Mindy Montford's Strange Bedfellows

False Dichotomy (0.00 / 0)

Why does campaigning for Montford prevent him from campaigning for his Sister in law in the Fall (six months from now) as the general election approaches?  The two are not mutually exclusive, it's not an either or proposition.  Your larger point about Mindy having Republican support is well taken, but dollars to doughnuts Terry will help Donna Keel in the fall.  

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by: pol_wol @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:07:41 PM CDT

Just Quoting Austin Political Report (5.00 / 1)

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by: Matt Glazer @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:10:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

TK can handle it (4.00 / 2)

Helped both his brothers get beat in the same General Election in 2004. Patrick for District Judge and Thornton for Constable Pct 3. Surprised Terry Keel did not run his mama again for State Rep. rather than his sister-in-law.

Should have stuck with his one winning family member who held the State Rep. seat for him in the 90's until he could win the seat for himself in the 1996 elections.

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by: ssuits @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 17:10:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, I hope so... (0.00 / 0)

...Considering how much people hate him, I certainly hope he'll campaign for Donna in the Fall. It'll make things easier on Valinda who has been a definitive improvement over Keel and his 80's hair.

There should NEVER be another Keel in public service in Travis County. EVER.

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by: McBlogger @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 21:23:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Interesting... (2.00 / 2)

statement from the Montford campaign:

"This latest negative attack by Rosemary Lehmberg fits the pattern of lies and distortion meant to distract from the positive, issue-based campaign of Mindy Montford."

Last time I checked, CapitolAnnex.com was registered to me, and not Rosemary Lehmberg. To say that what I wrote was an attack from Rosemary Lehmberg is a bit of a stretch.  

Seriously, do people in Austin fail to realize that other people in Austin love to leak things to blogs? Even with pictures sometimes?


Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:19:31 PM CDT

Oh give me a break, Montford (5.00 / 1)

Lehmberg didn't attack anybody. What a bunch of B.S. rhetoric.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:21:02 PM CDT

When the source of the rumors (1.00 / 2)

is the blog run by Rosemary Lehmberg's consultant Kelly Fero, then yeah; I would say that the attack is by Lehmberg.  All you have to do is follow the campaign finance reports and then see the source of the blog attacks and it is easy to see where all of this is coming from.

I was going to vote for Lehmberg because of her time in the office until I saw this kind of trash.

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by: Burnt @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 14:22:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hm (0.00 / 0)

So you voted for Lehmberg in the primary?

I also don't understand what the "trash" about this is. It's true. I mean, is anyone saying it isn't true, or are they just reacting to the reactions?

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 16:47:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Is Fero Working For Rosemary In The Runoff? (1.67 / 3)

I don't think so. I didn't see his name on the C&E report.

And that rumor that he runs Austin Political Report is a great Capitol urban legend, but that's all it is.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 17:04:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

totally meaningless (0.00 / 0)

since kelly often "donates" his time to candidates (for example, donna howard) so that he doesn't show up on the c&e reports, as reported by the statesman.

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by: Bob @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 19:13:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sure... (1.00 / 1)

...because donating our services is how political consultants can afford $3.12 a gallon gas, food, and a roof over their heads.  

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 20:38:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I just paid (0.00 / 0)

$3.24. I think you should count yourself lucky.

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by: Elsbeth @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 21:32:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

he said it, quoted in the statesman (0.00 / 0)

don't get me wrong.  i'm under no illusion that he's in the business pro bono, hence the quotation marks around "donate."  i'm sure there are those who pay the bills so he has time to "donate" to candidates.  a nice loophole, dontcha think?

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by: Bob @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 23:43:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I looked over that C&E report. (1.50 / 2)

Rosemary lists a $5,000 donation from Roy Minton, Tom Craddick's personal criminal defense lawyer.

She also has another $5,000 donation from Minton's law firm.

The law firm gave her another $5,000 in a previous C&E report.

Rosemary Lehmberg also received a donation from Joe Turner, the criminal defense lawyer for John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority.

Can we trust Rosemary when Minton asks for favors regarding Tom Craddick or when Turner asks Rosemary to take it easy on Tom DeLay and John Colyandro?

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by: Jobu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 22:50:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Phil's right (0.00 / 0)

Lehmberg didn't attack. Capitol Annex did. I'm a Lehmberg supporter and I know her campaign has more integrity than to concoct a silly, underhanded, innuendo-laden attack like that.  It is BS for Montford to suggest that.

Meanwhile, I know the fine fellows at BOR are more intelligent than to take as gospel something a "source" told Captiol Annex.  

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by: janevieu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 23:31:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lehmberg has gone negative on TV (1.50 / 2)

I saw a negative ad by Lehmberg tonight about  Montford's donations from lobbyists.

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by: Jobu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 23:44:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lehmberg did attack morons... (1.67 / 3)

From:  rosemary4da@gmail.com

VOTER ALERT!
Karl Rove & Terry Keel working to elect Mindy Montford

Individuals supporting Rosemary
Ronnie Earle
Gary Cobb
Former State Comptroller and Pro-life activist
John Sharp

AUSTIN- Today, multiple online sources reported  prominent Texas Republicans Karl Rove and Terry Keel are working to elect Mindy Montford as Travis County's next District Attorney.

The online newsletter Capitol Annex is reporting Montford's campaign.

The Capital Annex chimes in that Republicans are supporting Montford "because they believe a Montford-run DA's office will be more friendly to the business lobby and the Republicans in government."

Meanwhile, Austin Political Report has posted a story  about Terry Keel's support for Montford. The former Travis County Republican State Rep and Speaker Tom Craddick's parliamentarian is apparently too busy helping Mindy to help his own sister-in-law, Donna Keel, in her run for state representative.

Keel told a group this weekend that his "number one priority right now is Mindy, not Donna."

Coupled with the $11,000 Montford received from large Republican donors raise more questions than they answer.

The Travis County District Attorney's office is one of the most important offiches in the state of Texas because it enforces public corrupsion laws at the Capitol through the Public Intrigrity Unit.

There needs to be a sepration between the corporate interests at the Capitol and the district attorney.

Rosemary Lehmberg has the exsperience and independence to lead the office of Travis County District Attorney.

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by: Burnt @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 00:33:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not a denial (0.00 / 0)

is it?

Rosemary may not be as poetic as Ronnie, but she's all business. Montford, well, hard to say. Want your public integrity division to stay focused on public integrity? Vote for Rosemary.

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by: stacksucker @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:40:59 PM CDT

I agree (0.00 / 0)

Poetry is important. Public integrity suffers without it.

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by: Elsbeth @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 21:51:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rosemary Lehmberg Takes $15,000 from Craddick's Lawyers! (3.00 / 4)

I try to avoid rumors and speculation as much as possible, but something strange is going on in the Travis County DA's race.

It seems Craddick's Criminal Defense Lawyer himself appears to be helping Rosemary Lehmberg.

Rosemary Lehmberg has taken $15,000 from Tom Craddick's personal criminal defense lawyer and law firm.

At the same time, Democrat Mindy Montford continues to run a positive campaign.

The Burnt Orange Report has the story.  Jobu states:

Jobu, a longtime Capitol staffer and Democratic activist who lives in the Barton Hills area of Austin, has a Mindy Montford yard sign in front of his house. Asked by a neighbor this weekend why he is supporting Montford, Jobu replied: "Because she's endorsed by progressive groups like the AFL-CIO, the University Democrats and the Tejano Democrats."

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by: Jobu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:57:38 PM CDT

Craddick vs. Rove (0.00 / 0)

Perfect. Watch your back, Jobu. Or at least your yard.

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by: Elsbeth @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 22:01:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great post, Jobu (0.00 / 0)

I support Lehmberg, but this demonstrates the absurdity of the Capitol Annex attack on Montford.  

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by: janevieu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 23:35:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

give me a break (0.00 / 0)

someone passing along neighborhood gossip passes for political reporting?

geez.  in that case, my sister's boyfriend's cousins ex-girlfriend told my neighbor four doors down that coach fran asked him to support lehmberg.

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by: Bob @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 13:23:53 PM CDT

It isn't gossip.... (0.00 / 0)

...if people are willing to go on the record.

Vince Leibowitz

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by: Vince Leibowitz @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 17:00:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

who went on the record? (0.00 / 0)

it was a "neighbor?"  please.  not exactly profiles in courage.

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by: Bob @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 19:12:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree (0.00 / 0)

Going on the record (even anonymously) is all that's necessary.

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by: Elsbeth @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 21:36:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ha! (3.00 / 4)

We try to avoid rumors and speculation as much as possible

It must be April Fool's! :)

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 13:28:45 PM CDT

You beat me to it (3.00 / 1)

That is what I was going to say!

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by: el_longhorn @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 20:01:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Austin's African-American Newspaper Endorses Montford (0.00 / 0)

NOKOA says:
Montford = Change
Lehmberg = More of the same

I personally really like Rosemary Lehmberg, but her close association with Ronnie Earle and that legacy of indifference toward African-Americans tilt the scales toward Montford. Earle's lethargy in prosecuting police officers who have killed African American youth makes many of us want the person least closely associated with that legacy. An opportunity to get away from that indifference to our culture, and innovative concepts like a special prosecutor for police, influences us to lean toward Montford. So does my minister, who told his congregation on Easter Sunday that he was disappointed with how Earle's office has treated African-Americans and that a break with that tradition might be beneficial. So also do many of my community leaders who in the main have told me that the change we need must be a fresh break from the past.

http://www.montfordforda.com/p...

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by: Jobu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 13:35:37 PM CDT

Well, if NOKOA... (1.00 / 2)

endorsed her that kinda seals the deal. I'm voting again for Lehmberg.  

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by: McBlogger @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 21:28:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rosemary goes Negative on TV (1.50 / 2)

Saw a Rosemary negative ad on Hell's Kitchen tonight.

I guess she can't win the race on her merits.  

Let the mudslinging begin!

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by: Jobu @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 22:39:44 PM CDT

i think it's interesting (0.00 / 0)

she's no longer touting that ronnie earle endorsement.  i guess it was a big albatross around her neck.

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by: Bob @ Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 23:44:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Earle, Lehmberg and treatment of minorities (1.00 / 1)

Ronnie Earle's endorsement is more like a kiss of death to voters east of I-35 and in much of the minority community.

His and Rosemary's hiring record of minority assistant district attorneys is abysmal.

Under Rosemary and Ronnie's leadership, Travis County is 31 times more likely to imprison a black person for a drug offense than a white person for a drug offense.

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by: Jobu @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 09:30:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Republicans are all over the Montford candidacy (0.00 / 0)

I have gotten emails from two Republican lobbyists -- one a former state representative -- encouraging me to support Mindy Montford over Rosemary Lehmberg in the run-off.  

I was at the Randall's in Westlake Hills yesterday and a lobbyisst I know was in the parking lot passing out Mindy Montford flyers.  We chatted a bit, during which he joked "I don't want anyone to know I'm working for a Democrat," to which I replied, "Mindy Montford doesn't want anyone to know you're working for her, either."  

Mindy's a nice person and I know she has her defenders, but it is clear to me that the word has gone out among Republican lobbyists that she's to be supported.  Who benefits from that?  

DeeceX: making Texas safe for democracy

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by: DeeceX @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 08:41:50 AM CDT

Crime in Travis County (1.50 / 2)

Mindy Montford has been a tough prosecutor who has received the endorsement of the Austin police, firefighters and EMS.  She has also received the endorsement of the Travis County Sheriff's officers association as well as Sheriff Greg Hamilton.

Rosemary Lehmberg has received tens of thousands of dollars from criminal defense lawyers.

The people who keep us safe endorse Mindy Montford.

The people who try to get acquittals and cut deals for murderers, rapists, child sexual predators, Tom DeLay, Tom Craddick and John Colyandro support Rosemary Lehmberg.

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by: Jobu @ Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 09:16:00 AM CDT