About a week ago, Jan Patterson started running an attack ad on Austin cable stations taking aim at Burnt Orange Report endorsed candidate Amy Clark Meachum. This ad was not put online, isn't on Patterson's website, and has yet to find it's way to YouTube as a recording or otherwise. This is a shame because for the purposes of this post, it would be helpful to contrast the following ads and put into context why the Meachum campaign is responding in kind. In words, the Patterson ad takes aim at Meachum with typical black and white grainy footage and red circles over her face, targeting her experience and subtly her youth.
Below, is the return ad in response to Patterson.
Up until this point, the Meachum campaign has been decidedly positive in their TV message. The following as is the one they opened with on TV, and I would argue is one of the most effective judicial ads I have seen in years. I find myself wanting to rewatch this ad multiple times, possibly because I keep hoping that see Jack Donaghue come on to the 30 Rock set.
Last year at an event at Scholz Garten, a member of our editorial staff asked Judge Jan Patterson about the rumors that she was seeking an appointment by Gov. Rick Perry to the vacant 353rd District Court seat of deceased Democratic Judge Scott Ozmun.
Patterson was asked if she was considering or would ever consider taking any action that would result in a mid-term vacancy on the 3rd Court of Appeals in which Gov. Perry could appoint a Republican and create a 4-2 GOP majority on the court prior to the 2010 election. Patterson said that she had not and was not going to seek appointment to the 353rd District Court and that she was focused on running for the 201st District Court in the regular election.
We took Judge Patterson at her word, but it appears that her words were lies.
It is now well documented here, here, and here that Patterson sought Rick Perry's appointment mid-term to the 353rd bench. We have written down the simple facts of how such an action put the 3rd Court of Appeals at risk to both short term and long term GOP control. Amy Clark Meachum's campaign, former officeholders, past and current candidates for the 3rd Court of Appeals, and even Patterson herself in prior campaigns have all noted the extreme importance of Democratic control of the 3rd Court of Appeals. We have previously provided and will reiterate below a number of facts that raise eyebrows about Patterson's words and actions.
The most baffling thing about this situation is that Patterson would have won election to the 201st District Court without challenge had she not chosen to short circuit the electoral process by seeking Rick Perry's appointment to the 353rd District Court. That was her choice, and it was a bad one.
Patterson has called into question her party credentials and her personal credibility which makes her a poor choice for Democratic primary voters.
Amy Clark Meachum is breath of fresh air, free from the cloud of doubt that would surround Patterson's courtroom. She has earned our endorsement and we hope that she will earn your vote.
After already having many endorsements from the Austin political community, 201st District Court candidate Amy Clark Meachum recently gained some important support from the local legal community. Batting for Meachum now are the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin and the Austin Black Lawyers Association.
Around the same time, the Meachum campaign released a video where Amy tells her story. She might sound a tad immodest, but I figure that anyone would need a bit of pretentiousness to take on a sitting judge. Give it a look.
Austin Senator Kirk Watson, having offered his endorsement previously for John Lipscombe (County Court at Law #3), Mindy Montford (299th District Court), and Kurt Kuhn (3rd Court of Appeals, Place 4), yesterday confirmed his support for Amy Clark Meachum over Jan Patterson in the 201st District Court primary.
From his statement by email.
For that system to work, we need judges that live up to the highest ideals of impartiality. We need judges who will preside so that attorneys and the citizens they represent feel welcome and comfortable, not intimidated. We need smart, hard working people willing to serve.
I'm endorsing Amy Clark Meachum for District Judge in the 201st District Court because I believe she will be that kind of judge.
Amy knows the law, has an even temperament, an open mind, and has earned the respect of her peers.
Amy graduated SMU Magna Cum Laude, was accepted to UT School of Law, made the Texas Law Review, graduated with honors, has become a published author and speaker on legal ethics, and made partner at an established Austin law firm by the time she was 31. (And, for those keeping score, she did it while raising twin girls and a little boy.)
Given that Watson denied Jan Patterson's request forwarded from Rick Perry's office to seek appointment to the 299th District Court, it was never expected he would endorse Patterson, but what wasn't certain is if he would actively support a challenger. That question is now answered as Meachum captures an important validator to her campaign.
Last Saturday, the Austin Central Labor Council (CLC) met to endorse candidates for the upcoming Democratic primary on March 2. Those endorsements included the following.
Mindy Montford - 299th District Court
Cliff Brown - 147th District Court
John Lipscombe - County Court at Law #3
Yvonne Williams - Justice of the Peace - Precinct 1
Karin Crump - Justice of the Peace - Precinct 2
County Commissioner Precinct 4 - no endorsement between Margaret Gomez and Raul Alvarez
But the biggest story was Amy Clark Meachum's upset of Justice Jan Patterson for the 201st civil district court.
This is a sign that Meachum has the momentum in this high-profile judicial race. Last week, Meachum announced endorsements from Senator Watson, Councilman Martinez, Representatives Strama, Rodriguez and Bolton, Constable Elfant, and County Attorney Escamilla. Rumors persist about a potential fundraiser for Meachum to be hosted by Senator Watson at his Austin home.
BOR has obtained a copy of the Patterson application to Perry that labor leaders distributed at the endorsement meeting on Saturday. Multiple sources who participated in the endorsement meeting confirmed that Meachum's outstanding presentation combined with Patterson's application to Governor Perry tipped the scales in Meachum's favor. As BOR and the Austin Chronicle have previously reported, had Senator Kirk Watson not blocked the potential Patterson appointment, Patterson would have delivered Governor Perry a 4-2 Republican majority on the all-important 3rd Court of Appeals.
On July 23, 2009, Patterson signed a letter to Governor Perry "seeking appointment" to the 353rd civil district court. She also filled out an application and submitted a long questionnaire to the Governor. These documents actually raise more questions than answers.
For example, in section 10 of the Patterson application to Perry, Patterson lists two references; Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice, Wallace Jefferson, and former Texas Supreme Court Justice, Scott Brister. Both Justices are Republican, and both are Rick Perry appointees. In fact, Justice Brister is considered by many to be among the most conservative Justices to ever serve on Texas' Supreme Court. Could Judge Patterson not find a Democrat to vouch for her, or was she just embarrassed to list one?
The application includes other interesting tidbits. For example, Patterson boasts about "serving under United States Attorney Rudy Giuliani", and claims she has "actively participated" in NO political activities in the past 10 years. Most of our Democratic judges in Travis County are actually PROUD to be Democrats, and regularly participate in party activities.
Perhaps the most significant and enlightening aspects of Patterson's application to Perry are the cases Patterson cites on pages 5 and 6 of her application. The civil cases Patterson cites are opinions she issued that contain pro-tort reform and anti-worker rulings. For example, in Newsom v. Ballinger Independent School District (2007), the Patterson application states that Patterson authored "unanimous opinion granting summary judgment in favor of school district in worker's compensation case." This ruling came at the expense of a worker. If the cases Patterson cites in her own application to Perry are any indication of her judicial philosophy and judgment, no wonder her references are 2 Republican judges.
Finally, the packet documents a $5000 contribution to Patterson from the right-wing group called Texans for Lawsuit Reform - a group that has literally spent tens of millions of dollars more or less electing Republicans and defeating good Democrats over the past decade. TLR refers to Patterson as a "Democratic candidate that TLR PAC supports," and takes credit for helping Patterson win her last election.
I'm not making any of this up - you can read through the attached packet yourself that comes complete with a Jan Patterson signature.
Austin attorney Amy Clark Meachum filed for the 201st District Court earlier today at the Travis County Democratic Party headquarters. Meachum will face Jan Patterson in the Democratic primary. We have recently documented the controversy that has surrounded Patterson, who had at one time been expected to be unopposed.
Meachum has locked down much of the Travis County Democratic activist and establishment support. Austin political consultants David Butts and Alfred Stanley, who had not backed Meachum until she switched races, were both present as she filed at the TCDP office. So were long time party activists like Donna Beth McCormick, Ginny Agnew, Pat Crow, Cecilia Crossley and Shirley Johnson, among others.
Meachum's campaign has released the following list of elected official endorsements earlier today:
Hon. Kirk Watson, Hon. Eddie Rodriguez, Hon. Mark Strama, Hon. Mike Martinez, Hon. David Escamilla, Hon. Bruce Elfant, Hon. Ken Oden, Hon. Margaret Moore, Hon. Bill Aleshire, Hon. Garnet Coleman, Hon. Jim Dunnam, Hon. Pete Gallego, Hon. Lon Burnam, Hon. Jessica Farrar, Hon. Abel Herrero, Hon. Mike Villarreal, Hon. James E. "Pete" Laney, Amb. Lyndon Olson
Meachum with supporters outside of TCDP office after filing for District Judge.
OK, I realize there aren’t 12-step programs for readers, but there are support groups to encourage the practice. I currently serve on the Board of Bookspring because literacy and reading have played an important role in my life. From watching my parents study at nights to finish their college degrees, to grabbing a book myself and imagining a world beyond my hometown of Lorena, population 800, I know firsthand that books are critical to developing a child’s imagination.
But sadly, 61% of low-income children have no age appropriate books in their home. That’s why I hope you’ll join me on December 14th for our campaign fundraiser and book drive.
Please make sure to bring along a new or gently used children’s book and we’ll deliver them to Bookspring to help support their efforts to promote literacy and a love of reading here in Central Texas.
If you are reading this post, but feel like you don’t know enough about my campaign, I hope you’ll bring a book and just come on by to visit and learn about my desire to serve Travis County. You can also read more about my journey from a small town with no lawyers, to being named a “Rising Star” in Texas Law & Politics Magazine by clicking here.
Not only do I credit reading for giving me the inspiration to be the first in my family to graduate from law school, but I also met my husband while I was running a literacy and mentoring non-profit. We probably owe our marriage to a fifth-grade mentee of mine named Mikey who initially suggested to Kurt that he ask me out. Thankfully our marriage has been light on horror and tragedy. It has been equal parts romance, comedy and adventure – and now the mystery and suspense of raising three kids.
As a woman who went to college on loans and scholarships, worked my way on to the Texas Law Review, and earned a spot as a partner with a major Texas law firm, I know what it’s like to be underestimated. But when kids are growing up without books in the house, they’re not just being underestimated — they’re being counted out. I hope you’ll join us in this effort to put a book in more children’s hands this holiday season.
Thanks to Nhu Le of Austin, TX for this summary of last night's reception welcoming the DNC Asian Pacific Islander American Caucus to Austin, TX! Cross-posted at APA for Progress and AAA-Fund.
It's official, Travis County voters and Democrats have a choice in the Justice of Peace precinct 2 race.
Usually these down ballot races aren't were electoral excitement is drawn, but Amy Clark Meachum is poised to be the Democrat who turns Travis County 100% blue. Meachum is set to take on Republican Barbara Bembry in the November general election.
I am officially announcing my candidacy for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, in Travis County. For the residents of Northwest Austin, Pflugerville and Northern Travis County, it is time for a change to ensure our "People's Court" is accessible, accountable, and efficient.
Bembry has been in the news recently and not for her judicial temperament or because of the stellar job she is doing. Instead, the Statesman has reported twice about Bembry's negligence and her inability to perform basic parts of her elected job.
After Hendricks and his wife moved into their new home on Cassiopeia Way in Steiner Ranch in February 2008, they hired a contractor to install a sprinkler system for the lawn. Hendricks said he and the contractor agreed to a $3,400 price, and work was completed in March. By the middle of summer, though, it was clear that large spots in the yard were not being reached by the sprinkler system.
[...]
On Aug. 18, Hendricks filed a small claims complaint with Barbara Bembry, the justice of the peace for Travis County Precinct 2, which includes the subdivision west of Austin.
The clerk in Bembry's court told Hendricks it would take up to 10 days for the contractor to be served with notice of the complaint, he said.
[...]
Hendricks stopped calling over the holidays and heard nothing from the court. He next called on April 2 and asked to speak to Bembry. Hendricks said a clerk told him that the judge, an elected official, could not be contacted directly, either by telephone or by e-mail.
Not satisfied, Hendricks said he searched and found what he thought was a direct e-mail address. In his e-mail, Hendricks expressed frustration while acknowledging that Bembry's court was probably very busy.
[...]
Neither Bembry nor anyone in her court answered the e-mail, he said.
After Hendricks called July 15 - 331 days, or nearly 11 months after he filed his complaint - and was told by a clerk that a time frame for a court date could not be estimated, Hendricks called Statesman Watch.
On July 29, the Statesman followed up on the story. Instead of their being news about Bembry jumping to action, instead the sprinkler company began working with Hendricks in order to resolve the situation out of court. In addition, Hendricks got another interesting call according to the Statesman.
Hendricks received another call from someone who read the Statesman Watch column. The caller told Hendricks she was planning to run against Bembry next year.
"She invited me to her campaign launch party," Hendricks said.
Hendricks isn't the only one who received an invite to the party. Today, Meachum sent out a save the date to her party to a much wider audience touting an all-start list of support.
House Democratic Leader, Jim Dunnam, and his band, The Bad Precedents are playing.
Save the date for our official campaign kickoff party on Thursday, September 17, from 6:00-8:00 at the Iron Cactus North. I am incredibly grateful to Rep. Dunnam, his wife Michelle, and The Bad Precedents for agreeing to provide the entertainment for our campaign kickoff party.
State Representatives Valinda Bolton, Donna Howard, Eddie Rodriguez, Mark Strama, Lon Burnam, Garnet Coleman and Pete P. Gallego have all agreed to support my campaign, as well. All we need now are a few sponsors for this event, which should be a lot of fun!
Also included in the e-mail was another big name. Senator Kirk Watson, according to the Meachum e-mail, "has generously agreed to match the first $1,000 raise[d] online."
The reason for all this excitement and ink on this race is two pronged. One, Amy Meachum is an inspiring Democrat and someone who helped get the TexBlog PAC off the ground. Second, Bembry's defeat is not only good for the people of Austin but is a symbol of the work we have done at the grassroots level for nearly a decade.
BOR has learned that Amy Clark Meachum, a partner at the Austin law firm McGinnis, Lochridge and Kilgore, has filed a campaign treasurer appointment with Travis County for Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2. Rumors about a potential Meachum candidacy have been circulating for about 6 weeks, ever since a group of party leaders, elected officials and activists began courting Meachum and asking her to consider the race. We first wrote about Meachum's potential run on June 30 and her filing yesterday is the clearest indication that a formal announcement is imminent. Her treasure is David Hilgers, a prominent Austin attorney and democratic donor and partner at Brown McCarroll.
Meachum will be a formidable candidate when she decides to formally enter the race. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from SMU before earning a law degree from UT Law where she graduated with honors in 2000 and was a member of the prestigious UT Law Review. Three times, Texas Law and Politics Magazine named Meachum a "Texas Rising Star", in 2007, 2008 & 2009. Her legal talent was so well-regarded that McGinnis, Lochridge and Kilgore made her a partner at the age of 32.
The Republican incumbent Meachum would be challenging, Barbara Bembry, is the only remaining Republican judge in Travis County. In 2006, her Libertarian opponent received an incredible 35% of the vote. The last time the incumbent faced a Democratic challenge was 1998. In 2008, Democrat Adan Ballesteros beat long-time Republican Constable, Bob Vann, in this same precinct in their contested race for Precinct 2 Constable. Had Bembry been on the ballot in 2008, she would have lost.
There is no doubt, however, that it will take a coordinated and herculean effort to oust this entrenched, 12-year incumbent in a non-presidential year. However, a great candidate who runs a perfect race and gets some luck at the top of the ticket can win this seat. I think Meachum is exactly that candidate.
In the interest of full-disclosure, Meachum hosted the first ever TexBlog PAC fundraiser at her house in Northwest Hills.
