First, some comments on the 2010 Texas, Dallas County (and Collin County) General Election contests.This one is the Dallas County edition (mainly) because all but a few readers who have said anything are in Dallas County.
Not my district, but Stephen Broden the man running in US TX District 30 looks to be unendorsed now by many people due to disconcerting statements he has made recently.
As for the incumbent he is challenging, it's sick (in the bad way) that Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson passed out scholarship money to her relatives, some who didn't even live in the district.
Too bad there's not a way for voters to have an immediate do over with all this coming out right at election time. Of course, one can argue that the financial impact is minor compared to some bad policy over the years.
It is going to be hard to ever trust someone who is known to do something like that which is such an easily knowable violation (no way to squirm out of that one, Rep. Johnson). And Stephen Broden is going to have a hard time convincing people he didn't mean what he said.
It's also a shame that in the General Election, it's the more partisan of the candidates that come into it out of the two major (only two major) primaries and not necessary the best candidates.
I would like to see preference voting on election day. More candidates (qualified). Less party hacks (who would elect a dead person than vote across the isle types), more moderates. More parties (and I don't mean campaign happy hour drinking parties because there are already tons, I mean more options as in more choices that increase the chances of qualified thinking leadership).
About the open SBOE District 12 race, I am going with Amie Parsons.
The relationship between SBOE and The General Land Office as it relates to school funding (derived from the Permanent School Fund and its further reinvestments) is interesting.
For General Land Office Commissioner, the (two leading) candidates have more in common than most candidates. Both are former state senators and both have deep Texas roots. Both seem competent. While I like Jerry Patterson as an administrator, I think Hector Uribe could make more money for public schools (from The Permanent School Fund's land and land energy related investments and underwater lands [like off shore rights up to ten miles out into the Gulf too] in the long run by having additional energy production arrangements and leases (in addition to traditional oil and gas).
A time will come when Texas will wish that it had been as assertive as countries like Spain in investing in alternative and augmenting energy. While the goal is to make maximum return with the least risk, there is also a responsibility about how to maintain and source sustaining investments off the land resources and keep the money flowing in for a long time. (Portfolio diversification. And an added benefit of helping to augment traditional energy sources and reduce reliance on foreign sources of energy).
If the SBOE can invest a small portion of its subsequent spending and reinvestment in charter schools (through SBOE asset investment in commercial real estate), then couldn't it along with the Land Office support investing likewise of a small fraction each in emerging energy production off the Permanent School Fund land resources and other SBOE assets through leases?
(By the way, under the SBOE asset investment arrangement in charter schools, it has been explained by a SBOE Member that the state would hold title to the property and the charter school would not have to pay local ISD, county and city property taxes. That is an interesting note if accurate. )
In a key race in Collin County for the Commissioners Court Judge seat between Judge Keith Self and Former Plano Councilman David Smith, I would say I agree with the endorsements that have been going out to Smith and normally I think he would be better in terms of getting what needs to be done, done, and in a fiscally responsibly manner (as proven by his service) and he is a respectful politician. My only concern is if he could stand up to people who come knocking for stuff that the Collin County Commissioner's Court should not agree to. If he could express that he has a backbone, because he is a super nice guy, I would say Smith is the way to go. I say this because I would trust that Smith would give more accurate information than Judge Keith Self has on issues overall. Otherwise, it's back to contrarian politicizing (sometimes said to be downright misleading) Judge Keith Self who has created mixed results in my opinion. It doesn't mean I still don't admire some things he has done (and cringe at others).
If I were given only one gold star to give to an elected official in Dallas or Collin County, it would be (Dallas) District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, who understands customer service and has been working to improve District Clerk Office efficiencies. He should be re-elected for another term.
Dr. Elba Garcia's web site for Dallas Commissioner Place, above average. Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield's demeanor these days, below average. He has approached the demeanor of John Wiley. That's a shame.
By the way, all this talk about voter fraud and vote supression and voter I.D., go ahead and pass voter I.D. and people just need to be prepared, care enough about voting, plan ahead, grab that I.D., bring I.D. when voting. I understand both sides. It needs to be handled. Anyway, we should all be able to vote online at home or from work or from where we want soon (from overseas as Americans if needed/stationed there, etc.) in addition to in person (one of these days).
I know it's about party, but I didn't like the mailer Sen. John Carona sent around that I was shown that says to vote a partisan ticket. I recommend the opposite. Vote each race. It's bad advice to be told to vote straight party especially in local races where for the most part competence matters way more than any ideological frame. It is rare to find any of the politicians who don't go telling you to vote all one party, other than a few of the judicial candidates.
Speaking of judicial candidates, here is an interesting article about "resign-to-run" from Dallas News (Dallas County public defender's proposed 'resign-to-run' policy has judicial candidates in her office crying foul).
Selected Races:
Opposed races (I am leaving out unopposed races and declared elected positions, except to say that while Judge Dennise Garcia is unopposed in the general, I hope she gets many votes for re-election to Judge of Family District 303 Judicial District).
The lines drawn under a few of the races means I haven't finished making my opinion as of this posting about that race.
Several of these were very close. I have listened to candidates in 40 of the below 50+ contests. That means there are some I have never met in person but have read about, seen video of, read their statements or web sites. If I were to learn of any new verifiable information that I do not have, my opinion could change based on new information.
Speaking of which, thanks to the LWV of Texas (Richardson, Dallas); Dallas News; Committee for a Qualified Judiciary (CQJ); Dallas County Elections Department; Collin County Elections Department; Dallas Bar Association; The Parties; various other news sources and volunteer groups and individuals, and the candidates and their campaigns for the information that they helped provide now and prior.
US Rep. Dist 32
John Jay Myers
Governor
Bill White
Lt. Gov.
David Dewhurst
Attorney General
Barbara Ann Radnofsky
Comptroller
Susan Combs
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Hector Uribe
Commissioner of Agriculture
Todd Staples
Railroad Commissioner
Jeff Weems
Justice Supreme Court Pl 3
Debra Lehmann
Justice Supreme Court Place 5
Bill Moody
Justice Supreme Court Place 9
Blake Bailey
Judge Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2
Lawrence "Larry" Myers
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Cheryl Johnson
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Keith Hampton
Member State Board of Education, District 12
Amie Parsons
Speaking of judicial candidates, here is an interesting article about "resign-to-run" from Dallas News (Dallas County public defender's proposed 'resign-to-run' policy has judicial candidates in her office crying foul).
Selected Races:
Opposed races (I am leaving out unopposed races and declared elected positions, except to say that while Judge Dennise Garcia is unopposed in the general, I hope she gets many votes for re-election to Judge of Family District 303 Judicial District).
The lines drawn under a few of the races means I haven't finished making my opinion as of this posting about that race.
Several of these were very close. I have listened to candidates in 40 of the below 50+ contests. That means there are some I have never met in person but have read about, seen video of, read their statements or web sites. If I were to learn of any new verifiable information that I do not have, my opinion could change based on new information.
Speaking of which, thanks to the LWV of Texas (Richardson, Dallas); Dallas News; Committee for a Qualified Judiciary (CQJ); Dallas County Elections Department; Collin County Elections Department; Dallas Bar Association; The Parties; various other news sources and volunteer groups and individuals, and the candidates and their campaigns for the information that they helped provide now and prior.
US Rep. Dist 32
John Jay Myers
Governor
Bill White
Lt. Gov.
David Dewhurst
Attorney General
Barbara Ann Radnofsky
Comptroller
Susan Combs
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Hector Uribe
Commissioner of Agriculture
Todd Staples
Railroad Commissioner
Jeff Weems
Justice Supreme Court Pl 3
Debra Lehmann
Justice Supreme Court Place 5
Bill Moody
Justice Supreme Court Place 9
Blake Bailey
Judge Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2
Lawrence "Larry" Myers
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Cheryl Johnson
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Keith Hampton
Member State Board of Education, District 12
Amie Parsons
Chief Justice 5th Court of Appeals District Place 4
Lana Myers
Justice 5th Court of Appeals District, Place 12
Robert "Bob" M. Fillmore
District Judge, 44th Judicial District
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District Judge, 116th, Judicial District
Dale B. Tillery
District Judge 191 Judicial District
Gena Slaughter
District Judge 193 Judicial District
Carl Ginsberg
District Judge 194 Judicial District
Ernest White
District Judge 203rd Judicial District
Jennifer Balido
District Judge 254 Judicial District
James Martin
District Judge 256 Judicial District
David Lopez
District Judge 265 Judicial District
Mark Stoltz
District Judge 283 Judicial District
Rick Magnis
District Judge 292 Judicial District
Larry Mitchell
District Judge 298 Judicial District
Emily G. Tobolowsky
Family District Judge, 301 Judicial District
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Family District Judge 302 Judicial District
Tena Callahan
Family District Judge 303 Judicial District
Dennise Garcia
Family District Judge 304 Judicial District
William "Bill" A. Mazur Jr.
Family District Judge 330 Judicial District
Marilea W. Lewis
County Defense Attorney
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County Judge
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Judge County Court at Law No. 1
Russell Roden
Judge County Court at Law No. 3
John Goren
Judge County Court at Law No. 5
Mark Greenberg
Judge County Criminal Court No 2
Julia Hayes
Judge County Criminal Court No 3
Doug Skemp
Judge County Crininal Court No 4
Teresa Tolle
Judge Country Criminal Court No 5
Etta J. Mullin
Judge County Criminal Court No 6
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Judge County Criminal Court No 7
Elizabeth Crowder
Judge County Criminal Court No 8
Tina Yoo
Judge County Crininal Court No 9
Peggy Hoffman
Judge County Criminal Court No. 10
Roberto Canas
Judge County Criminal Court of Appeals No 2
Jeffrey Rosenfield
Judge County Probate Court No 2
Chris Wilmoth
District Clerk
Gary Fitzsimmons
County Clerk
John F. Warren
County Treasurer
Joe Wells
The JP's and Constable(s) should support customer service improvements across the board but unfortunately not all of them have made sufficient strides in modernizing their offices and doing simple things like always arranging that the phone is answered when it rings (and rings). At least one of them in Dallas County curses like a sailor in front of anyone and everyone, including the media. (Do that on your own time if you wanna.) At least one of them campaigns from the bench. None of these behaviors are good law enforcement or judicial images to put forth. In some cases where there is a competent alternative or at least seemingly so, that is the one I would prefer. Some of them do not seem to know enough about the law. Have some of them become complacent and forgotten how to treat citizens? I would say more than one has.
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If you are a candidate and feel I have overlooked you, then you can email me and let me know and I will print your statement or information (within reason). Like I said, in a few cases, it was a close consideration on what information and impressions I have.
If you are a candidate and want to agree with me, you can email me and let me know. I will print your statement or information likewise (within reason).
