Like Texas other major urban counties, Harris County has grown increasingly Democratic over the past decade. Mealer has pitched herself as a back-to-basics candidate who would prioritize traditional county responsibilities like roads and public safety. Its much broader, its national. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As early voting began Monday, a new poll revealed how tight the race is for Harris County judge. ABC13 also heard from the Mealer campaign who said they were not surprised at parts of the new poll: "As early voting gets underway, the new University of Houston - Hobby School of Public Affairs poll is solid confirmation that residents want new leadership in Harris County. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. I did it while making bold changes to how our government operatesfrom record law enforcement funding, to early childhood education, smarter flood control and everything in between. How will you work with your colleagues on the court to get things done? Nov 08, 2022. Though experts in policing tend to agree that increasing the presence of police officers generally results in lower crime rates, the effect on violent crime is less clear. The process of keeping voter rolls updated for relocations and deaths is an ongoing effort that is a primary responsibility of the county," said Mealer. Submit application to: We have two Democratic women in office that had their duties stripped away from them by Lina Hidalgo - they were elected by the people and answerable to the people of Harris County. License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Theres a feeling that were the firewall here in Harris County to make sure Texas doesnt go blue, said Cindy Siegel, Harris Countys Republican Party chair. The Commissioners Court also approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services. Updated: 6:20 PM CDT September 15, 2022 HARRIS COUNTY, Texas The race for Harris County Judge is one of the most closely watched races this cycle. Over ten years' worth of data was analyzed, revealing that violent crime increased between 2011 and 2018, while property crime decreased while republicans were in office. That backlog sat at 41,344 pending criminal cases as of September, down from a height of about 54,000 during summer 2021, according to county court records. ABC13 reached out to both candidates about Monday's poll. I think thats the big key: Are we appropriately resourced? Mealer said. We shifted to a "worst first" model. We anticipated our race would be close, especially given the millions of dollars poured into our far-right opponent's campaign from known extremists, election deniers, anti-voting rights leaders, and developers eager to roll back regulations that help stop flooding to make a profit at our expense. Filing Window. The next year saw homicides grow at a slower pace about 12% to 633 homicides. As county judge, I will support using toll road dollars to maintain and expand our roadway system and advocate for partnership funding. Appeals from the Southern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit . Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, left, and Alexandra del Moral Mealer, Hidalgos opponent, talk to members of the Houston Chronicle editorial board on Sept. 29. criminal indictment of three Hidalgo staffers, a common practice among county commissioners, the effect on violent crime is less clear. And the two reasons I chose to enter this race, crime and government corruption, are the top two issues for the vast majority of voters in our county. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas. I watched as petty crime in my neighborhood turned into violent crime, and our local officials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to find solutions to immediately address the issue. Its not a matter of adding more boots, Hidalgo said. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprecedented crime epidemic, and the other commissioners and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. Sep. 22, 2021 Updated: Sep. 23, 2021 9:19 a.m. 2 Humble ISD School Board president Martina Lemond Dixon announced Wednesday she is running for Harris County Judge as a Republican candidate. Precinct 1 Alan Rosen. Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Alex is the Real Deal. I have full faith in our elected officials and their ability to run a secure, transparent and efficient election and will without question certify the election results as long as our County Clerk and County Tax Assessor testify to the integrity of the process and are the ones administering the election., Gerald Harris on social media: Facebook | Twitter. So partly, I felt a responsibility to address an issue that is so, so salient.. Precinct 2 Jerry Garcia. "Anyone can spend money,' Mealer said. Getting The Talent Balance Right: From Layoffs to Laterals to Mergers, How Can Firms Staff for Success? Ive steered Harris County through a winter storm, chemical fires, floods, hurricanes and COVID[-19]. Mealer has outspent Hidalgo by more than 2 to 1, nearly $3.5 million to Hidalgos $1.4 million including on television and radio ads like the Mattress Mack ad and another commercial in which she appears with relatives of homicide victims. Opposing perspectives can push us to find more equitable solutions, and I am dedicated to keeping Harris County moving forward. Hidalgo has 546,745 total votes for 50.7%, while Mealer has 530,788 total votes for 49.3%. All Rights Reserved. 2. She is running against a wife, mom, combat veteran, Hispanic, West Pointer and Harvard JD/MBA that she routinely disrespects by name calling, photoshopping and intentionally misquoting. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Hidalgo also oversaw the countys response to the 2021 winter storm that crashed the states power grid, as well as the regions ongoing recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Hegar's office has backed off for now. And voters recognize it. Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2023, Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2023, LITIGATION ATTORNEY - ATLANTA, GEORGIA- ENTRY LEVEL, AARONSON RAPPAPORT FEINSTEIN & DEUTSCH, LLP, The Art of Entertainment Law: A Conversation with Robert A. Celestin, Buying Legal Council Appoints Jason Winmill as New Chair, Understanding the Las Vegas Crime Rate with Attorney Tony Sgro, Introducing Virginia Ivanova, Esq. Family violence increased. In the Nov. 8. election, Judge Jason Cox of Harris County Probate Court 3 will face Republican candidate Rory Olsen, who was judge of the same court for several four-year terms. But Mealer faces a tough climb in whats expected to be a tight race for the countys top position. Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALMs deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that cant be found anywhere else. George touted the countys economic standing, his response during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the countys diversity as reasons for his reelection. Right now, we have a public safety crisis, Mealer said. Olsen was judge of the same court for several four-year terms, but was defeated by Cox in 2018. Boutique law firm specializing in sophisticated real estate litigation &representation of commercial and residential tenants seeks one ( CASH KRUGLER & FREDERICKS LLC is Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary & Newest Partners! Mom of 2, stabbed 8 times, is making most of second chance at life, Mom's bond raised months after being charged with role in son's death, Mom's purse snatched while picking up child from daycare, police say. Like nearly every major U.S. metropolitan area, the Houston region saw a surge of violent crime, particularly homicides, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Troy Nehls (who won reelection to the U.S. House), challenged Georges standing with local small businesses, especially after the pandemic. there are two men on the ballot running for Fort Bend County Judge. I'm running to protect our progress and keep Harris County moving forward. Mealer outraised every statewide Republican candidate except for Abbott during that period. 3. And weve increased, and will continue to increase, the ranks of detention officers to reduce strain on current jail staff. I think more likely than not she will prevail, but its not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination.. Rene Cross, executive director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, said Hidalgo is very popular among Democrats and very unpopular among Republicans. But the scandal has given Republicans an opening to clobber Hidalgo who has often touted her ethical bona fides such as not taking campaign contributions from donors who do business with the county, a common practice among county commissioners. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. If Mealer wins in November, she said, I think that we would see an undoing of a lot of that work.. According to data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the number of violent crimes in Harris County fell 12% during the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year. Democrat Erica Davis announced her run for Harris County Judge, joining 11 other challengers in the race to unseat Lina Hidalgo. If re-elected, Ill continue to see the bond projects through as fast as possible, while asking honestly, What will it take for Harris County to be truly flood resilient? And, Ill get it done. Luong then practiced law with two civil trial law firms in Houston. That has absolutely nothing to do with the county judge.. Harris County Judge's race is a "Statistical Dead Heat" New. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo previously announced the approval of $9 million in funds for local apprenticeships in addition to over $13 million for upskilling, such as additional job training and retraining. Hidalgo and other county officials are just not acknowledging the severity of the problem, Mealer said. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's political future is on the line for 2022.

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