the texas gulf coast’s jewish newspaper since 1908 october...

October 21, 2010 ✡ Section B ✡ jhvonline.com

2010 election:2010 election:

The Candidates Speak

The Candidates Speak

More than 80 Texas political candidates

responded to a JH-V questionnaire.Their answers follow.

This section contains responses from candidates on the 2010 General and Special Elections ballot for Harris County. Questionnaires were sent to candidates’ email addresses or to campaign or PR email addresses. The Jewish Herald-Voice required that responses be brief and returned by deadline, and the JH-V had the right to edit for brevity. Unedited copies of responses are available at the JH-V by request.

The Texas Gulf Coast’s Jewish Newspaper Since 1908

United StatesRepresentative

District 7

JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

DECISION TO RUN: I am committed to Thomas Jefferson’s vision of limited government, individual liberty and states’ rights. Simply put, I believe in “Letting Texans Run Texas.”

PERSONAL QUALITIES: The people of Dist. 7 know they can count on me to keep my word to cut taxes, cut spending and honor the Constitution. As a staunch fiscal conservative, I have consistently opposed spending increases regardless of who occupied the Oval Office and will continue to do so as long as I am in office. Common sense tells you that “spending money to save money” is not a logical or coherent fiscal policy. The federal government must learn to live within its means – just like American families. It’s time to let Americans keep more of what they earn and for the government to spend less. I believe that by taking these steps, our economy will experience the growth and prosperity that have defined America for generations.

ECONOMIC SECURITY: Our nation is facing an urgent fiscal crisis. Today, the individual share of the national debt for every woman, man and child in the U.S. is $39,870. This debt is almost entirely comprised of new spending that our children and grandchildren will be forced to repay with interest. We simply must stop spending our children’s future. Fiscal conservatives have put forth a plan that would roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone and putting us on a path to balance the budget and pay down the debt. I also believe that Congress should make the tax cuts permanent and keep the money where it belongs – in the hands of American consumers.

NATIONAL SECURITY: The U.S. is engaged in a war with terrorists, who are committed to destroying our country and our way of life. We must recommit to defeating

this threat and isolating terrorist regimes. The U.S. must also show its steadfast support for the peace, security and prosperity of Israel. Unfortunately, I do not believe the

Obama administration has shown Israel, one of our closest allies, the respect and support it deserves. This Congress, I have

co-sponsored H.R.1553, which expresses support, “for the State of Israel’s right to defend

Israeli sovereignty, to protect the lives and safety of the Israeli people and to use all means

necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear

threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the use of military force if no other peaceful solution can be found

within reasonable time to protect against such an immediate and existential threat to the State of Israel.” In addition, I have cosponsored H.R. 5501, a bill condemning the U.N. Human Rights Council’s outrageous

reaction to the Gaza flotilla incident and prohibiting U.S. contributions to the United Nations from paying for any biased U.N. investigation into the incident.

REPEALING AND REPLACING THE HEALTH CARE BILL: Fiscal conservatives recognize that our health care system needs a tune up, not a trade in. We have put together a better alternative for health care reform, H.R. 3400, the Empowering Patients First Act. This bill will cut costs; eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare; make insurance portable; allow small businesses to pool together to negotiate coverage; and provide tax credits, not penalties, to businesses that insure their employees. I believe we need to empower patients, not burden them with government mandates. We need to preserve the doctor-patient relationship, not let government bureaucrats make health care treatment decisions. Most importantly, we need to make high quality coverage affordable for everyone, not pick winners and losers. By taking these steps, I believe we can fix our health care system while strengthening our economy.

PAGE B2JEWISH HERALD-VOICEOCTOBER 21, 2010

RICK PERRY

DECISION TO RUN: Texas has become the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family, thanks to our leaders’ commitment to principles based on limited government, low taxes, restrained spending and individual freedom. We are a leader in job creation, even throughout these challenging economic times, and the nation’s top destination for businesses to relocate or expand. I am proud of what our state has accomplished and want to continue working to ensure our state maintains its forward momentum and remains a leader in the national and global economies.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring to office the principled leadership that has helped Texas maintain one of the strongest economies in the country and a successful model of good governance for the rest of the nation to follow.

TOP 3 ISSUES OF PRIORITY: I will maintain my steadfast commitment to fiscal discipline, leading to more job creation, the continuous improvement of our education system and efforts to secure our border. I also believe Texas will continue to lead the nation in taking a stand against Washington’s overreach.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY: As the national and global economies struggle to recover from their financial woes, Texas is displaying an economic strength that is built on conservative fiscal discipline. Going forward, Texas will continue to demonstrate to the nation that the way to economic recovery is to establish priorities and cut spending, and not to dig ourselves

deeper in debt with unsustainable levels of spending and higher taxes.

I have experience tackling such challenges, having worked with the legislature to fill a $10 billion budget hole without raising taxes in 2003. I signed the only two state budgets since World War II that cut general revenue spending in Texas. Moving forward, I’d like to see the Texas Legislature make the small business tax cut approved last session permanent. I also believe Texans deserve the chance to vote on constitutional amendments that would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to increase state taxes and limit the growth of state spending based on inflation and population growth.

EDUCATION: Our young people are better prepared than ever to take hold of opportunity, and businesses know they can come to Texas and find an educated, increasingly competitive workforce. We remain focused on equipping college- and career-ready graduates by increasing accountability, emphasizing core curriculum, continuing teacher incentive pay, increasing college financial aid and paving the path for more Tier One universities.

I have proposed expanding the number of T-STEM academies in Texas, and creating a T-STEM Challenge Scholarship for students pursing degrees and certifications in STEM fields. I’ve proposed a “four-year tuition freeze” that will lock in the cost of higher education tuition

one pays as a freshman for the next four academic years. I’ve also proposed expanding the UTeach program to five additional higher education institutions.

We should expand the Virtual School Network so that students can work towards their diploma outside the realm of a bricks-and-mortar school and have a greater field of academic opportunity. I also think high school students must be

enrolled in high school or working towards a GED in order to get and keep a Texas driver’s license. I also proposed a tax credit to employers who grant their

employees two hours a week of paid time off to

return to school or study for their GED, and I think we need to provide financial incentives to school districts who reduce expenses by creating shared

services arrangements with other districts.

HEALTHCARE: In Texas, we have passed comprehensive medical liability (tort) reform in order to restore balance to the Texas judicial system and keep doctors in the exam room instead of the courtroom. Since the passage of this legislation, more than 17,000 new doctors have begun practice in Texas, which has improved patient access to care. I promoted the reforms to the small employer health insurance market so more people can afford health insurance and conveyed a vision to further reduce the number of uninsured in Texas by restructuring federal Medicaid funding to make it easier for the working poor to buy into employer sponsored health coverage. States have the ability to lead the way in this debate, creating innovative and efficient ways to deal with the issues that affect them most. One-size fit all, government-run health care dictated by bureaucrats in Washington is not a solution to our health care challenges.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: Texas has a diverse portfolio of energy sources, including renewable, natural gas, coal and nuclear power, to meet the needs of our growing population. Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants and advancing renewable energy sources – and we’ve done so while balancing the need for environmental improvements while fostering economic growth, new investment and job creation. Texas has installed more wind power than any other state and more than all but four other countries. We are also a leader in solar, biofuel and clean coal efforts.

Moving forward, we will continue to foster new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable

regulation, not costly mandates and taxes. We’ve also announced the creation of the Gulf Project to find ways to make offshore drilling safer, so that we can better protect our environment and ensure a tragedy like the one that happened last summer will never happen again. I believe in finding ways to effectively address our challenges, instead of implementing bureaucratic restrictions that will kill jobs and harm our economy.

IMMIGRATION: Securing our border is a federal responsibility, but a Texas problem. Because the federal government has failed to secure our border, Texas has provided more than $200 million in funding to apply technology and the world’s best law enforcement, Texas peace officers, to fight both border crime and a rising tide of gang violence in communities across our state. In light of the recent drug-related violence in Mexico, I have reiterated my request to the federal government for 1,000 National Guard troops to support our civilian law enforcement along the border. I will continue working with state leaders to build on our successful efforts to keep the border secure to fill the gap left by the federal government, which has largely abdicated this crucial responsibility to the states.

RIGHT TO LIFE: As our forefathers understood, life is nothing less than a gift from G-d. Defending that right is a calling for me, and worthy of our best. I’ve worked diligently to make Texas safer for the unborn by signing both parental notification and parental consent laws to ensure parents are involved in their minor daughters’ major life decisions. I also signed a ban on Texas tax dollars being used to support abortion facilities.

FOREIGN POLICY & ISRAEL: I have had multiple opportunities to visit Israel as part of an economic development delegation to promote Texas as a trading partner and, of course, as the best place for Israeli businesses to expand. Texas is Israel’s third largest U.S. trading partner and more than $580 million in Texas exports arrive on its shores every year. Israel and Texas are alike in so many ways, both culturally and in terms of our shared passion for self-determination. We both possess economies stronger than our neighbors’, thanks in large part to a risk-tolerant culture, prudent government policies and a willingness to compete.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: While other states drive employers away with high taxes, burdensome regulations and frivolous lawsuits, Texas is committed to sustaining our model of limited government, which is exerting a magnetic pull on jobs, investment and people who want to live free.

DEBORAHfor JUDGEWRIGHT311th Family District Court

Board Certified in Family LawFamily Law Mediation and Collaborative Law30 years experience in government and private practice3 years as Family District Court Associate JudgeAssociate, Jenkins & Kamin LLPEndorsed by the Houston Chronicle, the Association of Women Attorneys, AFL-CIO Council of Houston, Houston GLBT Caucus, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston and Pasadena Bar AssociationPreferred candidate in both the Houston Bar Association 2010 Judicial Preference Poll and the Katy Bar Association 2010 Judicial Preference Poll (not an endorsement by either the Houston Bar Association or the Katy Bar Association)

Political advertising paid for by Deborah Wright Campaign in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, Leonel Farias II, Treasurer

GOVERNOR

Experienced Trial Attoneys Make Good Trial Judges

Democrat

RE-ELECT

• Elected Judge of the 55th in 2008• 25 Years Insurance Defense Attorney• Board Certified in Civil Trial and

Personal Injury Trial• Graduate of the University of

Houston Law Center• Adjunct Professor of Law UHLC

Not printed at taxpayer expense. Paid political advertisement Judge Dion Ramos Campaign, Mike McBath, Treasurer, 3401 Lousisiana, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77002.

PAGE B3JEWISH HERALD-VOICE

OCTOBER 21, 2010

BILL WHITE

DECISION TO RUN: I’m running for governor to move Texas forward. We’ve always been a great state but, in the last decade, our educational attainment and per capita income have fallen behind other states, and I want to change that by preparing Texans for good jobs with a real future.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I know how to bring people together to get things done. I’ve been a chief executive who’s managed small and large public and private organizations. I know how to squeeze the most out of taxpayers’ money. These are the skills we need in a governor.

PUBLIC SAFETY: I will work to keep Texans safe from international drug traffickers, human traffickers and gang members by: funding an additional 1,000 local law enforcement officers and 250 additional state troopers along the border; obtain all available federal support and deploy it and state-appropriated homeland security funds for their intended purposes; establish a formal partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies along the border; revamp DPS, so that it can meet 21st century challenges, including enhancing forensics; and, assist local law enforcement agencies that are just now implementing the Secure Communities program, which I instituted in Houston while mayor.

EDUCATION: This is my priority. On public and higher education, I will focus on the following: expand pre-K programs that work; improve career and technical education by working with school districts, community colleges and employers; cut dropout rates by treating it as an emergency when students do not return to school; stop teaching to the test and let educators teach writing, reasoning and problem-solving skills; and, make college education more affordable for Texans.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY: The most important thing the governor can do to help the economy is to make sure we have a high-quality school system, from preschool through college, that prepares Texans to compete for high wage jobs in a global economy. The governor, as CEO of the state, must forecast and plan ahead to avoid raising taxes during a recession, as Rick Perry did this year when he nearly doubled payroll taxes due to poor planning during the strong years.

HEALTHCARE: Texas continues to be the state with the highest percentage of uninsured people, including an alarming number of uninsured children. When I was mayor of Houston, we did not wait for the state or federal government to address the problem of access to healthcare. We added primary care providers to seven of our clinics. We implemented the “Pay or Play” program that requires large city contractors to provide a certain level of health benefits to their employees or to pay into a fund that is used to pay for healthcare for low income, uninsured people. And, we helped develop and fund the TexHealth 3-share program, which enables small businesses to offer health plans to their employees in an affordable manner. As governor, I will continue to look for innovative ways to increase access to care, including making sure that we implement healthcare reform in a responsible manner.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: I have worked on energy and environmental issues for 34 years. As governor, I will work to diversify our sources of traditional energy, especially from domestic sources, so that we are less dependent on foreign oil, which benefits our economy and our security. I’ve released a plan to promote renewable energy, especially solar and energy efficiency for homeowners, businesses and government. Houston became the number-one government purchaser of wind energy in the U.S. while I was mayor. I have a longstanding commitment to environmental protection – which is consistent with economic prosperity. I served on the Advisory Board

of Environmental Defense and I chaired the Environmental Committee at the Greater Houston Partnership. While I was mayor, we adopted an emissions reduction plan to reduce the city’s environmental footprint by purchasing hybrids, retrofitting our buildings for energy efficiency and installing solar panels. We also worked hard to reduce the levels of two highly prevalent human carcinogens in our air by more than 50 percent and to challenge the permitting of coal fired power plants that would have emitted harmful levels of pollutants.

IMMIGRATION: Immigration law is the province of the federal government, and the state has no authority to set the rules about who can and cannot enter the U.S. As governor, I will focus on border security to make sure that violence and criminal activity, like drug and human trafficking and gang activity, does not impact Texas communities.

NATIONAL SECURITY: Our nation must maintain its security and defend itself whenever it is threatened. This is the responsibility of the federal government and, as governor, I will work with federal authorities to support their efforts.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS/RIGHT TO LIFE: I believe that important life decisions, including medical decisions, are best made by individuals, not the government.

FOREIGN POLICY & ISRAEL: I have visited Israel with members of the Jewish Federation and am fully committed to its long-term survival and security as a matter of conscience and as a matter of U.S. security.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: The responsibility of state government is defined by the Texas Constitution. I believe in limited government that is efficient and effective and

gives taxpayers the most for their money. Government should operate with transparency and integrity for the benefit of the people, not for the benefit of lobbyists, special interests or political donors.

ROLE OF BIPARTISANSHIP: Bipartisanship is essential to state government in Texas, and it is up to the governor to set the tone for working with all legislators on behalf of all Texans. We cannot run the state for the benefit of one party, nor can we look only to one party to fill the many appointments the governor makes. As mayor of Houston, I presided over almost 15,000 votes, and not one of them broke along party lines. It is possible, with the right leadership, to forge good working relationships across party lines so that the citizens who elect us get the kind of hard-working, deliberative government they deserve.

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SARAH DAVIS

DECISION TO RUN: I decided to seek office while recovering from chemotherapy, following my breast cancer diagnosis. I felt compelled to run when the U.S. Senate passed “ObamaCare.” I want to work to limit the devastating impact this legislation will have on Texans and the state of Texas.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: optimism, tolerance, conservative approach to state spending and taxation.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND TAXATION: I believe responsibly limiting state spending is crucial to the future of the state of Texas. A conservative approach to spending will be especially important in the 82nd Legislature, when Texas will face a revenue shortfall. I support a constitutional amendment limiting growth of the state budget to inflation plus population growth. I oppose a state income tax, will work to reduce the negative impact of the Gross Margins Tax and work to enact real property tax relief by capping the property tax increases at no more than 3 percent in any year.

HEALTHCARE: Pass “Healthcare Freedom” legislation that protects our rights as citizens to purchase or not purchase health insurance and protects us from being fined based on that decision.

ELECTION INTEGRITY: Pass “Voter ID” legislation to ensure that the citizen coming to the poll to cast a vote is the same person registered to cast that vote.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY: The Texas economy, while not completely insulated from the challenges that our nation has faced, has faired better than most states. I believe the main reason for our state’s economic success is the business-friendly environment that flourishes here. In order to ensure Texas remains home of the most Fortune 500 companies in the nation, and to attract new business to the state, I will fight efforts to create a state income tax, work to minimize the negative impact businesses feel from the Gross Margins Tax by supporting legislation that would make the $1 million revenue exemption permanent and support legislation that would require a super-majority vote in the Legislature before the Gross Margins Tax could be increased. Additionally, I would work to enact real property tax relief by capping property tax increases at no more than a 3 percent increase in any given year.

EDUCATION: I believe that student achievement is almost always related to parental involvement. Therefore, I support policies that empower parents, such as creating open-enrollment school districts that allow students to pick which schools in their district they want to attend, eliminating or raising the cap on open-enrollment charter schools and creating an education-tax-credit scholarship program so students can receive scholarships to attend the school environment of their choice (public, private, home school).

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: Through major efforts over the last 10 years, Texas has successfully lowered ozone levels. Major state, local and private efforts resulted in this dramatic improvement in Texas. Texas’ ozone reduction success is masked by the EPA’s repeated change of the federal ozone standard. Environmental policy must not supplant realistic energy policy. Texas’ deregulated electricity market, which is the most competitive market in the U.S., provides Texas with the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of projected energy demand. The key to developing future energy supplies is to make the marketplace the mechanism for determining the future mix of energy sources, production technologies and distributions systems.

IMMIGRATION: Although traditionally the responsibility of the federal government, states like Texas can play a legitimate and meaningful role in improving border security. Resources should be properly directed to Texas border sheriffs to assist in combating drug and human smuggling. Further, sanctuary city policies under which immigration laws are ignored or routinely not enforced must not be tolerated. Legislation should be enacted that clearly prohibits the adoption of sanctuary city policies. Finally, Texas must continue to demand that President Obama and Congress act to secure the Texas-Mexico border.

NATIONAL SECURITY: I believe that America must always have the strongest, most modern military force in the world to secure our freedom and promote peace.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS/RIGHT TO LIFE: This issue is a federal issue, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade.

FOREIGN POLICY & ISRAEL: Although I do not think the Texas State Legislature has a significant role to play in foreign policy and Israel, I believe that the U.S. and Israel are inextricably linked and must stand together for democracy and peace in the Middle East. Israel is America’s strongest ally in the Middle East, thus America must always support a strong and democratic Israel.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: There is a fundamental difference between the liberal philosophy of more spending, higher taxes and more government and the conservative philosophy of limited government. As a conservative, I believe in a limited role of government and that activities not essential to the core mission of a state agency should be considered for privatization, elimination or, at a minimum, restructuring. I believe the proper role of government is to address only those critical functions that cannot be better performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.

ROLE OF BIPARTISANSHIP: Ideally, a state representative reflects the values and interests of the district. In representing the district, a state representative should work with both parties to accomplish the goals the district finds important.

ELLEN COHEN

DECISION TO RUN: I’m seeking to continue my service to District 134 because, having lived here over 30 years, I know the commitment and involvement people in the district have for the quality of life issues that they wish to preserve. These include a strong educational system, opportunities for higher education, working for a clean environment and protecting individual rights. It’s an honor and privilege to serve the constituents of District 134.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I work well with my colleagues of both parties. Evidence of this is in the fact that I was appointed by the Republican speaker of the house to the Appropriations Committee, Higher Education Committee and to the Select Committee on Federal Legislation. I am committed to “bring people together to get things done.” I can be counted on to study issues, listen to people advocating for both sides of a bill and turn to experts in a field when I need their advice and counsel. I do not believe in finger-pointing, I believe in consensus building.

EDUCATION: Our economy is dependent on students who graduate and are ready to support the high demand for skilled jobs in our region and state. In order to accomplish this goal, we must recruit and retain the best teachers to our public schools and make higher education affordable for every student. A combination of tuition regulation, grants and financial aid are solutions that will enable us to produce a qualified workforce that our vibrant business community demands.

To make critically needed changes, for example, we must examine the cost of early childhood education, incentive compensation programs and equitable funding for community colleges. We must implement accountability and seek innovative solutions.

HEALTHCARE: Affordable, quality healthcare is one of the most important issues facing our state – affecting every household, workplace and, ultimately, Texas’ economic development. Without healthy children, our schools cannot deliver the caliber of graduates we need to support a thriving workforce. An educated, healthy workforce is necessary to attract businesses which, in turn, create a healthy economic environment. I am proud to represent the Texas Medical Center. One of my top priorities is working with the TMC to ensure we continue as a global leader in medical research and patient services.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY: We need innovative approaches to address our current economic situation. Businesses are attracted to states with an educated, healthy population and a quality of life that exemplifies values, such as public safety, the environment, a strong educational system and respect for all its citizens. We need to explore how preventive healthcare can save taxpayers millions of dollars in the years ahead. We need to invest in public education, because the future of our state heavily depends on a highly educated workforce to compete in the global marketplace and lead us into the next century.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: Protecting our environment is key to securing and improving our quality of life. Houston faces unique challenges caused by both transportation and the density of industry. We must pass common sense standards to reduce the dangerous chemical concentrations found in Houston’s air. Economic growth and an environmental conscience are not on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Efficiency and conservation can ultimately reduce costs and the demand for resources. Cleaner air and green space will attract the workforce needed to supply the growing demands of the Texas Medical Center, local universities and cutting edge business development.

IMMIGRATION: While immigration is a federal issue, there are things we can do at the state level to help enforce immigration policies. I believe any attempts at reform must include a reasoned and

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STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 134


OCTOBER 21, 2010

logical approach. We must also work with the federal government, which ultimately has purview in this matter. Congress was on the right track in attempting to pass comprehensive immigration reform with the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, which was introduced in 2005 by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). This bill incorporated legislation, guest worker programs and border enforcement components. Unfortunately, it did not pass and neither have any of the more recent versions of the bill.

Considering that Texas is facing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, the need to effectively and efficiently utilize our resources is extremely important. During the next legislative session, my colleagues and I must use a fiscally sensible and reasoned approach to address any immigration policy reform at the state level. While we have significant challenges facing our state, I believe we must work with our federal officials to ensure that illegal immigration is addressed and a comprehensive plan is in place.

NATIONAL SECURITY: It is important to work with the federal government to ensure that the state is involved within our purview to support national security efforts and keep Texas citizens safe.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS/RIGHT TO LIFE: Personal life decisions should be made by individuals, not the government. I trust, and support, women’s own decisions about their health, bodies and future. I believe it is important that we respect individuals with the dignity each of us deserves.

FOREIGN POLICY & ISRAEL: As the only country classified as an electoral democracy in the Middle East, Israel is a great friend to the U.S. and needs all the support it can garner.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: The government’s role is to protect the rights and well-being of its people. I believe all Americans should have a quality education, basic human rights and freedoms, access to affordable healthcare and safe living conditions.

ROLE OF BIPARTISANSHIP: I am proud to have been appointed by the Republican speaker of the house to the Appropriations Committee, Higher Education Committee and House Select Committee on Federal Legislation. This speaks to my ability to work across party lines, which we must do if we are going to work together as an effective Legislature. There are diverse political beliefs among the constituents of District 134, so it is very important that I represent my district to the Texas legislature and not a party to the district.

SHERRY RADACK

DECISION TO RUN: I seek reelection after 11 years of service because I enjoy the job and enjoy serving the public. I think it is important that the law is followed very carefully so that outcomes are predictable and that the law is administered equally to every litigant.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I graduated from Rice University and University of Houston Law School. I practiced law at then Bracewell and Patterson, focusing on contract, products liability and first-party insurance defense. I was elected to the 55th District Court in 1999, where I served for three years and presided over 100 jury trials and many more non-jury trials. In 2001, I was appointed to associate justice of the First Court of Appeals and appointed again a year later to chief justice of that same court. I have served in that position for eight years. I have authored hundreds of opinions while serving on the court. Under my tenure, our court has maintained a 100 percent clearance rate in a manner that proves a fair and accurate resolution of the parties’ cases.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the judiciary is disposing of cases within a reasonable time in a fair and accurate way. Judicial resources are scarce. As chief justice, I will work hard to maintain the quality of opinions, and do it fairly and accurately.

MORRIS OVERSTREET

DECISION TO RUN: I have served successfully two terms twice elected and never defeated on the state’s highest criminal appellate court where I authored more than 500 opinions. I presided over the County Court at Law No. 1 in Amarillo for more than four years and have served as a county prosecutor, as a municipal judge and as a law professor. In addition to that, I have had private law business experience.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have the judicial restraint, temperament, tenacity and objectivity to serve this court as no one has done so before. I have worked with folks from every form and fashion in every one of the 10 counties that this court serves. I know from my experience, my education and those that have served with me that it is those qualities that are needed now more than ever to serve as chief justice in this very diverse area.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I

have been practicing before state and federal appellate courts since 1975 and was educated in this state from San Angelo to law school in Houston. I earned and served as the first

African American elected statewide and then was reelected across the state of Texas and was not defeated from that high bench. That spans more than three-and-a-half decades of distinguished service to the citizens of Texas. I have never, as a prosecutor or as a judge, had a criminal conviction overturned.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The

biggest problem facing the judiciary locally, regionally and across Texas is a perception that it now is influenced too much by tendencies to one side politically or from one side ideologically or familially. I have served and represented Texans from every political ideology and every diverse discipline. I know from my track record I can be objective and bring objectivity in perception and in reality to this increasingly important court that now serves an increasingly diverse region of Texas.

EVELYN KEYES

DECISION TO RUN: Appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in May 2002; elected in November 2002 to unexpired term, and reelected to full term in 2004. I am dedicated to ensuring justice for the people of Texas by keeping the law sound and fair for everyone, and I hope I have earned the confidence of the people to continue to serve in this office.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring to the bench a deep belief that all litigants need to be heard and their cases judged fairly in accordance with the law; knowledge of the law learned through 22 years legal and judicial experience; a long record of service to the bar and legal profession, including American Law Institute Government Ethics Project Advisory Council, State Bar Judicial Section Board, and State Bar Court Rules Committee Appellate Subcommittee chair; bar presentations and publications.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Over 600 signed appellate opinions in civil, criminal, family, and probate law in 8 years as appellate justice; 14 years prior experience in complex trial and appellate, federal and state, plaintiff and defendant civil litigation, including law firm associate and partner and special assistant attorney general to Attorney General Cornyn; six years service on State Bar Grievance Committee; former chair, American Bar Ass’n Young Lawyers Division ethics chair; former member University of Houston Alumni and Law Review Board. Strong academic credentials, including UH Law Review chief articles editor, Order of the Coif, Ph.D.s from Rice (philosophy) and Texas (English), Woodrow Wilson Fellow; Phi Beta Kappa.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Judicial ethics, independence and accountability

– and the perception thereof. My concern for judicial integrity and for legal and judicial education inspired me to seek my recent appointments to the American Law Institute’s government ethics project advisory council, to the board of the State Bar Judicial Section, and to the Texas Center for the Judiciary’s Judicial Resources Committee, where I can have a positive input on committees addressing these issues.

MICHAEL MASSENGALE

DECISION TO RUN: I greatly enjoy my current job, so I am running to keep it. It is a great honor and privilege to serve my community as a judge.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Strong work ethic and judicial temperament. I am committed to working hard, and I approach my job as a judge with the same work ethic that helped me to succeed in private law practice.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am the candidate with the most relevant experience. I currently serve as a judge on the court. Previously, I was a partner in the trial department of Baker Botts, handling complex litigation for plaintiffs and defendants. I also worked at the federal appeals court for two years.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Too many judges do not understand that their role is to say what the law is, not what it should be. My work is guided by the principle that the role of a judge is to fairly and impartially apply the law to each case, and not to legislate from the bench.

ROBERT RAY

DECISION TO RUN: As a 25-year attorney and psychologist, I have the experience, temperament and knowledge to bring a fresh perspective to the First Court of Appeals.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: My background and depth and breadth of experience in trial and appellate law, as well as in psychology, permit me to see the “big picture” in terms of fairness, as well as ensuring that the interests of justice are served in every case I hear.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 25 years experience as a Texas and Harris County attorney; experience working for an appellate court; Ph.D. in social psychology; over 40 cases tried to a jury verdict; experience in a wide variety of areas, including representing and providing strategic advice to individuals and small businesses.

CHIEF JUSTICE, 1ST COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

JUSTICE, 1st COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, Pl. 4

JUSTICE, 1st COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, Pl. 8

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CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The appellate courts must regularly examine how appellate process can be more efficient and streamlined using the resources available, without sacrificing the responsibility for seeing that each case is given a full and fair hearing.

SHARON MCCALLY

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring the same qualities to the appellate courts that I have brought to the trial bench: A commitment to the fair administration of justice; a passion for the principles of a restrained judiciary; and a dedication to excellence in the stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Civil district judge since 2005; trial and appellate lawyer since 1992; two-year law clerk to The Honorable David Hittner, and seven years of construction business experience before law.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: A “justice for sale” perception is a strong negative by-product of a partisan elected judiciary. An individual judge or justice must vigilantly work against that perception and hold themselves to the highest level of professional integrity and ethics. I will do exactly that.

WALLY KRONZER

DECISION TO RUN: The 1967 Texas Legislature created that court of appeals.

Numerous former legislatures reminded me over the years that my father was heavily involved in the lobbying efforts to create that court of appeals. The second reason is former Chief Justice Curtis Brown and my father were very close friends dating back to their law school days. Justice Brown swore me in as an attorney. There is a certain logic and symmetry to my serving on the 14th Court of Appeals.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: The ability to approach a trial court’s decision in an appropriate manner. I will never reverse the trial court outcome simply because I do not like the outcome. Another quality is empathy for litigants who cannot afford high-priced legal counsel – an attorney’s reputation will not cause me to lean one way or the other before I even consider the case’s merits. This empathy led to my doing pro bono work for clients who could not otherwise afford legal representation. Understanding that everyone is entitled to constitutional legal protections regardless of what brought one to the court. Born and raised in Houston, married 33 years, prostate cancer survivor, Eagle Scout.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have been practicing before state and federal appellate courts since 1991 – I was licensed in 1988. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certified me in Civil Appellate Law in 1996. The board recertified me in 2001 and 2006. I have argued to the Texas Supreme Court as well as the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. I actively practiced before most of the Texas courts of appeals, including this court of appeals as well as its sister Houston court of appeals. I represent litigants in direct appeals, accelerated appeals and original proceedings such as mandamus and habeas corpus. This work has been almost exclusively as lead appellate counsel.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the local court of appeals judiciary is its lack of diversity – the justices’ legal backgrounds. Too many Houston court of appeals justices come from large firm backgrounds, including those from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Most of my appeals come from outside Harris County. All of my appeals come from solo attorneys, small law firms or pro bono clients. I cannot help but have an understanding of the concerns that solo attorneys, small firms, and pro bono clients have. I cannot help but have an understanding of the concerns that the non-Harris County judges, lawyers and citizens have.

TRACY ELIZABETH CHRISTOPHER

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I will judge all parties fairly. I will work hard and follow the law.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am an honors graduate from The University of Texas School of Law. Before my appointment to this court, I was a trial judge for 15 years. I am board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both civil and personal injury law. I am highly rated by the lawyers who appear in my court.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The quality of appellate lawyers for indigent criminals is uneven – some are great and some are not. I would encourage private firms to donate time to help with indigent criminal appeals. When I was in private practice, I handled several pro bono criminal appeals.

TIM RILEY

DECISION TO RUN: I decided to run for this position because of my disappointment with the very one-sided direction of the Texas appellate courts. Currently the 14th Court of Appeals consists entirely of Republican jurists, most originally appointed by Gov. Bush or Gov. Perry. While each is adequately qualified and well-meaning, all of these judges have markedly similar judicial philosophies and leanings, leading to the appearance of a lack of meaningful consideration of opposing views. This is demonstrated in the published results from the court. This court addresses hundreds to thousands of important legal issues each year. One would reasonably expect a healthy level of disagreement among the justices when they are addressing that many important legal issues. But for the fiscal year ending 8-31-09, the number of dissenting and concurring opinions in this court was only 4.4 percent. This is not a healthy situation for the advancement of justice.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor of Business Administration – UT Austin. Doctorate of Jurisprudence, cum laude, UH Law Center. Law Review editor, Order of the Coif member. Published legal author. Adjunct Professor of Law – Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 2010. Adjunct Professor of Law, UH Law Center 2001-’06. Board Certified Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for almost 20 years. Peer-rated “A-V Pre-Eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years. Elected to American Board of Trial Advocates. Tried in excess of 50 jury trials, representing both sides of the bar in a wide variety of civil cases. Admitted to practice appellate law before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all Texas appellate courts. Lead counsel in dozens of published appellate cases, federal and state. Numerous cases argued orally to Texas Supreme Court,

U.S. 5th Court of Appeals, and Texas state appellate courts.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Every appellate court is well-served by having a mixture of judges with different judicial philosophies and backgrounds. That is lacking at this time in the 14th Court of Appeals. A fresh voice with a different perspective – and an approach that is less ideological and more evenhanded – should significantly improve the quality of decisions issued by the court.

JEFF SHADWICK

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for judge of a civil bench because my entire 29 year law practice has been in litigation of civil matters. I selected the 55th District Court because this is the bench I held from the time of my appointment by Gov. Perry in 2007 until the 2008 election.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Patience, wisdom, fairness and intelligence.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have been trying civil cases since 1981 in county, state and federal courts in three states. All of my cases have been exactly the type of matters which come before the 55th District Court. I have also served as judge of this very court.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I believe the biggest problem is judges who cannot resist finding a result which they prefer rather than following the law wherever that leads. Parties and counsel deserve and expect the law to be followed.

DION RAMOS

DECISION TO RUN: I am the current judge on this bench. I was elected to an unexpired term in 2008. Before I was elected, I spent my career as a civil trial lawyer. I decided to go into public service to give back to the profession so vital to our constitutional government.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 25 years civil trial attorney experience, two years judicial experience. Board certified in civil trial law and personal injury trial law – the bread and butter of the business of civil district courts.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Cost. Litigation is expensive to the parties and the taxpayers. An efficiently run court that’s also fair is the best way to control costs to all involved. I work hard every day to make sure hearings, rulings and trials are not unduly delayed. We have an instruction to the jury that says it well: “We will try this case as quickly as possible consistent with justice.”

JOHN DONOVAN

DECISION TO RUN: I have 12 years experience as a district court judge. I have worked with Judge Ed Emmett for two years on judicial and legal issues that affect the citizens of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: 12 years

experience as a district court judge. Working with Judge Ed Emmett on judicial & legal issues that affect the citizens of Harris County for the past two years. Board certified in trial law. Over 15 years of community service in the community.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 12

years experience as a district court judge.

JUSTICE, 14th COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, Pl. 2


Keep Common Sense Values in the Family Courts

Re-ElectJUDGE JUDY

Warne257th Judicial District Court

Political Ad paid for by Judge Judy Warne Campaign, J.D. Bucky Allshouse treasurer, P.O. Box 52816, Houston, Texas 77052, in voluntary compliance with the

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DISTRICT JUDGE, 55th JUDICIAL DISTRICT



OCTOBER 21, 2010

Board Certified in trial law. Past experience as an attorney representing corporations and individuals in courts throughout Texas. Experience working with Judge Ed Emmett on judicial & legal issues. Licensed by Texas State Bar for over 25 years.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The

management of hundreds of lawsuits by the courts efficiently so those appearing in court do not incur unnecessary expense and delay. Using my past experience as a judge, I am more qualified to address this issue.

CHRISTINA BRYAN

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I believe I have the credentials, character and commitment the people of Harris County need in a judge. I am committed to being efficient, a good steward of taxpayer dollars and respectful of jurors’ and lawyers’ time. I know our courts must inspire the public’s trust and that judges are the most visible source of that trust.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practiced law in Harris County for 18 years and clerked on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. I am a partner in the firm Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, LLP where I have worked for more than 15 years. I have represented plaintiffs and defendants, individuals and small and large companies at the trial and appellate level. I am an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and The University of Texas. I have the right judicial temperament – I am fair, will be well-prepared and work hard, and will rule promptly.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: In the civil courts, the cost of litigation is a critical issue. I would address the issue by working efficiently, issuing prompt rulings and respecting lawyers’ and jurors’ time. I would be available by phone and encourage the use of technology to help eliminate unnecessary costs. I will follow the laws and the Constitutions of the United States and Texas. Furthermore, I will treat all individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

RANDY WILSON

DECISION TO RUN: I have served as the judge of the 157th for seven-plus years. I left private practice in 2003 because of my genuine desire to do public service.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am the most qualified candidate for judge. In all of my activities, I have a proven track record. Graduated number 1 in my law school class; appointed by Gov. Perry to serve as Justice on the Texas Supreme Court in 2008 in In re Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. ; selected as Trial Judge of the Year in 2009 by Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists; highest ranking Civil District Judge in Harris County in 2007 & 2009 Houston Bar Association Polls; prolific legal writer, having published 20 legal articles in journals and law reviews.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The high cost of litigation remains a problem for the average citizen. Judges need to take active control of their dockets, be prepared and rule decisively.

SHAWN THIERRY

DECISION TO RUN: To bring “balanced justice” back to the bench. It is a significant year for the 157th Court, as this court has not been open to a contested election for many years. ... I am running for this specific

bench to allow democracy to be exercised, and more importantly, because I believe that it is the time for a change in leadership, judicial temperament and a more balanced approach from the court.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I will bring the values which have and continue to serve as my moral compass throughout my life, such as fairness and impartiality, courage and conviction and intellectual integrity. ... I will offer the degrees of strength and tolerance that an effective judge must exercise while listening to differing sides and resolving contentious legal disputes.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: For over 13 years, I have successfully handled cases ranging from commercial disputes, personal injury, product defects, deceptive trade practices and other civil litigation matters. I worked as a civil litigator for two renowned Texas commercial litigation firms. I later opened my own successful law practice representing individual clients and consumers in precisely the types of cases that will come before the 157th Civil District Court. I have an extensive background in trial procedure, rules of evidence, drafting and arguing trial motions, oral hearings, settlement of complex claims and cases, and other trial related matters. I have worked on both sides of the bar, representing plaintiffs and defendants and have the diverse legal background needed to understand the types of issues and matters which will come before this court. I will review all cases critically, yet with objectivity.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Timely rulings and moving the trial docket manner in an organized manner must be corrected. If elected, I intend to improve court efficiency with more flexible options such as “phone in” hearings for routine matters. Further, I would provide more notice to attorneys of trial settings and changes so that lawyers and their clients are not on stand by. Additionally, “good-old fashioned” hard work goes a long way in improving efficiency. If elected, I will preside with a strong work ethic, and will make sure that all the litigants and/or lawyers are properly treated and serviced.

JEANNINE BARR

DECISION TO RUN: I have the utmost respect for the laws of this state and of the United States and I would like to continue to serve this community as judge of this court as I have since 1995.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Not only do I have 25 years of day-to-day courtroom experience, I also possess the appropriate judicial temperament and demeanor to administer a felony criminal courtroom. I have the maturity and courage to make tough decisions when necessary and the intelligence and common sense to know when it’s appropriate to temper justice with mercy. I work hard, I know what I’m doing, and I understand that every decision I make affects not only the individual litigants but also the community at large.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 25 years of criminal law experience: 16 years as judge of the 182nd District court and nine years as an assistant district attorney. Endorsements: Houston Police Officers Union, Police Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence, Coalition of Police and Sheriffs, International Union of Police Associations, Association of Women Attorneys, C Club of Houston , Most qualified and Most preferred in the 2010 Houston Bar Poll.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We have too many repeat young offenders who seem to lack responsibility as well a sense of direction. I have addressed this by requiring

nonviolent offenders who are on probation to pursue an education or vocational training, and I order employment. I closely monitor my probationers and encourage strong family and/or church support through community-based programs in an effort to build better self-esteem and basic values.

VANESSA VELASQUEZ

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring experience, fairness, a recognized record of dedication to public service and a reputation for conducting business in my court professionally, efficiently and ethically.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Worked as both a defense attorney and prosecutor. I was hired by former Harris County District Attorney John B. Holmes, Jr., in 1990 and worked my way to a senior prosecutor level. During my 15 years as a prosecutor, I was chief prosecutor in the Special Crimes Division, assigned to Gangs & Narcotics Division and Major Offenders Division. I was a chief prosecutor in several felony courts, lead attorney in more than 100 jury trials and I tried nine death-penalty cases. Since taking the bench, I have consistently been one of the highest-rated criminal judges in local bar polls and I have worked hard to streamline my docket.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We must always make sure our courts run efficiently and the rights of all who enter are protected. We must also make sure we are innovative and constantly looking for better ways to do things. That’s why I’m one of the judges in the highly-successful Success Through Addiction Recovery Drug Court.

JAN KROCKER

DECISION TO RUN: I have been the judge of this court since 1995 and I am seeking reelection. The court has jurisdiction in felony cases.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am a very good listener and a hard worker. Although I’ve presided over more than 30,000 cases, I still find each new case to be interesting and important. I have developed expertise in working with mentally ill probationers and those found not guilty by reason of insanity. I have been designated as the judge of a Felony Mental Health Court, a volunteer position in addition to the regular docket.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Recipient in 2010 top award from Justice for Children, a national child advocacy organization, and Judge of the Year, a law enforcement and mental health award from the International Crisis Intervention Team Conference. Graduate of the UT Law School and board certified in criminal law. Assistant Harris County DA, 1981-’90; criminal defense attorney, 1990-’94. Named special prosecutor (1990) in high profile case with the Texas Rangers. Guest lecturer for many law school and undergraduate classes; member of the College of the State Bar; former Grievance Committee chair.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Clearly, the wrongful conviction of innocent people. When counsel is appointed, the judge should utilize the most competent attorney available. It is important for the judge to give the prosecutor and defense lawyer adequate time to prepare the case, so errors may be uncovered and all possible evidence obtained. I support legislation that would set specific requirements for photo spreads and line-ups.

Re-Elect Judge Jan

KROCKERRepublican

184th Criminal District Court

Political ad paid for by the Re-Elect Judge Jan Krocker Campaign, James E. McLean, C.P.A., Treasurer

Recipient of Two Major Awards in 2010

•The Top Award from Justice for Children,a national child advocacy organization

•Judge of the Year, a law enforcement and mentalhealth award from the International CrisisIntervention Team Conference

Previously an experienced trial lawyer, Judge Krocker has served the peopleof Harris County as a felony level judge since 1995.

www.judgejankrocker.com


DISTRICT JUDGE, 182nd JUDICIAL DISTRICT

DISTRICT JUDGE, 183rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT



SUSAN BROWN

DECISION TO RUN: I have been the judge of the 185th District Court for the last 12 years. I believe I am the most qualified and experienced person to preside over this court. The decisions made by criminal court judges affect the everyday lives of citizens in our community more than the president. I believe it is important to have qualified, experienced judges to keep our communities safe and protect the rights of all parties involved.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am a hard-working judge who follows the law and does not legislate from the bench. I bring fairness and a willingness to listen.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have been the elected judge of the 185th for 12 years. During my tenure I have disposed of over 60,000 cases and presided over hundreds of jury trials. Before my election to the bench I was an assistant district attorney for over 12 years. In that position I tried over 100 jury trials, most involving serious cases such as murder, aggravated robbery and crimes against children. I have spent my entire career involved in the practice of criminal law. I am an also adjunct professor at UH Law Center.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing judges in Harris County is the number of cases assigned to our courts each year and a lack of resources to deal with each case effectively. I have addressed these issues by working hard to keep my docket low. I even hold afternoon dockets when necessary. I try more cases each year than any other felony court judge. I also work to find creative solutions to help my probationers become success stories rather than statistics.

PATRICIA J. KERRIGAN

DECISION TO RUN: I seek reelection because I love serving the citizens of Harris County as judge of this court and I have proven my ability and commitment to this position since 2007 when I accepted a judicial

appointment. I am now seeking election to a full four-year term. I am passionate about our civil justice system and would be honored to continue to serve.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I tried cases for 24 years first as a partner at Fulbright and Jaworski, LLP and then at Werner, Kerrigan & Ayers, LLP. I have a lifelong record of service, leadership and commitment to excellence and I bring those qualities to the bench. I am hard-working, fair and well-respected, having won every Bar Poll for the 190th, conducted by the Houston Bar Association, since becoming a judge. I was the first woman president of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and have held leadership positions in national bar organizations and in our community. I am a member of this year’s American Leadership Forum class.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have served as judge of this court since December 2007 and gained valuable experience in the administration of justice and have effectively applied my legal knowledge, my leadership, management and people skills to economically and efficiently manage a docket of approximately 1,600 cases. I am respected for my fairness and integrity as a judge. I have presided over more than 70 trials, disposed of over 2,500 cases and have been vigilant and involved in the cases pending in my court. I am honored to be a participant in the ASTAR program, a one-year federal program for select judges to undergo training to become resource judges for complex litigation.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The important issues which face the judiciary are those which impact our civil justice system, such as access to the courts, docket management and costs. Those issues are interrelated and solving problems related to them involve more than just judicial action. As a judge, I make decisions every day to make the 190th available to litigants, to run an economic docket and work with lawyers efficiently and effectively to decrease the cost of litigation in their cases.

OLAN BOUDREAUX

DECISION TO RUN: My entire career as a lawyer has focused on representing clients in courts such as this one, including those in Harris County and numerous other counties in Texas, as well as several other states. My experience has taught me that a good judge is one who treats all of the parties with dignity and respect, who listens carefully to

the evidence and the arguments in the case, and who manages the court’s docket so that the parties can get their cases resolved on the merits.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: All my life I have worked to develop and maintain a reputation for integrity and hard work. My experiences over the past 26 years of practicing before courts just like the 190th have prepared me to be the kind of judge the citizens of Harris County have a right to expect of their elected officials. I believe that a judge needs to appreciate the honor of being elected to public service, to understand that the courts are there to serve the people, not the other way around, and to know that courts are not to be used to advance a political agenda.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have been practicing law in civil trial courts for over 26 years. I am board certified in both civil trial law and personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I was appointed by two different presidents of the State Bar of Texas to serve as chair of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have lectured and published materials for CLE programs throughout Texas on issues related to civil trial practice.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I believe the courts should be more responsive to the needs of the people. One of my concerns is the increasing cost of litigation. I will initiate a practice of being proactive with cases early on to streamline the process and to enable the parties to get their cases resolved efficiently. I want the parties to avoid the costs of unnecessary “busy work” and to have their cases resolved on the merits and not based on one side or the other’s ability to outspend their opponent.

DENISE COLLINS

DECISION TO RUN: I have been the elected judge of this court for almost 18 years, and look forward to being reelected so that I may continue to serve the people of Harris County. I am dedicated to my job, and I believe my record supports my commitment, hard work and competence.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I believe I bring both legal and practical competence to

the bench, as well as an acute awareness of the importance and power that comes with the service. I know that I affect hundreds of people’s lives every year, and I am dedicated to excellence and treating every case that appears before the court with the same commitment and concern. I am also committed to treating all litigants and anyone who comes to the court with respect and dignity.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have nearly 18 years of judicial experience on this bench. Prior to my election in 1992, I practiced law for almost 10 years. I had a private practice and handled mostly criminal cases, both state and federal. As an attorney, I had extensive trial experience of serious state and federal cases. I have a Master’s in Education. I have a B.A. in Political Science.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Houston courts are extremely busy with an increased number of criminal cases. Management and jail overcrowding is always an issue, but addressing those issues must also take into account the appropriate disposition of those cases, as well as an appropriate amount of time devoted to each case. My experience and record have shown that I have learned that balance. I am also ever aware of being fiscally conservative with taxpayers money, and cost is always an issue. Making sure indigent defendants receive the money and resources they need while not wasting taxpayers’ money is always a concern. I believe my record and experience have shown that I have learned that balance as well. I also spend a great deal of effort and research and time in making sure that alternative sentencing options are effective for the perpetrator, while at the same time making sure that the public is safe.

MARC CARTER

DECISION TO RUN: I am currently the presiding judge of the court. I find it challenging and it has given me the opportunity to help hundreds of people.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: 51 years of wisdom and experience. Raising children and 23 years of marriage has taught me “patience.”






OCTOBER 21, 2010

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I’m a former U.S. Army captain. I was a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. I am a former Harris County prosecutor and defense lawyer. Having worked on both sides, I have the balance and perspective a judge needs to be fair. Lastly, I have presided over the 228th District Court for seven years and in that time I have resolved thousands of cases.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Jail overcrowding continues to be the biggest challenge. I addressed this problem through the creation of jail diversion programs, such as drug court, mental health courts and the newly created Veterans’ Court.

GARLAND “MACK” MCINNIS

DECISION TO RUN: I want to protect our children and citizens from crime without convicting innocent people and without crowding our jails with minor offenders awaiting trial. I believe that we can have a streamlined, efficient, affordable and impartial criminal justice system that will engender respect for our courts.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Fairness, decisiveness, impartiality and experience.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am peer rated AV Preeminent in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards (the highest rating). I am board certified in criminal law and for 32 years I maintained a successful criminal law practice. I am currently an assistant Harris County attorney in the Child Protection Division. I have tried hundreds of jury trials in federal and state courts. Unlike my opponent, I have been on both sides of the advocacy table.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: To ensure citizens’ safety without abridging individual rights, I support the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ Justice Integrity Unit, a group calling for reform of the criminal justice system by employing biological evidence storage centers and training under the NIJ Eyewitness Evidence Guide to help prevent wrongful convictions.

MARY LOU KEEL

DECISION TO RUN: I am seeking reelection to the 232nd District Court, a felony trial court, so that I can continue the pursuit of justice in service to the people of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have been the judge of the 232nd since 1995. Knowledge: My eight years as a Harris County assistant district attorney gave me a solid foundation in Texas criminal law and procedure. Professionalism: My first job out of law school as briefing attorney for the Hon. Murry Cohen at the 1st Court of Appeals gave me a blueprint for professionalism.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Judge 232nd District Court since 1995; Harris County assistant district attorney 1986-’94; briefing attorney 1985-’86; Board Certified in criminal law since 1990.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Our dockets continue to grow along with Harris County’s population, and it is a challenge to effectively administer justice with ever-increasing caseloads. I have addressed this issue and will continue to do so by working hard and striving to make decisions in an evenhanded way based on the law.

GREG GLASS

DECISION TO RUN: Harris County judges keep too many non-violent offenders in jail pending trial, driving up county (taxpayer) expenses and punishing defendants before they are found guilty.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Extensive trial experience, judicial temperament, fairness and courtesy to all.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:Over 33 years of criminal trial and appellate experience (board-certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 27 years). Add to this an excellent judicial temperament, coupled with a keen sense of fairness.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:The massive caseloads the felony courts now handle, combined with the poor accommodations at the Criminal Justice Center. While public safety is primary, I would undertake to empty the jails of non-violent, first offenders who have sufficient community ties by expanding the use of both Pre-Trial and Personal Bonds for the truly indigent. I also would strongly consider waiving the appearance in court of low-risk, non-violent defendants at non-issue (preliminary) settings until the prosecution and defense lawyers fully investigate their cases, and either agree on an appropriate disposition or set them for trial. Avoiding frequent and unnecessary appearances by defendants at court would lessen the crush of people seen daily at the CJC while minimizing loss of valuable work time.

REECE RONDON

DECISION TO RUN: I am seeking reelection. I have served as a state district judge for almost seven years. In that time, I have proven my ability to do the job, and to do it well. The voters of the HBA have consistently rated my job performance as good, if not outstanding. The appellate courts have affirmed my decisions on the merits at a very high rate. And, I run one of the most efficient courts in the county.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Besides a quality education, quality professional

experiences and well-rounded community involvement, I bring a very important quality to the bench – experience. I know how to do the job, as I’ve been doing it for almost seven years. And I have proven that I do it well.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Seven years of judicial experience; eight years of private practice and corporate experience in personal injury litigation, commercial litigation and business/transactional law. I graduated with honors from the University of Houston and the University of Houston Law Center.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. In my experience as a judge, I have learned to balance the docket so that we minimize the time cases have to wait before they can obtain a trial-setting. In my seven years on the bench, I rank high in the number of jury-trials heard, and I have one of the lowest back-log of cases in the county. If reelected, I will continue to run an efficient court.

TANNER GARTH

DECISION TO RUN: I believe that judges sit on our trial court benches to protect the rights of those who come before them by following the law and applying it fairly without bias or prejudice. Unfortunately, I believe that we have strayed from that standard. Too often our judges lack actual trial experience and come to the bench with an agenda which has been detrimental to providing all who come before them with a fair and impartial handling of their cases. I have had this affect my clients and their rights and made the decision to get directly involved to do what I can to change the system from within so that people can have the fair trial system they deserve.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I will bring my family background, work ethic, extensive trial experience and balanced perspective to the bench. From my family I have learned respect, patience, perseverance, empathy and humility which are all qualities that I believe to be essential for a trial court judge. My broad trial experience has been from both sides of the docket, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in trial. From this experience I have developed an understanding and appreciation of the issues and pressures on both sides so I have a truly balanced perspective to bring to the bench.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1987 and am a member of the South Texas Law Revieam, Order of the Lytae and

Order of Barristers. I have handled large and important cases, many of which have set important legal precedents. I am board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I was an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law where I taught trial skills. I have presided over literally hundreds of “mock” trials, honing my skills in pre-trial and trial procedure as well as the Texas Rules of Evidence.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Our courts must be run efficiently and without agenda-driven favoritism. When elected, I will bring my work ethic and experience to bear to efficiently move the court’s docket. I will freely utilize telephonic hearings to save lawyers’ time and their clients’ money. I will personally review cases on an ongoing basis to effectively utilize mediation when settlement is a viable option. I will also offer bench trials as a free alternative to mandatory arbitration which can be incredibly costly and inefficient. Our trial courts should be used to conduct trials. I will set, call and try cases so that the court’s time will be fully utilized. I will rule on a consistent and timely basis. I will follow and apply the law fairly and without preconceived ideas as to the merits of a given case.

ROY L. MOORE

DECISION TO RUN: I believe everyone who appears in the Family Courts of Harris County deserve an experienced, consistent and compassionate judge. I wish to continue the work from the bench that I began three- and-a-half years ago as the associate judge of this court.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Real-world experience as a practicing family lawyer and as a family court judge which has created and allowed me to develop a judicial temperament that is rooted in a knowledge of the law, and consistently in the application of the law and compassion for those men, women and their children who come to family court wanting and deserving a fair, just and timely ruling for the issues presented.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:I jealously represented men, women and children in family law matters for more than 17 years before accepting the appointment of associate judge of the 245th Family District Court in March 2007. I am board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have consistently

VOTEDEMOCRAT

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FFIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTINGLAST DAY TO APPLY FORBALLOT BY MAILLAST DAY OF EARLY VOTINGELECTION DAY

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throughout my career sought to improve my skills and knowledge through continuing legal education greatly in excess of the requirements of the State Bar of Texas. As an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law, I am committed to teaching future lawyers who will practice family law. Experience matters and the combination of my representation of clients, continuing my legal education, and my time on the bench making the tough decisions presented to me everyday makes me uniquely qualified for the bench.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The number of cases that are filed and must be heard by our nine family courts and new domestic violence court. Delays cost time, money and frustration for the litigants as well as the attorneys who represent them. Everyone deserves their day in court if they are not able to reach an acceptable agreement without court intervention. I have implemented policies to more efficiently use litigant’s time such as hearing uncontested matters throughout the entire day and allowing attorneys to schedule telephone status conference calls to allow attorneys and their clients the opportunity to get judicial direction in a timely manner without the cost of travel to and from the courthouse and often the delays in waiting to be heard. Additionally, I will strive to utilize current and future technology to allow children to testify via video conferencing to minimize the trauma that often falls upon children of divorce and/or abuse whose testimony is critical to get to the truth.

JANIECE HORN

DECISION TO RUN: I have practiced family law for nearly 30 years and have been a board certified family law specialist since 1991. I am committed to families, especially children. The 245h Court is the only family Court that has opted out of a free monitoring and enforcement program for child support. I believe our children deserve financial, educational and emotional support. I am dedicated to finding ways to supply those needs.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am often told that I have great patience and that I am a great listener, both of which are qualities I think are necessities in a judge. In addition, I plan to rule fairly, by not allowing the economic status of litigants and their attorneys, sexual orientation, religion or immigration status to be the deciding factors in a case. I hope to find ways to expedite cases with self-representing litigants, but my focus will be on finding ways to help children devastated by family law litigation.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practiced law for 30 years, I have been a board certified family law specialist since 1991, and I have dedicated the past

20 years to public service for Harris County families through employment with the Harris County Domestic Relations Office. As the mediator of well over 2,500 family law cases, I understand family conflict from within and without. If elected, I pledge to do my best to rule with fairness and impartiality, regardless of litigants’ economic status, sexual orientation or immigration status. I am in this for the children, who I believe to be our most important resource.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Too

much paper, too many self-representing litigants without proper paperwork, forms or preparation, and many non-English speaking litigants are the three major problems. Family courts are extremely paperwork-heavy, so streamlining the filing, storage and usage of paperwork would be a tremendous help. I would promote electronic filing and document storage, and use of electronic retrieval systems during court proceedings. I would support special docketing systems for self-representing (pro-se) litigants, as well as expansion of the Pro-se Clinic resources in the Family Law Center that would save court time and resources for everyone. I would investigate broadening the pool of certified court translators by adding to the pool with part-time employees or certified volunteers.

JIM YORK

DECISION TO RUN: To continue my public service as judge of this court. I served for eight years, Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2002, as the appointed associate judge of this court. I was elected judge of this court with term commencing Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2006, and was reelected unopposed for term commencing Jan. 1, 2006, to current date expiring Dec. 31, 2010. I am now seeking my third term.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am motivated

for this position evidenced by having never missed a single court workday during my elected term. I have never required nor requested a visiting judge for my court. I sign all of the court paperwork every day before I leave for the day and I usually work until 6:45 p.m., ending a usual 10-hour workday. I have rated well on each Bar Poll during my tenure. I believe we have a “user-friendly” court and I believe I have good judicial demeanor and temperament.


I practiced law in Harris County in solo practice for 30 years before being appointed as 246th associate judge. I served eight years as associate judge and have been the 246th elected district judge for eight years to date and am seeking my third term. I graduated from Baylor Law School and am

board certified in family law and in civil trial law. I have the experience, the background and the credentials to qualify me for this court.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I believe that the biggest problem facing the judiciary is the selection of qualified judges and the retention of those judges in spite of the political aspects of the position, the overcrowding of the courts and frivolous lawsuits.

SHERRI COTHRUN

DECISION TO RUN: I will bring a more contemporary perspective to this court that reflects an understanding of the realities the families of Harris County are facing in today’s world. This includes the reality that the poor and middle classes are not receiving the legal assistance they need to pursue their family law cases. This is an equal-access-to-justice issue that affects both self-represented litigants and those who have legal counsel.

I have a greater understanding and practical experience with the technology of today and will move the court into the 21st century with electronic-filing capabilities and a comprehensive court website with forms and tutorials to address the increasing number of self-representing litigants and increase the access to justice for all before the court.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have an interest in learning about life experiences that are beyond my own. I have participated in “Dialogue: Racism,” an extensive training conducted by The Center for the Healing of Racism in Houston. My experiences in these trainings have given me insight about the causes, perpetration and institutionalization of racism and stereotypes and how its existence damages all people.

I have also completed the Hotline and Advocacy Training offered by the Houston Area Women’s Center. This training serves to educate on the issues of domestic and sexual violence, increase awareness and sensitivity and prepare volunteers to work with survivors of domestic and sexual violence though the Center.

Finally, I am a stepmother of two sons. Issues relating to step- and blended families are increasingly prominent at the Family Law Center and I believe I have unique insight into the complex dynamics of these relationships that will be beneficial as a judge.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have litigated, mediated and arbitrated family law cases in Harris County for 29 years. I am a board certified family law specialist and a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and the Gulf Coast Family Specialists.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Equal access to justice is a major issue facing our current judicial system, particularly in the family courts, due to a tremendous increase of self-representing litigants, not only in Harris County, but across the nation. Several counties in Texas have addressed these issues, using a multi-faceted approach, which is meeting the needs of all of its citizens and restoring confidence in the judicial system. There must be leadership by family law judges to improve equal access to justice in Harris County. As a first step, I would use the court’s website as a portal to forms, links to services and video tutorials on the procedures of the court to assist all litigants before the court.

JUDY WARNE

DECISION TO RUN: I am seeking reelection to continue my service to the families and children that find involvement in the family court system to be an unfortunate

part of their lives. I believe that my five years of judicial experience, coupled with 20 years of previous involvement in all areas of family law make me uniquely qualified to fulfill this important position that can profoundly impact so many lives in so many ways.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I continue to work hard every day to ensure access to the courts for those families who need the assistance of the court in resolving disputes. I have dedicated myself to being fully informed and knowledgeable about the law. I insist on professionalism, common courtesy and promptness in my court and will not tolerate grandstanding lawyers or abusive parties. I conduct hearings that are both efficient and fair. I make prompt, detailed and complete rulings and orders. I have maintained my empathy for the parties and children appearing in my court.

Hard work, courtesy and fairness, knowledge of the law, decisive rulings – these are all attributes measured by the Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation poll. I am the highest-rated family court judge on the ballot in this poll and received the highest “preference” poll voting of anyone on the ballot in the 10 family court races this fall.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am passionate about family law and have worked tirelessly to broaden my experience and knowledge. I have been board certified in family Law since 1985 and am the only judge or candidate in the history of Harris County to be both board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Believing that the best way to stay informed about a topic is to teach it, I have taught at more than 50 educational programs for lawyers and I have also been honored by the Texas Center for the Judiciary through lecturing and instructing judges on many family law topics. I have been one of the center’s primary trainers on domestic violence and protective orders. I have taught family law at South Texas College of Law for 13 of the last 15 years, and was honored by my students as Adjunct Professor of the Year in 2003. My peers elected me to be the administrative judge of the Family Trial Division for the 2010-’11 term and three different State Bar Family Law section chairs have appointed me to serve on the State Bar of Texas Family Law Council.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The misallocation of judicial resources across the Harris County court system is a problem. Family law cases have become the overwhelming majority of civil court filings, yet less than half of our judicial resources are available to service this docket.

Upon becoming the administrative judge of the Family Trial Division, I began a series of meetings with the administrative judge of the Civil Trial Division, and the overall administrative judge for all 59 district courts. We have brainstormed about ways to reallocate the dockets so that people experiencing family law issues can have the benefit of more time before a judge.

The explosion of the CPS dockets in the family courts has added to this problem and is one we are addressing at this time. I am currently working with the Texas Center for the Judiciary to develop a comprehensive domestic violence training for all civil district judges in Harris County so that, especially those that already have family law experience and want to try some family law cases, can legally preside over cases that are assigned to a family court that could otherwise not meet an urgent time deadline.

I am experienced with this issue because I took over the 257th after my predecessor had been ill. When I took the bench, this court had over 1,000 cases more than the average in any other court. During my first term, I reduced that docket so that we now have the third lowest caseload. I have done that without draconian and unjust dismissal policies.



DerbyshireCOUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW #7

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OCTOBER 21, 2010

JIM WALLACE

DECISION TO RUN: I am currently judge of the 263rd Criminal District Court, first elected in 1994, and I am seeking reelection to this bench.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am a very hard working, fair-minded jurist, who believes that every defendant who appears in my court must be treated with dignity and respect; that every defendant is entitled to representation by an attorney who is fully competent to protect the rights of his or her client. I also believe that violent offenders, who are either convicted of violent crimes by a jury or who plead guilty to such crimes, should forfeit their individual right to live freely in our society for a period of time commensurate with the offense committed.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:Experience: 16 years as judge of this

court, having presided over hundreds of felony matters. I am one of very few judges in Harris County who are board certified in criminal law by the by the Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas. I am also a former assistant district attorney; a disabled U.S. Army veteran; and former police officer. I am a coauthor of “Texas Pattern Criminal Jury Charges,” published by the State Bar of Texas.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We have too many drug cases for very small amounts of certain drugs, which are currently felonies that need to be handled by misdemeanor courts. Currently, these types of cases not only backlog our dockets, but take up too many prison beds, which could be better used to house violent and repeat offenders. We need to work harder to seek funding from the Texas Legislature for drug offender rehabilitation programs.

DAN HINDE

DECISION TO RUN: I currently serve as the judge of the 269th District Court, and I am running to continue to do so and to bring prompt, fair justice to the people of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring fairness, patience, decisiveness, integrity and a proven track record of hard work and productiveness to the bench, as well as a broad, diverse set of experiences, leadership and community involvement.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have the broadest, most relevant qualifications for this post and a proven track record for fair, efficient, decisive administration of justice.

Judicial effectiveness and productiveness: Reduced the backlog of old cases by 75 percent; quadrupled the number of jury trials for this court in 2009; improved productivity of this court by 72 percent in 2009; resolved well over 2,600 cases since January 1, 2009.

A well-rounded lawyer: Numerous jury trials as first or second chair; represented plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases; experience as a prosecutor in criminal cases; argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; represented the American Red Cross’s Houston Chapter; handled a broad spectrum of civil cases, such as commercial, construction, corporate-governance, employment, energy, maritime, mass-tort, personal-injury, products-liability, securities-fraud, tax and technology.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Lawsuit filings are rising, leading to an increase in active cases on the courts’ dockets. This, in turn, leads to delay in many cases,

which adds to the costs that parties have to pay. I have a proven track record for reducing delay and lowering costs. Since I became judge of the 269th District Court, the number of pending cases has shrunk. By boosting productivity, resolving more suits, and shrinking the backlog of cases, I have reduced the cost and expense incurred by parties with cases in this court. On top of that, I have ended a policy that imposed a fee on each party (often mandatory in other courts) that typically ranges from $500 to $1,500.

So, the voters and the parties with cases in the 269th District Court can look to my proven track record for assurance that by electing me, a hardworking, no-nonsense judge, will continue to speed cases along and lower expenses.

KATIE KENNEDY

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for this bench because of my superior qualifications. I have been a judge for over 17 years, and I have been practicing law for over 25 years. The current judge has only been on the bench for slightly over a year, and he has been practicing law for just over 12 years. I have much more experience, and I am better qualified than this recent appointee.

I was elected to the bench in 1992 and reelected in 1996. After my daughter was born in 1998, I retired from the bench in order to spend more time with my child. Since then, I have been serving continuously as a visiting judge in the Texas courts and working as a mediator arbitrator and special master. Now that my daughter is in middle school, I desire to return to the bench.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I will bring experience, fairness, dedication and integrity to the bench. I am a judge, lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, wife of a Methodist minister, mother and community volunteer.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have served as a top-rated judge for 17 years, and I have been practicing law for 25 years. In the 2010 Judicial Preference Poll, I received the most votes (1,193) of any candidate in either party for judge of any district court. I received more than two-and-a-half times more votes than my opponent. I also won the Katy Bar Association Poll by a two-to-one margin over my opponent.

In the 2010 Houston Bar Association Judicial Qualification Questionnaire, I was the highest rated district court candidate, in party, incumbent or challenger. I received more than two-and-a-half times more Well Qualified votes than my opponent. The Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists named me Trial Judge of the Year.

I have fairly and impartially presided over 500 cases tried to jury verdict, and I have disposed of over 9,000 cases. I have mediated and arbitrated hundreds of disputes in all areas civil law. I have been appointed special master in numerous state and federal cases.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We must provide equal access to justice under the law for all persons regardless of their economic circumstances. In Texas, only 20 percent of the civil legal needs of low income and poor residents is met. Too many persons are denied access to the courts because they cannot afford a lawyer to represent them.

I will treat all persons that appear in my court fairly and with dignity and respect, regardless of their economic circumstances or whether they have a lawyer representing them. I serve on the Texas Access to Justice Commission. The commission develops, coordinates and implements policy initiatives to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for persons who encounter barriers in gaining access to the Texas civil justice system.

BRENT GAMBLE

DECISION TO RUN: Seeking reelection to the 270th Civil District Court. I was first elected to this court in 1998. I want to use my experience to continue serving the citizens of Harris County as judge of this court.

PERSONAL QUALITIES & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 11-plus years of judicial experience, I was an active trial attorney for 15 years prior to my election to this position. I am board certified in civil trial law, which is the specific area of law this court deals with. I am well regarded in the legal community for patience, fairness and knowledge of the law.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The continuing challenge facing our civil courts is to remain efficient without sacrificing fairness and justice. I address this issue by providing litigants with timely, decisive rulings, facilitating the discovery process so as to minimize costs to the parties and by proactively managing my docket.

BOB THOMAS

DECISION TO RUN: I believe the civil district courts of Harris County could be run in a more efficient and timely manner.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring over 40 years of legal, law enforcement and corporate experience to the role of judge.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: An experienced civil trial attorney for the past 20 years, and a mediator and a certified hearing examiner for the Texas Education Agency for the past 13 years.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: A litigant should be provided a jury trial in Harris County in a more expedited manner. I would work harder to timely schedule jury trials in my courtroom.

LYNN BRADSHAW HULL

DECISION TO RUN: This unique cour t (newly designated domestic violence cour t) of fers the greatest oppor tunity for me to cont inue meaningful judicial service. My judicial expertise and personal family experience with domestic violence issues made the 280th the right choice for me.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: No one is immune from being a victim of domestic violence or being accused of domestic v io lence. This newly designated domestic violence cour t is designed to improve victim safety and enhance accountability. My skills as a trial judge and reputation as a proven neutral uniquely qualify me for judge of this unique court.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Elected: Judge, Harr is County Civil Court at Law No. 3 in 1994, 1998, 2002; and District Judge, 80th District Court in 2006. Prior to election in 1994, I practiced law for over 10 years, including family law and civil litigation experience in state and federal distr ict and appellate courts. I presently serve as a visiting judge and certif ied mediator. My judicial expertise and experience with domestic violence issues make me the right choice for the 280th.

Donna Roth has been endorsed by the: Houston Chronicle Association of Women Attorneys Mexican American Bar Association of Houston Pasadena Bar Association

To learn more about Donna Roth, and her commitment to the law and the people of Harris County, please go to:

www.ElectDonnaRoth.com

Pol. ad. paid for by Donna Roth for Judge Campaign, Andrea S. Roth, Treasurer, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

VOTE! Donna Roth For Judge of the 281st Civil District Court

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CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: As a domestic violence court with 3,000-plus annual filings, safeguarding these emergency proceedings and court administration is crucial. As judge, I presided fairly in 60,000-plus cases, including 500-plus jury trials and served 9 years as administrative judge of the county civil courts. I am responsive, consistent and impartial.

KATHY VOSSLER

DECISION TO RUN: The 280th District Court is Harris County’s new and only court specifically designated to hear domestic violence protective order cases. As such, it is an extremely important court. I feel that I am uniquely qualified to be the judge of this court as a result of my vast experience in handling domestic violence cases over the entire course of my legal career.

PERSONAL QUALITIES & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am a family lawyer with a lot of experience in handling domestic violence cases. I have represented the victims of abuse, the perpetrators of abuse, the children of abuse and persons wrongly accused of abuse. I have done this for my entire legal career. I understand the issue of domestic violence, and I am familiar with the resources available in the community to address domestic violence for the parties involved. I have the temperament, the patience, the experience and the strength to be the judge of the 280th.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Volume. The family courts are filled every day with full dockets of people needing immediate help from the courts. In my court, I will always treat people as individuals, judge each case based on the facts and evidence and testimony presented, and make wise and

sound decisions based upon those factors. Additionally, since I am a family lawyer

and I understand the impact that domestic violence cases have on other types of cases, I will be able to make decisions in conjunction with the protective order hearing that can help to alleviate the burden on the regular family courts by putting into place such things as temporary support, visitation and property awards, thereby reducing the number of hearings that the parties must have in the other family courts.

SYLVIA MATTHEWS

DECISION TO RUN: I have been honored to serve as judge of the 281st Civil District Court since 2008. Before coming to the bench, I had more than 20 years of civil trial experience and was a partner in one of Houston’s most respected law firms. During my time on the bench, I have served with dedication and a strong work ethic. I would like to continue my service to the citizens of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I strive to rule firmly but fairly and, above all, to follow the law. I have good judicial demeanor, and the organizational skills necessary to effectively and efficiently manage the court’s docket. I look for ways to make your justice system more efficient and cost effective. I manage my court to streamline hearings, which, in turn, reduces costs. I also handle my docket to eliminate unnecessary surcharges in property tax cases. Plus, I look for innovations to improve the jury trial system.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Two years of experience as judge of this

court and more than 20 years of civil trial experience before coming to the bench.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The right to a jury trial is one of the founding principles of our nation’s judicial system. Yet, over the years, there has been a decline in jury trials. I am one of the leaders of a committee working on innovations to use with juries. Through these innovations, we hope to determine ways to increase the litigants’ confidence level in juries and to enhance the juror’s experience while serving.

DONNA ROTH

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for judge of the 281st Civil District Court so that justice in Harris County may be served with accountability, integrity and equality.

PERSONAL QUALITIES & PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I graduated from South Texas College of Law, cum laude. I began my own practice in January 1995. I have been trying civil cases in this court and courts just like it for 23 years. I have tried almost every type of case that could potentially come before the court as first chair counsel, from pre-trial motions and jury selection to closing argument. Because I like to mentor younger lawyers and assist my peers, I have sat as co-counsel/second chair and assisted lawyers in their presentations to the jury.

I have been honored to receive the endorsements of the three legal organizations endorsing in this race as the qualified candidate. I have been voted by my colleagues as the preferred candidate in winning the Katy Bar Association’s Preference Poll. I am the sole recipient of the 2009 Houston Trial Lawyers Association award for Leadership and Service.

I serve the community by maintaining at least one pro bono case on my docket at all times, usually representing a woman in need of a protective order or child custody orders. I have served as a volunteer at the Children’s Assessment Center and for the Houston Bar Association, providing legal counsel to victims of Hurricane Ike. Twice a year I sit as “judge” for mock trial competitions at South Texas College of Law.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The most critical issue (facing the judiciary) is balancing the administration of justice and fairness to the litigants before the court with the expediency of moving the court docket. The balance is achieved through a full days work/five days a week, mediation, encouraging parties to talk, ruling fairly and promptly and having an efficient hard working staff.

CAROLINE E. BAKER

DECISION TO RUN: I am judge of the 295th Civil District Court and it would an honor to continue to serve the citizens of Harris County in this court.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Fairness, experience, strong work ethic, good judicial demeanor, commitment to public service.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have served as a judge for over 12 years. In this election, I have been endorsed by every bar association that has endorsed judges. I am board certified in personal injury trial law and have been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, an honorary organization of plaintiff and defense lawyers dedicated to preserving the right to trial by jury and to promoting excellence in the profession.

I am a past-president of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists and have been an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law

Center. I am the winner of the 2010 Houston Bar Association’s Judicial Qualifications Poll and Preference Poll.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The judiciary’s greatest asset – its very reason for existing – is its independence. Preserving that independence is the judiciary’s greatest challenge in this and every election. Without that independence, judges will not be able to make the often highly unpopular decisions the law requires to protect minority rights. While all Texas judges must run on a partisan ballot and raise money to fund a campaign, my judicial decisions will be based not on allegiance to any party, contributor or cause, but on the law.

PAUL SIMON

DECISION TO RUN: I am running because Harris County needs more judges who will treat each case with the dignity and respect it deserves and who will faithfully follow the law. The incumbent judge, who was appointed by Perry in 2009 after losing in 2008, is the most reversed judge of all of the civil district judges currently serving Harris County over the past five years. Typically, only about 15–20 percent of all cases are reversed, but from 2004 to 2009, the incumbent was reversed almost 60 percent of the time. And, during the first six months of 2009, she did not hold a single trial. This is unacceptable, because reversals and delays waste taxpayer dollars and drive up attorney’s fees.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am dedicated to service, as demonstrated by my involvement with local charities and other outreach, such as my service with a local charity that has awarded more than $600,000 in scholarships to Baylor Medical School students in Houston. I am a founding partner in my own law firm, one that represents both companies and individuals, both plaintiffs and defendants, in cases just like those I will hear as judge.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In addition to my service and strong work-ethic, I am supported by progressive groups like the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and also by conservative organizations, like Peace Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence, and individuals like the founder and president of the Houston Chapter of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. I believe this across-the-board support demonstrates that I am well-qualified to serve Harris County residents as judge of the 295th District Court.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Inefficiency. Today, parties often wait weeks to see the judge, months to get rulings and years to go to trial. While some of this cannot be avoided, a big part of these delays are driven by the Judge, who controls the court’s calendar (docket). I will change this by managing my docket more efficiently and making myself available to parties whenever I am not in trial, whereas the incumbent generally only holds hearings once a week. I will also promptly rule after the parties have come before me, and I will always read all papers before hearing arguments, a practice not all judges follow today.

BRUCE KESSLER

DECISION TO RUN: I would like the opportunity to use my experience to help families by making this court (whose current judge is not seeking reelection) more accessible and user-friendly. I will implement policies and procedures to expedite hearings and trials, making cases faster and less expensive.

DISTRICT JUDGE, 281st JUDICIAL DISTRICT


FAMILY DISTRICT JUDGE,308th JUDICIAL DISTRICT


OCTOBER 21, 2010

GregGlass

–– for ––Judge, 232nd Criminal District Court

Harris County, TexasThe Clear Choice for Judge!

Endorsed by Assn. of Women Attorneys, Pasadena Bar Assn., Mexican-American Bar Assn. of Houston, HGLBT Pol. Caucus, P.O.L.I.C.E. Inc., among others.Pol adv pd for by Greg Glass Campaign, Billy Chan, Treasurer, 1744 Norfolk, Houston, Texas 77098; 713-521-0867; (fax) 713-521-2606. In compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I value honesty, integrity, hard work and common sense in my practice and I intend to carry these values with me to the bench. I will strive to make the 308th a more efficient and user-friendly court. I will make decisions that are customized for each family, as opposed to dispensing “cookie cutter” justice.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am a lifelong Houstonian, a graduate of Rice University and the University of Houston Law Center. I am an attorney and mediator with 23 years of family law experience. I am the only candidate for the 308th who is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, indicating special competence in the practice of family law. I am also the only candidate for the 308th who has judicial experience, as I am a former family court associate judge and I continue to serve as a family court special master.

In the 2010 Houston Bar Association Judicial Qualifications survey, I received more than twice the number of “Qualified” and “Well-Qualified” ratings than did my opponent, and I won by 2-to-1 the Houston Bar Association Preference Poll.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: It costs too much and takes too long to have one’s day in court. Families need to be able to get on with their lives in a reasonable amount of time and without going broke in the process. As a result of my experience managing a court’s docket, I have developed plans to make the court more accessible, to reduce the cost and time involved and to facilitate the increasing number of cases in which individuals are representing themselves without the aid of attorneys.

SHERI Y. DEAN

DECISION TO RUN: Family Law is my Life’s Work! Families Matter! I am currently serving as the appointed presiding judge of this court, since it was vacated by Judge Rynd in 2010. I intend to use my experience as a judge, a person, and as an attorney, to make competent and consistent decisions in accordance with the law. My goal is to make sure that each person who comes to my court knows that I listened to their facts and circumstances before I made a decision based on the law. I will use my experience as a business person to enhance the efficiency of the court in order to cut down on long waits in the courtroom, which will reduce the time and expense for everyone to conclude a case.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I will bring patience, tempered with the ability to remain firm in keeping the cases on track and keeping order in the court. I am persistent in all things that I do and consistent in the manner in which I go about carrying them out. I care about families and their issues that bring them to court for help. I bring the consistency of my personal and professional experience and will require consistency in my courtroom.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practiced family law in all nine Harris County courts for 18 years. I have a business

administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin. I have used that degree every day of my life. I have applied it, first to running my parents business for 13 years, and then, once I graduated from law school, to managing my own successful law firm for 18 years until September 2010 when I was appointed.

As the new judge of this court, I have already made changes in the court to save the tax payers money and to more effectively administer justice to avoid delay. My experience as an independent business person has required me to make good executive decisions to be successful. I will use my experience to administrate this court effectively and efficiently.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We need judges that will strictly construe the law as it is written and uphold the Constitution. As the judge of this court, I will adhere to these principles. Family issues are at stake in this court. We need a judge that will listen to persons who seek court intervention, and then make decisions based on the law. Decisions by this court on issues such as parental rights, best interests of the children, support, property rights and enforcement of Court orders, touch on each person’s basic rights and liberty. The voters’ decision on who will be the judge of this court can affect the lives of families for years to come.

LISA MILLARD

DECISION TO RUN: I am experienced and dedicated to helping the families of Harris County. As Judge of the 310th Family District Court for almost 16 years, I have handled over 20,000 cases. I hear divorce cases involving child custody matters as well as complex property issues. I also hear Texas Department of Family Protective Services (CPS) cases. The 310th also hears paternity cases, adoptions and child support matters. There are many complex matters handled in the family courts that require an experienced and knowledgeable judge.

PERSONAL QUALITIES:My experience as judge of this court for almost 16 years is clearly my best qualification. While my education and work experience helped me, the last 16 years make me uniquely qualified to continue presiding as judge of the 310th Family District Court. I put the children first and treat all with dignity and respect. I raised my daughter as a single parent. I believe this gives me great insight into the issues facing the parties who come before me. I am a mother and a grandmother and family is truly important to me. I am a breast cancer survivor. I work in the community to fight for a cure. I strive to make a difference in the community and to make a difference in the lives of the families that come before me.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Access to the courts to resolve disputes swiftly, fairly and efficiently is paramount. I preside at trials regarding matters such as divorce cases involving complicated property issues, child custody disputes, contempt, cases involving domestic violence, paternity matters, child support issues, parental termination, TDFPS (CPS) and adoption. My experience as a trial attorney and mediator, as well as

my experience as the judge of the 310th for almost 16 years, helps to reduce legal fees and control hostilities while saving our citizens time, money and heartache. I am working with the district clerk to bring our family courts up to date with e-filing.

JUDY DOUGHERTY

DECISION TO RUN: I want to create a compassionate and innovative court where all parties are respected, regardless of background and religion, and the best practices utilized in other jurisdictions that are workable for Harris County are initiated.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: My personal and professional life has focused on understanding the rich diversity of our community. My social work, mediation and legal experience will help me find alternatives to destructive battles and find avenues for better communication and problem solving.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 30 years experience as Harris County family law attorney; masters in social work from The University of Texas at Austin; former adjunct professor University of Houston Law Center in mediation; certified mediator and trainer for DRC in mediation; 20 years served as arbitrator for American Arbitration Association.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Delays often are costly emotionally and financially for families. I will stagger dockets to avoid costly waiting times; give prompt settings for hearings, which often settles cases; develop new procedures to handle cases with no attorneys in fair manners for parties who cannot afford the costs, while avoiding the delays these pro se litigants often cause to others; and send cases to the civil courts where earlier trials are needed.

DENISE PRATT

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for Judge of the 311th Family District Court in order to provide qualified, conservative leadership to the families of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: For 19 years, I have helped families resolve conflict, facilitate child welfare matters and settle family disputes. My passion in this area led me to receive training in the areas that impact the family law courts, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues and suicide. My real-world experiences include being a referral attorney for Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Women’s Shelters and Texas Father’s For Equal Right, as well as being a tutor, mentor and substitute teacher in HISD middle schools, and a Children’s

Friend in Court volunteer. I have worked as a volunteer with Jr. Achievement, Special Olympics and the Cerebral Palsy Center. I have firsthand experience of the impact that a poorly run legal system can have on a family. I have the training to recognize risk factors and the background to help keep families safe through difficult times. I am dedicated to the welfare of your children and families.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practiced family law in Harris County for 19 years, representing all types of clients in all types of family cases. I have been appointed by judges to represent children and litigants, and have mediated family cases with 100 percent resolution. I sit as a visiting judge when requested by family court judges. I have been trained by Suicide Hotline, Houston Police Department Domestic Violence Unit and Charter Lakeside Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation, and currently sit on the Board of Texas Social Workers Examiners, which licenses professionals providing mental health services. I have been trained in the issues that come before this court, including family violence, suicide and substance abuse and mental health issues. I have provided a home for children in CPS care, children’s home and private placement, and personally supervise time with their families when necessary. I have real world experience in what families go through, and the training and background to help protect families through the difficult times that bring them to the family courts.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Family cases are expensive and lengthy for litigants. The use of appointed attorneys can be a significant time-delay and an additional financial drain on families. A judge’s limited use of appointed attorneys to only when necessary and required by law will lessen the cost and duration of a case. Re-instituting and promoting the volunteer programs that assist the court in investigating alleged abuse cases, as well as not requiring parenting programs in agreed cases, or repeated attempts at mediation, are also methods by which family law judges can decrease the time a case is on file, thereby reducing the cost of the case as well.

DEBORAH WRIGHT

DECISION TO RUN: I believe that judicial office is a public trust, and a judge must make difficult decisions without regard to any personal agenda shaped by political affiliation or beliefs. I will honor this trust in my commitment to serve the families who come to the 311th Family District Court each day.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Experience, expertise, commitment to service and the temperament necessary to meet the demands of a difficult docket.





Paul Simon’s simple pledge of “Justice for All” rings true with

Conservatives, Independents and Progressives.

Paul Simon is the best choice for Judge of the 295th Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas. But you don’t have to take his word for it; take the word of the conservative groups like Peace Officers Looking Into Courthouse Excellence of (P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc.) or the progressive ones like Houston GLBT Political Caucus; Conservatives like the founder and president of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse and Harry Mach, the past president of the C Club; and Democratic pillars like Ambassador Arthur Schechter. Why do they all support Paul Simon?

Because Conservatives, Independents and Progressives alike know that Paul’s broad litigation background, his even-handedness, and his strong work ethic make him the best choice for the people of Harris County. If you think it shouldn’t take weeks to see the Judge, months to get rulings from the Judge, and years to go to trial, then please vote for Paul Simon, for Judge of the 295th Civil District Court.

Vote Paul Simon for Judge of the 295th Civil District Court

of Harris County Texas.Early Voting: Oct. 18-29 • Election Day: Nov. 2, 2010To learn more about Paul, visit www.paulsimonforjudge2010.com.

Pol. Adv. paid for by the Paul Simon for Judge Campaign, in compliance witt the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, Robin Simon, Treasurer.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 30 years’ experience in family law in both government and private practice, including litigation, mediation and three years as a family law associate judge. I am board certified in family law, and have completed specialized training in family law mediation and collaborative law.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Overcrowding in the family law courts makes it difficult to conduct hearings and final trials on a timely basis. I will encourage resolution of cases through mediation and collaborative law, continue to support the efforts of the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program in assisting self-represented litigants and low income families, and work with the bar association and other members of the judiciary to explore alternatives to the current structure of the district courts in Harris County.

DAVID FARR

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Determination, a real passion for public service based on dedication and not political ambition and a solid work ethic are among the qualities I will bring to this bench again, along with vast family law experience and a drive to make sure the law is followed and our families are protected.

I am sworn to protect all freedom as an attorney, a judge and an officer in the Texas Army National Guard. I have served in the Texas Army National Guard honorably for 14 years and have been deployed on active duty four times. Most recently, I served in Iraq. Freedom is something I’m accustomed to fighting for – inside and outside of the courtroom.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I presided as the judge of the 312th Family District Court from November 2007 until December 2008. I also served as associate judge in the 257th Family District Court from January 2002 until November 2007. I am board certified in family law, an involved member of the legal community and someone who made this court more efficient and responsive to litigants – progress destroyed by my opponent.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Our family courts are overcrowded and busy. Resources are scarce. The battle is to make sure people are heard, families and children are protected and that cases move along efficiently without compromising the quality of justice.

GLENN DEVLIN

DECISION TO RUN: I want to make a difference in the lives of the children of Harris County. This is accomplished by expanding the current mentoring programs by drawing on synagogues and churches to mentor at-risk kids. Also by an adopt-a-family program that trains at risk parents involved in CPS cases and by creating a positive environment with Leadership Fridays where positive peer pressure is used to aid at-risk kids.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 30 years of law practice in cases involving Child Protective Services and delinquency; visiting associate Judge in the 313th court; former judge, Spring Valley, Texas.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Helping our children is of the utmost importance.

Currently, there is a huge lag time from when parental rights are terminated and potential adoptive parents can take custody. This could be greatly reduced if one of the three juvenile courts in Harris County was assigned this task.

In addition, I want to stop kids from even getting into the juvenile system. I would do this by implementing “Leadership Fridays.” This would be a system where student leaders visit the court and return to their classrooms with T-shirts espousing the consequences of bad behavior.

NATALIE OAKES

DECISION TO RUN: Juvenile courts are very important to our community. Harris County needs to focus on effective rehabilitation and fairness. The goal is to rehabilitate the young people by making them productive citizens, and preventing them from coming back into the adult system. These courts influence the direction of young people and play a vital role in the protection of abused and neglected children. Being an involved mother and former schoolteacher, practicing law in juvenile court was a natural segue.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I work well with people. A juvenile court judge deals with many entities, including Juvenile Probation, CPS, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, district attorneys, county attorneys and the juvenile board. My main focus will be to build rehabilitative programs for the young people who appear before me and to track the success of the programs. Harris County needs at least one juvenile district judge who will bring a female perspective and motivation to the court. I am the only female candidate for any Harris County juvenile district court and bring the experience of being an involved mother and former schoolteacher. I’m ready to lead the charge to make the Harris County juvenile system more effective.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I’ve spent 10 years as a lawyer working in juvenile court, handling felonies, misdemeanors and cases for abused and neglected children. I understand the law. As a former schoolteacher, I understand the education system. I was an officer of the Juvenile Law Section of the HBA for three years, providing speakers for topics salient to juvenile law. I speak to groups and schools on juvenile law. I am involved in community and professional matters. These skills and experience give me the tools necessary to serve the public successfully as judge.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Harris County needs to focus on effective rehabilitation programs to achieve optimum results. Even with no support at home, juveniles can be guided to see their potential and contemplate their future. I want to track results of the juvenile probation programs to determine which programs show success in guiding our young offenders to become productive members of society and not to recycle into the adult system.

DAVID LONGORIA

DECISION TO RUN: I have dedicated over half of my life helping families either as a practice lawyer or full-time judge in family and juvenile courts and have enjoyed the challenges of presiding over thousands of cases for over 11 years as a juvenile court associate judge. I know I have made a difference in the lives of children accused of crimes, and have improved the lives of children who have been abused and neglected. I look forward to returning to the 314th Family District Juvenile Court where I began my legal career in 1973 and also presided as associate judge for eight years.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: In addition to knowing the laws and how to apply them in the best interests of the children, I bring a quality that is most important for a judge presiding in juvenile courts: an even, unbiased, judicial temperament that allows for litigants and attorneys to have full and fair hearings and thus creating an atmosphere where good competent attorneys are willing to practice without fear of reprisals and abuse. My judicial evaluations and qualifications over the years speak for themselves.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I bring over 17 years of full-time juvenile and family law judicial experience to this court and, prior to my appointment as a full-time associate judge in juvenile court, over 18 years of legal practice as an attorney in those courts. I have been chosen the “Preferred Candidate” by my peers for this court in the 2010 Houston Bar Association Judicial Preference Poll by a wide margin over my opponent. I have received the highest “Well Qualified” ratings by my peers in the 2010 Houston Bar Association Judicial Candidate Qualifications Poll for this court, by an overwhelmingly large majority. I received a 73-to-27 percent victory over my opponent as the “Preferred Candidate” in this race in the 2010 Katy Bar Association Judicial Preference Poll. I am a proven jurist, with more quality experience and credentials than any other candidate running for a juvenile court in Harris County.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The credibility and respect of the judiciary in some of the juvenile courts has fallen in the eyes of the practicing bar and the general public. I believe that I can restore such dignity and integrity through establishing a relaxed and respectful atmosphere by bring the proper judicial demeanor to the court, raising expectation of justice in open court, prohibiting any exparte communications with any parties to a case and not discriminating between parties to a case including prospective adoptive parents. I would improve the system of appointment of attorneys by increasing training requirements, limiting the total number of cases assigned to any appointed attorneys, require all appointed attorneys to perform their duties in strict accordance with Chapter 107 of the Texas Family Code, demanding effective assistance of counsel and holding all attorneys accountable for their work. I will strictly follow the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct to ensure the court’s integrity. I would reach out to the community and school systems to help stem the tide of juvenile crime and child abuse by making myself available for public appearances at schools and PTA meetings, as I have in the past, and continue to show compassion for the children and families involved in juvenile court.

MICHAEL “MIKE” SCHNEIDER

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring experience, innovation and leadership. I have served as the judge in this court since 2006 and understand the complex mix of juvenile, family, criminal, civil and child protective law practiced there. I also practiced extensively in these courts before taking the bench. I have worked to create innovative programs like the juvenile drug court and fought for rehabilitative reforms that have reduced juvenile crime and saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each month.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have presided over roughly 15,000 cases since taking the bench, including scores of complex jury trials. Before taking the bench, I tried more than 200 contested cases in every one of Harris County’s 12 juvenile and family courts and supervised attorneys handling thousands of cases in these courts.






OCTOBER 21, 2010

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: To always f ind the most appropriate resources to get the community invested in making sure juvenile offenders don’t become career criminals – and to keep children from being placed outside their homes whenever possible. We have done that in the 315th Juvenile District Court by involving people from all segments of the community in efforts to put kids on the right track and keep our community safe. Since my first year on the bench, out-of-home placement of Harr is County’s juvenile offenders has dropped 42 percent; certif ication to adult criminal courts have fallen a third; placement of children at the Texas Youth Commission has plummeted 62 percent. We also must make sure experience, sound judgment, community safety and the law are our constant guides when dealing with child protective issues.

ED EMMETT

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Became Harris County Judge on March 6, 2007. Member of the Texas House of Representatives 1979-1987, chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission; served on the commission for three years. As county judge, is director of Harris County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a role that took on special significance when Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast in September 2008. Is chairman of the Harris County Juvenile Board and the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Executive Steering Committee.

DECISION TO RUN: During the past 3 ½ years as county judge, I believe I have established a record of leadership and a vision for the future. My background in transportation and logistics has played a key role in helping to position our region as the “Gateway of North America,” thereby securing a strong economy. Plus, the wide range of programs we started in mobility, healthcare and criminal justice.

NUMBER ONE PRIORITY: My main priority will be maintaining the financial viability of county government so that the needs of the third most populous county in the nation can be met.

ASTRODOME’S FATE: We need to investigate a cost-effective way to turn the Dome into a multi-use facility that

will become an extension of Reliant Park and serve as another venue for the large number of events we have in Harris County each year. The financing may require a bond issue in the future or a private entity would need to be found to cover the necessary costs associated with the project.

HOSPITAL D ISTRICT & UNINSUREDS: Working with the Harris County Hospital District, we have already begun a program to establish medical homes for indigents at neighborhood clinics. That will allow a focus on preventive care rather than emergency room care.

SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS: The county needs to look at a zero-based budgeting approach to county programs and services and determine the most eff icient way to provide services and save taxpayer money in the process. One focus should be finding regional or multi-jurisdictional approaches where possible.

R. JACK CAGLE

DECISION TO RUN: I have had the privilege of serving you as the judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 for the last decade. I desire to continue to providing the same high standard of work for the people of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Before I was a trial court judge, I was a trial court lawyer representing individuals and small businesses all across our great state. I bring my strong desire to be the judge I always wanted to have when I was in court. I also bring my deep respect for the law and my respect for the litigants to this court.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:My education, exper ience and endorsements demonstrate my qualifications to continue in your service. I received a triple major from Rice University, earned a juris doctorate from Baylor College of Law and now teach the next generation of lawyers as an adjunct professor of Law at the University of Houston. As a judge I have tried over 703 jury trials and successfully manage of a docket of 600 new cases per month. I have been honored by the support of the Jewish Herald-Voice for the last decade and am currently supported for my re-election by The Houston Police Officers’ Union, P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc., Association of Women Attorneys, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston ... and I

am the winner by a substantial margin of both the Houston Bar Association Judicial Preference Poll and the Katy Bar Association Preference Poll.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the judiciary in this court is how to f ind the right balance between quick, low cost and easy access to the courts while giving each person the opportunity to have their full “day in court.” Success begats success and, unfortunately, the numbers of new f ilings each month has risen from 300 cases a month when I f irst took this bench to a current average of more than 600 cases a month. To address this rising demand for this court ’s services, I have successfully put together a staf f that, through hard work and a team approach, handle the increasing volume while still giving respectful individual attention to each litigant who appears in our court.

JACQUELINE LUCCI SMITH

DECISION TO RUN: I have served on this bench since I was sworn in January of 2007. It has been a great honor to serve the hard working people of Harris County. I have aggressively moved my docket, while still providing consistent

and effective justice for all. I have added value to the taxpayers’ dollars by working hard every day and doing the job I was elected to do.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have presided over this bench for the last four years. I have reduced the backlog and restored the integrity of the court. I have treated all before the bench equally, allowing them to have their day in court.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I see the biggest problem as being able to administer justice in a timely fashion. There are so many cases that are filed in these courts that managing the docket is cumbersome. I have worked diligently to implement strategies that move the docket quickly. Also, the ability to enforce the rule of law in a compassionate manner is important. For example, while it is understandable how someone becomes overwhelmed with obligations and debt, the rule of law must be applied and I have time again proven my ability to balance compassion and respect while still adhering to the rule of law.

ROBERTA LLOYD

PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES: I have served as the judge in this court since 2004. That’s when commissioners court unanimously appointed me. The voters

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elected me to a full term in 2006. I have the experience needed and have presided over more than 230 jury trials and disposed of more than 35,000 cases since becoming a judge. Perhaps more importantly, I bring the right attitude to the bench. I’m there for the people. Everyone gets their day and everyone gets their day in my court. No matter what.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have the experience my opponent does not. I had more experience before I took the bench than he does now. I have also run an efficient, non-political and fair court where the law and the rights of those who resolve disputes there are paramount. I have no agenda to please anyone because justice does not play favorites. My opponent is a perennial candidate who has run six unsuccessful campaigns for the bench.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the judiciary at all levels is to make sure cases are heard efficiently and that dockets move quickly without the quality of justice suffering one iota. The quality of justice will never suffer in my court because of the work ethic there. That’s a work ethic that starts at the top.

PAULA GOODHART

DECISION TO RUN: I am passionate about participating in a fair and effective criminal justice system and protecting the Texas and U.S. Constitutions. My professional background and experiences give me the balanced perspective to impartially and justly handle the matters presented in Court No. 1. I use my extensive experience in the criminal courthouse and qualifications to run an effective, efficient and fair court for all citizens of Harris County and ensure justice is served in all circumstances.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Citizens often look to the judge as a representative of the criminal justice system. I will give citizens what they should expect from the judiciary – someone who treats all participants, whether they are the accused, victim, witnesses, attorneys or prospective jurors with professionalism and courteousness. To that end, I will set the ethical and professional standard for the courtroom. I will rely on my balanced perspective and knowledge gained from working as a prosecutor and defense

attorney to apply the law fairly and impartially in each case. I will ensure that parties to a criminal case – victims and defendants, alike – receive justice as efficiently and swiftly as their case permits.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am an honors graduate of The University of Texas and a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. I was an assistant district attorney for nearly 14 years and handled over 100 jury trials during my career as a prosecutor, including capital murders, aggravated robberies and kidnappings. In 2007, I left the D.A.’s office to pursue a private practice focused on criminal defense. During my nearly 17 years as an attorney practicing exclusively criminal law, I had the opportunity to interview hundreds of witnesses and assist police officers on legal matters. I taught criminal law at the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy, the Houston Fire Department, the Pasadena Police Department and the Harris County Fire Marshall’s Regional Conference.I was honored by the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Division for my work on behalf of victims. In addition, I received a commendation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for exceptional service in the public interest. Since being appointed judge of Criminal Court No. 1 in March of this year, I have reduced the court’s caseload by 10 percent and presided over 22 jury trials to date.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:One of the biggest problems facing the judiciary in misdemeanor court is lack of education that leads to criminal behavior. Approximately 85 percent of individuals in prison today are high school dropouts. Most of those individuals began their criminal careers in a misdemeanor court. I believe I have a responsibility to protect the public from future criminal activity – either by incarcerating an individual when warranted or exploring alternatives to incarceration, such as education for young non-violent offenders. To accomplish this objective, I created a program unique to Court No. 1 called the A.C.E. Program (Achievement through Commitment and Education) where young non-violent offenders, who have plead guilty, participate in a special intensive probation where the goal is to achieve success through education. If I can use court intervention to motivate just one individual to complete their education to lessen their chances of becoming a prison statistic, I will be one step closer to carrying out my responsibility to protect future victims.

JUDITH SNIVELY

DECISION TO RUN: The law says that a person is innocent until proven guilty. The justice system in Harris County does not always follow the law. Every individual is entitled to Constitutional rights in the courtroom. I decided to try and make a difference by running for a misdemeanor bench. The disposition of misdemeanor offences not only effect the future of the individuals charged with a crime, but have a great impact on their families as well. I seek to make a difference with young offenders.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I come from a working class family. I moved to Houston 30 years ago without family or a job. I worked my way through law school. I have made my life here with my husband and teenage daughter. She keeps me connected with the reality of the perplexing issues that young people face today, which may help me understand the mindset of young offenders. I have also lived in other countries and speak Spanish. My legal and life experience prepare me for the diverse makeup of individuals, which appear before this type of court.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am a graduate of South Texas College of Law. I began a solo practice over 23 years ago and have dedicated the bulk of my practice to criminal law. I have handled more than 3,500 criminal cases to resolution. I have represented clients before all 15 misdemeanor courts. As a criminal defense attorney, I have always applied the Constitution and would continue to do so as a judge.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: We have severe jail overcrowding in Harris County because many individuals are waiting in jail for their initial court setting date because they cannot afford to make a surety bond to get released. I would offer pre-trial bonds to first-time offenders, so they can get back to school and work. This would alleviate much of the jail overcrowding and save tax-payer money.

JOHN CLINTON

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Commit-ment to following the law, protecting the

rights of the accused and crime victims and keeping our community safe.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:I have extensive experience in private practice and, during my 30 years as a Houston police of f icer, I helped prepare scores of criminal cases. I understand criminal law from the ground level to the courthouse. Twenty-three of my years at HPD were spent as a detective sergeant in the Robbery Division. I worked my way through college and law school as a police of f icer and now run a successful private practice with my wife.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:Striking the balance between protecting the rights of the accused and those of crime victims is a constant challenge that can only be met by judges who adhere to the Constitution and run a court that operates smoothly.

MARGARET STEWART HARRIS

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for reelection. I am a fair judge and I have per formed well as the judge in that court for the last eight years, and hope to continue that work for the citizens of Harris County.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have 24 years in criminal trial practice. I work to keep our citizens safe, while providing a fair tr ial to every litigant who appears in my court.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have worked for eight years as the judge in this cour t and 16 years as an assistant distr ict at torney here in Harr is County. I have tr ied over 230 jury tr ials as a judge and over 100 jury tr ials f irst chair as a prosecutor. I taught cr iminal law to law enforcement of f icers and have spoken to many citizens’ groups about legal issues in our community.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:Our biggest problem is a shortage of resources for treatment of mentally ill persons and addicts. We must continue to be more creative in searching for community resources and programs, as well as community placements for the mentally ill.

JUDGE, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT No. 3





OCTOBER 21, 2010

PAM DERBYSHIRE

DECISION TO RUN: I am running for reelection. I was f irst elected to this bench in 1998, and reelected in 2002 and 2006. I am seeking my for th term as the presiding judge of Court 7 to continue the programs and progress that we have made.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: With 27 years of criminal law experience, I understand that first and foremost, judges must be fair and impartial, hard-working, even-tempered and courteous to all who appear before them. As the recent winner of the Houston Bar Association Judicial Qualification Poll, I garnered high marks this year, and consistently in years past, for these qualities.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Assistant District Attorney (Harris County, Texas),’83-’90; Assistant U.S. Attorney (Southern District of Texas), ’90-’91; self-employed solo practitioner (criminal and probate law), ’91-’98; judge, Harris County Criminal Court No. 7 (chairman Pretrial Services 2005, ’99-present; co-presiding judge ’06-’07; presiding judge ’08).

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Assuring public safety and providing a fair forum for victims and accused alike. My efforts for the past 12 years have been to focus on reducing recidivism, a challenge in light of overcrowded jails and limited resources. I am one of several judges who have initiated a DWI second offender program, which focuses on offenders with two DWI convictions in the last five years. The goal of this program is to provide personalized rehabilitation and treatment.

ANALIA WILKERSON

DECISION TO RUN: To continue my service in this position, which enables me to help people out of our criminal justice system if possible and protect our society from those who will not keep out of our system by their continued conduct.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I can discern when someone made a mistake versus a continued problem for the community. I speak Spanish, which is helpful since 20 percent of our defendants do not. I have an interest in treatment when possible. I now have a DWI court and had a DWI program with Baylor College of Medicine in 1996. I was working with these issues before it was popular.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have been the judge of this court for 16 years hearing over 60,000 cases and have never been reversed by another court. I also run an efficient court and most practitioners know exactly what to expect. I’m certified by the Texas Center for the Judiciary in Criminal Law and have served as the presiding judge of these courts working with other county agencies to solve problems.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Our biggest problems are monetary. Our programs for treatment have been cut severely over the last decade. I’m doing what I can with what we have.

DIANE BULL

DECISION TO RUN: I’m running for re-election for my fifth four-year term of office. It has been my honor to serve this community

as judge of this court for nearly 16 years. As a long time judge, wife of a retired HPD officer, and parent, I am deeply concerned about the safety of our community and the fair administration of justice.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Courtesy,

knowledge, professionalism and hard work are essential qualities of a good judge. As the winner of the HBA Judicial Qualifications Poll and Preference Poll in this race, I believe I bring a commitment to each of these qualities to this bench.


With over two-and-a-half decades of experience in criminal law, balanced experience as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, nearly 16 years of judicial experience and hundreds of hours of specialized criminal law and judicial training, I am uniquely qualified for this position. I have presided over many thousands of cases and hundreds of jury trials, and have consistently maintained one of the most current dockets in the courthouse. I committed to public safety and fairness to all.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:

The safety of the community and fair administration of justice is of paramount importance. Jail overcrowding and severe budget cuts have forced the criminal courts to do more with less to reduce recidivism rates. To this end, a number of judges and I have created DWI courts, in addition to our regular dockets. DWI courts successfully target high-risk repeat offenders, reducing recidivism and improving public safety. It is essential to have experienced, dedicated and well-trained judges in these important courts who are willing to put in extra time and energy toward this important effort.

DON SMYTH

DECISION TO RUN: Every criminal case is important to the victim, the accused and the community. It is important that each case is handled in a fair and efficient manner. Society needs to be protected, the victim needs to receive justice and restitution, and the accused needs to be treated fairly and if found guilty held accountable. This all should be done in a dignified process that respects all of those involved.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have been practicing law for over 37 years and served the citizens of Harris County, Texas as an assistant district attorney for over 33 years. I have the integrity, commitment and experience (in life as well as the courtroom) to manage the large volume of cases in CCCL#13 in a fair, efficient and effective manner. I have a track record of handling cases with common sense and a sense of justice according to the requirements of the law and the facts. I want to continue to serve all of the citizens of Harris County in a different but equally important position of trust. I am active in my church, community and the legal profession.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practice law for over 37 years. Even though my practice has been primarily that of an assistant district attorney, I have tried a few civil cases, and even authored appellate briefs and presented oral argument before the Supreme Court of Texas. I have also written appellate briefs in criminal cases and presented oral arguments before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (both three judge panels and en banc panels). I have taught numerous in-service classes

to many law enforcement agencies in Harris County. I also taught the Code of Criminal Procedure to every Houston Police Academy Class since 2002. I have tr ied hundreds of misdemeanor and felony trials during my 33 years of service as a Harris County assistant district attorney including 15 successful capital murder cases. Before serving as an assistant district attorney I was employed by the Texas Department of Corrections for three-and-a-half years to represent inmates in civil and post-conviction criminal matters. I have seen the legal issues from both perspectives.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law is the ever increasing number of misdemeanor cases being filed. This is a result of the failure of the home, the schools and the community to instill the values of good citizenship and respect for self, others and the law in our children. As the judge, I will diligently work to dispose of the ever-increasing caseload in a fair, efficient and effective manner. I will also work with families, schools and the community to develop and staff mentoring programs that instill the values of good citizenship and respect in our children in order to divert them from the criminal justice system.

JEAN SPRADLING HUGHES

DECISION TO RUN: Have served since November 1995.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: 38 years in the criminal justice system – serving in law enforcement, courts & corrections – provide me with invaluable experience in assuring that all cases appearing before me reach an appropriate outcome.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 15 years as the judge of this court, 12 years

assistant district attorney, paralegal criminal defense attorney. Serve as presiding judge of the 15 County Criminal Courts at Law. Member of Community Justice Coordinating Council and chair Community Justice Council.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Defendants with mental illness/mental retardation. Currently, county criminal courts have pilot mental health program with special prosecutor and defense attorneys who quickly assess and refer qualifying defendants to treatment & restoration, reducing jail population, cost & recidivism.

TONI MARTINEZ INGVERSEN

DECISION TO RUN: I have been a full-time municipal court judge for the city of Houston for 14 years and I wish to serve the people of Harris County in a greater capacity.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I have been a municipal court judge for 14 years handling class C misdemeanors and presiding over hundreds of bench and jury trials. This experience is invaluable when seeking another judicial position. I believe that I possess the requisite judicial temperament to be a judge. Before I became judge, I was engaged in the practice of law for 23 years handling criminal and civil cases, bankruptcy, immigration, probate and appellate matters before the Court of Criminal Appeals, the 1st and 14th Courts of Appeals and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: During my tenure as judge for city of Houston, I dealt with Class C criminal matters, and CCCL#15 deals with Class A and B misdemeanors. Both courts are governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure. During my private practice, I handled numerous criminal matters and trials in the misdemeanor and felony courts in Harris County and appeals of criminal convictions to the Texas appellate courts.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Docket backlogs would be addressed by adding

Bruce Kessler is the only candidate for the 308th

who is Board Certified and has judicial experience in Family Law.

Family Law attorney and mediator with 23 years’ experience

Board Certified Family Law Specialist

Former Family Court Associate Judge

Continues to serve as a Family Court Special Master

Knowledge of the law and the proven ability to apply it with compassion and fairness for families make

Bruce Kessler the clear choice!

Vote Early: October 18 - 29

VOTE BRUCE KESSLERfor 308th Family District Court Judge

www.KesslerforJudge.comPol. Adv. paid for by Bruce Kessler for Judge Campaign, 440 Louisiana, Suite 900, Houston, Texas 77002, Pamela Calhoun, Treasurer, in

compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act. Bruce Kessler subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

ENDORSED BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE







afternoon dockets or handling more cases each day. Increasing use of personal bonds would help indigent defendants and alleviate jail overcrowding. Dealing with mentally challenged defendants in a separate court designated to provide early mental evaluation and referral to treatment, if needed, would keep those persons from the cycle of conviction, jail time and release without treatment. The problem of crowded elevators during the early mornings may be addressed by having staggered docket times.

LOYD WRIGHT

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Integrity, high ethical standards for myself and the attorneys who appear before me, a strong background in probate and guardianship law, strong desire to simply follow the law and not legislate from the bench, and a keen knowledge of the probate and guardianship administrative systems and a strong desire to make them both better serve the public.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:I have more than 25 years experience in probate, guardianship, estate planning, trust and elder law. I have often represented administrators, executors, guardians, and trustees in complex probate proceedings and recovered millions of dollars in assets lost through fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. I have appeared in hundreds of probate and guardianship cases before 10 different probate judges and been appointed by many of them (Republican and Democrat) to serve as administrator, temporary administrator, guardian, temporary guardian, attorney ad litem, and guardian ad litem, often in highly contested matters. I want to use that experience to run a fair, impartial and efficient court and make the probate and guardianship systems better.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I could be just one more conservative judge who follows the law, and makes sure the playing field is level for those who appear in my court. I do not like our current system where attorneys and those who have matters pending in a particular court can contribute thousands of dollars to the judge of that court. That is the nature of the system we have and I would like to see it changed.

KATHY STONE

DECISION TO RUN: I feel I am making a difference to the attorneys and the people who come before that court. I have instituted online access for the attorneys to set their uncontested matters without having to call the court; I am making available free continuing legal education classes for attorneys who practice probate and free ad

litem certifications classes to attorneys who are seeking court appointments and are willing to serve an indigent ward pro bono (free). I have saved the taxpayers of Harris County hundred of thousands of dollars in fees the probate code says the county would otherwise have to pay. I am having free classes for those persons recently appointed guardian of a loved one and speaking to non-attorney organizations about the importance of having a will and other estate type documents.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I am the judge of Harris County Probate Court # 1. I am the winner of both the Houston Bar Association 2010 Qualification Poll by 85 percent and Preference Poll by 74 percent over my opponent. I also have received the endorsement of every independent bar association that endorsed in my race. I was elected in November 2008 by the largest margin of any district or county court judge on the ballot. From 1991 through 1998 I was the judge of 55th Judicial Civil District Court. From 1999 through November 2008, I was sitting by assignment as a senior district court judge in the 2nd Administrative Region in District and County Courts. I handled civil, family, probate and some criminal and juvenile cases. I sat in Harris and surrounding counties in district courts and county courts and JP courts in Harris County. Also, I was a mediator, arbitrator and special judge pursuant to Chapter 151 of Texas Civil Practice and Remedy Code.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: One of the problems that I have already handled is a problem of efficiency and ensuring that all parties can receive relief as quickly as possible. I have instituted an online docketing system for uncontested matters that allows attorneys and parties to set their hearings at their convenience, and not just during regular business hours. I have also communicated changes in court policies through blast emails to a very large data base of attorneys that I have built in my two years here, so that I can let more attorneys know what is happening in this court, not just the ones who are in the courthouse all of the time. To increase the accessibility of this court to all of the people that it serves, I have provided free classes to teach attorneys who are new or who have not practiced in the area of probate how to handle probate and guardianship cases. I have offered free classes to lay people who are serving or may serve as guardians in the future to educate them as to their duties and to make the process more accessible for all individuals.

JOELLEN SNOW

DECISION TO RUN: I have been

interested in public service since I was in high school. I received my undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in public affairs in addition to my law degree. I am at a point in my career where I am able to be a full-time public servant, and I am most qualified to be a probate judge.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Probate courts primarily handle decedent’s estates, guardianships, and related matters. Parties who appear in probate court deserve a judge who not only knows the law, but will treat all parties courteously, will listen patiently, and will provide evenhanded justice with compassion. My 20-plus years of representing elderly clients, grieving clients, and clients struggling with the care of incapacitated loved ones, my 28 years of judicial experience, and my own life experience make me highly qualified to be that judge.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: I have practiced law in Harris County for 31 years. My practice has been exclusively in the areas of probate, guardianship and estate planning for more than 20 years, and I have served as a part-time municipal court judge for the city of Houston for 28 years. I am the former chair of the Probate Section and Elder Law Committees of the Houston Bar Association. My firm has been rated AV Preeminent, the highest peer rating, for the past five years.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem facing the probate judiciary is the appearance of impropriety. The Harris County probate courts have been repeatedly criticized for awarding exorbitant fees to favored attorneys who contribute large sums to the judges’ campaigns. When elected, I will work hard to stop the cronyism by recruiting and training a broader, more diverse group of attorneys for court appointments, and will seek to implement a random selection process.

CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS

DECISION TO RUN: I am seeking to serve as the next judge of Harris County Probate Court 4 because I care about people, and it is my mission to serve those who are facing a crisis involving the loss or incapacity of a loved one or a mental health issue.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES: Families in probate court are often in the midst of trauma or crisis. Probate lawyers and judges should be compassionate, efficient and careful when helping families through these difficult times. These qualities have helped me to serve others in my probate practice as a lawyer and will enable me to serve others as a judge.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In 2003, I became board certified in probate and estate planning by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. A significant part of serving as the judge of Probate Court 4 involves presiding over the mental health docket. I have a heart for the mentally ill and have been appointed by the court to represent mental health patients on the mental health docket. In my 13 years of practice, I have handled almost every type of probate matter including independent and dependent administrations, guardianships; court-created trusts; modifications of trusts; and probate litigation. After a survey of my piers, Martindale Hubble awarded me the highest rating of 5.0, or AV® PreeminentTM.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Though a lot of progress has been made with regard to the treatment of the mentally ill in recent years, important challenges remain. There are few places for the severely mentally ill to live after being discharged from the hospital. Often, these patients find themselves living on the street or being involved in crime. If elected, I plan to raise awareness of this problem and related challenges facing the mentally ill and their families and work toward solutions.

TAMMY MANNING

DECISION TO RUN: I have a desire to make a difference and serve our community. I’ve been privileged to live and work in Harris County practically all of my life, with the past 20 years spent working as an attorney. For the last 15 years, I have represented clients in will contests, trust litigation and contested guardianships through mediation, trial and appeal. I am very familiar with this court and the other probate courts of Harris County. I want to use the experience and knowledge I’ve gained as a probate litigator to serve the public as judge of Harris County Probate Court No. 4.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:Experience, common sense, efficiency. I’ve been an advocate and a mediator in probate cases ranging from will contests and trust disputes, to guardianships and appeals. I’ve been fortunate to be able to experience just about every facet of probate law, and have come to understand that each case is unique and of equal importance. My two decades of practice in the courtroom have sharpened my skills for a smooth transition to the other side of the bench. I also have managed a probate law firm for the last 13 years and have worked with approximately the same budget and staff size as that of Probate Court #4.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:For at least the past 15 years, our four probate courts have had very different systems. The judges have been unable to communicate effectively or coordinate their

For honest, transparent and efficient government, vote

Ann Harris Bennettfor

Harris County Clerk!

Early Vote:October 18 - 29th

Pd. Pol. Adv. by Ann Harris Bennett Campaign – Thomas N. Thurlow, Treasurer, 440 Louisiana, Ste. 1200, Houston, TX 77002

JUDGE, COUNTY PROBATECOURT No. 1

JUDGE, COUNTY PROBATE COURT No. 2

JUDGE, COUNTY PROBATE COURT No. 4

Political ad paid for by the Jacqueline Lucci Smith Campaign,Jeffrey R. Newport, Treasurer. In compliance with the voluntary

limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Judge Jacqueline Lucci Smithcontinues to:

Aggressively Move the Docket

Provide Effective andConsistent Justice

Value the Constituents Tax Dollars

www.JudgeJLSmith.com

JudgeJacqueline Lucci

Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2

Re-elect

Judges that interpret the law are just as important as the

people that make the law."It has been a great pleasure to serve you as Judge for the last four years. I hope you will return me to the court in November because there is still work to do."


OCTOBER 21, 2010

staffs to have a uniform system of probate justice in Harris County. The Democratic ticket has four female candidates on the ballot in November 2010 who have pledged to work together to improve the quality and consistency of the probate courts. This will result in a more positive experience for parties before the court, their attorneys, the court staffs, and Harris County taxpayers. The first question an attorney in a contested matter will ask their new client will no longer have to be “Which court are you in?” before giving advice or quoting a fee.

CHRIS DANIEL

DECISION TO RUN: As an engineer, a law graduate, and an Eagle Scout, I see the need to put structure back into the office. I will streamline the business model and the electronic filing system while returning ethics to the general running of the office.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I bring 10-plus years of engineering and business management experience to the office, as well as having served four years on the board of the second largest community college system in Texas, Lone Star College System. I am a native Houstonian with an extensive record of service to the community. I am supported by a number of known figures in the Jewish community. I have a proven extensive history of contributing to the Jewish communiy locally and while an engineering student at The University of Texas at Austin.

TOP 3 ISSUES OF PRIORITY: fixing the jury duty system; I will protect online filings from exposing personal data; I will use sound business practices to streamline the office and cut waste without sacrificing customer service or employee morale.

Jury duty is inefficient. Too long has the average citizen driven all the way downtown, only to be told “Sorry, we didn’t need you.” I will use engineering analysis to limit how many people are called to jury duty so as to not waste either the potential jurors’ time or the county’s.

Today, any court filing is completely open online for anyone the world over to see. I will use redaction technology to prevent identity theft of the citizens of Harris County and to stop child predators.

The office is currently misprioritizing its budget. I will use sound budgeting and business models to not only ensure the office comes under budget, but that the employees are getting properly rewarded for keeping up production and customer service.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: It is not the role of government to play the game of society itself or to monitor closely the players, but rather to facility the ability of the nation to act as such. I pledge my office will not overstep its bounds or act further than it needs to.

ROLE OF BIPARTISANSHIP: To compromise and function as a unit. We will not all agree on opinions or in what priority to act on issues; but we can compromise and ensure that we do not become single-minded or plagued with tunnel vision. I pledge to work with ALL, as I have already done so on the diverse board of Lone Star College. I pledge to see the other’s point of view and to make steps to compromise where appropriate.

LOREN JACKSON

DECISION TO RUN: I will continue to do what I have already done – to be a good fiscal steward by managing my budget effectively, to continue to promote access to the courts and transparency of the justice system, and to continue to develop and implement innovative technologies to continue to make keep the District Clerk’s Office as a national model for court clerks.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: I am a licensed Texas attorney since 2003 and actively practiced law for five years prior to taking office. I bring intimate and thorough knowledge of the office and a proven record of fiscal responsibility that enabled my office to cut over $1 million dollars in spending, come in under budget and spend less money than prior years despite budget cuts – the only countywide elected official to do so.

TOP 3 ISSUES OF PRIORITY: Continue being a good steward of taxpayer dollars; creating a free electronic filing portal that will save taxpayer dollars and open access to the courts; continue educating citizens regarding the importance of jury service.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: I will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer money by digitizing the judicial system. Making the judicial system completely digital will save the taxpayers millions of dollars each year in reduced staff time, paper, ink, etc.

The jury turnout has increased over the past two years to the highest levels ever. However, it is critically important that we continue the public’s participating in jury service. The more people we have serving, the quality of our jury pools improves and saves taxpayers money.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: In these tough economic times, the role of the district clerk (and every public servant) should be to do exactly what I have done as district clerk: find ways to cut costs while continuing improve the level of service to the public.

ROLE OF BIPARTISANSHIP: Since taking office, I have worked closely with individuals of both parties at commissioners court and the judiciary to find practical solutions to the many of the issues facing Harris County and our justice system. Partisanship has no role in my capacity as district clerk and will continue to be that way as long as I serve. I serve the people, not a party – and will continue to do so.

STAN STANART

PERSONAL QUALITIES: Strong management experience; extensive technical expertise; taxpayer watchdog; proven leader.

TOP 3 ISSUES OF PRIORITY: Ensure honest and fair elections; control spending of taxpayer’s money; provide efficiency with technology. Implementing electronic filing of legal documents – The citizens of Harris County and the legal community will have quicker access and thus justice can be quickly delivered for the benefit of Harris County taxpayers and the individuals who have to deal with our courts.

BILLY BRISCOE

DECISION TO RUN: The Harris County treasurer is one of two fiscal services officers of the county. The treasurer’s official responsibility is to certify the receipt of funds owed to Harris County and disbursement of such funds as directed by commissioners court.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES: I am a lawyer and a small business owner with signif icant experience managing f inancial af fairs. I am also a licensed attorney with a master ’s in business administration.

TOP 3 ISSUES OF PRIORITY: improve the efficiency of the office; promote economic development and job growth by attracting new industry to the region; and promote opportunities for young professionals interested in public services.

PHILLIP WEBB

DECISION TO RUN: I’m seeking this bench because the knowledge and experience I have acquired and developed over my career as a paralegal and from my active participation in numerous youth organizations, rotary, fraternal organizations, church and charity work could benefit this court and the citizens of Harris County. This court needs an effective and productive judge on the bench.

PERSONAL QUALITIES: My work ethic is the strongest quality I can bring to this bench. I will respect the taxpayers of Harris County and attorneys who present cases in this court in providing the mandated services of this court in a timely and efficient manner, maintaining a strict work ethic on the bench and by court personnel, and presenting a pleasant and accommodating atmosphere for all. I will respect the citizens without counsel who pursue their claims in justice or small claims court, realizing that they are lay people who may not have a clear working knowledge of the law and the litigation process.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:The Texas Constitution states that the only qualification to be a justice of the peace is to be a person of at least 18 years of age. I am qualified to perform the duties because I have been a paralegal for over 21 years with extensive litigation and trial experience and I have a working knowledge and respect for the laws of the state of Texas. I have assisted in numerous trials throughout the state of Texas in federal, state, county and justice courts. The experience and knowledge I have gained over the years in performing my duties directly relate to those of a justice of the peace.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: The biggest problem I have observed in recent years is judicial cronyism, whereby judges grant or deny motions, allow or disallow evidence, grant court appointments, participate in ex parte communications or grant special dispensation to their friends and campaign contributors. ■

DISTRICT CLERK

COUNTY CLERK

COUNTY TREASURER

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,NO. 2, PI. 2

• 25+ Years Courtroom Experience• Double Board Certified• Former Chair, Texas Board of Legal Specialization• Valedictorian of Law School Class• Highest Score on the Texas Bar Exam

Paid for by Boudreaux for Judge Campaign in voluntary compliance with the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

Republican for Harris County Probate Judge Court4

Christine Riddle ButtsExperience Integrity Dedication

Pol. Adv. Christine Riddle Butts Campaign in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

www. buttsforjudge.com

Board Certified in Probate and Estate Planning by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Voted one of “Houston’s TopLawyers for the People” for the past four years in H TexasMagazine

Named “Rising Star” in TexasMonthly’s Super Lawyer Edition

Early voting runs through Friday, Oct. 29, with the General and Special Election Tuesday, Nov. 2


We are Republicans, Democrats,Independents and Community Leaders.

We Support Ellen.“Rep. Cohen reaches across a lot of different boundaries… She has a gift forbringing people together but also has the ability to hone in on issues andunderstand what the elements are, what has to be done, what can be put aside.She understands the legislative process – how to make compromise, how tomake change. But when she has an issue that she is passionate about and is amatter of conscience, she is immovable… everything one hopes to have in anelected official.”

- Honorable Annise ParkerMayor of Houston

“Now, more than ever before, Texas needs qualified leaders who have a provenrecord of protecting patients. Family Physicians are supporting Ellen Cohenbecause she will fight for affordable, quality health insurance that is accessibleto all Texas families and will ensure our health care dollars are spent efficiently.”

- Tom BanningChief Executive Officer and Executive Vice PresidentTexas Academy of Family Physicians

“Ellen Cohen is an effective and tenacious leader who passed major legislationas a freshman to fund sexual assault prevention programs. I am a Republicanwho rarely crosses party lines but Ellen is someone who inspires and deliversresults. A mother, grandmother, and leader. A well rounded accomplishedwoman who has overcome adversity and losses. I admire her in every way.”

- Michele (Mica) MosbacherHonorary Consul, Consulate of IcelandPresident, Windward Interests, LLC

“I have had the privilege of seeing Ellen Cohen in action when she wasworking full time with the Houston AreaWomen’s Center and then as StateRepresentative. She provides great leadership, compassion and enthusiasm inall she does. Her dedicated efforts have madeHouston a better place and Iam proud to support her.”

- Drayton McLaneChairman and CEO of the Houston AstrosChairman of McLane Group

“She is one of the most accessible Legislators, and she is dedicated to thepeople in her District and in the State. Ellen has always been passionate aboutimproving healthcare for everyone, education at all levels, safety for ourcommunities and families, and she has kept a common sense approach tofiscal responsibility.”

- George D. Santos, MDExecutive Medical Director, West Oaks Hospital

“With Ellen we have someone who has been there and done that: solvingreal world problems without getting wound up in labels or politicalmaneuvers. She represents her constituency without losing sight ofwhat’s best for all of the citizens of Texas.”

- Arthur S. BernerPartner Haynes and Boone

“I worked with Ellen for over 15 years while she served as President and CEOof the Houston AreaWomen’s Center. Under her outstanding leadership, theCenter received national recognition and serves as a model for others. For thelast two sessions she utilized her knowledge, experience and skills as our staterepresentative in Austin. More than ever, we now need to send Ellen back to theTexas Legislature to help resolve the difficult issues faced by our cities, countyand state. Please join me in this effort so our voices will continue to be heard.”

- Steven SegalWest University Councilmember

“Ellen has been a good friend to Southside Place, assisting with the State onmany important issues, most recently on a grant for new generators at ourwaste water plant after damage by Hurricane Ike.”

- Richard RothfelderMayor of Southside Place

“Representative Ellen Cohen’s constituents are especially appreciative of theRealtor Roundtable she held at her district office recently. Her openness andwillingness to make a positive difference speaks well of her character, integrity,and leadership.”

- Dana KervinChief Political Strategist at Houston Assoc. of Realtors (HAR)

“She works hard to understand the diverse issues we face as a society, such ashealth care for indigent children and the needs of the small business person.I can say that Ellen is a true steward of our tax dollars; she’s tough, she’s smartand she’s fair.”

-Kim Monday, M.D.

“Rep. Cohen has spent over 20 years working to promote healing and justicefor sexual assault survivors. Her work in the legislature is another step in alifetime of advocating for others.”

- Annette Burrhus-ClayTexas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)Executive Director

“I have known Ellen for 25 years and one of things that has always impressedme about her is her ability to listen to all sides and work with people for acommon goal. She has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves to get it done,and she always gets it done.”

- David MincbergChairman & CEO, Flagship Properties

“As a tireless advocate for her district and the Texas Medical Center, Rep.Cohen listens, works hard, and gets things done. She understands complexhealth care policy issues, and is an assets to Texas hospitals and the patientsthey serve.We look forward to working with her on the challenges facingTexas in the coming legislative session.”

- Dan Stultz, M.D.President/CEO, Texas Hospital Association

Bringing People Together.Getting Things Done.

Early VotingOct. 18 - Oct. 29

Election DayTues., Nov. 2

Ellen is endorsed by the Jewish Herald-Voice. To see a full list of Ellen’s supporters, visit www.ellencohen.org

www.ellencohen.org

Pol. adv. paid for by the Ellen Cohen Campaign, 3401 Louisiana, Suite 250, Houston TX 77002, Lewis Linn, Treasurer

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