Saturday, February 26, 2011

The 2012 Election Season So Far

As I mentioned in the first post of this year, the 2012 Election Season has already gotten off to an early start with aspiring Republican candidates wasting no time in declaring their intentions to run for Judicial Benches.

Thus far, here's who we've (tentatively) got.

174th District Court
Former-ADA Robert Summerlin (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Ruben Guerrero (D)

177th District Court
ADA Ryan Patrick (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Kevin Fine (D)

178th District Court
ADA (and former 178th Judge) Roger Bridgwater (R) vs. Incumbent Judge David Mendoza

179th District Court
Former-ADA Kristin Guiney (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Randy Roll (D)

337th District Court
ADA Alexis Gilbert (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Herb Ritchie (D)

338th District Court
ADA Joe Vinas (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Hazel Jones

339th District Court
ADA Brad Hart (R) vs. Incumbent Judge Maria Jackson

Since Judge Mark Ellis was the sole Republican survivor on the Judicial Level of the 2008 elections, it is highly doubtful that any Republican would challenge him in the primary.  Therefore, I'm sure we'll see a Democrat announce there.  But the Dems haven't seem to have jumped to their 2012 planning quite yet (at least, not that I've heard).

Judge Shawna Reagin (D) of the 176th District Court has not drawn an opponent as of this writing, and I hope that it stays that way -- she's just doing too damn good of a job for any candidate who truly has the Judicial System's best interest at heart to run against her in good faith.  But sadly, that just leaves open the door for some miscreant who just likes to run because he has run in every election since the Stone Age to announce and he is feeling cocky since the barratry charges against him were dismissed.

As I've mentioned before, I'm sure this field will look vastly different by March of 2012.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The candidate you're referring to ran as a Democrat this go-round.
He never campaigned, spent no money, gave the party no money and almost won his primary.

Barack will lose Harris county and so will the Dems, that's life.

Things may change for Barack nationally, although I doubt it, but they won't change for him in Harris county.

Anonymous said...

Interesting candidates so far. Two of them are current Felony #2 prosecutors; and I doubt either has tried a capital on their own. Ryan Patrick should win with his dad's backing and support; not sure Alexis will though. I anticipate someone will run against her in the primary.

Anonymous said...

God help us all if Robert Summerlin ever gets elected to the bench and God help us if Randy Roll manages to hang onto his bench after this single term!

Anonymous said...

Is Joe V old enough to be a judge?

Murray Newman said...

Yes, but he isn't old enough to buy a lottery ticket.

Unknown said...

I am extremely confused why the election dates for criminal judges is posted nowhere on any of these websites. Very shady

Murray Newman said...

Bill,
The District Court Judges elections will be held on the same ballot as the Presidential Election in 2012. Nobody is trying to be shady. They just assumed that part was self-explanatory, I suppose.

Anonymous said...

My sources tell me Brock Thomas will be running for the 338th as well. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it the D's will have a contested primary. Fine being top of the contested races.

Anonymous said...

ADA Renee Magee is running as a Republican for the 337th. http://www.mageeforjudge.com/about.html

Episode Seven: The Voters Awaken - A One Act -Sci-Fi Play

SCENE:  The Death Star orbits over Downtown Houston. [INTERIOR] The Imperial Council Chambers. EMPRESS OGG sits at the head of a long table ...