Head of Economic Crimes to be Tarrant District Attorney

by: Todd Hill

Tue May 05, 2009 at 08:55 PM CDT

Governor Rick Perry has decided he can't risk alienating the last bastion of metropolitan Republican voting strength that is Tarrant County by making a controversial political appointment to fill the vacant District Attorney's seat left open by the recent death of Tim Curry.

Well-placed sources in Tarrant County confirm that Joe Shannon, Head of Economic Crimes, will be Perry's safe choice to fill the remainder of Curry's term with assurances that he will not run for his own term in 2010. If that is the case--Shannon not seeking his own term--then it is a safe bet that the Republican powers-that-be in Tarrant County will line up behind Robert K. Gill in what will likely turn out to be a nasty GOP primary. Perry appointing Shannon will ensure he does not alienate key GOP leaders in Tarrant County when he will need all the Republican strength and support he can muster to fend off Kay Bailey Hutchison. Gill has been the odds on favorite amongst Tarrant Republican leaders to eventually replace Curry for several years.

Speculation now turns toward who the Democrats will field against the Republicans in the 2010 District Attorney race. Much of the chatter has centered on Terri Moore, a former federal prosecutor, two-time Democratic candidate for Tarrant County District Attorney, and currently Assistant District Attorney to Craig Watkins in Dallas. However, Moore is considered to be a top candidate for U.S. attorney in the North Texas region by the Obama Administration.

Moore first ran for Tarrant County District Attorney against Curry in 2002, nabbing 46% of the vote in a county that voted 58% straight Republican. Moore ran once more in 2006 picking up 47% of the vote in a year, again, with 58% straight Republican voting. Terri is arguably the best candidate that Democrats could field in 2010, and with no entrenched incumbent in the field, would likely be the odds-on favorite to win the race. She has incredible crossover appeal and has been the only Democrat in more than a decade to come close to winning a countywide election in Tarrant. Having said that, and considering Moore is likely to take the U.S. attorney job if offered, any other Democrat who considers a countywide race in Tarrant has an uphill climb ahead of them. The name heard most frequently outside of Terri's is Fort Worth attorney Larry Moore (no relation).

Take note that in 2006, straight Republican voting was 58% compared to 42% for Democrats. If you look at the most generic of Democrats on the ballot in that same election cycle, in this case Bill Moody, he received 42% of the vote-matching the straight Democratic vote margin.

J.D. Angle, part of the team who elected Tarrant's newest State Senator, Wendy Davis, notes:

"Countywide seats are still very difficult to win for Democrats at this time"

And the fact is that J.D. is absolutely right. Despite what gains were made in Tarrant County in the 2008 election cycle this is a gubernatorial one, with lower turnout, and minus the massive Obama voter participation that helped to lift Wendy Davis and Chris Turner to victory. That does not mean, however, that a smart, well executed, decently funded Democratic campaign couldn't take advantage of what is likely to be a wounded Republican candidate off the heels of a bloody and nasty GOP primary. If a single Democratic candidate could be fielded, avoiding a contested primary of their own, and allowing this candidate to fundraise and build vital infrastructure while Republicans tear each other apart, then certainly our chances increase. It doesn't hurt either if Democrats field someone with the last name Moore, even if their first name isn't Terri.

Tags: Tarrant County District Attorney, Tim Curry, Terri Moore, Larry Moore, Wendy Davis, Chris Turner, (All Tags)

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Head of Economic Crimes to be Tarrant District Attorney | 2 comments

Good (If Safe) Choice (0.00 / 0)

Rick Perry's choice of Joe Shannon to complete Tim Curry's term may be a safe choice, but it is also a good choice. Curry was generally well-liked by the criminal defense bar, and I think Shannon will continue with his policies (open files, for example).

Perry's attempt not to alienate his party members here in Tarrant County will probably have the opposite effect. If I supported former judge Robert Gill, Judge George Gallagher or Judge Sharen Wilson I'd be upset with the guv for not picking my candidate. By not giving the advantage to any candidate, Perry may have just issued an open invitation to anyone who is thinking about running to go ahead and file. I agree that a countywide race is a long shot for a Democrat, but a knock-down, drag-out Republican primary for DA might give a Democrat a better chance. A big war chest would help, too.

by: atticus22 @ Tue May 05, 2009 at 21:28:03 PM CDT

Other Considerations (0.00 / 0)

I just read a Fort Worth Star-Telegram article which stated any elected judge (judges Gallagher and Wilson in this case) would have to resign their seats in order to run for DA. The article stated that both judges thinking about this have children in college, which could prove to be a big consideration for either of them.

Knowing this could indeed change the primary. Former judge Gill would not have to resign from his position as a prosecutor to run for DA. He has about 15 years experience as a district judge. There may be another Republican candidate with equal credentials (not currently on the bench) but I'm not sure who it would be. Gill's main opposition in a primary would come from outside the DA's office.

by: atticus22 @ Wed May 06, 2009 at 05:28:50 AM CDT

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