportation. Amnesty is not an option. We shouldn’t harm the 250 million people with health insurance or America’s premier delivery system. We must expand affordable and comprehensive coverage for small business via tax deductibility and associated health plans, allow portability and implement lawsuit reform, as in Texas. I oppose Universal health because it will put medical decisions in the hands of government bureaucrats, not families. Increased domestic oil production is the starting point for energy independence. Simultaneously, we must build new nuclear plants, develop solar, wind, biodiesel, geothermal and clean coal technologies and fund research to discover and develop the next energy technologies that will serve future generations. This staged approach will provide America energy security and independence in the future. We cannot begin to address the issues of illegal immigration until we secure our borders. Undocumented workers must return to their country and apply for visas like others who go through the process legally. However, our country is a nation of immigrants, and our economy depends on the contributions of skilled immigrants. We must strengthen our legal immigration system. Our health care system is broken and in need of reform. I will support legislation that increases health coverage for Americans in a fiscally responsible manner and also ensures that our health care system is efficient and not overly bureaucratic. I support early buy-in access to Medicare, and I oppose single-payer, socialized medicine.. We need a comprehensive energy plan. I support domestic drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and in Alaska (ANWR). However, our energy needs are greater than that. We must also invest in and provide tax incentives for other sources of energy, including wind, solar, biodiesel, fuel cells, and much more. Energy drives our economy, and we can’t forget that. Undocumented workers are illegal aliens? A plan that might work. If you are here illegally, you must immediately register for a special military draft. If you fail to register, deportation is automatic and businesses are guilty of harboring a draft dodger. As long as we have the IRS, add code for illegal aliens and drug dealers to pay taxes. First, I want to say that Medicaid for children is abused by Dentists. Many children are walking around with caps on all their baby teeth. Health insurance should be defined and divided as physical, optical, dental and mental health. Offer a safety net to all Americans only on any deficient coverage including automatic bridge coverage. Stop abuse in current programs. The United States spends $700 billion every year on foreign oil. We are 4% of the world population but use 25% of the world’s oil. We are the Saudi Arabia of wind power. Natural Gas is cheaper, cleaner, and 100% domestic. Adopt T Boone Picken’s energy plan by replacing natural gas with wind power and use natural gas for vehicles. Eric Story, Republican – no response received Gene Green, Democrat – no response received Joel Grace, Libertarian – no response received League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide RAILROAD COMMISSIONER Six-year term (on a three-person commission). Must be a Texas resident and qualified voter, not less than 25 years old, and must have no inter¬est in any railroad. Among duties: regulation of the oil and gas industry, including drilling production and environmental protection; natural gas utility companies; natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline safety; surface mining of coal, uranium, and iron ore gravel, including land QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) Michael L. Williams Republican rr commissioner A Commissioner since 1999 and Chairman, I have dramatically reduced the number of abandoned wells, required operator bonding, imposed stricter enforcement and heavier penalties, instituted the nation’s first pipeline safety integrity assessment and management program, required more frequent pipeline inspections, quicker repairs and ordered the statewide removal of unsafe pipe. Un Comisario desde 1999 y Presidente, he reducido drásticamente el número de pozos abandonados, operador de unión necesario, la Comisión impuso una aplicación más estricta y penas más severas, instituido el primer gasoducto de seguridad y la integridad de evaluación de programa de manejo, requiere más frecuentes inspecciones de tuberías, /// Mark Thompson NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Democrat Mark Thompson is qualified to serve on the Railroad Commission because he has forced the agency to protect people instead of industry. For decades, faulty natu¬ral gas couplings have caused home explosions. The Commission failed to act until Mark Thompson worked to put a spotlight on the Commission’s failures. Mark Thompson tiene requisito a server el Commission de Ferrocarriles porque ha fuerzado el agencia a protejer la gente en vez de las intereses industriales. Por las ultimas decadas hemos tenido pipas rotas a bajo de nuestras casas que han causado explosiones. El Commision de Ferrocarriles fallo de actuar hasta que Mark Thompson puso atencion a sus fracasos. David Floyd, Libertarian – recla¬mation; transportation and storage of liquified petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, and liquified natural gas; railroad safety; and encourages the use of clean-burning propane and researches new technologies for its use. Annual authorized salary: $137,500 What are the most pressing issues that you will face as Railroad Commissioner and how would you address them? (75 words) What measures should be taken to assure the safety of people and the environment when granting permits for oil and gas drilling in both urban and rural areas? (75 words) Promoting pro-growth environmental solutions to secure more affordable, cleaner and reliable electricity and transportation by (1) enhancing oversight of oil and natural gas drilling; (2) encouraging investment in innovative off-peak wind energy storage and carbon capture and sequestra¬tion technologies; (3) advocating increased American oil exploration and the development of alternative fuel cars, trucks and school buses; and (4) inspiring the next generation of Texas energy scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. State law limits consideration of whether to issue a drilling permit to conservation of waste and correlative rights. The legislature can expand the review. Once per¬mitted, RRC rules ensure the well is drilled in a manner that protects the public and the environment, e.g. mandatory blowout prevention devices for safety; and cas¬ing, cementing and waste handling requirements to protect ground water. Municipalities can add setback requirements to distance the well from homes and schools. Promover el crecimiento en favor de soluciones ambientales para garantizar más asequibles, más limpia y fiable de electricidad y de transporte (1) mejorar la supervisión de petróleo y gas natural de perforación; (2) fomentar la inversión en innovación fuera de las horas punta de almacenamiento de energía eólica y la captación de carbono y de tecnologías de secuestro; (3) la promoción de una mayor exploración de petróleo de América y el desarrollo de combustibles alternatives automóviles, camiones y autobuses escolares, y (4) inspirar la próxima /// La ley estatal limita la consideración de si la expedición de un permiso de perforación conservación de los residuos y correlativos derechos. El legislador puede ampliar la revisión. Una vez permitido, RRC normas garantizar el bien se taladra en una forma que protege al público y el medio ambiente, por ejemplo, blowout obligatorios los dispositivos de prevención para la seguridad y la cubierta, cementación y manejo de residuos requisitos para proteger las aguas subterráneas. Los municipios pueden añadir /// The most pressing issues Mark Thompson will face as Railroad Commissioner are protecting people as industry drills for natural gas in the Barnett Shale, improving the permit process for drilling to streamline bureaucracy and help lower gasoline prices, and making sure natural gas prices are not automatically raised, creating higher utility costs for all Texans. Mark Thompson will address these issues through close attention, hard work, and by always putting people and the environment first. The measures Mark Thompson will take to protect people and the environment when it comes to oil and gas drilling include: making sure rigs are far from schools, homes, green spaces, and other critical infrastructure; securing responsible disposal plans for oilfield waste; checking operators for histories of dumping, safety, or other violations; and finally, assessing appropriately severe fines and taking disciplinary action for bad operators -- when drilling adversely affects people and property in Texas. Los emisiones mas importantes que encontrara Mark Thompson como Commissionero de Ferrocarriles seria: de protejer la gente contra los taladros industriales que usan para busar por gas natural en Barnett Shale, A mejorar el proceso de permiso de taladros para bajar el precio de gasolina y a estar seguro que los precios de la gas natural no cuesta mas y causa que aumentan los precios de utilidades por la gente de Texas. Mark Thompson seguire de luchar por la gente de Texas y trabajara duro /// Mark Thompson va a protejer La Gente Y El Ambiento contra los intereses de las industrias de Petroleo. El va a luchar contra los taladros a estar seguro que no son cercas a nuestras casas, y otras lugars preciosos tambien los va a fuerzar a limpiar la basura que dejado la industia petroleo y va a luchar para los derechos humanos en vez de los intereses industriales. no response received CHIEF JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT Six-year term. Must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Texas. Must have been a practicing lawyer or a lawyer and a judge of a court of record for a total of 10 years or more. Serves as a member of the court of highest appellate jurisdiction in civil matters in the state; has the power to issue QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) Wallace B. Jefferson An activist judge decides cases not according to the law and the facts, but to reach a predetermined outcome. A judge must strictly con¬strue the law rather than impose his or her personal view of social policy. Activist judges undermine the public’s perception of an impartial judiciary. The Legislature should consider an appointment system for the appellate courts, in which a justice must subsequently go to the voters to retain his or her seat on the bench. We must either rely on honest judges to enforce the law without regard to campaign contributions or adopt a system in which the public funds campaigns from the general treasury. As the Legislature is not likely to adopt a public-finance scheme, and because campaign expenditures are essential to seek and retain judicial office, I would not require recusal on the basis of campaign contributions. Our ethics laws must be enforced if a judge demonstrates bias. CHIEF JUSTICE Republican writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and others; presides over proceedings for involuntary retire¬ments or removal of judges. Annual authorized salary: $152,500 (Chief Justice) $150,000 (Justice) Justice on the Supreme Court (2001-2004); Chief Justice since 2004. As a board-certified appellate lawyer, I won cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit, and many intermediate Texas appellate courts. I implemented a webcasting project so that our Supreme Court arguments are accessible to all Texans. Juez del Tribunal Supremo de Tejas ( 2001 – 2004). Principal justicia desde 2004 Certificado - Abogado de Apelación. Gané casos en el Tribunal Supremo de los Estados Unidos; Tribunal Supremo de Tejas; Quinto Circuito y muchos Tribunales de Apelación intermedios de Tejas. Estoy ejecutando un proyecto que nuestras discusiones del Tribunal Supremo sean accesibles a todos los Tejanos. Un juez del activista decidir casos no según la ley y los datos, pero alcanza un resultado predeterminado. Un juez debe interpretar terminantemente la ley algo que su opinión personal de la política social. Los jueces del activista minan la opinión del público de una judicatura imparcial. La legislatura debe considerar un sistema de nombramiento para los Tribunales de Apelación, en quienes una justicia debe ir a los votantes para conservar su asiento en el banco. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide Debemos confiar en jueces honestos para hacer cumplir la ley sin consideración algunas contribuciones a la campaña o adoptar un sistema en el cual el público financia la campaña del tesoreria general. Puesto que la legislatura no es probable adoptar un esquema de público financiar, y porque los gastos de la campaña son esenciales a buscar y conservar la oficina judicial, no requeriría extraccion en base de contribuciones a la campaña. Nuestras leyes de éticas deben ser hechas cumplir si un juez demuestra al sesgo. CHIEF JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT continued Six-year term. Must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Texas. Must have been a practicing lawyer or a lawyer and a judge of a court of record for a total of 10 years or more. Serves as a member of the court of highest appellate jurisdiction in civil matters in the state; has the power to issue QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) Jim Jordan An “activist judge” is one who rule to achieve a specific result without regard to the law or the facts in order to advance his or her own policy agenda. When judges legislate from the bench it diminishes the publics trust in our judicial system and injures the stability of the rule of law. We need a system that focuses on the individual candidate’s experience, qualifications, and knowledge of the law. In addition, candidates should be screened for their judicial demeanor and ability to abide by the rule of law. Our judges should be jurists – not politicians. Imagine that your life, your family, or your business was on the line in court, and you found out the other side gave thousands of dollars to the judge’s campaign. Texans deserve to have faith in their judiciary. The money required to run cheapens judges, cheapens the judiciary, and cheapens our democracy. Democrat I am a present and former civil district trial judge in Dallas County. Since 1984, I have been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law. In addition, I have been teaching the law to both students and lawyers for approximately 20 years. CHIEF JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and others; presides over proceedings for involuntary retire¬ments or removal of judges. Annual authorized salary: $152,500 (Chief Justice) $150,000 (Justice) He sido, y ahora soy, un juez civil de distrito en el condado de Dallas. Desde 1984, estoy certificado en Derecho Procesal Civil por la Comisión de Especialización Legal de Texas. Además, he dado clases de derecho a estudiantes y maestros por aproximadamente 20 anos. Tom Oxford Libertarian I am the Managing Attorney for Waldman Smallwood PC, a firm providing legal help to Texans for over 50 years. My experience includes successfully arguing before both the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Soy el Abogado Gerente para Waldman Smallwood, PC, una firma que provee ayuda legal a Tejanos por mas de 50 años. Mi experiencia incluye con éxito la discusión ante la Corte Suprema de Tejas como el Tribunal de Apelación de los Estados Unidos para el Quinto Recorrido. Un “juez activista” es aquel que dicta sentencias para lograr un resultado especifico, sin tomar en cuenta la ley o los hechos, con el fin de lograr el avance de su agenda publica. Cuando los jueces legislan desde su cargo, demeritan la confianza publica en el sistema judicial y perjudican la estabilidad de la regla de la ley. A Judge has an obligation to apply existing law to the facts of the case. An “activist judge” makes his own law. Law making is solely the province of the Legislature constrained only by our state and federal constitutions. Failing to recognize this separation of powers undermines the public’s respect for the courts. Un Juez tiene una obligación de aplicar la ley existente a los hechos del caso. Un “juez activista” hace su propia ley. La fabricación de la ley es únicamente la provincia de la Legislatura obligada sólo por nuestras constituciones estatales y federales. El defecto de reconocer esta separación de poderes mina el respeto del público para los tribunales. Necesitamos un sistema que se enfoque a la experiencia, aptitud, y conocimiento legal de cada candidato. Además, los candidatos deberían tener que pasar una revisión de su comportamiento judicial y su habilidad para seguir la regla de la ley. Nuestros jueces deben ser juristas – no políticos. Election of judges, while imperfect, is the only method likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary. When the state appoints judges they reflect only the group in power, generally coming from only the wealthiest and most politically connected law firms in the state. With direct elections there is at least some chance our state’s great diversity will be reflected in our judiciary. La elección de jueces, mientras imperfecto, es el único método que probablemente cause una judicatura calificada, diversa e independiente. Cuando el estado designa a jueces, ellos reflejan sólo el grupo en poder, que generalmente viene de sólo el grupo màs rico y bufetes de abogados el más relacionados políticamente en el estado. Con elecciones directas hay al menos alguna posibilidad la gran diversidad de nuestro estado será reflejada en nuestra judicatura. Imagina que tu vida, tu familia, o tu negocio estuvieran en juego en la corte y te enteras que el otro lado le dio miles de dólares a la campana del juez. Los tejanos merecen tener fe en la sistema judicial. El dinero requerido para campanas rebaja a los jueces, al sistema judicial y a nuestra democracia. Any practicing lawyer knows that influence with a judge is often purchased through campaign contributions. Even with our best judges human nature is such that the knowledge of who supported them in their last campaign cannot help but influence their decisions. Attorneys should be barred from contributing to the judges they practice before. A Judge should recuse himself if a party to a suit has contributed to the judge. Cualquier abogado de práctica sabe que la influencia con un juez a menudo es comprada por contribuciones de campaña. Aún con nuestros mejores jueces la naturaleza human es tal que el conocimiento de quién los apoyó en su última campaña no puede menos que influir en sus decisiones. Los abogados deberían ser prohibidos de contribuir a los jueces a cual ellos practican ante de. Un Juez debería apartarse si un partido a un pleito ha contribuido a ese juez. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Six-year term. Must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Texas. Must have been a practicing lawyer or a lawyer and a judge of a court of record for a total of 10 years or more. Serves as a member of the court of highest appellate jurisdiction in civil matters in the state; has the power to issue QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) Dale Wainwright place 7 Republican I am the incumbent seeking reelection for Texas Supreme Court, Place 7, and I have an abiding faith in America=s values. I am the experienced candidate having served over five years on the high Court, almost four years as a trial judge, and over a decade in private practice before /// Sam houston Democrat Practiced law in Texas since graduating Baylor Law School in 1987. Tried dozens of cases to verdict; handled appeals in Courts of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. Board certified, personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Member, American Board of Trial Advocates. Consistently rated AV by Martindale Hubbell. writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and others; presides over proceedings for involuntary retire¬ments or removal of judges. Annual authorized salary: $152,500 (Chief Justice) $150,000 (Justice) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) A non-activist judicial philosophy applies the original intent of constitutional provisions and the expressed intent of the Legislature in deciding cases. This principled application of the law, as written, is consistent with the constitutional separation of powers doctrine and promotes fairness and predictability in the law. On the other hand, an activist judge decides cases in a manner that improperly changes the written law to effect his own personal or political agenda. The public recognizes /// The Texas Constitution requires the election of judges. There are concerns with electing judges: fundraising, insufficient information among the electorate on judicial candidates and perceived political pressure. We certainly should improve how we select judges, including changing how judicial campaigns are funded and better educating the public on the experience and qualifications of candidates for judicial office. Other methods of selecting judges have pros and cons as well. Judge must maintain integrity on the bench and avoid the appearance of impropriety. Laws and ethical rules seek to enforce this objective. If a contribution to a jurist impairs his ability to be fair and impartial, he should either not accept the contribution or recuse himself from the contributor’s cases. An activist judge is one who places his or her own feelings about a case over what the law dictates. When judges decide cases based on their personal beliefs instead of by proper application of the law, trust in the legal system is eroded. This is particularly true when we have partisan elections requiring large amounts of money for elections. In a perfect world, I believe a non-partisan election would be preferable. However, if the judicial elections remain partisan, they should be held on a different date than the general election. Under the current system, judges maintain office primarily as a result of party affiliations and the “up ballot” votes. This needs to change. Judges should be elected based on their background and philosophy. The increased need for funding has resulted in a loss of credibility among judges. There is a perception, at least, that judges side with political donors as opposed to ruling according to the law. Further, campaign contributions and the need to campaign for re-election have politicized the judicial process to the point that it is perceived by many to be a biased system PLACE 7 Candidates continued on next page League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide SUPREME COURT JUSTICE continued QUESTIONS TO What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) Politicians use “activist judge” to accuse a judge of ruling based on personal beliefs instead of according to law or legal precedent. It could also be said that an “activist judge” is one whose ruling you disagree with. The “activist judge” has become a useful bogeyman for politicians to blame when their objectives are blocked by unfavorable rulings even though this is the role of the judiciary in our constitutional system of checks and balances. Direct election of judges results in a judiciary that is more independent than one with judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature. However, most voters have neither the time nor legal background to evaluate judicial candidates, so instead rely on party affiliation when casting their vote. I have proposed an independent, nonpartisan candidate review panel, with both lawyers and nonlawyers, which would evaluate candidates and identify those most qualified to serve. No, they should not. Although the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to refrain from financial transactions with lawyers who are likely to appear in their court, the Code makes an exception allowing judges to solicit campaign funds from attorneys. Nevertheless, the fact that campaign contributions cloud the air of impartiality that the Code seeks to maintain is certainly one of the negative consequences of our system of electing judges An “activist judge” is one who bases decisions on what that judge wants the law to be, Republican instead of on legal precedent, legal reasoning, 1975 Texas Tech Law School honors graduate. valid legal principles and strict construction of Private practice of law over 20 years; super- legislation. Public perception of the judiciary vising attorney in medium-sized law firm. is hurt by charges that judges are “activist”, Board certified in Civil Trial and Personal even when the charges are made just because Injury Trial law. Texas Court of Appeals someone disagrees with the result of the Justice and Chief Justice, 1999-2005. Texas judge’s decision. Supreme Court Justice 4/2005 to present. I am not aware of studies relating methods of judicial selection to quality or diversity of the judiciary. Nor am I aware of studies relating judicial selection methods to independence of the judiciary. My opinion is that judicial independence depends more on the length of the term of office than on the method of judicial selection. The Texas Legislature has by law limited the amount and timing of judicial campaign contributions. Limits apply to all persons, including parties, lawyers and lawfirms. A judge need not recuse from cases solely because of a contribution which is made within limits. However, if the circumstances might reasonably cause a judge’s impartiality to be questioned, then the judge should recuse from the case. Linda Reyna YaÑez If we are going to continue to elect our judges then we should have single-member districts for the two Supreme Courts. I favor a hybrid system of appointment/election, which has a non-partisan screening committee, including members of the Bar and lay citizens. There are many models in different states in which appointed judges stand for retention elections, reappointment procedures, Bar polls and other permutations. Texans should consider these alternatives to our current process. The current rules regarding recusal and disqualification adequately address issues of conflicts of interest regarding the judiciary. As long as the judiciary is elected, judicial candidates must raise money. In order to significantly eliminate the issue of contributions and the influence they may have on the judiciary, Texans should have a better system of judicial selection. I support eliminating the election of our appellate bench. No system of judicial selection is free of political influence. (75 words) PLACE 7 Candidates continued from previous page David G. Smith Libertarian I graduated from Cornell Law School (J.D., 1992) with a concentration in business law and regulation and have been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1993. I was a managing editor of the inaugural issue of the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy. place 7 continued CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) place 8 Phil Johnson Democrat Senior Justice on the 13th Court of Appeals, appointed by Gov. Ann Richards in 1993, authored 1000’s of appellate opinions, a former Clinical Instructor and current faculty member of the Trial Advocacy program at Harvard Law School. I am a former farmworker, elementary school teacher, and legal aid lawyer. Drew Shirley, Libertarian – Definition depends on whose ox is being gored. Some consider that interpretations of the law which consider the law as alive and responsive to changing mores in the greater society as “activists”. Others consider that interpretations of the law which pretend to “interpret” the “intent” of the original writers as “activists”. Result oriented analysis should be of concern. We need a system that promotes a judiciary of independent thinkers committed to the rule of law. no response received JUdge, Court of Criminal Appeals Six-year term. Must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Texas. Must have been a practicing lawyer or a lawyer and a judge of a court of record for at total of 10 years or more. Among duties shared with other judges: serves as a member of the court of highest appellate jurisdiction in QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) Tom Price place 3 Republican I have been a criminal court judge in Texas for over 33 years. I was a County and District Judge for over 22 years in Dallas County . I have served on this court for 11 years. I have served Texas as a Judge for more than half of my life. He sido juez de tribunal criminal en Texas más de 33 años. Yo fui Juez de Distrito y Condado durante mas de 22 años en el Condado de Dallas. He servido en este tribunal durante 11 años. He servido Texas como Juez mas de la mitad de mi vida. criminal matters in the state; has the power to issue writs of habeas corpus and others. Annual authorized salary: $152,500 (Presiding Judge) $150,000 (Judge) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) Activist Judges are Judges that are more concerned with their view of the law and go beyond legitimate interpretation to change the law which results in citizens distrust of Judicial decisions at every level. I am not a Activist Judge. Judges should not be elected on party ballots. A judge should not be evaluated by his/her Polital views but by his/hers Judicial philosophy and demeanor. Non-partisan retention elections where a judge is first appointed and then placed on a retention ballot would give voters a more informative process to retain or reject a judge. A voter would vote yes to keep a judge or no to seek his/her removal. The impact of judges raising money to run for election is a loss of voter trust in the honesty and integrity of Judges. More often than not Judges would receive contributions from people who appear before their courts. The public would then question the impartiality of the decisions from that court. Jueces Activistas son Jueces que están más preocupados por su priopia vista de la ley y van más allá de la interpretación legitima para cambiar la ley que causa la desconfianza de ciudadanos de decisiones Judiciales en cada nivel. Yo no soy un Juez Activista. Los jueces no deberían ser elejidos en votaciónes de partido. Un juez no deberia ser evaluado por sus vistas politicas, pero por su filosofía Judicial y comportamiento. Las elecciones de retención independientes donde un juez es primero designado y luego colocado en una votación de retención darían a votantes un proceso más informativo para rentener or rechazar a un juez. Un votante votaria si guardar al juez or buscar su retiro. PLACE 3 Candidates continued on next page Register! Decide! Vote! it counts! League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide El empacto de jueces que levantan el dinero para correr a la elección es una pérdida de la confianza del votante en la honestidad y la integridad de Jueces. Mas a menudo que no los Jueces recibirian contribuciones de las gente que aparece ante de sus tribunales. El püblico preguntaria entonces las lmparcialidad de las decisiones de aquel tribunal. JUdge, Court of Criminal Appeals QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) True “activist judges” rule without regard to sound Constitutional principles. However, the term is often used to describe judges who invalidate government actions on Constitutional grounds. Since the 1803 Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison, courts have reviewed executive and legislative acts for compliance with the Constitution. “Activist judges” has become an epithet sometimes used by those who disagree with their decisions. Like many epithets, it may play to prejudices rather than reasoned debate. I support a merit-selection, retention-election system along the lines of that championed by the late Supreme Court Chief Justice John Hill. The key to the integrity of such a process is the choice of members of the nomination commission. I believe that, with leadership and commitment, Texans can find a way to provide for a broad-based, bipartisan commission whose nominees will be a credit to the State judiciary. Yes. But recusal is not the answer to the corrupting influence of money on the judicial process. Texas limits ($5000/individual and $30,000/law firm) attempt to set an amount that is presumably too low to buy (much) influence. But instead many lawyers contribute to avoid perceived retaliation. Either way the contribution undermines judicial integrity. Expensive campaigns also discourage qualified applicants. Public financing, as recommended by the American Bar Association, is the best solution. (75 words) PLACE 3 Candidates continued from previous page Susan Strawn Democrat A native Houstonian, Susan Strawn prosecuted cases nationwide for twelve years with the US Justice Department. She spent four years as a senior federal law enforcement and judicial reform advisor in Kosovo and Africa. She graduated from UT Law School with honors, and teaches at UH Law Center. place 3 continued Susan Strawn, quien es oriunda de Houston, trabajó como fiscal presentando casos en toda la nación con el Departamento de Justicia de los EE.UU. Trabajó cuatro años como asesora senior de cumplimiento legal federal y reforma judicial en Kosovo y África. Se graduó de la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Texas con honores y enseña en el Centro /// Matthew E. Eilers Libertarian I was licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1989, and was engaged in the private practice, including criminal law, in Austin for almost a decade. Recibí mi licencia por El Tribunal Supremo de Texas en 1989. Yo tenía mí propio bufete en Austin, y defendí clients con asuntos penales. Paul Womack Republican place 4 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Judge Paul Womack seeks reelection to the Court of Criminal Appeals. He was elected in 1996 and 2002. He was the First Assistant District Attorney in Georgetown, where he lives with his wife. Judge Womack has taught law school for 24 years and is a board-certified specialist in criminal law. El juez Paul Womack busca la reelección al Tribunal de Atracciones Criminales. El fue elegido en 1996 y 2002. El fue el Primer Fiscal del distrito Ayudante en Georgetown, donde él vive con su mujer. El juez Womack ha enseñado facultad de derecho durante 24 años y es un especialista tabla-certificado en el derecho penal. Los verdaderos “jueces activistas” emiten sus sentencias sin tomar en cuenta los principios constitucionales establecidos. No obstante, el término se usa con frecuencia para describir a los jueces que invalidan las acciones del gobierno por razones Constitucionales. Desde la decisión del Tribunal Supremo en 1803 en Marbury v. Madison, los tribunales han revisado las leyes ejecutivas y judiciales para asegurarse de que cumplan con la Constitución. “Juez activista” se ha convertido en un epíteto que a veces utilizan las personas que no están de acuerd /// An activist judge is one who places his personal or political agenda above the administration of justice. It is my belief that, with some notable exceptions, judicial activism is really more an issue of perception than an actual problem. Un juez activísta pone su agenda personal o política mas arriba de la administración de justicia. Yo creo que activismo de los jueces no es un problema verdadera, sino una question de percepción. “Activist judge” may describe a judge who uses a lawsuit to decide a broad issue of public policy that could be left to the legislative and executive branches of government. This has not been a problem at the Court of Criminal Appeals, where the issues are limited to applying the law and deciding when someone should have a new trial because of an error in his case. El “juez de activista” puede describir a un juez que utiliza un pleito para decidir un asunto ancho de la política pública que podría ser dejada a las ramas legislativas y ejecutivas de gobierno. Esto no ha sido un problema en el Tribunal de Atracciones Criminales, donde los asuntos son limitados a aplicar la ley y decidiendo cuando alguien debe tener un nuevo ensayo a causa de un error en su caso. Estoy a favor de un sistema de retención-elección basado en la selección por mérito como el que promovió el Juez Presidente del Tribunal Supremo John Hill, que en paz descanse. La clave para la integridad de dicho proceso está en los miembros a escoger de la comisión de nominaciones. Creo que, con liderazgo y compromiso, los tejanos pueden encontrar una manera de proveer para una comisión de base amplia y bipartita cuyos nominados serán valiosos para la rama judicial del Estado. The Texas Constitution has established that judges are selected by public election rather than by appointment, which, although not a perfect system, best ensures that the judges are independent from political pressures that would arise from being appointed by a political figure or committee. La Constitución de Texas establecio que los jueces son seleccionados por las elecciónes publicas, aunque no es un sistema perfecto, cual es mejor que selección por figuras politicas. Asi son mas independientes y sienten menos presión de la politica. Electing judges on partisan ballots has worked fairly well at the local level, where the voters can have personal knowledge of the candidates. It is less satisfactory in statewide races, where paid advertising is the main way of reaching voters. Elegir a jueces en votaciones partidistas han trabajado bastante bien en el nivel local, donde los votantes pueden tener el conocimiento personal de los candidatos. Es menos satisfactorio en carreras a todo el estado, donde pagó la publicidad es la principal manera de alcanzar a votantes. Sí. Pero el recusarse no es la solución para la influencia del dinero que corrompe el proceso judicial. Los límites de Texas ($5,000/por individuo y $30,000 por bufete legal) intentan establecer una cantidad que presuntamente es demasiado baja para comprar (mucha) influencia. Sin embargo, muchos abogados contribuyen para evitar lo que perciben como posibles represalias. De cualquier manera la contribución socava la integridad judicial. El alto costo de una campaña también desanima a los candidatos calificados. La mejor solución, según lo ha recomendado el Colegio /// Absolutely. A judge who has received contributions from participants in litigation can consciously or unconsciously shade his rulings in favor of such participants, which certain has a detrimental impact on those cases. More serious is that the general failure of judges to recuse themselves has a corrosive effect on the public trust in the judiciary. I have vowed not to hear any case affiliated with any contributor to my campaign, in the event I am /// Definitivo. Dinero de los participantes del corte del juez puede afectar el caso, sin querer or con querer, en una manera negativa. El problema mas serio es que el publico pierde fe en la sistema juridica. He prometido que yo no voy a escuchar ningun caso cuando un participante ha contribuido a mi campaña. The need to pay for advertising in statewide judicial elections is the root of this problem. Judges should not be obligated to those who make large contributions, and there should not be an appearance that a judge is=2 0obligated. For this reason, I do not seek campaign contributions, and I do not accept contributions from lawyers. La necesidad de pagar por la publicidad en elecciones judiciales a todo el estado es la raíz de este problema. Los jueces no deben ser obligados a los que hacen contribuciones grandes, y no deben haber una apariencia que un juez es obligado. Para esta razón, yo no busco contribuciones de campa a, y yo no acepto contribuciones de abogados. PLACE 4 Candidates continued on next page INVESTIGUE DÓNDE VOTA SU PRECINTO EL DÍA DE LAS ELECCIONES: Llame al 713.755.6965 ó al 713.368.2200 www.harrisvotes.com or www.hcvoter.net League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide JUdge, Court of Criminal Appeals continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) An activist judge or judiciary group allows for deviation from standing doctrines, practices Democrat and common sense. Recently the US Supreme I received my BA and JD degrees, UT Austin. Court ruled that a ratified treaty binds the I have 36 years of experience as a felony national government but not individual states. prosecutor and defense counsel and have been A Texas High Court closed the courthouse Board Certified for 31 years. I have pros- to prevent the filing of an appeal. The same ecuted and defended capital cases. I have tried court also disallowed an appeal because a some 250 jury trials and I have filed some 75 team lawyer signed the papers rather than the lead attorney. The public will not accept form appeals. over substance. Recibí mi educacion en la Universidad de Texas. Desde 1972 he sido fiscal de casos Un juez activo o un grupo de jueces permiten penales y abogado defensor. Tambien he par- de divertir de doctrinas antiguas. La Corte ticipado en casos con pena capital y en mas Suprema dirigió que un Tratado obliga el de 250 juicios de jurado y como 75 casos de goberno federal pero no los estados del EU. apelación y miles de casos con juicio de juez. Una Corte de Texas cerró la casa de corte para no recibir una apelación de un preso y tambien rehusó otra apelación por razon de firma de un abogado pero no del lider del equipo de abogados. La gente no acepta estas manos sucias. Electing judges in non partisan contests would be a better method of selecting judges. Human experience teaches us that no matter the method, political partisanship would play a large part. Selection by commission and then standing for election on a retention basis is not the answer. Such an appointed or elected commission would be political at its birth. No. Supporters of any campaign are giving first amendment money. As long as we have elections there will be contributors. Representatives to Congress and Senators and presidential candidates receive huge contributions and they are lobbied directly by these supporters. In Court the rules do not allow such lobbying and all persuasive arguments are presented in open court. The maximum contribution to judges is small compared to the aforementioned elected officials. Dave Howard One would like to think that a committee which reviews the qualifications of judges would best choose the most competent individuals. However, some of the best judges I have practiced before were not necessarily the greatest legal minds, but were possessed of simple common wisdom. The voter can best choose these judges. A judge should recuse himself if the contribution has been made during the pendency of the case. However, the only money judges usually get is going to be from attorneys familiar with them. Without these contributions, there is no election fund. If a contribution can be made anonymously, so much the better. Judicial selection should be a non competitive, merit based process that minimizes political and financial influences. A non partisan commission should name potential appointees who would then be subject to selection by the Governor and approval of the Legislature. Judges should serve a maximum 10 year term but should be eligible for reappointment. Judicial selection should be a non competitive, merit based process that minimizes political and financial influences. A non partisan commission should name potential appointees who would then be subject to selection by the Governor and approval of the Legislature. Judges should serve a maximum 10 year term but should be eligible for reappointment. La selección de jueces debe ser un proceso sin competición, con base de mérito que minimiza las influencias políticas y financieros. Una comisión independiente debe nombrar los candidatos potenciales, quienes estarían sujetos a la selección del gobernador y aprobación de la legislatura. Los jueces deben servir un mandato no más de 10 años, pero debe poder reunir los requisitos para otro mandato. Un jurista debe retirar de alguna causa donde un donante a su campaña comparece como un pleiteante o abogado ante ese jurista. Esta ley estricta debe aplicar si la contribución sea sustancioso o mínimo y también debe aplicar a las personas quien da apoyo que no son monetario. Los tejanos merecen una judicatura independiente e imparcial, sin las relaciones especiales a abogados ciertos o sus clientes. (75 words) PLACE 4 Candidates continued from previous page place 4 continued J. R. Molina Libertarian NO PHOTO AVAILABLE I was licensed to practice law in 1993, having received my JD from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Since that time, I have practiced in various areas, including probate law, family law, and for the last 8 years exclusively, criminal law. The term “activist judge” should mean someone who takes advantage of his or her position to thwart the intentions of the Constitution to advance a personal agenda. However, the term has become virtually meaningless. Conservatives accuse “liberal” judges when they interpret a law as contrary to the intentions of the Consitution. Liberals accuse conservatives of activism when they favor the economic freedom of corporations over the needs of individuals. Neither case is necessarily activist. Cathy Cochran, Republican – William Bryan Strange, III Libertarian place 9 I served as a Naval Officer and am a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. I hold the following degrees: BA in political science (SMU); Juris Doctor (George Washington University) and Science Masters (MIT). I have over 28 years experience as an attorney and business manager. Serví como un oficial naval y soy un veterano de combate de la Guerra de Vietnam. Tengo los títulos siguientes: soltero del grado en ciencia política (SMU); juris doctor (George Washington University); master ciencia (MIT). Tengo más de 28 años de experiencia como abogado y director de negocios. De elegir jueces sin apoyo de ningun partido politico se parece ser mas justo. Asi cada candidato se presenta con sus calificaciones sin la sombra de un partido sucio o en la luz de un partido luminoso. Pero en nuestra sistema, la mano pesada del los caudillos siempre manda y asi no hay esperanza de reformas. Un comisión, eligido o designado, es un comisión politico a su nacimiento. No. Moneda como apoyo a campañas es un derecho basico constituciónal. Los Representantes del Congresso, Senadors y candidatos de presidente reciben millones y estos donadores se presentan directamente con los elegidos para tomar apoyo a sus negocios. La etica de corte no permite lo miso con jueces. Es requirido de presentar las oraciones en la corte y en publico. La contribución máxima por ley a jueces es pequeña comparada a otros elegidos. no response required “Activist judges” go beyond deciding a case and exert power to change the social order. Judicial activism can advance any agenda or political philosophy. Jurists should only pursue justice for the persons before the court. Activism undermines public faith in the judiciary, subverts the legislative and executive processes and upsets the balance of power in our democracy. “Jueces activita” hacen más que decidir un caso y se esfuerzan su autoridad a cambiar el orden social. Activismo judicial puede avanzar alga agenda o filosofía política. Los juristas deben seguir solo la justicia para las personas ante del tribunal. Activismo socava la fe pública en el poder judicial, subvierte los procesos legislativos y ejecutivos y disgusta el equilibrio de fuerzas en nuestra democracia. trustee, state board of education Four-year terms. Must be at least 26 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Texas for at least 12 months, a district resident for at least 12 months, and a registered Texas voter. Composed of 15 members elected from roughly equally populous State Board of Education districts, the Board adopts rules QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) DISTRICT 6 Terri LeO, Republican – 10 and establishes policies that govern a wide range of educational programs and services provided by Texas public schools. The Board establishes goals for the public school system and adopts and promotes four-year plans for meeting those goals. Annual authorized salary: none What are the most pressing public education issues facing the State Board of Education, and how would you address them? (75 word limit) How can you, as a member of the State Board of Education, help the increasingly diverse student population of Texas achieve success in education, in careers, and in civic participation? (75 word limit) When the State Board of Education considers revisions to the science curriculum in Texas, what will be your position on the current requirement that evolution be taught as science? (75 word limit) Unfortunately there’s not much I can do directly, because the real answer lies in school choice and the benefits of free-market-based education. Possible the best thing I can do is use the high profile of this office to advocate for legislative reforms. The activities of the SBOE are mostly like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s terrible that the State Board of Education even has to consider this question. Unfortunately, one-size-fits-all government school systems always result in this kind of vicious battle. I will vote that this question be left up to local school districts to the greatest extent possible. I will also advocate for legislative changes to allow parents to education their children in accordance with their beliefs and desires no response received Mary Ann Bryan Libertarian I have many years of experience watching public schools fail our children. This experience has given me the determination to fight for private education, not government schools. I will not accept that the answer to failed public schools is more money and more state control. The most pressing issue is the terrible quality and the absurdly high cost of government-run education. I would try to help reduce this problem by returning as much power to local districts as possible. I would try to ease or eliminate curriculum requirements, spending mandates, and testing mandates. I understand that the real answer is legislative reform to create school choice and reduce the power of the public school industry. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide trustee, state board of education continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What are the most pressing public education issues facing the State Board of Education, and how would you address them? (75 word limit) David Bradley, Republican – Laura Ewing DISTRICT 7 Democrat Training: •Bachelor’s: Secondary Education •Master’s: Educational Leadership •Extensive additional training in how children learn, educational politics and finances; Experience: •24 years teacher •10 years specialist working with teachers, librarians, character education programs, textbook adoption, staff development •5 years on Friendswood City Council How can you, as a member of the State Board of Education, help the increasingly diverse student population of Texas achieve success in education, in careers, and in civic participation? (75 word limit) When the State Board of Education considers revisions to the science curriculum in Texas, what will be your position on the current requirement that evolution be taught as science? (75 word limit) By including a greater variety of courses for graduation credit, the SBOE can better meet the diverse needs of the student population. NonEnglish speaking students need opportunities to learn English while studying the required subjects. Students who are not college-bound need additional class options with rigorous standards that will prepare them for the work world. Courses also need to include standards that prepare students for civic responsibilities through authentic learning experiences. As a parent and a person of faith, I want public schools to prepare our children to succeed in the 21st century. That means public schools should teach accurate, scientific accounts of the theory of evolution. Schools should also respect the freedom of families and congregations to educate their children about their own religious beliefs regarding creation. Public schools have no business deciding whose religious beliefs to teach in science classes. no response received SBOE needs to: •Address the increasing dropout rate •Prepare students for the 21st century •Ensure responsible investment of the $25 billion Permanent School Fund for our children’s educational future; I will: •Promote more vocational courses for graduation •Consult with experts and study relevant research before making decisions •Ensure that all courses have specific, rigorous, and relevant curriculum standards •Make reasonable decisions that will respect and support the teachers’ /// Richard R. Johnson, Libertarian – no response received State Senator Member of the Senate must be at least 26 years old, registered voter for at least five years, and resident of the district for at least one year. The Senate confirms gubernatorial appointments to administrative and judicial posts. It participates in the initiation of proposals for constitutional amendments. It canvasses the QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position? (50 word limit) 4 DISTRICT 6 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Republican I have a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in criminal Justice from TSU. I work in the refrigeration. My political experience is that I will make a different. /// Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? (60 word limit) running unopposed in District 4 I would support legislation that would raise the fines and fees of those companies that are not commit to becoming conservative and cost effective by saving energy. Yes! The current state tax policy is more than sufficient to finance our state government needs. We, the voters, have approve over $5 billion for state bridges and road maintenance; and Harris county voters have approve another $300 million for the same propose. HISD recently had to give away, over $14 million to the State’s Robin Hood program. HISD also /// The Texas Lotto contributes over $1billion to public education and school districts continue to raise school property taxes and yet public schools are in financial straits. Why? Because, of school districts financial mismanagement. I would recommend legislation that would hold school broad members and superintendent accountable for mismanagement of their school district. In 2007 I supported legislation to provide resources making wind energy cost effective. These incentives have resulted in a huge private investment in wind energy, making Texas the country’s leader in wind energy production. Energy conservation is a priority for me and I will use this model – incentives over punishment – in advocating for alternative energy initiatives and additional conservation programs. Our state budget is $168 billion, more than enough to address our needs if we eliminate waste, direct education funds into the classroom, and identify efficiencies in health care. In 2007, I voted against the budget because it had become bloated with government waste. I will continue to stand for fiscally conservative policies that assure taxpayer funds are used wisely. Currently, less than half of every education dollar ends up in the classroom. We must direct a much higher percentage of school funding into the classroom and allow local school district to make financial decisions that will give them the freedom to innovate and reward teachers with better pay. I support any common-sense initiatives to help us shift from fossil fuels to a full range of clean alternative energy. Texas should be the national leader in such initiatives, which is why I also support the proposed plan to invest in transmission lines to bring wind power from West Texas to metropolitan areas like Houston and Galveston. Public schools, public health, public safety, and public infrastructure systems all require more investment, not less. But property taxes are already too high, and a proposal in Austin to raise the sales tax is exactly the wrong solution. I support eliminating taxpayer subsidies to foreign corporations and other unnecessary spending to free up resources for what matters most. The state-to-local ratio of school funding is 38-62 — the lowest state portion since WWII. Let’s reverse this ratio to give local taxpayers relief, then make public education the first item approved in the state budget, not the last. If we get education right, everything else will follow. If we get it wrong, not much else will matter. Mario V. Gallegos, Jr., Democrat – no response received Susan DElgado, Libertarian – no response received Mike Jackson Republican I’ve lived and worked in Senate District 11 more than 30 years and have 20 years as a member of the State Legislature. My priorities have been to help create jobs, improve education and preserve our environment as well as fighting to cut spending in Austin and keep taxes low. DISTRICT 11 Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) Tommy Williams, Republican – Gilbert Pena returns in elections for governor and lieutenant governor. The Senate tries officials impeached by the House. Senate members also serve as advocate for citizens in the members home district. State Senators are elected for a term of four years. Joe Jaworski Democrat I earned my bachelor’s from North Carolina’s Davidson College and my law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. I served three terms on the Galveston City Council, the last as Mayor Pro-Tem, and practice mediation and maritime law in state and federal courts around the country. Me educé en Davidson College en North Carolina y recibí mi licencia en derechos de la Universidad de Texas en Austin. Fui elegido tres veces al Ayuntamiento de Galveston, la última vez como Alcalde Provisional, Mi profesión es la mediación y derecho marítimo en tribunales estatales y federales. Apoyo cualquier iniciativa racional para ayudarnos cambiar de hidrocarburos a una gama completa de energía alternativa y limpia. Texas puede ser el líder nacional en tales iniciativas, y pore so también apoyo el plan propuesto para invertir en líneas de transmisión para traer la energía del viento a áreas metropolitanas como Houston y Galveston. Las escuelas públicas y otros sistemas públicos de salud e infraestructura requieren más inversión, no menos. Los impuestos sobre la propiedad inmobiliaria ya están altos, y una propuesta para aumentar impuestos sobre ventas no es la solución. Apoyo la eliminación de subsidios a corporaciones extranjeras y otro gastos innecesarios para poder usar nuestros recursos en lo que de versa importa. El estado paga 38 porciento de los gastos de educación pública, y contribuyentes locales pagan 62 porciento, la porción más alta desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Las escuelas públicas merecen ser el primer artículo aprobado en el presupuesto estatal, no el último. Si logramos arreglar la educación pública, todo lo demás seguirá bien. Si no, lo demás no importará. Cliff Messina, Libertarian – no response received Your vote is your voice. Be Heard League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 11 State Representative Member of the House of Representatives must be 21 years of age and a legal resident of the state for at least two years and resident of the district from which they are elected at least one year. All bills for revenue and appropriation of funds for operation of state government originate in the House. Members QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) Patricia Harless Republican duties include initiation of proposals for constitutional amendments, serving as an advocate for citizens in their home district and bringing any charges of impeachment for trial in the Senate. They are elected for a two-year term. Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? I would support the creation of initiatives to encourage energy conservation in the form of tax rebates. Yes, we are taxing plenty. The problem is the money is not getting appropriated properly. Texas government continues to take money that is taxed for a specific purpose and divert it to other areas of government spending leaving funding shortages in the intended areas. This must be stopped. Make the WADA formulas less difficult to understand so the school districts can plan accordingly. Quit passing unfunded mandates. If the state requires schools to provide more services then we need to compensate them appropriately. I would support legislation to create sales tax abatements on the purchase of energy efficient appliances and vehicles; legislation that would allow a one-year property tax abatement for homes and buildings certified as “Green” by the U.S. Green Building Council; and legislation to give homeowners one-time property tax abatements for energy-efficient modifications such as through re-insulation, installing solar panels, etc. I would propose the state look toward less regressive taxes to fund public needs, including considering a value added tax to compliment the current gross receipts tax (which would require modification). I do not support a personal income tax, and believe we must reduce the tax burden on homeowners. The new tax system passed in 2006 provided no new funds for public education. I would propose that the legislature examine the possibility of requiring sales price disclosure for home sales to make property tax appraisals more accurate (and to thus generate a better standard of revenue), and “sunsetting” some existing tax exemptions on businesses and large corporations. I would support property tax exemptions for homeowners who invest in home weatherization and other energy conservation efforts. I would also support increased enforcement of environmental regulations and utilize the revenue to fund such a program. I believe we are failing to meet our infrastructural needs. I believe we must put an end to Gov. Perry’s corporate slush fund, while also studying new revenue streams, such as legalized gambling. However, I would also consider a review of tax exemptions in the tax code and home sales price disclosure. Enforcing environmental regulations will also increase revenue. We must invest in our public schools to ensure we have a prepared workforce in the future. We must increase the state’s current share of school funding, while also reprioritizing funding formulas to ensure equity throughout the state. We must also commit to seeking new revenue streams to ensure property owners are not overburdened at the local level. None. There are already too many laws and regulations. Reduce the State programs to reduce taxes. Get Government out of the education business and stop compulsive education. Eliminate publicly funded schools and education; leave education to the private sector and parents. DISTRICT 126 I’m a successful small businessperson. As a business Owner I understand the importance of profitability and accountability. I will bring common business sense to government. My BS in Business management and 26 years of service to the community has proven me to be a responsive public servant. Chad Khan Democrat I hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Karachi, Attend San Jacinto College for 2 years. Own two small businesses; I served more than 10 years as a President for Home Owner Association, Serving as a Board of Director for Harris County Municipal Utility District, and serve /// (60 word limit) Oscar J. Palma, Jr., Libertarian – no response received Joe A. Montemayor Democrat I served four years in the U.S. Navy before embarking on a 26-year career as a Deportation Officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. After retiring, I became a small business owner. I have made a career of serving constituents and know I am qualified to serve. Justo Perez Libertarian Informed Citizen @ Objectivist Philosophy. WAYNE SMITH, Republican – running unopposed in District 128 John E. Davis, Republican – no response received Sherrie L. Matula Democrat Allen Fletcher, Republican – no response received William B. Gray, jr., Libertarian – no response received Alma A. Allen, Democrat – Bill Callegari, Republican – no response received Phil Kurtz, Libertarian – no response received DISTRICT 133 130 Currently a science education consultant in public schools, served two terms on the Clear Creek ISD school board and was a 25-year classroom teacher. Lobbied the Legislature for 30 years on behalf of education. President of the Middlebrook Community Association and member of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The cheapest, quickest and cleanest way to meet our energy needs is to reduce our energy demand through energy efficiency and conservation. One way would be to expand the Lone Star Program, which lends money to help state agencies, universities, municipalities and school districts implement projects to reduce energy use and pay back the loan through energy savings. 131 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE 132 DISTRICT 129 128 DISTRICT 127 Joe Crabb,Republican – no response received 12 Jim Murphy Republican I graduated from Strake Jesuit and UT Austin and spent the last 20 years leading Westchase District, adding over $1 billion in new development. I served on the HCC Board from 1997-2006. Served as State Representative and Freshman Legislative Class President this past session and passed more bills than any other freshman. The entire tax system needs to be restructured. Some of the problems with the current structure are that the Legislature passed a new tax on businesses that they are required to pay even when they are losing money, Texas has among the highest sales tax in the nation and property taxes are too high in Harris County. Schools must be adequately funded to provide a quality education for all of our students. The Legislature needs to halt unfunded mandates, as well as update the funding formula for transportation, which has not been changed since 1984. Taxing authority should go back to local school boards, since they are accountable to the public who elected them running unopposed in District 131 I will promote conservation as part of plan to achieve energy independence and to improve our environment. While cost savings will spur expanded private sector efforts, I will introduce legislation to require that a conservation/energy savings analysis be in any contract for goods or services to be purchased by the State so the public can also benefit from conservation efforts. Our projected tax revenues for the next budget will produce a surplus of several billion over our current budget so new taxes are not needed nearly as much as priority decisions to fund the most critical functions of State government. Stopping or reducing the diversions of the gas tax could increase our highway funding by more than two billion dollars. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide Cutting the red tape of excess regulations and testing for high-performing schools will free up scarce resources and direct them to the classroom where they will do the most good. Districts have been hit hard with increased fuel, insurance, and utility costs so I will support increasing the State funding formula. State Representative continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) 134 133 continued Kristi Thibaut Democrat As a native Texan and UT-Austin graduate with 20 years of experience in the non-profit and private sectors and in government, I am well qualified to serve. My experience and the values I was raised with are the basis of my commitment to helping people through public service. Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) I support improving energy efficiency standards for new construction, as well as “weatherization” of existing structures to improve efficiency. Additionally, our utility providers should be challenged to achieve some reduction in demand through increased efficiencies. Improved vehicle mileage standards would also help reduce our energy consumption. Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? (60 word limit) State tax policy is a complex, difficult issue. However, it is clear the current system is not working. Too many of Texans’ basic needs are not being met, and yet the current system unfairly burdens homeowners, particularly in the major urban areas where property valuations have skyrocketed. We do need more revenue, and a fairer way of getting it. We must achieve a long-term funding solution for Texas public schools. The new business tax offers no new resources for education, unduly burdens small businesses and sticks homeowners with most of the bill. I support the Hochberg Amendment, which would raise homeowner exemptions while increasing funds for schools. Decreasing emphasis on testing and empowering our teachers will improve our schools. I support maintaining low taxes for all Texans. I’d like to focus on efficiency of services through automation where possible. I believe we have the money we need to provide, and even enhance, services in Texas. However, if more state revenue is required, I favor enabling new or increased business revenues that result in higher revenue for Texas. My district includes Cy Fair ISD, now the lowest funded school district in all of Houston. I am currently working with CFISD leaders to build ideas to solve this crisis as this is not an easy challenge to fix and we must leverage group genius to do so. This will be my number 1 priority in the 2009 legislative session. Joe Agris, Republican – no response received Ellen Cohen, Democrat – no response received Mhair S. Dekmezian, Libertarian – no response received Gary Elkins, Republican – no response received DIST 135 Trey S. Fleming Democrat I have degree in political science and business and worked on staff for Governor Bush, Senator Hutchison and a US Congressional campaign before going into the private sector 10 years ago. I work for a global management and IT consulting firm in the energy sector, primarily focused on Utility companies. I support corporate tax incentives for employees working remotely, for corporations operating in an energy and environmental friendly way and for better city and statewide mass transit (light and heavy rail). I’d also like to see a more intelligent Utility grid that enables collaboration between utility companies and consumers for on/off peak time electricity usage. 136 Alfred N. Montestruc, Libertarian – no response received Beverly Woolley, Republican – no response received Gerald W. “Jerry” LaFleur, Libertarian – no response received Scott Hochberg DISTRICT 137 Democrat Recognized as one of Texas “Ten Best” Legislators by Texas Monthly magazine; Honored by Texas PTA for work improving public schools; Passed legislation closing loopholes in environmental laws, preventing overbilling by hospitals, lowering DWI limit, and strengthening nuisance law enforcement against crime havens. Owns and operates software development business. Reconocido como uno de los “Diez Mejores” legisladores de Texas por la revista Texas Monthly; Honorado por el Texas PTA por el trabajo para mejorar las escuelas públicas; Pasó legislación para cerrar las escapatorias en las leyes ambientales, para evitar el sobre cargo de los hospitales, para bajar el límite del DWI, y para reforzar la ejecución de las leyes del fastidio contra los refugios de crímenes. Tiene y opera un negocio de desarrollo de software. Cutting demand saves money and provides cleaner air by keeping the least efficient, most expensive, generators turned off. We should improve efficiency through energy efficient building codes and replacement incentives for older, less efficient industrial equipment. With more advanced metering, consumers should be informed when peak charges are in effect so they can save by limiting energy use during peaks. Cortar demanda ahorra dinero y provee aire más limpio cuando los generadores menos eficientes (más caros) son apagados. Nosotros deberíamos mejorar la eficiencia con códigos de energía eficientes y incentivos para reemplazar el equipo industrial más viejo y menos eficiente. Con medidores más avanzados, los consumidores deben de ser informados cuando cargos máximos estén en efecto para que así puedan limitar el uso de energía y ahorrar. We have budget surpluses, but instead of keeping college tuitions low, investing in our highways, and improving schools, the surpluses are being used for tax breaks most Texans never see. Meanwhile tuitions skyrocket and our highways are leased to foreign investors. We must put affordable college, safe transportation, and excellent neighborhood schools ahead of tax breaks aimed at the wealthiest. The tax plan passed to “fix” school finance gives schools no new money, forcing schools to again rely on property tax increases to keep up with inflation. School funding should be based on students, their educational needs, and what’s necessary to hire, train and keep the best teachers and principals. We must also reinstate school performance reviews to minimize waste. Nosotros tenemos excesos en el presupuesto, pero en vez de mantener las colegiaturas universitarias bajas, de invertir en nuestras carreteras, y de mejorar las escuelas, los excesos están siendo usados para dar descansos en los impuestos que muchos Tejanos nunca verán. Mientras tanto las colegiaturas están subiendo y nuestras carreteras están siendo arrendadas a inversionistas extranjeros. Nosotros debemos poner universidades baratas, transportación segura, y escuelas sobresalientes antes de dar descansos en los impuestos para los más adinerados. El plan de impuestos que fue pasado para “arreglar” las finanzas de las escuelas no les da dinero nuevo, esto fuerza a las escuelas otra vez a tener que contar con los aumentos de los impuestos de propiedad para poder continuar con la inflación. La recaudación de fondos para las escuelas deberían de ser basados en los estudiantes, sus necesidades educacionales, y lo que es necesario para emplear, entrenar y retener los mejores maestros y directores. Nosotros debemos reintegrar la valoración del desempeño de las escuelas para reducir el malgasto. We must be sure to spend taxpayer money wisely. Taxpayers are the ones working hard and financing state government. Our job is to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse while prioritizing state spending. Families across Texas budget and prioritize, so must the legislature. Additionally, I believe in keeping taxes low in order to encourage economic growth, job creation, and prosperity. We need to end Robin Hood. Both HISD and SBISD, the two main districts I represent, are sending local property tax money away to other school districts. We need our local tax revenue right here in our districts. The state needs to spend a greater percentage of General Revenue on education and bring teacher salaries up to the national average. Alex Cresswell, Libertarian – no response received DISTRICT 138 Dwayne Bohac Republican Small business owner; Founder, Save our Neighborhoods/Northwest Coalition; Honors graduate, Texas A&M University--B.B.A. Marketing, B.S. Political Science; Elected State Rep. November 2002; Born and raised in Oak Forest; Reside in Spring Branch; Member, White Oak Bayou Association; Member, Trees for Houston; Husband and father; Member, Second Baptist Church. Co-founded the Legislative Air Quality Caucus, which advances clean air solutions. Co-authored HB 3693 which increased efficiency standards on state buildings and created a sales tax holiday on energy efficient appliances. Joint-authored HB 2293 which required 10 percent of new state vehicles to get more than 30 mpg. Will re-file HB 1335 which would have provided rebates for hybrid vehicles. District 138 Candidates continued on next page League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 13 State Representative continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? I would propose a Carbon Action Plan similar to those adopted by 35 other states and that state agencies adopt mandatory recycling and purchase of recycled materials. I would support tax incentives for the use of best available technology in industry, and that a percentage of grants from the Texas Enterprise Fund be dedicated towards companies that further these goals. A re-evaluation of state priorities is needed. The portion of revenue directed toward economic incentives for already thriving large corporations should be first redirected toward funding public schools and then infrastructure needs. There has been a proliferation of new taxing entities at the local level perhaps at the expense of state revenues, where we rank 48th (per capita) nationwide. Reducing unfunded mandates by programs like “No Child Left Behind” and increased graduation requirements would help relieve the financial burden. Reducing standardized testing will lower expenses, and I oppose de-funding public schools with vouchers. The state should increase funding for public schools to reduce the burden on “Robin Hood” in equalizing funding between rich and poor school districts. District 138 Candidates continued from previous page continued Virginia “Ginny” stogner McDavid Democrat 139-140 138 My degree in Accounting from Texas Tech and experience as a CPA & small business owner have prepared me to address the significant budgetary issues facing our state. Through my employment with a major airline I’ve held several union leadership positions in which I’ve become experienced in legislative advocacy. Sylvester Turner, Democrat – running unopposed in District 139 Armando Lucio Walle, Democrat – Michael Bunch Republican (60 word limit) running unopposed in District 140 Tax credits to save energy and invest in energy conservation. I would not increase taxes. I would reduce expenditures and enforce the balanced budget requirements. Reduce overhead and paper work. Allow more autonomy for the Principals. The State Energy Conservation Office has done a good job lowering the State’s energy use. I support the investment of funds for agencies to increase energy savings. There are many incentives for private entities to use energy saving equipment and make energy saving improvements. The rising cost of energy should be an incentive to take advantage of these programs. The job of governing is balancing various needs and not overburdening the taxpayers. In the current economy this is not the time to increase taxes. Education, public safety and transportation are all funded at less than ideal levels. The legislature is looking at a projected surplus next session. Hopefully the legislature will use the surplus to address these areas. School Finance is much too complicated to adequately address in 60 words. The basic and transportation allotments should be regularly adjusted to reflect increased costs. Otherwise, our school finance system will end up back in courts and we will fail our children. Offer tax reduction to a company who offers a viable, productive method of energy conservation. Cut taxes that exist for a mediocre, ‘average’ public education program. Allow more toll ways to produce more ‘acceptable roads,’ bridges. The tolls should have a sunset clause on Jan. 1, 2012 Start charging for financially failing schools. Close schools which show consistently low test scores. DISTRICT 141 Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration, 3 Master Degrees, Licensed Architect, 30 years in business and living in Texas for 30 years. Senfronia Thompson Democrat I am an attorney and a former public school teacher. I have a B.S. in Biology, a Masters in Education, Law degree, and Masters of Law. I am the longest -serving woman and AfricanAmerican in the Legislature. Authored and passed over 200 bills. Richard Brown 142 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Libertarian B.A., Social Work, S.E. La. Univ. (Hammond, La.). Teacher since 1985. Post grad work in Education at Tulane Univ., & Univ. of New Orleans. Harold V. Dutton Jr., Democrat – running unopposed in District 142 Dorothy Olmos, Republican – no response received Ana E. Hernandez, Democrat – no response received Joe O. Marcom 143 Libertarian B.S. Allied Health, UHCL; Retired, USAF; Professional Military Education, plus 12 years as Paramedic/firefighter with GPVFD. DISTRICT 144 Ken Legler 14 NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Republican As President of Houston Wire Works I know how to battle big government, run an international corporation, and care for my employees. I serve as a Board Member at South Houston Chamber, NFIB, TAB, and TCEQ and EPA National Advisory Board. I was Commissioner for youth baseball in Pasadena. Joel C. RedmonD Democrat I earned a business degree from Baylor University, joined my family in Southeast Harris County and entered the mortgage business 14 years ago, helping over 2500 families purchase their home. I also established a ministry with the goal of equipping inmates to become responsible members of society upon their release. I would have the state opt-out of Daylight Savings Time, so our children wouldn’t be sent to school in the dark. However, I regard legislation to coerce energy conservation (or most other actions) as an abuse of power. Rather than increase revenue to meet the desires of the state, I would reduce the size, and limit the functions of the state to make it live within it’s means – as the citizens must do. Mismanagement and poor performance are so extensive, that I believe the Public School system has forfeited the right to exist. I would scrap it and replace it with a system of private schools, using vouchers, and with the state exercising oversight authority to assure minimum standards. One of the few government programs I support is the state sponsored old vehicle and off-road commercial voucher program. However, I do not believe that the answer is more government. The answer is Texans having the power to use the free market, of which, if it is cost effective and saves energy, they will do it. Current state tax policy is sufficient to support government needs. The revenue the taxes create is enough, but the problem is the routing and mismanagement of the tax dollars. I support making all government agencies accountable for their use of taxpayer’s money and making sure the money goes to its earmarked purpose. We need to get more education for our dollar instead of just throwing more money at a broken education system. We can take steps to ensure that more of every tax dollar spent makes it to the classroom where the students are and the teaching is done. Finally, we must expect standards to rise and hold public schools accountable. To help Texans save energy and money, I will explore legislation that encourages the use of alternative fuels, green building (LEED standards), home weatherization and smart traffic engineering. I favor an approach that utilizes incentives rather than one dependent on burdensome regulations and restrictions. Our state tax policy is broken. It places an undue tax burden on homeowners. But the problem is not that we do not collect enough revenue—after all the state is projected to have budget surplus. The problem lies with our budget priorities. We have to place a priority on the basics—education, public safety, healthcare and infrastructure. In 2006, Texas was faced with a court mandate to restructure the way we finance public schools. The legislature instituted a “margins tax” on businesses. That approach has failed. We have to start over with a school finance plan that is fair to homeowners and small businesses, continues to encourage economic growth, while providing local school districts with flexibility. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide State Representative continued QUESTIONS TO Is current state tax policy sufficient to finance state government needs, such as public education, public safety, and bridge and road maintenance? If not, what measures would you support to increase state revenues? (60 word limit) Public schools, once again, are in severe financial straits. What additional legislation would you recommend to address this problem? (60 word limit) 145 Companies are showing that energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy. What legislation would you support to increase energy conservation in Texas? (60 word limit) Patricia Rodriguez, Republican – no response received Carol Alvarado, Democrat – no response received 146 CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) Al Edwards, Democrat – running unopposed in District 146 Garnet F. Coleman I support legislation to increase energy efficiency standards for appliances, homes and businesses and to promote renewable energy like wind and solar, both of which will help fight global climate change. For example, last session I authored and passed legislation to promote solar energy technology for Texas homeowners and businesses. Rather than passing property tax cuts that primarily benefit wealthy commercial landowners and deprive state government of revenue for important social services, I support tripling the homestead exemption to drive property tax cuts to middle income Texans. I also support eliminating unnecessary exemptions from the state franchise tax. I support an across the board teacher pay raise to bring Texas to the national average in teacher salaries to attract and keep the best teachers to educate our children. I also support a student-teacher ratio of 22 to 1, increasing the number of certified teachers in the classroom and increasing funding for the Student Success Initiative. Apoyo legislación para aumentar los estándares del rendimiento energético para aplicaciones, casas y negocios y para mejorar energía reanudable como viento y solar que ayudará a luchar el cambio global del clima. En la sesión legislativo pasada yo hice legislación para promover la tecnología de la energía solar para los que son dueños de casas y negocios en Tejas. En ves de pasar los cortes de la contribución territorial que solo benefician terratenientes comerciales ricos y cortan dineros para servicios sociales importantes, apoyo triplicar la exención de la granja para conducir cortes de la contribución territorial a la renta media. También apoyo la eliminación de exenciones innecesarias del impuesto de licencia del estado. Apoyo el aumento de paga del maestros para elevar Tejas al promedio nacional en sueldos del maestros para atraer y para guardar a los maestros mejores. También apoyo un cociente del estudiante-maestro de 22 a 1, aumentar el número de profesores certificados en la clase y aumentar el financiamiento para la Iniciativa del Exito del Estudiante. My first task will be to eliminate the new business franchise tax and replace it with a franchise tax that would encourage businesses to locate or relocate in Texas. Our state tax system should be a model for all other states to follow. If more businesses relocated to Texas due to a low and fair tax environment, then more revenue would be available for the needs for the State of Texas. Part of the monies collected for public education should be set aside to assist the troubled schools. Retired executives from corporations should be encouraged to be advisory board members to serve and help manage the troubled districts. I also believe that there should be more community involvement and support for our public schools which would defray the need for raising property taxes or revenue sharing between the wealthier districts and the poorer districts. Some kind of an “Adopt a School (///) DISTRICT 147 Democrat I’ve served in the Texas House since 1991 and chair the LSG, a House caucus dedicated to sound public policy for Texas families. Received a BA from the University of St. Thomas, have completed continuing education at the Kennedy School and am president of an affordable housing corporation. He servido en la Casa de Representantes de Tejas desde 1991, presido sobre el LSG, un caucus oficial de la Casa de Representantes dedicado al mejorar el orden público para las familias de Tejas. Recibi un BA de la universidad de St. Thomas, he continuado mis estudios en la escuela de Kennedy en Harvard. Soy el presidente de una corporación de viviendas comprables. Joe Tirado, Libertarian – no response received DISTRICT 148 Howard H. Gano Jr. Republican I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 with a BBA in Accounting. I own an accounting practice that specializes in taxes and have some successful efforts in oil and gas exploration. I am voluntarily active or have been active in the following organizations either as an officer, director, or advisory director: The Alley Theatre, Institute of Energy Research, Free Enterprise Institute, and the Rotary Club of the University Area. If energy conservation is cost effective and saves energy, then companies will employ energy conserving alternatives in their businesses. The legislation that I would propose would be to grant these companies that employ energy conserving alternatives a Certificate of Merit acknowledging their work. Jessica Christina Farrar, Democrat – no response received Greg Meyers There are two critical things to help promote energy conservation: (1) Create a sales tax holiday for “Energy Star” qualified I’ve lived and served in West Houston products to encourage purchase of products most of my life. I have a BBA from Texas that save money and help the environment; A&M University and MBA from St. Mary’s (2) Install advanced (or “smart”) meters in University. My wife and I own GSK Dental. every home and business to give consumers a critical tool to help control their consumpI served as Chairman of the Houston West Chamber of Commerce and currently serve tion of electricity. as a HISD Trustee. Yes, the challenge is to control those obligations. Since 1994, the state has netted $36 billion in surplus revenues. The state needs better focus on core priorities, like education and transportation. For example, the Legislature must stop the diversion of gas tax revenue from needed road repair and maintenance, and stop creating new programs that drain resources from these priorities. The Texas Supreme Court has stated that the Legislature should “choose a new path” to fund public schools. The Legislature should create a permanent select committee to begin reforming public school finance and fully fund public schools while relieving the taxpayers of rising, unsupportable property taxes. I also support policies that create efficiencies in how our tax dollars are spent. Hubert Vo First, I want to make sure we are getting the most efficiency from the money the state now receives. I believe our priorities need changing. Let’s look at everything in the budget and use a zero-based budget process. Then we will have a better idea of our true financial situation. Public school finance is complex. We need to address, among other things, funding sources and equalization. We must look at a long range plan and we have to make education the priority. To be successful, this will require the cooperation of the legislature, school districts and the parents 150 DISTRICT 149 Republican Democrat I have a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston. I am in the real estate development business. I have served for two terms in the Texas legislature. I am interested in legislation to provide incentives to retro-fit existing buildings to obtain more energy efficiency. I also want to encourage the development of other emerging technologies. Debbie Riddle, Republican – no response received Brad Neal, Democrat – no response received Ken Petty, Libertarian – no response received League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 15 COURT OF APPEALS Six-year term. Must be at least 35 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Texas and the district for which he or she is seeking office. Must have been a practicing lawyer or judge for at least 10 years. Among duties: appellate jurisdiction co-extensive with the limits of judges’ respective districts, which shall QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) extend to all cases of which the District Courts or County Courts have original or appellate jurisdiction. Annual authorized salary $140,000 (Chief Justice) $137,500 (Justice) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) 1st court of appeals justice Ed Hubbard PLACE 3 Republican I have practiced law for nearly 25 years with large and small firms. I have represented plaintiffs and defendants, handled complex litigation throughout the country, provided litigation management for corporate clients, and managed my own law firm. I will bring to the court the perspective gained from these unique experiences. Jim Sharp Democrat My preparation spans 3 decades: -Legislation (Senate Education Committee staff; Legislative/Admin. Director to two House members)(70’s); -Case law (clerk to excellent Houston firms; my own solo practice)(80’s), and - Seventeen years of litigation in courthouses across Texas (since). UT-Austin (BA) and South Texas College of Law (JD). Laura Higley PLACE 5 Republican After graduating from law school with top honors, I practiced law at Baker Botts where I was selected Special Counsel. In the last year of my first term on the Court, I have been recognized by P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc. as Judge of the Year and by Rotary as a Paul Harris /// Leslie C. Taylor Democrat I have been board certified in civil appellate law since 1990. I co-wrote the first edition of O’Connor’s Texas Causes of Action. I have clerked at a Texas court of appeals and have represented individuals (both rich and poor) and businesses (plaintiffs and defendants) in Texas for 24 years. Activist judges change the law to match their personal beliefs as to how a case should be resolved. An activist uses one or more of the following methods: 1. creating new law; 2. constricting existing law; 3. confusing existing law; and 4. ignoring existing law. Activism distorts precedents and injects politics into the judicial process, thereby destabilizing the development of the law. This instability weakens the public’s confidence in the legal system. The best way to select judges is through a non-partisan system, which most states have adopted in one form or another. This approach could include non-partisan elections held in odd-numbered years, or an appointment system with retention-elections (also known as the “Missouri System”). Most contributions to judicial campaigns are made because the contributors either know the candidate, or because they have a professional interest in the quality of the judicial system. Given the volume of cases handled by the courts, requiring recusal solely due to the receipt of campaign contributions would be unworkable. Current disclosure rules and contribution limits protect against improper influences on judicial decisions. The better reform would be to change the system for selecting judges. No respect for jury verdicts; misconstruction of precedent and statutes; activist judges legislating from the bench. Judges forgetting they are no longer prosecutors but officers sworn to uphold justice evenhandedly. Be intellectually honest. No Judge should rule according to party doctrine or defer to political patrons in order to climb the judicial career ladder. Non-partisan elections, preferably on an election day that is designated specifically and exclusively for judicial races. Jurists should have the moral fortitude for complete impartiality no matter the circumstances. But all judges are not jurists. The Canons of Judicial Ethics prohibit even an appearance of impropriety and statutory contribution limits are further safeguards. Each justice knows her/his soul and there may be cases in which it best to recuse in order to preserve the impartiality of the proceedings and the peace of mind of all parties. An activist judge bases decisions, not on the laws promulgated by the legislative branch of government, but on what the judge thinks the result or outcome should be in the underlying case. An activist judge “legislates from the bench”. Voters expect their judges to make decisions based on the judge’s understanding of established statutory and common law. A judge that does otherwise betrays the voters’ trust and besmirches the reputation of the judiciary. Some argue that a system of appointment and retention would de-politicize the process. That has not been the result of the federal system. Furthermore, eliminating judicial elections might prevent some qualified, lessknown candidates from presenting themselves to the voters. I suggest a third system - a separate judicial ballot coincident with the general elections. This specialized ballot would retain freedom of choice for the voter, reward incumbency and also encourage voters to focus on candidate /// Judges, when they take their oath of office, pledge to preserve and protect the law. In taking that pledge, elected judges commit to put aside any personal bias. Campaign contributions have no place in judicial decision making. In the courts of appeals, a judge must issue detailed opinions firmly grounded in the law and legal precedent. Those opinions should reflect a judge’s impartiality and serve to hold the judiciary accountable. When someone uses the term “activist” to describe a jurist, it tells me more about the writer or speaker than the jurist. It usually means the writer or the speaker is unhappy with the way the law is developing and changing. The law is not stagnant; nor should it be. However, change should come through the legislature and high court holdings. It is not the job of intermediate courts of appeals to change the law. No method is perfect. Politics will always play a role. My preference is merit selection. A nominating commission should be composed of members from diverse backgrounds. Commission members should be appointed by a variety of sources. The commission should offer a “short list” of nominees to the governor, who must appoint from the list. After two years on the bench, the judge should face a “yes or no” retention election to earn a 6-year term. As matters stand today, our courts would grind to a halt if jurists recused themselves based on contributions from lawyers and law firms. A jurist who has accepted substantial contributions from a party should not hear the case. I have not accepted and will not accept substantial contributions from lawyers or law firms. My decision to self-finance the bulk of my direct campaign expenditures is a personal choice. It should not be required. Chief Justice, 14th court of appeals PLACE 5 Adele Hedges “Activist judges” are those who go beyond the interpretation of the law and begin legislating Republican from the bench. As such, they misinterpret I’ve been a licensed attorney since 1974, hav- the role of the judiciary and invade the proving graduated summa cum laude from UH ince of the legislative branch. Their actions Law Center. I’ve been an appellate judge represent a perversion of the tripartite system since 1992 and Chief of the Court since 2003. of government. I’ve authored three Texas litigation and trial practice guides and served as Chair of the Texas Council of Chief Justices. Each method of selection of judges has its advantages and disadvantages. I prefer to leave it to the voters and the legislators to select the best method of judicial selections, since it is their province to make that decision. Judges are called upon to put aside their personal biases and make decisions based upon the law, not prejudice and favoritism. Judges have a variety of associations with a great many lawyers who practice before them. Judges should not concern themselves with whether they rule in favor of, or against, any lawyer. Their only concern should be whether a ruling is firmly grounded in the law and legal precedent. Joe E. Beverly Judges like any other public official, must be accountable to the citizens of Texas. Judges protect our rights and liberties by being independent, honest and fair. Independent judges that protect the rights of Texas citizens are the bedrock of our democracy. Texas voters provide the ultimate check on an out of control judiciary and insure its independence. A judge should not be influenced by political contributions. However, it is unrealistic to expect that all judges can completely disregard large contributions. A judge should absolutely recuse himself or herself when a party to a suit has made a substantial contribution to his or her campaign. However, most contributions come from attorneys and firms. Judges should weigh the significance of those contributions against the appearance of impropriety or bias and act accordingly. Democrat I have handled more than 50 trials and appeals in courts all across Texas and have represented clients ranging from large corporations to small business owners to individuals. I am board certified in Civil Appellate Law and served as briefing attorney for the Court of Criminal Appeals. 16 Activist judges are those that pursue their own personal political agendas from the bench rather than enforcing and fairly interpreting the law as applied to the facts. As we have seen over the last 12 years with the cutting back of individual rights and liberties and the distrust of trial by jury, activist judges are not confined to one ideology or one political party. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide COURT OF APPEALS continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office? (50 words) What does the term “activist judge” mean to you? Does this term affect the public’s perception of the judiciary? Please explain (75 words) What method of selection of judges is most likely to result in a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary? (75 words) Should a judge or justice recuse himself or herself from cases in which the participating lawyers, their firms, or parties to the suit have contributed substantially to the judge’s or justices’ election? Please explain. (75 words) 14th court of appeals justice PLACE 4 Jeff Brown Judges are activist when they allow their own opinions of what the law should be override Republican their duty to interpret the law as it actually I served six years as a highly rated district is. Judges and judicial candidates who want judge before going to the court of appeals. to make law should run for the legislature I am board certified in Civil Trial Law and instead. Judicial activism undermines judicial write frequently for legal journals. After independence because it calls into question graduating law school with high honors, I whether the judiciary should be independent. served as a briefing attorney at the Texas It builds a perception that judges regularly abuse their power. Good judges understand Supreme Court. their role and practice restraint. I believe we should adopt an appoint-andretain system. The voters would be able to remove underperforming judges, but good judges would not be swept from office by straight-ticket votes. That does not mean our current system has not produced a qualified, diverse, and independent judiciary. The judges on the bench in Texas are well-qualified and more diverse than ever. But they should be independent of the vagaries of straightticket voting. Campaign contributions have no place in judicial decision making. When they take their oath of office, judges pledge to make decisions based on the law, not prejudice and favoritism. On the court of appeals where I serve, judges must demonstrate that their decisions comport with the law and legal precedent by issuing detailed written opinions. The soundness of those opinions is evidence of the judges’ fairness and impartiality. They serve to hold the judiciary accountable. Bert Moser Originally a phrase used by Democrats to describe judges who overturned laws to improve working conditions. Has become a Republican code term to disparage opinions they disagree with by judges who take an expansive view of the Bill of Rights and the individual’s use of the courts for legal redress. Designed to convince the public that these opinions are based not on law, but only on the judge’s personal philosophy. Judges should not be politicians or fund raisers, as they have become under the Texas system. Elections put a premium on name identification purchased by contributions and discourage able lawyers from seeking judgeships. A better approach is appointment of lawyers deemed by their colleagues to be highly qualified. Appointments should be for limited tenure. Life terms make judges too distant from the real lives of litigants. The ethics rules do not require recusal for the sole reason that lawyers or parties appearing before the judge have contributed to his campaign. That is because an elected judiciary requires that candidates raise money. And much of that money inevitably comes from lawyers who know the judge personally or are familiar with the court. But a judge should always recuse himself if any relationship to the lawyers raises the appearance of impropriety. The “activist” label is most likely to be attached when there is a belief that a particular decision or ruling exceeds the boundaries Before becoming an appellate justice in 2007, of a court’s authority. Especially in the cirI practiced appellate law for 18 years with cumstance of an intermediate appellate court, Fulbright & Jaworski. I have been board there must be sensitivity regarding the limits certified in Civil Appellate Law since 1994. of such a court’s authority. An intermediate I argued more than 60 appeals in courts appellate court should apply the existing body throughout Texas and across the country, of law to the specific facts and circumstances of a particular case. including the U.S. Supreme Court. No selection method is perfect. Elections have the advantage of giving citizens a direct voice in the selection of judges who preside over their cases and affect their lives. My own example demonstrates that highly experienced and qualified attorneys will participate in the election process. The features of a pure appointment process must be balanced against the delay and periodic gridlock that have arisen at times in the process for appointing federal judges. Widespread recusal is not warranted and would threaten to interfere with courts’ ability to function. Any erroneous perception of judges and the judiciary among members of the public can be countered by the hard work and conscientious service of judges who pledge to be fair and impartial, and then demonstrate their commitment to that pledge in the way they perform their work and fulfill their duties on the bench. “Activist judges,” whether liberal or conservative, go beyond their appropriate powers and engage in making law and not merely interpreting it. Judges should exercise judicial restraint, applying laws as written and leaving changes to the legislature. The public expects legislatures to make laws and courts to apply those laws as written. When judges exceed this role, public confidence in judges is diminished; when judges stay within the boundaries of their authority, public confidence is strengthened. The federal system, with lifetime appointments, is lauded as achieving these goals. Judicial selection, however, is a complex and multi-faceted issue. Each system has advantages and disadvantages. Texans feel strongly about electing their judges; when given opportunities to change our current system, Texans have chosen not to do so. Preserving the independence of the judiciary and promoting public confidence in the impartiality and competence of our judges should be the hallmarks of any selection system. Judicial campaign funding is an unavoidable part a system with an elected judiciary. Though laws limit amounts and require disclosure of campaign contributions, this aspect of our system is criticized because giving/ accepting campaign contributions can give rise to negative perceptions of judges. A judge must recuse in those rare situations when the particular facts and circumstances warrant recusal; a judge is duty-bound to hear and decide matters when they do not. “Activist” is a pejorative directed at judges claimed to elevate personal preferences over the law. Because all sides now use the term to describe all sorts of decisions, it is losing much of its meaning, though it probably does lower the public’s perception of judges. Decisions must always be based on the law, not personal views. But while fairly criticizing judges, we should strive to avoid politicizing the legal process and compromising judicial independence. Judicial elections have some strengths. They promote public accessibility to judges and candidates during the campaign season and are an easier way to remove judges who have committed misconduct. But, on balance, I believe a system of nonpartisan, publicly financed or retention elections – or an apolitical, merit-based appointment system – would most effectively convince the public that our courts are free of improper influence and yield qualified, diverse and independent judges. Given how many lawyers contribute, a blanket rule is probably infeasible and would make it harder to assemble panels of judges able to hear cases. Recusal should be considered more strongly as to parties, since non-lawyers contribute to judicial races less frequently. Above all, judges must act with integrity and not to please supports. I will strongly consider recusal where my relationship with the contributors and others might raise any reasonable doubt about my impartiality. Democrat Honor graduate Rice, UT Law, Certified Specialist: Civil Appellate Law 1991-date; Criminal Law 1978-1993; Appellate counsel100 cases in every legal area, 40 published opinions; Wide ranging trial and arbitration experience; Highest peer review rating; Teacher, author; Writing that is understandable and not boring. (unexpired term) Bill Boyce PLACE 6 Republican Mary M. Markantonis, Democrat – Kem Thompson Frost Republican PLACE 7 In 9+ years on the bench, I’ve ruled on 1000+ cases and authored hundreds of published opinions. I’ve been certified in Appellate Jurisprudence (TCJS) and elected to the American Law Institute. Before becoming a judge, I practiced for 15 years with two major firms, earning the highest possible peer-review rating. Martin J. Siegel Democrat NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Harvard Law School, cum laude; federal appellate law clerk; associate at a national law firm; Assistant United States Attorney; staffer, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; extensive appellate experience in state and federal courts in Texas and elsewhere as a government lawyer and in private practice; frequently published legal author. no response received To find out where your precinct votes on Election Day: Call 713.755.6965 or 713.368.2200 www.harrisvotes.com or www.hcvoter.net League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 17 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction. Twenty-two criminal courts have jurisdiction over felonies punishable by death or by incarceration in state prison or death, and over misdemeanors involving official conduct. An additional 3 courts deal exclusively with juveniles accused of crimes. Twenty-five civil courts have jurisdiction over civil actions, which include disputes over personal or real property, civil rights, contractual matters or other business dealings, and personal injuries. In addition there are 9 specialized civil courts dedicated solely to family matters such as divorce and child custody. 4-year term. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 11th judicial district 11th Mark Davidson Judge should recuse themselves when their impartiality could fairly be quesRepublican tioned due to factors outside the merits Twenty years service as Judge, and of a case. It is as important that judges acknowledgement as a leader in admin- promote confidence in their integrity as istration of justice. UT 1971; UH Law; it is that they make the correct legal rulEleven years as a general practice lawyer. ings in the cases before them. Presided over 450 Jury trials. Served on committees to improve jury duty and protect consumers from wrongful home foreclosures. Mike Miller Democrat I graduated from Southwestern University and UT Law School. I have tried over 150 jury trials in 28 years as a lawyer. I am board certified in personal injury trial law and highly rated by other lawyers for competency and ethics. I have been both a plaintiff and defense lawyer. TRCP 18b establishes the grounds for recusal. Generally, recusal is appropriate if her impartiality might reasonably be questioned, she has a personal bias or personal knowledge of disputed facts, she has been a material witness or lawyer in the case, she has a financial interest, or a family member is or was involved or could be affected by the outcome. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 55th judicial district Jeff Shadwick 55th Republican Currently Judge of the 55th District Court; appointed by Governor Perry; 1981 law degree from Baylor; 27 years of commercial litigation practice making partner in two different firms; AV rated (highest rating available); twice elected member of HISD School Board. www. jeffshadwick.com Rule 18b clearly sets out when; a judge should remember why. Recusal strengthens the public’s confidence in the judicial system. Without it, impartiality may come into question. The courthouse is full of qualified, alternate judges, so there is no need to refuse recusal when appropriate. Dion Ramos Rule 18b outlines the conditions upon which a judge has to disqualify himself. Democrat These grounds generally involve a perI have spent 23 years of my life trying sonal interest in the case or a relationship civil cases in District Courts in Houston to one of the litigants. When his imparand Southeast Texas. I am certified by tiality might be reasonably questioned the Texas Board of Legal Specialization or he has a personal bias concerning the in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law. subject matter or a party, a judge should An experienced trial attorney makes an recuse himself. efficient and fair judge. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 61st judicial district John Donovan 61st Republican South Texas College of Law cum laude 1984; Judge 61st District Court since 1996; Board Certified Texas Board Legal Specialization since 1992; Chairman Special Dockets committee 2002/2008; Chairman Rules Committee Board Civil Judges; Member College of State Bar; Life Fellow Houston and Texas Bar Foundation; www.JudgeJohnDonovan. com The facts and law vary from case to case. Recusal is an issue to be determined by a judge in considering the facts, circumstances and law. The law provides certain situations in which the judge must recuse himself/herself and I do believe the law must be followed. Alfred H. "al" Bennett, Democrat BS, UH, 1988. JD, UT Law School, 1991. Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski. Senior Associate, Solar & Fernandes. Solo Practitioner. Adjunct Law Professor. Certified Mediator. Rated AV (very high to preeminent legal ability) MartindaleHubbell. Past President, Houston Lawyers Association. Member, District Grievance Committee. Thurgood Marshall Legal Society Award for Distinguished Service The due process clauses of both the Texas and the United States Constitutions guarantee a party an impartial and disinterested tribunal in civil cases. The inquiry the court must make is whether a reasonable member of the public, knowing all the facts in the public domain, would have a reasonable doubt that a judge is actually impartial. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 80th judicial district Lynn Bradshaw-Hull 80th Republican 18 During 14 years as a trial judge, I have presided fairly in the disposition of 60,000+ cases, including 500+ jury trials; maintained favorable bar association evaluations; received specialist certification in Civil Jurisprudence (2005) and General Jurisdiction (2008); and twice received State Bar of Texas Presidential Commendations for Judicial Leadership. www.judgebradshawhull.com Durante 14 años como juez de casos judiciales, he presidido justamente en el dispositivo de sobre 60,000 casos, incluyendo 500 juicios por jurado; he mantenido evaluaciones favorables de la asociación de la Barra De Dirección Judicial del Estado de Tejas; recibí certificación de especialista en Jurisprudencia Civil (2005) y en Jurisdicción General (2008); y recibí en dos ocasiones Reconocimientos Presidenciales en Dirección Judicial por de la Barra De Dirección Judicial del Estado de Tejas. www.judgebradshawhull.com Recusal is appropriate if a material witness, a party or related to a party, previously acted as a party’s attorney, related to a party’s attorney, prepared any legal instrument which is in issue, when personally or financially interested in the outcome, or determines cannot act impartially. Recusal is inappropriate to avoid public clamor, fear or criticism or political attack. El recuso es apropiado si ha sido un testigo material, se es un partido, o he estado relacionado con un partido; ha actuado previamente como abogado de un partido, está relacionado con el abogado de un partido, ha preparado cualquier instrumento jurídico del cual está en cuestión, se tiene interés personal o financiero en el resultado, o se determina que no puede actuar imparcialmente. El recuso es inapropiado para evitar clamor público, temor o crítica o ataque político. Larry Weiman Democrat Returning 2006 Democratic Candidate. Attorney/Mediator; 17 years experience representing clients in state/federal civil trial and appellate courts. Law Degree-South Texas College of Law, 1991 w/Dean’s List Honors; Bachelor of Science-Business-Boston University, 1981 w/Dean’s List Honors. Mediation Certificate-A.A. White Dispute Resolution Institute, University of Houston. www.larry4judge.com Candidato Demócrata regresando en el 2006. Abogado/Mediador; 17 años representando clientes en Tribunales de Proceso Civil estatales/federales y de apelación. Doctorado en Jurisprudencia del “South Texas College of Law” (1991) con honores en lista del Decano; Bachillerato de Ciencia-ComercioUniversidad de Boston (1981) con honores en lista del Decano. Asistió a Universidad de Texas. Certificado de Mediación del Instituto Para Resolución de Conflictos A.A.White, Universidad de Houston. www.larry4judge.com League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide Under Texas law, a judge must recuse himself/herself in any proceeding in which his/her impartiality might reasonably be questioned. There must be no doubts or suspicions as to the fairness or integrity of the court. The judiciary must strive not only to give all parties a fair trial but also to maintain a high level of public trust and confidence. Según la ley de Texas, un juez debe retirarse de un caso donde su imparcialidad puede razonablemente ponerse en duda. Nunca debe haber ninguna duda ni sospecha tocante a la imparcialidad o integridad de la corte. Los Jueces deben de procurar, a no solamente darle un juicio justo a todas las partes, sino también a mantener la confianza del público. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 125th judicial district 125th John Coselli, Republican Over 30 combined years of experience as attorney and State District Court Judge. Twice elected by Harris County voters as Judge. Voted by attorneys “qualified” and “well qualified” in Houston Bar Polls since 1999. Twice elected by Texas Judges to serve as President of the Texas Association of District Judges. I follow the laws in Texas without regard to my personal views. A judge should recuse himself or herself from a case when the law requires recusal. Generally, the law requires recusal when the judge’s impartiality might be questioned. The law proscribes rules and procedures for the evaluation of the need or appropriateness of recusal. Kyle Carter, Democrat Judges should recuse themselves when there is the appearance of bias or impropriety involved by virtue of that particular judge’s involvement in a case. Texas law recognizes several situations in which a judge should recuse themselves, however, beyond that, judges should openly strive to do everything in their power to avoid the appearance of impropriety and maintain public confidence. I am a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, The University of Texas, and South Texas College of Law. I have vast trial and appellate experience, and served as General Counsel to two state Legislative Committees. I believe that judges should follow the law, be honest, fair, and reasonable. Soy un graduado de Strake Jesuit College Preparatoria, de la Universidad de Texas, y South Texas College of Law. Tengo gran juicio y apelación experiencia, y se desempeñó como Asesor General del Estado a dos Comisiones Legislativas. Creo que los jueces deben seguir la ley, ser honesto, justo y razonable. Los jueces deben recusarse a sí mismos cuando se produce la apariencia de parcialidad o incorrección que participan en virtud de ese particular, la participación del juez en un caso. Las leyes de Texas reconoce varias situaciones en las que un juez debe recusarse a sí mismos, sin embargo, más allá de eso, los jueces deben esforzarse abiertamente a hacer todo lo que esté a su alcance para evitar la apariencia de incorrección y mantener la confianza del público. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 127th judicial district 127th Sharolyn Wood, Republican Judge, 127th District, 1985 to present: trying complex cases, 33,000+ cases; 500+ trials; eliminated trial back-log; introduced mediation. Teaching: law students, judges, court reporters, paralegals, and attorneys. Handled complex civil litigation for individual and corporate clients. Rice University: Economics, 1970. UT Law School 1973. Licensed attorney, 1973. Judge, 1985. Judges recuse in cases involving family members and other situations which personally involve the judge. Judges should avoid business affairs which would cause undue recusals. New judges recuse in cases involving former law firms and former clients for several years. A judge should not recuse because a case is difficult or the parties are contentious. Juez, Distrito 127, 1985 al presente: casos de juicio complicados, 33,000+ casos; 500+ juicios; eliminado juicios retrasados; introduje mediación. Enseñanza: estudiantes de leyes, jueces, reporteros judiciales, ayudantes de abogados, y abogados. Manejo de litigación civil compleja de individuales y clientes empresarios. Rice University: Economía, 1970. Ut Law School 1973. Abogado licensiado, 1973. Juez, 1985. Jueces pueden recusarse en casos en que interfieren miembros de familia y otras situaciones que envuelven personalmente al juez. Jueces deben evitar asuntos de negocio que pueden causar inmerecidos recuses. Jueces nuevos en casos que envuelven firmas de leyes anteriores y clientes anteriores por varios anos. Un juez no debe recusarse solo porque un caso es difícil o los partidos son contenciosos. R. K. Sandill, Democrat A UH Law graduate, R.K. served as a briefing attorney for the Texas First Court of Appeals before gaining a broad spectrum of courtroom experience in private practice. Nearly 70% rated him qualified in the Houston Bar Association’s Qualifications Poll. (The Qualifications Poll is not an endorsement by the HBA.) A judge should recuse himself when his impartiality can be questioned. This includes any situation in which the judge has a financial interest or any other pecuniary interest in the litigation before the Court. Furthermore, a judge must recuse himself when he has a personal bias regarding the case or a party to the case. Un graduado de la ley de UH, R.K. sirvió como abogado para el primer tribunal de apelación de Tejas antes de ganar un espectro amplio de la experiencia de la sala de tribunal en ejercicio privado. El casi 70% lo clasificaron calificaron en la encuesta de las calificaciones de la Asociación de Abogados de Houston. (La encuesta de las calificaciones no es un endoso por el HBA.) Un juez debe recuse cuando su imparcialidad puede ser preguntada. Esto incluye cualquier situación en la cual el juez tenga un interés financiero o cualquier otro interés pecuniario en el pleito antes de la corte. Además, un juez debe recuse cuando él tiene un diagonal personal con respecto al caso o un partido al caso. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 129th judicial district 129th Grant Dorfman, Republican – no response received Michael Gomez, Democrat As a practicing attorney with over 8 years of experience, a lifelong resident of Houston, and a graduate of Rice University and the UH Law Center, Michael Gomez cares about our community and its people. Michael pledges to treat everyone in his court with dignity, courtesy and respect. A judge should recuse himself when his impartiality in a particular matter may reasonably be questioned or as required to under the rules and laws of the state of Texas. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 133rd judicial district 133rd Lamar McCorkle, Republican Elected judge in 1986. Former civil attorney. Attorney for Appeals Court Chief Justice. Certified: Civil Jurisprudence. Past Chairman, Texas Center for Legal Ethics & Professionalism. Dean, Texas College for Judicial Studies. Appointed by Texas Supreme Court to address court efficiency; ethics; technology. Recipient of numerous honors for improving courts. www.judgelamarmccorkle.com Our legal system is founded on the premise that fair, independent and competent judges will interpret and apply the laws that govern us. Judges should recuse themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned or under circumstances creating even the appearance of impropriety undermining the rule of law and the public’s confidence in our judicial system. Elegido Juez en 1986. Anteriormente era abogado civil. Abogado para el tribunal de apelación juez principal. Certificado: Jurisprudencia civil. Presidente anterior de Centro de Texas para ética legal y profesionalidad. Decano de la escuela de Texas de Estudios Judiciales. Nombrado por la corte suprema de Texas para mejorar la eficiencia de las cortes, ética y tecnología. Galardonado numerosos honores por el mejorando las cortes. www.judgelamarmccorkle.com Nuestro sistema legal está fundado en el principio de que juezes justos, independentes y competentes interpreterán y applicarán las leyes que nos gobiernan. Juezes deben abstenerse de participar en cualquier procedimiento que les pondrá en una situación sospechosa o en circunstancias que tengan la aparencia de impropreidead que causen cuestionaniemto a la imparcialidad y objetividad de la ley y la confianza del público en la sistema legal. 133rd Judicial District Candidates continued on next page League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 19 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) 133rd continued 133rd Judicial District Candidates continued from previous page Jaclanel moore McFarland, Democrat I received my undergraduate and law degrees from Baylor University. I did graduate work at the University of Oxford. For 31 years I have been an accomplished litigator, a successful mediator, and have taught law courses on the collegiate level in Harris County. I am a former Baylor University Regent. Recibí mi no graduado y las licenciaturas de derecho de la Universidad de Baylor. Yo me gradué el trabajo en la Universidad de Oxford. Durante 31 años yo he sido un abogado consumado, un mediador exitoso, y he enseñado la ley los cursos en el nivel colegiado en el Condado de Harris. Soy un Regente anterior de la Universidad de Baylor. She should recuse herself in any proceeding in which her impartiality might reasonably be questioned by the public or when there is a possible bias or prejudice concerning the subject matter or a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary fact concerning the proceeding. Ella debe recuse ella misma en cualquier acto en el que su imparcialidad quizás sea preguntada razonablemente por el público o cuando hay una tendencia o el prejuicio posibles con respecto al tema o un partido, o con respecto al conocimiento personal del hecho evidenciario disputado con respecto al acto. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 151st judicial district 151td Caroline E. Baker, Republican 11 ½ years as trial judge. Graduate of Princeton and UT Law. Previously, partner in respected civil litigation firm. Board Certified. Serves on three State Bar Committees: Ethics, Jury Service, Pattern Jury Charge. President of TACTAS. “Trial Judge of the Year” by HPOU. See www.votejudgecarolinebaker.com Independent, disinterested, fair, and competent judges are the very cornerstone of American government. Constitutional Law, statutes and rules impose a duty on judges to recuse themselves in any proceeding in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned or in which they have a personal bias, prejudice, or personal knowledge concerning the case. 11 1/2 anos jueza de prueba. graduada de Princeton y UT Law. Antes, socio en bufete litigio civiles. Certificada por el Colegio de Abogados. Sirve en tres Colegios del Estado, Eticas, Sirvicio del Jurado. Presidenta de TACTAS. “Jueza de Prueba del Ano” por HPOU. Mirar www.votejudgecarolinebaker.com Independiente, disinteresada, justo y competente juezes son la piedra sustantivo del gobierno Americano. La ley constitucional, estatutos y reglas imponen una obligacion en juezes a recusar en cualquier procedimiento judicial donde sus imparcialidad puede razonablemente poner algo en duda o donde tienen una tendencia predisposicion, prejuicio o conocimiento personal acerca del caso. Mike Engelhart, Democrat Mike holds a BA from Michigan and a JD from UH Law Center where he was an editor of the Law Review. A 12 year partner in Engelhart & Greenwood, Mike has tried dozens of cases and successfully represented more than 1000 Texans in both state and federal courts. Mike recibio un BA de la Universidad de Michigan y un JD de la Universidad de Houston donde el fue un redactor del Reviso de Leyes. Como companero de 12 años del bufet de abogados Engelhart & Greenwood, Mike ha peleado docenas de casos y ha tenido exito al haber representado mas de mil Tejanos en las cortes federales y estatales. A judge should recuse him or herself whenever there is even the appearance of a conflict of interest over the subject matter, parties, or attorneys involved. Further, if the judge does not feel 100% capable of impartially presiding over a case, the judge should recuse him or herself whether asked to or not. Un juez debe apartarse siempre que haya incluso el aspecto de un conflicto de intereses sobre el tema, los partidos, o los abogados implicados. Además, si el juez no se siente el 100% capaz de presidir en una manera imparcial sobre el tema, el juez debera apartarse asi sea pedido o no. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 152nd judicial district Ken Wise, Republican 152nd I have been Judge of the 152nd District Court over 6 years. I am Civil Administrative Judge for 2008. I chaired the completion of the new Civil Courthouse, designed technologically advanced courtrooms, and pioneered a paperless filing and docketing system. I graduated from Texas A&M and the University of Houston. Judicial canons, statutory law and an individual Judge’s discretion are all involved when a motion to recuse is filed. Unfortunately, sometimes parties will use such motions as a delay tactic. A Judge should always recuse when appropriate but should not countenance the tactical use of a motion to recuse to cause delay or for an otherwise improper purpose. Robert K. Schaffer, Democrat Sole Practitioner, Certified Mediator; South Texas College of Law, 1984; University of Arizona, 1974; licensed in Texas, 1984; President, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation and South Texas College of Law Alumni Association; Chair, State Bar Grievance Committee; Member, SW Regional Board of Anti-Defamation League; AV rating. A judge must recuse himself/herself in any case in which his/her impartiality might be questioned. Examples include having a bias or prejudice concerning the case, personal knowledge of disputed facts in the case, being a witness in the case, having a financial interest in the subject matter of the case or being a party or a lawyer in the case. Unico Practicador, Mediador De Certificado; Universidado del Sur de Tejas de la Ley, 1984; Universidad de Arizona, 1974; Licenciado in Tejas, 1984; Presidente, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation and Universidado del Sur de Tejas de la Ley Alumin Asociacion; del Agravio Committee de la Barra; miembro contra del Grado Del Sistema de Pesos de Difamacion. Un juez debe retirarse de cualquier caso en el que su imparcialidad este en cuestionada. Por ejemplo, si el juez tiene algun prejuicio con respecto a el caso, conocimiento personal de hechos que estan siendo disputados, es testigo en el caso, si tiene algun interés económico o financiero en la materia de el caso o si es el abogado en el caso. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 164th judicial district Martha Hill Jamison, Republican 164th Incumbent Judge, 164th Judicial District Court, since 1999. Board Certified, Civil Trial Law. Member, Harris County Juvenile Board. Civil Administrative Judge. Founding Fellow, International Academy of Mediators. Board, American Judicature Society. Graduate, University of Texas School of Law. Active member, St. Luke’s Methodist Church. American Leadership Forum, Class XXV. Alexandra Smoots-Hogan, Democrat After graduating with honors from The University of St. Thomas, I joined South Texas College of Law’s nationally ranked advocacy team. With three national moot court titles, I was inducted in the Order of the Barristers. I have spent my career in the Courtroom, representing varied clients in varied cases. 20 A judge should recuse when statutorily required. A judge may offer to recuse in cases where a litigant may feel uncomfortable going forward (for example, if my brother’s law firm is representing a party); however, this should be a rare occurrence. A judge should not recuse when the request is made solely because of a ruling made in the case. A judge should recuse themselves whenever there is an air of impropriety in their remaining on the case. This air may be the result of an obvious financial interest or from a less overt acquaintance between the counsel or judge. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 165th judicial district Elizabeth Ray, Republican 165th Education: Texas Tech; Baylor Law School; law clerk, U.S. Magistrate. Well-qualified: Civil District Judge since 1992; 14 years private practice; Board Certified, civil trial law; certified mediator; specialist in commercial litigation, business law. Honors: Trial Judge of the Year; twice elected Chief Administrative Judge; Top 10 Texas Women on the /// In addition to the statutory standards, a judge must recuse when she does not believe she can rule fairly or impartially. She must also recuse when there is an appearance of impropriety. Whether there is an appearance of impropriety must be considered from the position of the litigants, not that of the judge. Josefina Muniz Rendon, Democrat Municipal Judge since 1983; Attorney since 1977, Mediator since 1993. Presided over hundreds of trials. Mediated hundreds of legal disputes. Published dozens of legal articles. Editorial Board Member: TEXAS BAR JOURNAL, TEXAS MEDIATOR and HOUSTON LAWYER. Past President: Texas Association of Mediators. Mediator/Trainer for U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy. www.Rendonforjudge.com Juez Municipal desde 1983; Abogada desde 1977, Mediadora desde 1993. Presidió sobre cientos de juicios. Medió cientos de casos. Publicó dozenas de artículos legales. Miembro Junta Editorial: TEXAS BAR JOURNAL, TEXAS MEDIATOR and HOUSTON LAWYER. Previa Presidenta: Asociación Mediadores de Texas. Mediadora/Capacitadora para Fuerza Aérea, Ejército y Marina estadounidensenses. www.Rendonforjudge.com A judge should withdraw from a case anytime there is a reasonable question about his/her impartiality; there’s an appearance or reality of personal bias or prejudice concerning the case; if a family member is involved in the case; or for any other reason as specified in Rule 18b of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Un juez debe retirarse de un caso si hay alguna duda razonable sobre su imparcialidad; si hay aparencia o realidad de prejucio sobre el caso; si algún miembro de su familia está involucrado en el caso; o por cualquiera de las razones especificadas en la Regla 18b de la Reglas de Procedimiento Civil de Texas. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 190th judicial district Patricia J. Kerrigan, Republican 190th Occupation: Judge, 190th District Court; Experience: partner, Werner, Kerrigan & Ayers; partner, Fulbright & Jaworski; 24 years Tort/commercial trial lawyer; Achievements: Board Certified, Texas Superlawyer, American Board of Trial Advocates, First woman President TADC, member Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation, BSN, Boston University, JD, University of Houston;www.judgekerrigan.com Various rules and statutes control the procedure and grounds for recusal. In addition to those situations, a Judge should recuse herself where her impartiality is reasonably in question and her continued involvement would erode the trust and confidence of the public in the impartiality of the Judiciary. A recusal decision should be based on the facts specific to the situation. Andres Pereira, Democrat BA Spanish/Economics/Ibero-American Studies Univ. Wisconsin; JD South Texas College of Law, Order of the Lytae, American Jurisprudence Award legal research/writing; intern, Texas SC Justice Lloyd Doggett; 1995-present, Litigation Attorney--mass tort/product liability/consumer/aviation. Licensed in Texas, Florida, numerous US District & appellate courts. In addition to any statutory requirements, a judge should offer to recuse himself or herself when s/he has any perceived or real stake in the outcome of the case or harbors a bias or prejudice against either party in the case that will prevent s/he from being a fair and unbiased jurist. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 215th judicial district Levi J. Benton, Republican – no response received 215th Steven E. Kirkland, Democrat I have six years judicial experience, seventeen years legal experience, both as plaintiff and defendant, which gives me the unique perspective to be a balanced and fair. After leaving Texaco, I had my own practice before becoming a Municipal Judge. BA from Rice, JD from University of Houston. The issue is fairness, in fact and in perception. The law sets out minimum standards requiring recusal when the Judge has a close personal, family or business relationship with any of the litigants. Beyond that, the Judge should recuse if the Judge believes he cannot be fair or if presiding over a case creates the appearance of impropriety. Yo tengo seis años de experiencia judicíal. Tambien tengo diecisiete años de experiencia legal como abogado, al lado del demandante y tambien del acusado, dandome una perspectiva excepcional y a ser justo y equilibrado. Despues de haber dejado mi empleo con la compañia Texaco, tuve mi propio bufete antes de ser nombrado juez de las cortes municipales. Recibí mi título univerisitario de la universidad de Rice, y mi título de abogado de la Universidad de Houston. La cuestión es imparcialidad, y ademas, la percepción de imparcialidad. La ley precisó estándares mínimos, que requiere que cuando un juez tiene una relación familiar o de negocio con uno de los litigantes, se debe de retirar del caso. Más allá de eso, el juez se debe retirar del caso si por cualquier razon él cree que no puede ser imparciál, o si preside en un caso, dará el aspecto de impropiedad. CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 333rd judicial district 333rd Joseph “Tad” Halbach, Republican Incumbent Judge, 333rd Civil District Court, since 1995. Board Certified, Civil Trial Law. Harris County Civil Administration Judge, Harris County Juvenile Board Member, University of Texas at Austin (BA ’78, JD ’82), Leadership Houston Class XII. Adult leader, Boy Scouts of America. Member, St. Vincent de Paul Church. See www.judgetadhalbach.com. A judge should recuse when required by rule, statute or the judicial canons. A judge should not recuse when the request is made solely as a delay tactic or solely because of a ruling made in the case. A judge should always recuse when appropriate, but not when a motion is filed for an improper purpose. Goodwille Pierre, Democrat – no response received League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 21 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 334th judicial district 334th Sharon McCally, Republican A second-career lawyer, I worked in construction for seven years before graduating law school and serving as a federal law clerk. For ten years prior to election to the 334th, I practiced trial and appellate law for both businesses and individuals. I have a proven work ethic and judicial temperament. A judge should recuse when any one of the conditions identified in TEX.R.CIV.P. 18b exists or arises unless, in the case of an 18b(2) condition, the parties waive recusal. A Court’s application of this law must simultaneously balance the dual purposes of (a) assuring integrity and public confidence in the system and (b) preventing the improper manipulation of proceedings. La abogacía ha sido mi segunda carrera; he trabajado en la industria constructora por siete años antes de graduarme como abogada y comenzar mi trabajo de secretaria del tribunal federal. Antes de ser elegida como jueza para la sala 334, ejercí el derecho en juicios y apelaciones, representando a individuos y a empresas. Mi trayectoria demuestra mi ética laboral y mi tenor judicial. Un juez debe recusarse cuando existe o surge alguna de estas condiciones identificadas bajo TEX.R.CIV.P. 18b, a menos que en el caso de una condición bajo la disposición 18b(2), las partes renuncien a la recusación del juez. La solicitud de un Juez bajo esta norma, debe mantener el equilibrio de doble propósito: (a) asegurar la integridad y confianza de la gente en el sistema y (b) impedir la manipulación incorrecta de los procesos judiciales. Ashish Mahendru, Democrat I am a graduate of the University of Texas Plan II Honors Program and University of Texas Law School. I have experience in insurance defense, commercial litigation, medical malpractice, class actions, soft intellectual property, consumer, employment, personal injury, temporary restraining orders, property tax disputes, and oil and gas cases. Among other factors, when the judge has served as a lawyer in the case, has a direct interest in the case or spouse or child have a financial interest in the case, is related to the parties or lawyer, cannot be impartial, has a personal bias or prejudice, has personal knowledge of facts, or is a material witness. Soy graduado de la Universidad de Texas del Programa Honorifico llamado Plan II y graduado de la Facultad de Leyes. Tengo experiencia en defensa de companias de seguros, litigio comercial, conducta ilegal medica, propriedad intelectual, derechos del consumidor, derechos de empleo, dano personal, ordenes temporales de restringion, disputas de impuestas de propiedad y casos de gas y aceite. Entre otros factores, cuando el juez ha servido como abogado en el caso; tiene interes directo en el caso; es esposo o es padre de uno de los interesados; tiene interes financiero in el caso; tiene parentezco con alguno de los interesados o abogados; si puede tener un perjuicio o propensión personal; tiene conocimiento personal de los hechos o es testigo importante; o no puede ser imparcial. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 174th judicial district Bill Moore, Republican 174th Graduate of Villanova University and Texas Tech School of Law. Entire 20-year legal career A judge should abide by the rules as set forth in Texas Civil Procedure Rule 18b and recuse himspent as a Harris County Prosecutor. Extensive courtroom experience with 100+ jury trials. self/herself in any proceeding in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Served as a Special Crimes prosecutor, and currently serves as a Chief Prosecutor handling A judge should always strive to avoid the appearance of impropriety in all of his or her affairs. murder and capital murder cases. See www.electbillmoore.com Ruben Guerrero, Democrat As an attorney for more than 30 years, have tried everything from misdemeanors to capital murder. As a judge I have presided over the same. I am the only candidate with judicial experience. I also am a Vietnam veteran and have worked as regional administrator for the Small Business Administration. A judge should not simply recuse himself for statutory reasons, such as financial interest in the outcome or a personal relationship to either party. The judge also should recuse himself at the appearance of impropriety. For example, if a judge’s friend was killed in a robbery, that judge should never sit on anything to do with the accused robber’s trial. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 176th judicial district Brian Rains, Republican I have served as Judge of the 176th Court for over 20 years. I graduated from Texas A&M in 1972. I graduated from the University of Houston Law School in 1976. I worked in the District Attorney’s office for over 11 years before becoming judge of this court. A Judge should recuse himself/herself when the rules of both procedure and common sense dictate that a recusal should occur. [No Spanish for 2.] 176th He servido como Juez de la Corte 176 por mas de 20 anos. Gradue’ de la Universidad de A&M en 1972, y de la escuela de leyes de la Universidad de Houston en 1976. Servi’ como asistente de fiscal por 11 anos antes de ser nombrado como juez de esta corte. Shawna L. Reagin, Democrat B.A. Political Science, summa cum laude, University of St. Thomas, J.D. University of Houston. Licensed in Texas, Federal Southern District of Texas and U.S. Supreme Court. A solo practitioner since 1989, I have handled thousands of felony cases, including death penalty capitals, at the trial and appellate levels. Anytime the ethical canons dictate, but particularly when the judge harbors a bias against the accused or an aspect of the law that prevents acting fairly and impartially. If a judge’s personal or political agenda, rather than the rule of law, controls rulings in the case, he or she should recuse in order to maintain public confidence in the judiciary. B.A. Political Science, summa cum laude, University of St. Thomas, J.D. University of Houston. En cualquier momento que los canones de etica lo requiera pero particularmente cuando el juez tenga Licensiada en Texas, Federal Southern District of Texas and U.S. Supreme Court. En practica resentimientos contra el acusado o un aspecto de la ley que prevenga actuar justa e imparcialmente. Si individual desde 1989, he manejado miles de casos de felonia incluyendo casos de pena de la posicion personal o politica de un juez, en lugar de lo que rige la ley, controla los dictamenes en el caso, el o ella se debe retirar para mantener la confiansa publica en el sistema judicial. muerta al nivel de juicio y apelaciones. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 177th judicial district 177th Devon Anderson, Republican Elected District Judge 2004. Prior service as defense attorney and Felony Chief Prosecutor for D.A. Johnny Holmes. Graduate of U.T. undergraduate and law school. Efficient and hardworking, disposing of over 7,000 cases and annually averaging 50 jury trials. Volunteer Drug Court Judge. Winner of H.B.A. bar poll. Native Texan. A judge must not only be fair, but must project the appearance of fairness. This duty extends to each party in court as well as to the system as a whole. If there is an ethical conflict, a judge must immediately recuse herself. The same is true if there is the appearance of impropriety. Kevin Fine, Democrat – no response received 22 League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 178th judicial district 178th Roger Bridgwater, Republican I was appointed by Governor Perry in 2007. I have 29 years of trial experience. Working as an assistant under District Attorneys Carol Vance and Johnny Holmes and being in private practice since 1983, I have handled thousands of criminal cases and been lead attorney in 100+ criminal jury trials. Criminal District Court Judges must follow Texas Criminal Code of Procedure Article 30.01 which states no judge is to sit in any case where he is the party injured, has been counsel for the State or accused, or within a relationship prohibited under the Government Code. Judicial Cannon 2 says a judge should avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety. David Mendoz, Democrat – no response received CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 179th judicial district Mike Wilkinson, Republican 179th District Judge, 20 years (first elected, 1988), presiding over 500+ jury trials. Presiding Drug Court Judge. Former defense/Assistant District Attorney. Former Chief Prosecutor, 179th & 176th District Courts. Chair, JIMS Executive Board, 15 years. Fellow, State Bar Foundation. Former Section Chair, HBA. U.T.: BBA/JD (licensed, 1974) A judge should recuse himself/herself from a case whenever the law requires. Occasionally, the interest of judicial economy along with the appearance of propriety dictate a judge should recuse himself/herself from a case so that the State litigants and the public will have confidence in a fair and impartial tribunal. Randy Roll, Democrat 20 years experience, Criminal Law with over 7000 cases. Lamar University, South Texas College of Law graduate. Formerly school teacher, contractor, polyglot Only attorney in Harris County called by the judges to accept cases in 5 different languages, Spanish, Russian, German, French, English. Running to restore balance and fairness. A judge must disqualify/recuse him/herself in any proceeding in which his/her impartiality might reasonably be questioned.This would include personal bias and prejudice against or for a party. Also, I believe when there is the appearance of or perception of bias or favor. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 337th judicial district Don Stricklin, Republican 337th I was appointed Judge of the 337th District Court in December 1999. I served over 26 years as a Harris County assistant district attorney, including 12 years as first assistant to Johnny Holmes. I have trial experience both as prosecutor and judge in hundreds of felony cases, including capital murders. A judge should recuse himself/ herself when required by law. And if for any reason a judge cannot be fair to both sides, he/she should recuse himself/ herself. This promotes public confidence in the judiciary and our legal system. Herb Ritchie, Democrat U.T. honor graduate (B.A. 1967, M.A. 1969, J.D. 1974); numerous honors and awards: Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi; Eta Sigma Phi; Teacher’s Award-Mortgages; third highest grade, Texas Bar Examination. Taught at U.T.-Austin and Baylor. Practicing attorney, 34 years; Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board, Legal Specialization (1987). Fairness and impartiality are the cornerstones of our justice system. Judges cannot be biased in favor of or prejudiced against any party appearing before them. When a judge has an interest in the outcome of a case, recusal is proper, and another judge should hear the case. I would recuse myself when necessary to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Licenciatura con honores de la Universidad de Texas (Bachiller en Filosofía y Letras en 1967, Maestría en Humanidades 1969, Doctorado en Jurisprudencia 1974), numerosos honores y condecoraciones: Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi; Eta Sigma Phi; Premio de los Maestros - Hipotecas; tercer lugar en la calificacion del examen para la abogacía. Fue maestro en La Universidad de Texas y en la universidad Baylor. Abogado ejerciendo abogacía durante 34 años; Certificado en derecho penal por el Consejo de Texas de Especializaciones en Derecho (1987). La igualdad y la imparcialidad son los fundamentos de nuestro sistema de justicia. Los jueces no pueden estar prejuiciados ni a favor ni en contra de ningún sujeto que comparezca ante ellos. Cuando un juez tiene algún interés en el resultado de un caso, lo apropiado es recusarse y otro juez debería oír el caso. Yo me recusaría cuando fuera necesario para evitar hasta la menor apariencia de algo inapropiado. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 338th judicial district Brock Thomas, Republican 338th Since 2002, I have presided over thousands of serious criminal cases that impact our community. Additionally, I preside over one of Harris County’s drug rehabilitation courts and consistently receive high ratings in the Houston Bar Association’s qualification and evaluation pools. I was a prosecutor for nine years before becoming judge. Rule 18b of the Rules of Civil Procedure governs when judges are to recuse themselves. If called for under the rule, I would recuse myself. If not, I will fulfill my duty as judge and preside over the case. Since each case is unique, whether recusal is called for under the rule will depend on the circumstances of the case. Hazel B. Jones, Democrat Graduate of the University of Texas and Howard Law School, Hazel has eleven years of experience as an Assistant District Attorney, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and as a Criminal Defense Attorney. Hazel’s well-balanced professional experience brings a broader perspective to the courtroom ensuring fairness and confidence in the judicial system. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 18(b)(2) governs grounds for recusal of judges; among other things, it targets circumstances involving outright bias on the part of the judge as well as circumstances where a judge’s impartiality is called into question, and or where the judge’s family member has an interest that could be affected by the judicial proceeding. El graduado de la Universidad de Texas y la Escuela de Derecho de Howard, Hazel tiene once años de experiencia como un Ayudante el Fiscal público, como un Ayudante Especial de el Abogado de los Estados Unidos de America, y como un Abogado de Defensa criminal. La experiencia bien equilibrada profesional de Hazel trae una más amplia perspectiva a la sala de tribunal que asegura la imparcialidad y la confianza en el sistema judicial. Las Reglas de Texas del Procedimiento 18 Civil (b) (2) gobiernan razones para la recusación de jueces. Entre otras cosas, la ley enfoca en circunstancias que implican parcialidad de parte del juez así como circunstancias donde la imparcialidad de un juez es puesta en duda, y o donde el miembro de familia del juez tiene un interés que podría ser afectado por el proceder judicial. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 23 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGEs continued QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) When should a judge recuse himself/herself from a case? (60 word limit) CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 339th judicial district Caprice Cosper, Republican 339th Elected 1992, I have presided over 25,000 felony cases, including 500 jury trials and 10 death penalty trials. A former prosecutor, I frequently speak on criminal law, developed Harris County’s first Drug Court Program and was named 2004 Judge of the Year by the State Bar’s Criminal Law Section. www.capricecosper.com The circumstances requiring a judge’s recusal flow from two guiding principles: when a judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned or when a judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning the subject matter or a party. The law governing when a judge must recuse himself is embodied in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18(b) and the Code of Judicial Conduct. Maria T. “Terri” Jackson, Democrat Judge, City of Houston 2003-present. Featured Mayor Bill White’s Spotlight stating”.Judge Jackson’s determination to see every case to a fair conclusion while adding humanity and compassion is invaluable to Houston’s citizens.” B.A. University of Texas at Arlington, Honors Graduate 1987. J. D.Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 1998. www.mariaTJacksonforJudge.com A Judge must recuse herself or himself not only when it is constitutionally required but should recuse himself or herself anytime their impartiality might be reasonably be questioned, including instances in which they have a personal bias or a prejudice or a personal knowledge of the facts of a case. Judges are held to higher standards and should always conduct themselves to help the public maintain confidence in our justice system. Juez, Ciudad de Houston 2003-presente. Elogio publico por parte del alcalde Bill White diciendo: La determinación de la Juez Jakson para asegurar la conclusión justa de cada caso y a su vez añadiendo esa humanidad y compasión, es notablemente beneficioso para el pueblo de Houston.” Bachillerato de Universidad de Texas- Arlington, Graduada con honores 1987. Doctorado Jurisprudencia - - Facultad de Derecho- Universidad Texas Wesleyan 1998. www. mariaTJacksonforJudge.com Un juez debe retirarse de un caso no solamente cuando es requerido constitucionalmente pero también en cualquier momento que su imparcialidad esté en duda, incluyendo momentos cuando pueda haber prejuicio personal o conocimiento previo de los hechos del caso. Los jueces deben obedecer un código de conducta mayor y ayudar al público a mantener confianza en nuestro sistema judicial. CRIMINAL DISTRICT JUDGE, 351st judicial district Mark Kent Ellis, Republican I worked at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for 8 years. I have served as Judge of the 351st District Court for 12 years. I tried over 100 criminal jury trials as a lawyer. I have presided over more than 400 jury trials as a judge. judgemarkkentellis.com 351st Trabaje por ocho aos con La Oficina del Fiscal del Distrito del Condado de Harris. He fungido como juez del Juzgado 351 de Distrito por 12 anos. Como abogado litigu ms de 100 juicios penales. Como juez presid ms de 400 juicios penales. judgemarkkentellis.co A judge should recuse himself if he has a conflict of interest or a personal bias that renders him unable to make decisions fair to all parties. Cuando un juez tienen un conflicto de intereses o prejuicio, que le impidan tomar decisiones justas para todas las partes, deber recusarse as mismo. Mekisha Murray, Democrat I am a South Texas College of Law Graduate, former Assistant District Attorney and a current criminal defense attorney. I will apply the law fairly and impartially. Everyone who comes before me will be treated with respect and dignity. Please visit my web page to learn more, www.murray4judge.com. Judges must always remain completely impartial to ensure the integrity of the Judicial System. That is why a judge should recuse himself or herself at the mere appearance of impropriety. A judge must recuse himself or herself if financially involved in the case, if bias against a party or witness or the facts of the case. FAMILY CIVIL DISTRICT COURT These courts in this division handle family matters: adoptions, birth records, child welfare and custody, child support, and marriage annulments and divorce. Judges are elected for four-year terms. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What do you see as the most critical administration of justice issue facing Family courts? How would you address it? (60 word limit) FAMILY CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, 312th judicial district (unexpired term) 312th (unexpired term) David Farr, Republican 24 Judge, 312th Family District Court since 11/2007. Former Associate Judge, 257th Family Court. Family Law Board Certification. Former child support prosecutor, Harris County Domestic Relations. Private practice experience. Highly rated by Houston Bar Association. Lieutenant Colonel, Texas Army National Guard JAG and Global War on Terror/Operation Enduring Freedom veteran. Crowded dockets. Our population has exploded. There are only nine family law courts in Harris County. Even in efficient courts, some cases aren’t resolved for two or three years. That puts strains on families and children. In the 312th, I have streamlined docket procedures and enforced stricter mediation requirements to address this issue. Robert Hinojosa, Democrat I am a former family district court judge and have practiced family law over 36 years, as a trial attorney handling every facet of family law many times; a board-certified specialist since 1978; a frequent speaker on family law topics throughout Texas. I have the knowledge, competence, ethics and compassion. Whenever there is the reality or the appearance of a conflict of interest. I have had personal or professional contact with thousands of citizens, as clients, opponents or personal friends, as a trial attorney over 36 years, and as a community and church activist. When a litigant or witness is someone I know, I raise the issue immediately. Anteriormente fui juez de una corte familiar de distrito y he ejercido leyes por más de 36 años, como abogado tribunal manejando muchas veces toda clase de ley familiar; especialista certificado por junta directiva desde 1978; orador frecuente en tópicos de ley familiar por todas partes de Texas. Tengo el conocimiento, competencia, ética y compasión. Cada vez que existe la realidad o la apariencia de conflicto de interés. He tenido contacto personal o profesional con miles de ciudadanos, como clientes, contrincantes o amigos personales, como abogado tribunal de más de 36 años, y como activista de la comunidad y de la iglesia. Cuando un litigante o testigo es alguien que conozco, alzo el asunto inmediatamente. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Represents the State of Texas in criminal cases pending in Harris County Criminal District Courts and in all inferior courts of the county. Screens all cases and advises police and citizens on criminal justice matters. Primary duty is to see that justice is done. 4-year term. Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: How can the District Attorney’s office avoid allegations of selective prosecution? Please discuss. (60 word limit) Pat Lykos, Republican COUNTY Bachelor/Science and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees. Served as police officer while attending college and law school; practiced law in federal, state and local courts; judge for twenty years, presiding over more than 20,000 felonies; adjunct professor of law and CLE presenter; and board member of organizations dedicated to public safety. I will be the leader who is responsible and accountable to prevent selective prosecution and sentencing. I will establish the Ethics and Professionalism Division which will promulgate and publish standards to ensure justice, equal application of the law and vigorous prosecution of law breakers. Transparency and community access to the office avoids the appearance of injustice and creates public trust. C. O. “Brad” Bradford, Democrat Degrees in Law, Criminal Justice and Public Affairs and graduate of FBI Academy’s National Executive Institute. Houston Police officer for 24 years, Chief of Police for 7 years. Attorney for 15 years, including as partner in law firm. Consultant in litigation support, public safety and homeland security. Licenciaturas de Ley, Justicia Criminales, Asuntos Gubernamentales y el graduado del Instituto Ejecutivo Nacional del FBI. Veterano de policía de Houston por 24 años, Jefe de Policia durante 7 años. Abogado con 15 años de experencia, inclusive Executivo de bufete de abogados. Asesor de seguridad pública para la agencia de seguridad nacional. The District Attorney must obey the law, respect the principle of justice and pursue the truth. I will be visible and accessible to all communities to educate citizens regarding the criminal justice process. I will change the culture of the DA’s Office with a diverse staff. Our mission will not be to “win” but to ensure that justice is done. El Fiscal del distrito debe obedecer la ley, respetar los principios de la justicia y asegurar la verdad. Seré visible y accesible a todas comunidades para educar a ciudadanos con respecto al proceso de la justicia. Cambiaré la cultura de la Oficina del DA con un personal diverso. Nuestra misión no será de “ganar” pero asegurar que se haga justicia. COUNTY JUDGE (unexpired term) This Judge resides over commissioners court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations. This office is responsible for calling elections, posting election notices and for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The county judge may perform marriages. This office is also head of civil defense and disaster relief, and county welfare. The County Judge is elected for a four year term. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What are three important issues facing the county at this time? Discuss how would you address them? (60 word limit) Edward M. Emmett, Republican COUNTY County Judge Ed Emmett exhibits calm, steady leadership. His experience as Interstate Commerce Commissioner, State Representative in the Texas Legislature, and internationally recognized transportation policy expert give him the broad perspective necessary to lead the nation’s third largest county. B.A., Economics, Rice University, Master’s, U.T. – Austin. Mobility: County Judge Ed Emmett is leading the effort to meet transportation needs with a balance of highways, toll roads, public transit and commuter rail. Emergency Preparedness: Harris County is a national model. Ed Emmett is committed to protecting the health and safety of residents. Leadership: Ed Emmett promotes low taxes, the highest ethical standards, and innovative programs. David Mincberg, Democrat A native of Harris County, I attended public schools through UT Law School. My career as a businessman resulted in nearly $1 billion of economic activity in Harris County, providing safe and affordable housing, and employed thousands. I also served as Bill White’s dollar-a-year executive in charge of Housing Policy. Un natural del condado de Harris, I atendió a escuelas públicas a través de colegio de abogados de UT. Mi carrera como un hombre de negocios dio lugar a casi $1 mil millones de actividad económica en el condado de Harris, proporcionando la cubierta segura y comprable, y empleó millares. También serví como ejecutivo del dólar-uno-año del blanco de la cuenta a cargo de la política de cubierta. Reduce crime and make communities safer by putting resources into crime prevention. Reform ethics and eliminate corruption by ending the pay-for-play system. Create long-term solutions to transportation challenges by implementing a comprehensive mass transit plan. Reduzca el crimen y haga a comunidades más seguras poniendo recursos en la prevención del crimen. Reforme el ética y elimine la corrupción terminando el sistema del pagar-para-juego. Cree las soluciones a largo plazo a los desafíos del transporte poniendo un plan total comprensivo del tránsito en ejecución. PROBATE COURT JUDGE (unexpired term) This court has jurisdiction over the probation of wills, appointment of guardians, and the settlement partition and distribution of estates. Probate Courts Nos. 3 and 4 share processing of the mental illness QUESTIONS TO dockets with staff support by Court No. 3. Each judge is elected for a four-year term. Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) CANDIDATES: Georgia Akers, Republican Recently appointed, Georgia has 17 years of probate experience, 8 in private practice and the past nine years with Probate Court No. 3. She was Associate Judge the last 2 years. She is Board Certified in Probate and Estate Planning. She has a Masters in Counseling, an asset for this court. See www.judgeakers.com No. 1 Elegida recientemente, Georgia tiene 17 años de experiencia de la Legalización de un Testamento, 8 en adiestramiento privado y los últimos nueve años con Probate Court No. 3. Ella era juez asociada estos últimos 2 años. Ella esta Certificada con la Consejerilla en Legalización de un Testamento e Impuestos del Estado. Ella tiene su Maestría en Consejos, una ventaja para esta corte. kathy stone Democrat 29 year lawyer. 18 years Judicial Experience. Former President of Texas Association of District Judges. Recognized by Texas Senate for her exceptional service to the people of Texas. Voted “Women of Excellence” by the Federation of Houston Professional Women. More about Judge Kathy Stone at www.ElectJudgeStone.com Abogado por 29 anos. 18 anos de experiencia juridica. Anteriormente presidente de Texas Association of District Judges. Reconocido por el Senado del Estado de Texas para su servicio excepcional a la gente de Texas. Elegida “Mujer de Excelencia” por la Federation of Houston Professional Women. Mas informacion acerca de Juez Kathy Stone a www. ElectJudgeStone.com What do you see as the most critical issue facing the court and how could you address it? (60 word limit) Probate involves grieving families. I have instituted reforms involving attorney fees and appointments to avoid the appearance of patronage by cultivating a broader selection and careful review of fees. The judge must be empathetic and compassionate to the needs of the clients. I am. I have also initiated an open door policy to make the court available to serve citizens. La legalización de un testamento involucra la desolación de las familias. He instituido reformas que implican honorarios y citas del abogado para evitar el aspecto del patrocinio, cultivando una selección más amplia y una revisión cuidadosa de honorarios. El juez debe ser piadoso y compasivo a las necesidades de los clientes. Yo Soy. También he iniciado un sistema de puerta abierta para hacer la corte disponible para servir a los ciudadanos. Charges of favoritism, approval of high fees and questionable expenditures for court appointed professionals have hurt the once sterling reputation of this Court. I will bring public trust back by ending favoritism, by expanding the list of qualified court appointed professional, by limiting the amount that can be charged and reducing or eliminating any unnecessary or unreasonable fees or expenses. Acusaciones de favoritismo, aprobacion de honorarios grandes, y gastos dudosos para profesionales nombrados por la Corte han danado la fama excelente anterior de este Corte. Yo voy a restablecer la confianza publica por terminar favoritismo, por ampliar la lista de profesionales competentes nombrados por la Corte, por limitar la cantidad cobrada por tales profesionales, y por reducir o eliminar cualquier cargo o costo no necesario o razonable. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 25 HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY Represents State, County, Flood Control District, and their officers and employees in all civil matters in the courts. Provides legal advice to elected and appointed officers regarding their official duties. Operates law enforcement program designed to protect consumers, public health and environment. Provides revenue enforcement services such as toll road fines, hot check and alarm fees. 4-year term. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What are the most critical issues facing this office? Please discuss. (60 word limit) Mike Stafford, Republican COUNTY Mike Stafford became Harris County Attorney in March 2001 and had previously served as the First Assistant for four years. He was First Assistant County Attorney in Liberty County for ten years and in private practice for six. His law degree is from South Texas College of Law. The County Attorney’s Office must continue to provide high-quality protective services for children and adults. We must work actively with other county departments to protect the environment. We must continue the tradition of trust our clients have in the County Attorney’s Office so that they will use our services pro-actively to avoid issues that lead to lawsuits Vince Ryan, Democrat I am a former First Assistant County Attorney, Houston City Council Member, Board Member of the Panama Canal Commission and a retired Reserve Army Lieutenant Colonel. My civic and professional background is long, broad and varied with service on many non-profit boards and affiliations with several prominent law firms. Harris County Government is a system of checks and balances. When those don’t work, the scandals now confronting us occur with frequency. The County Attorney is the civil attorney for virtually all of the officials and employees of the County and is a key to honest, efficient county government. Independence is a necessity and that independence is now sorely lacking! He servido como el Primer Abogado Asistente el Condado de Harris, como un miembro del Ayuntamiento de Houston, y como un miembro de la comisión del Canal de Panamá. También soy un teniente coronel retirado de la Reserva del Ejército de los EE.UU. La lista de mis credenciales profesionales y mi experiencia cívica es larga y variada y incluye servicio en muchos consejos no lucrativos y también filiaciones con varias firmas prominentes de abogados. El Gobierno del Condado de Harris es un sistema de restricciones y el equilibrio de fuerzas, pero cuando este sistema no funcione, escándalos—como los que veamos hoy en día—ocurren con frecuencia. El Abogado del Condenado es el abogado civil por casi todos los funcionarios y empleados del Condado, y él es la clave para crear un gobierno honrado y eficiente. En este puesto, independencia es una necesidad, y hoy día esa independencia es precisamente que nos falta y que necesitamos desesperadamente HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK (unexpired term) Duties include custodial care and safekeeping of all court records for the district courts and county criminal courts and accounting for all money paid in as deposits on civil cases waiting disposition and all monies awarded to minors in court actions that are paid into the registry of the court. The department accounts for and processes child support payments and also coordinates the jury system for the courts. The District Clerk is elected for a four-year term. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) Theresa Chang, Republican With chemical engineering and law degrees, I understand judicial system and how to streamline the process with innovation and technology. I was unanimously chosen by 59 district judges. In a year, I have cut eFiling time by 83%, raised court clerks’ base salary, and returned $700,000 unspent budget to County. COUNTY Con titulos de academia de Engenieria Quimica y De Ley, yo entiendo el systema y como aerodinamizar el proceso con innovacion y tecnologia. En un ano, he cortado el tiempo de eFiling por 83%, he subido el salario base de los oficinistas de la tribunal y regrese $700,000 al presupuesto del condado. Loren Jackson, Democrat I attended the U.S. Military Academy – West Point, have a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law. I am a Litigation Attorney with a downtown firm having had virtually daily interaction with the Clerk’s Office throughout my legal career. Atendí la Academia militar de West Point. Recibí una licenciatura por parte de la Universidad de Texas A.M. y un doctorado en derecho en la Escuela de Derecho en South Texas College of Law. Soy abogado litigante en un despacho de abogados localizado en el centro de la cuidad, y a lo largo de ejercicio profesional, he tenido contacto diario con la oficina de Secretario de Distrito. What are the most critical issues facing this office? Please discuss. (60 word limit) The most critical issue is the increasing demands placed on the judicial system and the necessity for creative and cost-effective solutions. We want to continue being the leader in Texas in innovation and technology. We have developed many applications to save taxpayers’ time and money, including eGov, eDoc, eCourt, eFiling, jury services and child support services through the Web. La cuestion mas critica es el crecimiento de las demandas puestas en el sistema judicial y la necesidad para soluciones creativas and costo-efectivas. Queremos continuar siendo el lider en Tejas en innovacion and tecnologia. Hemos desarrollado muchas aplicaciones para guardarle a los contribuyentes tiempo y dinero, encluyendo eGov, eDoc, eCourt, eFiling, servicios de jurado y servicios demantenimiento de ninos por el Web. The office needs: immediate technological innovation; standardized electronic case management; standardized county-wide electronic filing that integrates with other counties; digitizing and disposing of paper records; improved customer service; full access to view/print documents online; increased community presence; proper stewardship and application of taxpayer money; effective management; and, to ensure Clerks are both well-trained and retained. Son necesarias innovaciones tecnológico inmediatas, administración de casos de manera electrónica y estandarizadas, un sistema electrónico de archivamiento en todo el condado y combinado con otros condados, digitalización de registros e eliminación de papeleo, mejorar los servicios para clientes, amplio acceso para ver e imprimir documentos en línea, aumentar la presencia de la Dependencia en la comunidad, manejo apropiado de dineros de los contribuyentes, una administración eficaz, y asegurar la capacitación y permanecía de los secretarios. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF The Sheriff is the principal law enforcement officer with jurisdiction throughout the county to serve as conservator of the peace and to maintain custody of persons committed to jail by various courts in the county. Responsibilities include furnishing bailiffs in all state courts and warrant officers for criminal courts; patrol officers in unincorporated areas; detective and investigation service, returns prisoners from other jurisdictions. Collects bond forfeitures. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What improvements would you make in the way this office functions? Please explain. (60 word limit) COUNTY Tommy Thomas, Republican Forty years law enforcement experience. First sheriff in modern history to serve in every rank within Sheriff’s Office. Over 2500 hours law enforcement/management training. Licensed as Master Peace Officer by T.C.L.E.O.S.E. Graduate of Department of Justice’s prestigious National Executive Institute in Washington, D.C. Enhance Homeland Security presence with additional personnel and equipment, including some boats to patrol port. New Inmate Processing Center to replace outdated systems and equipment. Enhance the operations of the newly created Mental Health Unit and expand its operations. Adrian Garcia, Democrat I am committed to bringing transparency, accountability, and integrity to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to restore public trust in the department. Priorities for my administration will include addressing current staff shortages, address the County Jail problems, and actively collaborate with members of the community and all area law enforcement agencies to more effectively and efficiently protect our citizens. I served as an HPD Officer for 23 years and received a mayoral appointment as Director of the Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office. I have been elected three times to Houston City Council, serving as Chair the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. This year Mayor White appointed me as Mayor Pro-tem. Serví de policía de Houston por 23 años y fui nombrado Director de la Oficina del Alcalde Contra las Pandillas. He sido elegido al Concejo Municipal de Houston tres veces, sirviendo de Presidente del Comité de Seguridad Pública y del Comité de Seguridad Nacional. Este año el Alcalde White me designó como Alcalde Pro-tem. 26 Estoy comprometido a traer transparencia, responsabilidad, e integridad a la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Harris para restaurar la confianza del público en el departamento. Prioridades de mi administración incluirán dirigir la escasez actual del personal, dirigir los problemas de la cárcel del condado, y colaborar enérgicamente con miembros de la comunidad y todas las agencias de la ley del área para proteger a nuestros ciudadanos más efectiva y eficazmente. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR The Tax Assessor-Collector is responsible for collection of property taxes, the hotel-motel tax, and contracts with other taxing jurisdictions to collect their taxes. Other responsibilities include issuing licenses and titles for motor vehicles, voter registration and mapping of voter precinct boundaries. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What challenges does this office face in managing the separate functions of voter registration and tax collections? (60 word limit) Paul Bettencourt, Republican – no response received COUNTY Diane Trautman, Democrat Bachelors in English. Masters in Education. Doctorate in Educational Leadership. 10 years administrative experience in Houston banking industry in Trust Asset Management and Energy Lending. 23 years experience as teacher, principal, and professor of education administration. Not only have I led large organizations, I teach others to do the same. We must be accountable to taxpayers and explore why Harris County has one of the worst tax collection rates among major Texas counties, denying our schools, hospitals, and law enforcement critical funding. Additionally, a county our size should be leading the way in voter registration, and we are not. We must create a voter roll that is accurate and inclusive. Licenciatura en Inglés. Grado de maestría en Educación. Diez años de experiencia administrativa en el sector bancario. Veintitrés años experiencia como profesora, directora, y profesora de la administración de educación. No sólo he dirigido organizaciones grandes, yo enseño a otros hacer lo mismo. Debemos ser responsables ante los pagadores de impuestos y explorar porqué el condado de Harris tiene una de las tasas peores de la recaudación de impuestos entre los condados mas grandes de Tejas. Además, un condado del tamaño del nuestro debe ser el mejor en el registro de votantes. Debemos crear un registro del votante que sea exacto e inclusivo. Jeffrey McGee Libertarian I have a degree in computer engineering from Texas A&M, and I currently teach high school math. The office receives pressure to collect more taxes to pay for increasing government spending; it has to assess property values honestly. The office also has to balance protecting the right to vote with preventing fraudulent voting. COUNTY SCHOOL TRUSTEE This office serves as a member of the School Board which is the governing body of the County Department of Education. The Board appoints the county school superintendent and arbitrates controversies between independent school districts within the county. Members serve without pay and are elected to six year terms. QUESTIONS TO position 5, at large CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) One of the goals of the Harris County Department of Education is to have programs to improve achievement for learners. What initiatives and policies would you strive for to meet that goal? (60 word limit) Mike Riddle, Republican – no response received Debra “Debby” Kerner, Democrat Columbia University, MS Speech Pathology. Syracuse University, BS Speech Pathology, Audiology, Education. Speech pathologist, bringing 25 + years of excellence and experience in education. Worked in public and private schools through private practice, Southwest Speech. Currently serving a school for children with autism. Dedicated to quality education to improve lives. MS en Patología de lenguaje de la Universidad Columbia. BS en Patología de lenguaje, Audiología y Educación de la Universidad de Syracuse. Patólogo de lenguaje con más de 25 años de excelencia y experiencia en educación. Trabajé en escuelas públicas y privadas por medio de ejercicio privado en Southwest Speech. Actualmente sirvo a en una escuela para niños con autismo. Me dedico a la educación de calidad para mejorar vidas. Initiatives and policies that provide students with a sound basic education and expand skills for life and vocational training programs. Reduce the drop-out rate by helping learners earn H.S. diplomas and GEDs. Have policies to maintain teacher standards and increase compensation. Maintain Head Start which improves achievement for learners. Provide research based education for students with special needs. www.DebraKerner4Education.com. Iniciativas y pólizas que provean a los estudiantes con una educación básica y sólida que extienda las destrezas por vida y programas de entrenamiento vocacional. Reducir el número de los que dejan la escuela ayudándolos a obtener diplomas de secundaria y diplomas de GED. Tener pólizas que mantengan normas para los maestros y para aumentar su compensación. Mantener el programa Head Start el cual mejora el éxito de los principiantes. Proveer educación basada en investigación para estudiantes con necesidades especiales. position 7, at large Stan Stanart, Republican – no response received Jim Henley, Democrat Education: B.S. Degree, University of the Ozarks. Masters Degree in Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Careen In Education: Teacher & Debate Coach, Sidney Lanier Middle School (HISD) 1987-2007. Teacher of the Year 2006 (Lanier). Coach of Five Time National Debate Team (Lanier). With four out of ten Harris County students never graduating, we must provide early childhood education and head start programs for all the children of Harris County. These proven programs enable children to begin the first grade prepared for success. Currently the waiting list for these programs are long and children are being turned away. COUNTY COMMISSIONER This office is a member of Commissioners Court, which supervises and controls the courthouses and jails. They appoint and employ personnel, fill vacancies in elective and appointive positions, determine county tax rates, adopt budget, call bond elections, set voting precinct boundaries, let contracts, build and maintain roads, bridges, libraries and parks, and appoint members to numerous boards and commissions. Within each members precinct, a Commissioner is directly responsible for administration, parks, road and bridge programs. This office is elected for a four year term. QUESTIONS TO 1 CANDIDATES: Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) There is a national crisis in infrastructure, maintenance and improvements. How do you plan to address this issue with regard to roads and bridges in your precinct? (60 word limit) El Franco Lee, Democrat – no response received Jorgen Nelson, Libertarian – no response received PRECINCT 3 Steve Radack, Republican I’ve learned much about Precinct Three neighborhoods and issues during four terms as Commissioner. My previous experience as Precinct Five Constable, a Houston Police Officer and a small business owner has given me the leadership experience and community ties to improve our quality of life. I believe in safety first. As Commissioner, I insist on regular inspections with a strong focus on preventive maintenance. I feel confident that we have a successful program in place and no infrastructure in danger. That’s the main job of a Commissioner and my co-workers in Precinct Three do excellent work. Dexter Handy, Democrat I am a retired Air Force LtCol with 28 year’s service and a USAF Academy Graduate. I commanded a squadron, directed civil engineering construction projects, logistics, Information & Surveillance Systems operations, and Crisis Response operations. I directed DoD’s worldwide Computer Emergency Response Team. International experience with European senior General Officers. Crime must be reduced. We can accomplish this with integrated communications systems between City and County First Responders. More Transportation solutions must be made available to our citizens. A county-wide rail transit system should be pursued. Flooding in our neighborhoods is out of control. I want clear lines of responsibility established for flood control of the neighborhoods in the County. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 27 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Have jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only. e.g. assault, bail jumping, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, bad check writing, public intoxication, theft. Hears civil cases involving up QUESTIONS TO 1, 1 Dale M. Gorczynski, Democrat – no response received Derrick J. Anderson Sr., Libertarian – no response received 2-3 Jo Ann Delgado, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT 2, PLACE 1 Michael “Mike” Parrott, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT 4, 1 What is the most critical issue facing the Justice of the Peace courts and how would you address it? (60 word limit) J. Kent Adams, Republican – 5, 1 Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) Russ Ridgway, Republican – no response received Peter Rene, Democrat – no response received 6-7 CANDIDATES: to $10,000. Issues warrants, handles miscellaneous complaints, performs marriages, issues commitment papers for the mentally ill, issue search and arrest warrants. Judges are elected for a four year term. Richard C. Vara, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT 6, PLACE Hilary Green, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT 7, PLACE 1 3, PLACE 1 running unopposed in PRECINCT 4, PLACE 1 1 ¡REGÍSTRESE, INFÓRMESE Y VOTE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE continued Have jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only. e.g. assault, bail jumping, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, bad check writing, public intoxication, theft. Hears civil cases involving up QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: to $10,000. Issues warrants, handles miscellaneous complaints, performs marriages, issues commitment papers for the mentally ill, issue search and arrest warrants. Judges are elected for a four year term. Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) What is the most critical issue facing the Justice of the Peace courts and how would you address it? (60 word limit) Holly Williamson, Republican Precinct 8, Place 1 As an attorney, practicing ten years in Federal, State, and JP courts, I have the training and experience necessary to judge the difficult cases. As a Wife and Mother, of a teenager, I understand the important impact the JP court can have on, small businesses, families and our youth. Por más de diez años he practicado leyes en cotes federales, del estado y tribunales de juez de paz. Tengo la experiencia necesaria para juzgar los casos difíciles que aun enfrentan nuestra sociedad. Como esposa, y madre, yo entiendo el impacto que el Juez de Paz tiene con familias y nuestra juventud. Como abogada, entiendo el impacto que nuestras decisiones tiene con las empresas pequeñas. Jeff Heintschel, Democrat Graduated UH Clear Lake 5/93 with BA in history; graduated Thurgood Marshall School of Law 5/96; practiced law since 11/96 in almost all areas of law; court appointed to represent children and indigent persons; served as Special Master in Family Courts; lived in Justice Precinct entire life. Formación Académica-Licenciatura en historia. Universidad de Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas. 1993-Facultad de derecho de Thurgood Marshall. Universidad de Texas Southern University. Houston, Texas. 1996. Desde 1996 he ejercido derecho en casi todo de las áreas de derecho. También ha rereprenstado niños y gente indigente designado del juzgado. Servir de maestro especial en la corte de familia. Por fin tambien he vivido en el recinto judicial toda mi vida. J.P. Court runs the gamut from small claims to criminal. But I believe the most critical issue is truancy. We have to continue implementing progressive programs and partnering with the local school districts. I take the affect of a decision on the future of our youth seriously and will make rulings, including the need for punishment, fit the crime. El tribunal de Juez de paz recorre toda la gama de pequeños reclamos criminales. En mi opinión, el asunto más crítico es el ausentismo por los estudiantes que deben de estar en la escuela. Tenemos que continuar con los programas progresivos en los distritos escolares. Yo hare decisiones firmes pero justas para proteger futuro de nuestra juventud. The most critical issue facing this position is children that are brought before the court for truancy and other charges. To address these issues, successful mentoring and peer programs should be continued and expanded so that peers are involved in all aspects of the punishment/ rehabilitation process. Further, court and staff should work closely with teachers and school administrators. www.heintschelforjustice.com Niños que vienen delante de corte para ausentos y otras causas es la mas crítico ausento. Los ausentos pueden tener mas éxito con programas que ayudan los niños con problemas y también pueden hablar con gente que tienen las mismas problemas. Éstas programas deben seguir con los que están haciendo y también deben ser mas grande para que los niños están en el mismo grupo social. Con eso pueden estár mas interesado en todo de proceso de castigo y rehabilitación. También el corte y personal necesitan trabajar juntos y tener má atenciónes con los maestros y los administradores de la escuela. www.heintschelforjustice.com CONSTABLE Constables are authorized peace officers and chief process servers with county-wide jurisdiction to serve papers for suits involving debt, divorce, foreclosure, eviction writs and court summons. They issue criminal QUESTIONS TO 1 CANDIDATES: warrants through JP Courts and provide bailiffs for those courts. Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) How does this office avoid allegations of inequities based on race? What steps should be taken to ensure that this is not a problem in your precinct? (60 word limit) Nat Gutierrez, Republican – no response received Jack Abercia, Democrat – no response received Precinct 2 Daniel Vela, Republican – no response received Gary Freeman, Democrat Constable Freeman graduated from Waltrip High School, attended San Jacinto College and Lamar University and holds a Masters Peace Officer’s License. He has 36 years law-enforcement experience and has been the elected Pct. 2 Constable for twenty years, aggressively pursuing deadbeat parents who refuse to pay child support. Constable Freeman avoids allegations of inequities of all types by having an open-door policy and aggressively addressing every complaint. We strictly follow the County’s Grievance Policy and train all employees in the recognition and reporting of any violation of these policies. Violations of these policies are not tolerated! Deputies receive training in Cultural Diversity every two years. To find out where your precinct votes on Election Day: Call 713.755.6965 or 713.368.2200 28 www.harrisvotes.com or www.hcvoter.net League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide CONSTABLE Please describe your education, your occupation, and the training and experience that qualify you for this position. (50 word limit) QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES: How does this office avoid allegations of inequities based on race? What steps should be taken to ensure that this is not a problem in your precinct? (60 word limit) Tony Lewis, Republican – no response received Precinct 3 Ken Jones, Democrat Elected Constable at this time, been a Police Administrator for 34 years with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Associates Degree in Police Science with a Master Peace Officer’s License. I oversee the $10,500,000 budget and operation of the fourth largest Constable’s Department in the state of Texas. Al momento he sido elegido como un Constable, he sido administrador de la policía por 34 años. Tengo un titulo universitario en mantenimiento de negocios y otro en ciencias políticas con una licencia de Oficial de Paz. Proveo $10,500,000 del presupuesto y operaciones en el departamento de Constables en Texas que también es el 4to más grande del estado. This is taken from my 2000 Mission statement that best reflects what this office is doing to guard against inequities based on race. “We treat all persons in a dignified and courteous manner and exhibit understanding of ethnic and cultural diversity, both in our professional and personal endeavors.” “Our commitment to the community is paramount in our thoughts and actions.” Esto está tomado de mi misión declarativa del año 2000 que indica lo que esta oficina esta haciendo en referencia a las ineptitudes basadas en la raza. “Nosotros tramamos a todas las personas de una manera digna y cortés y exhibimos un entendimiento de éticas culturales y diversas, ambas en nuestras vidas profesionales y personales. Este compromiso nuestro es de gran importancia en nuestros pensamientos y acciones.” 4 Ron Hickman, Republican – no response received Phil Camus, Republican – no response received Precinct 5 Sam Pearson, Democrat Education: Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Management from Sam Houston State University and Texas Master Peace Officers Certification. Experience: Thirty-five years of Law Enforcement with twenty years as a supervisor (Auto Theft, Internal Affairs, Patrol, etc). Expertise: Academic adjunct professor with Houston Community College in Criminal Justice The Constable Office, under my command, will treat all persons equally in fair application of the law. To ensure this, all personnel, including the command staff, will be held accountable for their actions. Integrity will be established through cultural diversity training, community communication, and accountability of daily operations. Trust is built on truth. 6-8 Victor Trevino, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT May Walker, Democrat – running unopposed in PRECINCT 7 Bill Bailey, Republican – running unopposed in PRECINCT 8 6 How do I use the Voting Machine? Just follow these easy steps. 1 English Español access code 2 1234 Date: 11-07-2006 Time: 0:00:00 Place: Town Hall SELECT LANGUAGE ENTER ACCESS CODE Chief Executive Abraham Lincoln 3 Grover Cleveland Chief Executive MAKE CHOICES Abraham Lincoln Grover Cleveland 4 CAST BALLOT SPECIAL FEATURES • Turn the SELECT wheel to highlight the language of your choice. • Press the ENTER button. • • • Turn the SELECT wheel to highlight the first number of your Access Code. Press the ENTER button. Repeat for all numbers. • • • • Turn the SELECT wheel to highlight your choice. Press the ENTER button. The box to the left of the choice will change to red. To change your choice, turn the SELECT wheel to your new choice and press the ENTER button. • • • • Read the Ballot Summary Page. To change a choice from the Ballot Summary Page, turn the SELECT wheel to highlight the line you wish to change, and press the ENTER button. Cast your voted ballot by pressing the CAST BALLOT button. You have finished voting when you see the waving American flag. Exit the booth. • • • • To view the next page, press the NEXT button. To view the previous page, press the PREV button. To get help, press the HELP button twice. To vote for a write-in, turn the SELECT wheel to the write-in choice and press the ENTER button. Turn the SELECT wheel and press ENTER to spell out the name of the candidate you wish to write in. Turn the SELECT wheel to highlight ACCEPT, and press the ENTER button. League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 29 Useful Telephone Numbers / Web sites League of Women Voters – Houston Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.lwvhouston.org / 713.784.2923 League of Women Voters of Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.lwvtexas.org / 512.472.1100 The Democracy Network, national voter information resource of the League of Women Voters . . . . . . . . . . . www.dnet.org Texas Secretary of State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.sos.state.tx.us/elections U. S. House of Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.house.gov Texas Legislature Online w/links to Texas House and Senate, legislation and other state resources . . . . www.capitol.state.tx.us Harris County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.co.harris.tx.us / 713.755.5000 Harris County Clerk’s Voter/Election Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.harrisvotes.com / 713.755.6965 Harris County Voter Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.hcvoter.net / 713.368.2200 Texas Democratic Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.txdemocrats.org Libertarian Party of Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.txlp.org Republican Party of Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.texasgop.org The Constitution of the United States was amended to give or broaden the Right to Vote… • Male citizens, 21 years of age • Male citizens regardless of race, color, former servitude • Women citizens, 21 years of age • Tax on registering to vote (Poll Tax) eliminated • Voting age lowered to 18 Amendment XIV Amendment XV Amendment XIX Amendment XXIV Amendment XXVI July 9, 1868 February 3, 1870 August 18, 1920 January 23, 1964 July 1, 1979 Your Right To Vote Is Precious – But Unused It Has No Value ★ VOTE! The League of Women Voters ★ Membership Application The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan organization founded in 1920, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Name_________________________________________________________ For more information call the Houston Area League at 713.784.2923 or visit our web site, www.lwvhouston.org. ❏ One Year Individual Membership $65.00 ❏ One Year Household (Two members who share the same address) $ 97.50 ❏ Student Membership (With ID) $ 25.00 ❏ Donation $__________________ Or, complete the application form to join us and receive our monthly newsletter, Voters Guides, Voters Key – a handy directory of elected officials and useful voter information – and much more!! Mail check and application to: League of Women Voters of the Houston Area 2650 Fountainview #328 Houston,TX 77057 30 Address___________________City____________State ____Zip _______ Phone: Home______________________ Work ____________________ E-mail_______________________________Fax______________________ League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide November 4, 2008 General and Special Elections E a r ly V o ti n g S ch e d u l e 31 20 EARLY VOTING HOURS 33 32 Oct 20th - Oct 24th: 8 am to 4:30 pm Oct 25th: 7 am to 7 pm 36 34 Oct 26th: 1 pm to 6 pm HWY 249 US 59 HWY 290 Oct 27th - Oct 31st: 7 am to 7 pm 18 30 28 27 1 INSIDE LOOP 610 Moody Park: Moody Park Recreation Center, 3725 Fulton 3 Kashmere: 4 Downtown E: Ripley House, 4410 Navigation Blvd. 5 SE Houston: H.C.C.S. Southeast College, 6815 Rustic, A. Morales Bldg, Student Lounge 6 7 Main Office: Harris County Administration Building, 1001 Preston, 1st Floor 2 8 9 Astrodome: Fiesta Mart, Inc., 8130 Kirby Drive Metropolitan Mutli-Service Center, 1475 W.Gray * NE Houston: Northeast Multi-Service Center, 9720 Spaulding 10 Galena Park: Galena Park Branch Library, 11 Hobby Area: I.B.E.W. Hall #66, 12 Sunnyside: Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 13 S. Houston: The Power Center, 14 SW Houston: Bayland Park Community Center, 1500 Keene Street, Galena Park 4345 Allen Genoa Road 4605 Wilmington 12401 South Post Oak Road 6400 Bissonnet near Hillcroft 15 Near West Side:Tracy Gee Community Center, 3599 Westcenter Drive (One block East of Sam Houston Tollway) 16 *Spring Branch: Trini Mendenhall Sosa Com. Center, 1414 Wirt Road 17 Acres Home: Acres Home Multi-Service Center, 18 North: 17. 8 4 22 10 US 59 14 7 6 5 12 I-45 23 11 24 I-610 3 1 I-10 I-610 Julia C. Hester House, 2020 Solo St. OUTSIDE LOOP 610 I-10 21 2 16 13 Palm Center: Justice of the Peace/Constable Entry, 5300 Griggs Road Neartown: 17 15 26 25 35 BW 8 9 BW 8 29 19 I-45 OUTSIDE BELTWAY 8 19 Humble: Octavia Fields Branch Library, 1503 South Houston Ave.,Humble HC Library - Kingwood Branch, 4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood 20 *Kingwood: Beverly B. Kau Harris County 21 Wallisville: North Channel Library, 15741 Wallisville Road 22 Baytown: Baytown Community Center - Tejas Room, 2407 Market Street, Baytown 23 Pasadena: Harris County Courthouse Annex #25, 7330 Spencer Highway,Pasadena Clear Lake: Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane,Clear Lake 24 25 Alief: Alief Regional Library, 7979 South Kirkwood For more information: www.harrisvotes.com (713) 755-6965 26 West Houston:Lac Hong Center, 6628 Wilcrest Dr. 12401 Katy Freeway 27 *Far W. Houston:Courtyard by Marriott, 28 Far West/Katy: Franz Road Storefront, 19818 Franz Road O U T S I D E B E LT WAY 8 c o n t 29 Bear Creek: Bear Creek Park Community Center, Bear Creek Drive @ Patterson Road 6719 W.Montgomery Road,2nd Floor Hardy Senior Center 11901 West Hardy Road Any eligible voter may vote at any one of the early voting polling locations. 30 Jersey Village:City of Jersey Village-City Hall, 31 Tomball: 32 16327 Lakeview Drive Tomball Public Works Building, 501 B James, Tomball Cypress Creek:Barbara Bush Library 817 Cypresswood, Spring 33 Far North: Ponderosa Fire Station No.1, 17061 Rolling Creek Drive, Houston League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 34 Cypress: Cypress Top Park, 26026 Hempstead Highway 35 Bush Park: Glen Cheek Education Bldg 16002 Westheimer Parkway College: Willowchase Campus, 9449 Grant Road 36 * Lone Star * Indicates new or changed location 31 The League of Women Voters appreciates the companies that make the Voters Guide possible. Local Businesses Support Voters Guide Distribution to Schools and Libraries Area schools and libraries will receive free Voters Guides thanks to the generosity of several companies. The companies shown below made this happen. On behalf of the libraries and schools and our organization, the League of Women Voters – Houston Area sincerely thanks you. elpaso 32 American Express Hon. Sylvia Garcia Andrews Kurth LLP Houston Association of Realtors Ann Herbage Houston Endowment, Inc. Ann L. MacNaughton, Merrill Lynch Jones and Carter Arnold and Langrand League of Women Voters Houston Area Ayrshire Corporation Leslie Taylor Baker Botts Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Bank of America Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. Blaine and Judy Hollinger Lynne Johnson CenterPoint Energy Marathron Oil Co Commissioner Jerry Eversole Minnette Boesel Properties Continental Airlines Molly Shanks – Tina E. Bangs Foundation El Paso Energy Nathelyne Kennedy ESPA Pate Engineers Exxon Mobil Plumbers Local Union 68 Fulbright and Jaworski Sharon Friedman Gwen Essinger Silver Eagle Harris County Sylvia Garcia Hon. Annise Parker Terri Hershey Hon. Beverly Kaufman Turbo Components and Engineering Hon. Pam Holm University of Houston Downtown Hon. Peggy Hamric Zarinkelk Engineers Hon. Sue Lovell Zinn Petroleum Company League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide League’s Education Funds Are Essential to Voters Guide The Education Funds of the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area and the League of Women Voters of Texas make substantial contributions to the Harris County and the State Voters Guides.These Education Funds are supported by individuals, businesses and foundations. Major contributors since September 2004 to the Education Funds are gratefully acknowledged and named below. Education Fund League of Women Voters of the Houston Area Madeleine Appel Barbara Lessis Dorothy Burge David Mohlman Rosalie Halpin Sam Keeper Lynn Walshak Mary Dix Laura Blackburn Purisima Funds Susan Wegner Henly Foundation Braeburn Women’s Club Claudia Williamson Bette John Molly Shanks Lula Smith Elmer Samson Fran Smith Francis Burford Barbara Swartz Joan Dinkler Margaret Hill Annie Johnson Benifield Green/White Advisors Billie Curtis Linn Swartz Joan Helfgott MicroPore Barbara Goins Rita Hanna Jane McColl Elsie Sailant Barbara Bartholomew Jan Wilbur Sheryl Berg Donna Link Katherine Guenther Mary Titus Christine Smith Sharon Friedman Sharon Cunningham Center for Public Policy Mrs. C. W. Wellen Agnes Davis Carolyn Hunnicutt-Armijo Eleanor Tinsley Christine Anderson Fort Bend ISD Martha Morrison Carmen Forbes Shana Story Cynthia Biaska Renee Cross Joe Reilly League of Women Voters Safeway, Inc. Virginia Camfield Shirley Gibson Education Fund Kroger Louis Feldman Education Fund League of Women Voters of Texas Harold Simmons Foundation Hatton Sumners Foundation Association of Texas Professional Educators Texas State Teachers Association Texas Freedom Network Education Fund Linda Wassenich Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauner & Feld, LLP Elaine Bridges Ruthann Geer Susybelle Gosslee Darlene Hicks Julie Lowenberg League of Women Voters Education Fund and the Program on Constitutional and Legal Policy of the Open Society Institute Julia Marsden Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers/ Bowers Foundation Diane Sheridan Valerie Standifer Janet Imhoff Julia Marsden Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers/Bowers Foundation Jacqueline Pike Clint Zehner League of Women Voters Houston • General Election 2008 Voters Guide 33