Three Related Elections

While I'm quite comfortable writing about the Elections that are for positions within the actual building of the CJC, I'm much more reserved in commenting on races outside of it.  I don't usually comment on Nationwide elections or even Statewide ones.  I don't talk about the various Courts of Appeals because I don't do Appellate Law.

I make exceptions every once in a while when a member of our CJC community (whom I know well) is venturing off the lily pad to run for a non-CJC office.

This year, I profiled Mark Bennett's race for the Court of Criminal Appeals and Ann Johnson's race for State Representative.  I did not do a post on HCDA prosecutor  Gene Wu's run for State Representative, but not because I don't like Gene.  I just don't know him as well as I know Mark and Ann.

In the end, Gene should be grateful for the lack of attention, as it appears my support may have been the kiss of death for my friends outside of the CJC.  Gene won his race handily.

Congratulations to Gene on his new job description and his lovely new bride, Miya Shay.  Gene is passionate about helping out this community and I have no doubt that he will be a persistent and driving force in politics for years to come.

In regards to Ann's and Mark's races, I'm so very proud of both of them for the races they ran.

Anyone remotely familiar with Ann's campaign knows that she redefined the word "tireless" for the past several months.  She poured her heart and soul into making phone calls, attending events, and walking neighborhoods.  She ran for all of the right reasons and she had a grassroots campaign that loved her for it.  She is a true example of what I wish all politicians exemplified.

Brother Mark ran for the right principle, too.

He's a smart guy and knew that running as a Libertarian was not likely to carry an election for him -- especially not one where he went mano y mano in a Statewide race against an incumbent Republican.  But as he articulates very thoroughly in this post on his blog, winning wasn't the goal -- getting his voice heard was.

Mark's point was to show that a Third Party candidate can directly affect the two major parties in their races.  Mark got 22.1% of the vote.  There was no Democratic candidate.  If there had been, Mark would have been a game changer.

You may not always agree with Mark Bennett.  Lord knows, I don't.  But I think you can agree with the principle that there is something worth discussing when it comes to taking judicial elections away from partisan machines.

I will be interested to see whether or not Mark takes his Libertarian campaign to a county-wide race in 2014.  He may just be onto something.

Congratulations to Gene Wu on his victory and congratulations to Mark and Ann for their well-fought races.

All of you have so much to be proud of.                                                                

Ann Johnson Fundraiser

While most of what I write about here on the blog is about elections directly dealing with the CJC, every once in a while, one of our own runs for Office in other fields.  I couldn't have been more excited to have learned that former-Harris County Assistant District Attorney and one of my favorite people Ann Johnson had decided to run for State Representative of District 134.

I first met Ann when she was working at the D.A.'s Office, and she quickly earned the reputation of a tough and no-nonsense prosecutor.  She was incredibly smart and passionate about using the tools available to her as a prosecutor to help people affected by crime.  She was far from boisterous, but a kind friend to everyone in the building.  She was highly respected and highly loved by her co-workers.

When Ann left the Office, she took her passion for helping other people and devoted her practice to making changes to the Criminal Justice System in ways that helped make it a better place -- specifically concentrating on changing the way juveniles are treated by the courts.  Ann is one of the few people I know personally who challenged a law all the way to the Supreme Court -- and won.  She did so, not for profit, but because she wanted to make the System better than it currently was.

Ann Johnson is one of those rare people who does more than just sit around saying "Somebody should do something" about a problem.  She's the one who says "I will do something" about the problem -- and then does it.  I don't know of any other candidate so willing to tackle public office strictly for such altruistic motives.

Please join me in voting for Ann in November.

Also, I hope you will come to a Fundraiser for Ann being hosted by Chip Lewis and Justin Wood on Wednesday, October 17th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cyclone Anaya's at 1710 Durham.

In the meantime, please go check out Ann's website and like her on Facebook.  Her background and credentials are amazing and her platform is clear and strong.  See what she stands for and what her opponent stands against, and your choice in this election will be very easy.