Posted on 01/05/2008 9:50:18 AM PST by flattorney
After more than three decades as the Travis County District Attorney, Democrat Ronnie Earle's seat is up for grabs. It won't be taken by a Republican since no one from the GOP filed to run in the March primary. The main watchdog position in Texas will stay in the hands of Democrats. "Obviously the issue that sets this particular district attorney position apart from any other in the state of Texas is the presence of the Public Integrity Unit," Travis County Democratic Chairman Chris Elliott said. The district attorney doubles as the primary ethics enforcer for the state government.
Republicans often criticized Earle for prosecutions they felt were politically motivated, none more prominent than investigations against former House Majority Leader Tom Delay.
House Parliamentarian Terry Keel was considered a prime Republican candidate for district attorney. He's a former Travis County Sheriff and one of the few Republicans to win a county-wide office. But Keel told us he declined to run because he felt obligated to focus on his current position. Quorum Report's political expert Harvey Kronberg said any Republican candidate for district attorney would be long shot for election but there might be some common ground between the parties.
"All of the Democrats or non-partisan candidates that have stepped forward so far are more mechanics about prosecution than they are about visionaries and crusading prosecutors and so I think that's given Republicans some comfort level," Kronberg said. But the Democrats sit most comfortable, knowing one of there candidates will follow in Earle's footsteps.
"He prosecuted Democrats, he prosecuted Republicans and I think that's what the public is going to expect of his successor that the office won't be used for partisan political purposes and I fully expect our candidates will do that," Elliott said. Four members of the Democratic Party will face off in the primary for district attorney. Travis County voters go to the polls March 4.
Second Article: Austin American-Statesman
See the Tom DeLay section on FlAttorney's FR "Straight Talk" page
any court dates coming up in Earle vs. DeLay ?
It’s a shame. State and Federal offices have been mainly Republican. However local politics is very Democrat here in Texas. This is a relatively recent occurrence (less than a dozen years) in Texas political history. It’s moving but not speedily at the local level, especially here in Travis County. Williamson County just north has had Republicans fare better.
I think it would be a hoot if DeLay ran for the position—LOL!
Makes you sick, doesn’t it; but you will find even in the best of organizations that what they say and what they do are two completely different things.
The only thing one needed to do his head down to the GOP HQ in Travis County and file for the race.
However, no Republicans in the county wanted to be the DA.
Does the GOP Control two-thirds of the state legislature?
It’s about a 79-71 (78-72?) margin in the House (and we already lost several seats in Nov ‘06 and a special election for a heavily GOP seat a few weeks ago), but we maintain a much wider 20-11 margin in the Senate.
He did bring in money, but squashed most of the grassroots efforts in the county.
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