It was the buzz at tonight's Capital Area Progressive Democrats / South Austin Democrats Holiday Party at the AFL-CIO and in less than an hour, official confirmation by email from Karen Sage that she indeed will be moving to run in the 299th District Court to be vacated by Charlie Baird who just announced he will not seek re-election.
I begin this e-mail on a note of sadness, because I have recently learned that one of Travis County's most accomplished judges and beloved Democrats, Charlie Baird, has decided not to run for re-election to the 299th District Court. Judge Baird has had a distinguished judicial career, both on the Criminal Court of Appeals and in the 299th District Court. There are many, including myself, who will miss his presence on the bench.
I am very excited, however, because I have decided to move from pursuing the 147th District Court bench to seek Judge Baird's empty seat on the 299th District Court. After speaking with friends, family, and supporters, I believe this is the best move for Travis County. There is no appreciable difference between the courts - they both deal with felony criminal cases, and I will be able to work for justice in the exact same way as I would be able to work for it on the 147th.
This now leaves Cliff Brown as the sole candidate standing for the Democratic nomination in the 147th District Court. Previously, Judge David Crain decided to seek retiring Judge Bob Perkins's bench on 331st District Court.
It remains unclear if Sage will remain without primary challenge. Tonight's chatter was centered around former Assistant District Attorney and 2008 Travis County District Attorney candidate Mindy Montford who was also in attendance at tonight's holiday party and did not appear to be going out of her way to quash any rumors at this time. Sage's lightening fast email tonight would be a smart move if one were attempting to move quickly to gain an early edge in hope to scare off other challengers.
(Karen Sage is a candidate for the 147th District Court in Travis County. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Hello, my name is Karen Sage, and I'm running to be your next judge on the 299th District Court. I am writing this diary because I wanted to lay out why I'm running for judge, what makes me qualified, and why this race is important, so what better forum on the internet is there than Burnt Orange Report to do so? First, I'd like to tell you a little bit about who I am before I get into my legal credentials and the race itself.
Who I Am I was born 44 years ago in a small Minnesota town called Worthington, a place with fewer than 10,000 residents. It is in the far southwestern corner of the state, just north of Iowa and just east of South Dakota. My father, Jim, was a police officer there for 40 years, and my mother, Dorothy, ran a small drapery and upholstery business. I was the first in my family to attend college, and the first in my family to attend law school. My career and my family have taken me many places, and I've lived in Los Angeles and New York City before settling in Austin, where I'd like to spend the rest of my life.
I am married to a professor of law at the University of Texas, and I have two children ages eight and ten. It hasn't been easy to be a mother and an attorney, but my drive to work in public service has always made the struggle worth it. My experience growing up in the Midwest and living on the two coasts has given me a unique perspective. It is my hope to serve this community with all of my ability, to make Austin a better, safer place, and to broaden the horizon of justice to serve all of the citizens of this world-class city.
Why Run? The most common question I hear when I'm out on the campaign trail is: "Why are you running for judge?" The answer is simple for me - I believe in public service and I believe in justice. For most of my career, I have been a public servant, and I have always tried to do justice no matter what role I have occupied. Justice is the backbone of our democracy, it is the safeguard of our rights, and it is the last bastion of our civilization. There is nothing nobler than pursuing justice, ensuring equality, and fighting for what is right. I believe that I have the courage, the compassion, and the commitment to be a great judge.
Lost in the shuffle over the weekend was the news that 27 year Veteran Judge Bob Perkins will not seek re-election for the 331st District Court bench. In 2005, Perkins has originally been assigned to preside over Tom DeLay's money-laundering case which eventually was heard by Democrat Pat Priest.
With the retirement of Judge Perkins, the Committee to Draft David Crain has redirected their efforts from the 147th District Court seat being vacated by Judge Wilford Flowers to the 331st where Crain would be unopposed. That development has led to the releasing of a large number of endorsement commitments previously held by Crain in the 147th District Court race which is now a contest between announced Democratic candidates Cliff Brown and Karen Sage. [ed. note: I am among those who had endorsed Crain for the 147th and I have not chosen to endorse Brown or Sage (or Crain) in their respective races at this time.]
Cliff Brown's campaign was quick out of the gate to release a partial list of new endorsements after the Draft Crain Committee's departure from the 147th race.
This changes the dynamics of our race and just since late Friday afternoon we are already proud to list the names of several new supporters: Steve Brittain, David Chambers, Rick Cofer, Ira Davis, Eva Eakin, Raymond Espersen, David Frank, Rick Freeman, Alberto Garcia, Gus Garcia Jr., Ken Gibson, Gabe Gutierrez, Steven C. Lee, Ramey Ko, David Mauro, Mark McCrimmon, Wayne Meissner, Jason Nassour, Hon. Ken Oden, Sandra Ritz, Larry Sauer, Alfred Stanley, Nate Stark, and John Yeager
I first heard the news when I was in Kalamazoo thanks to a voicemail from candidate Karen Sage, though I have not seen her campaign release any new endorsements specifically from this shift in the landscape.
Update: Karen Sage replies in the comments with some of the supporters her campaign has added since the announcement.
Jay Adkins, Amber Vazquez Bode, Gordon Bowman, Jim Bryce, Laura Caldwell, Mechele Dickerson, Angelica Evans, Rachel Farris, Brooke & Reggie Ferguson, Cindy Goldrick, Jeanne Graves, Leticia Hinojosa, Ganesh Iyer, Kathleen Kerr, Stefanie Lindquist, Mike Luna, Millie Meinscher, Daniel Moore, Nathalie Nichols, Debbie & Jim Parish, Linda Pemberton, Mary & Valerie Quarles, Karin Richmond, Jackie Soliz-Chapa, Ann Stafford, Ken Stein, and Michael Sturley.
