| We know that dual endorsements aren't the boldest of decisions. But the 299th District Court race is a four-person field destined for a runoff between Mindy Montford and Karen Sage -- even the supporters of each of those campaigns will tell you that. Montford and Sage deserve to be in a runoff. They are each excellent candidates who bring a lot of talent to this particular race. We also want to notify our readers -- and the campaigns -- that once the race goes into a runoff, we are committed to engaging directly with each campaign, and we will make a firm decision before the runoff. Before we tell you why voting for either candidate makes sense, we wanted to show you how split the endorsements have been for this race -- and make sure to note that a lot of the votes amongst the clubs were pretty close. Ultimately, we're not the only ones who can't make up our minds: Endorsements in the 299th District Court Race Mindy Montford - 60% support in Austin Bar Poll (4-way race)
- Senator Kirk Watson, Mayor Pro Tempore Mike Martinez, Rep. Dawnna Dukes, Rep. Patrick Rose, Rep. Eddie Lucio, Rep. Richard Raymond, Hon. Garry Mauro
- BOR Readers
- Austin Central Labor Council, Travis County Sheriffs' Law Enforcement Association, Austin Firefighters Association
- Central Austin Democrats, Capital Area Asian American Democrats
- Find full list of supporters here
Karen Sage- The Austin Chronicle
- Rep. Donna Howard, Rep. Mark Strama, City Council Member Bill Spellman
- Austin Tejano Democrats, Black Austin Democrats
- Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
- University Democrats, St. Edward’s College Democrats, Capital City Young Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Stonewall Democrats
- North by Northwest Democrats, Northeast Travis County Democrats, South Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrat, Circle C Area Democrats
- Find full list of supporters here
We'd like to offer an argument for why a vote for either Montford or Sage is a good vote on March 2:Why You Should Vote For Mindy Montford Montford worked as Assistant District Attorney for nine years under Ronnie Earle. She worked on the Public Integrity Unit that investigated and ultimately indicted Tom Delay. She also has extensive experience handling cases that would come before the court here in Austin -- which, as her supporters argue, gives her a terrific read/feel for what our community expects when it comes to balancing justice and fairness in trials. Montford can credibly say she has grown up among us, learned among us, and now is ready to give back to the community she's worked in and served in for years. Montford's support in the Austin Bar Poll is another sign of her strength -- earning 60% in a field of four is an incredible feat. A quick straw poll among the staff confirmed that none of us would get a 60% approval rating from each other. Montford is clearly a leader among her peers, and that level of respect is an important barometer for how Montford develops trust in relationships with colleagues. If you want to decide your vote based on what the people who know the work of the 299th District Court think, then a vote for Montford is for you. On the Web: www.montfordforjudge.com Why You Should Vote for Karen Sage Sage once knocked on doors for Paul Wellstone. When she joined the Travis County District's office in 2006, she was appointed by Rosemary Lehmberg to create and prosecute cases before the Menal Health District Court with the goal of finding alternative forms of treatment. Her prior work around the country is impressive (read about it on her website), and she has designed and teaches a class on the Ethics of Criminal Law at the University of Texas. Sage has not had as much experience inside the Austin community as Montford, but her endorsements from a wide array of Democratic clubs and organizations has shown that she's been here long enough to earn the trust of many here in Austin. Anyone who gets the chance to hear Sage speaks about the issues is immediately impressed with how well she explains the various sides to a case, as well as pinpointing and justifying the precise reasons for why she takes action. She will actively discuss her views on the judicial system, and even as she discusses how she has one convictions in all five of her murder cases she has tried, she comes across as thoughtful, understated, and always willing to listen. On the Web: www.karensageforjudge.com
Burnt Orange Report Reader Poll Results  |
