Bad Subjects Hurt Good Candidates

by: Matt Glazer

Sat Aug 11, 2007 at 11:10 AM CDT

Yesterday afternoon, Barbara Radnofsky broke these rules by e-mailing her list and saying simply, “These Candidates are Not Insane”.  Who are these candidates? Joe Jaworski, candidate for SD-11, Judge Susan Criss, candidate for Texas Supreme Court, Larry Joe Doherty, candidate for the 10th Congressional District, and Sherrie Matula candidate in House District 129.

All of these candidates represent what is right with the Democratic Party.  They are  smart, aggressive candidates that are furthering the Democratic message.  Some are running in primaries.  Some are running unopposed in the primary.  All are working their asses off to win. 

I applaud BAR’s want to fundraise for Democratic candidates, but the scary thing is that she sent an e-mail out that made it sound like some people are going around calling these candidates insane.  There is no explanation of the subject.  No inside joke.  The only thing Radnofsky mentions is:

There's a reason every Harris County judicial race has a Democratic candidate. The historic demographic shift in huge Harris County made the front page of the August 9 Houston Chronicle. Leading the nation in minority resident gains, Harris County has a "minority" population of 2.5 million (63%). Experts predict similar changes for Texas, which is now a majority "minority" state. Galveston and other vital counties are fielding candidates touted in the press as viable, promising public servants.

Great points. Worthy cause.  But where are the people going around calling Sherrie or Larry Joe insane?  Former candidates and current candidates beware.  Don’t get cute with your e-mails.  Be honest and stay positive.  Why not a subject like, “I Support Good Candidates, Do You?” or “Help Me Take Back Texas!” or  “4 Great Candidates”.

We have  a chance to pick up more seats in the Texas House and perhaps a statewide race or two.  We are fielding more competitive races than we did in 2004. The state is changing rapidly in our favor.  Let’s do ourselves a collective favor and not imply people think our candidates are insane.

Susan Criss Running for Texas Supreme Court

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 04:56 PM CDT

QR: Former prosecutor seeks diversity on the bench

Galveston County District Judge Susan Criss tells QR that she is running for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court. The Democrat will vie for the Place 8 seat currently held by Phil Johnson.

She filed paperwork last week naming a campaign treasurer and she has hired Jim Spencer of The Campaign Network as her consultant. Spencer is based in Boston but has an office in Austin. Jeff Hewitt of Fero Hewitt Global runs the Austin office.

Criss has presided over the 212th District Court since 1998. She said
that she talked over a possible run for the state’s highest civil court
for about a month and a half before deciding to commit to the race. "I
got enough positive feedback to convince me this is the time," she said.
"I think it’s time for a change. We need balance."

The Court is entirely Republican now, and Criss said it’s important to
have both parties represented on the bench. "When one party has complete
dominance, it’s not healthy," she said. However, diversity on the court
extends beyond party affiliation, she added. Diversity also means
ensuring that justices on the Court have diverse professional backgrounds.

I've met Judge Criss a few times in Austin and in San Antonio and have been wholly impressed. Her family is active in Galveston politics as well as the local and state Party. Additionally, Judge Criss happens to be a blogger.

This is a very positive development as the Democratic slate gets built in Texas. Add this to the Texas Senate race, and the fact that rural voters are putting Texas back in play and this cycle is looking good for Democrats.

Update: Criss's run was made official by the candidate a couple days ago when pressed by Barbara Radnofsky at a book signing which was reported on the Texas Lawyer Blog.

Welcoming Judge Susan Criss to the Blogosphere

by: Sam Jones

Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 11:00 AM CST

I decided to publish this blog after being inspired by the bloggers who post about the justice system and the government. The first blog I read was The Burnt Orange Report. I was amazed at how quickly they were able to report news out of the Texas Capitol. I was hooked.

Scott Henson encouraged me to blog when I began writing to him about the criminal justice issues he covers in Grits For Breakfast. When I saw how State Rep. Aaron Pena reveals the human side of serving in government in A Capitol Blog I knew I wanted to do this.

Judge Criss, first elected in '98, has a long list of credentials.  For example, she is a Director for the National Association of Women Judges, Project Director of the Color of Justice Video Project for Texas, and chairperson of the Gulf Coast MHMR Task Force on Jail Diversion for the Mentally Ill.

We at BOR are excited to have yet another valuable resource into the happenings in Texas government, and encourage you to stop by and check out Judge Criss' site.