1. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. Jones says one reason for Mealer's surge is the top issue. As county judge, I will support using toll road dollars to maintain and expand our roadway system and advocate for partnership funding. And even before that, we'd been working as a commissioner's court to invest historic amounts of funding toward public safety.". In a second term, were going to continue making investments in making the system more efficient at every stage. Its not a matter of adding more boots, Hidalgo said. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media| Alexandra del Moral Mealer's website, Q&A with Lina Hidalgo: Harris County judge discusses pressing issues facing Houston region, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo explains evolving stance on toxic wastewater shipments from Ohio, Toxic wastewater shipments from Ohio trail derailment headed back to Houston area, Firefighting wastewater from Ohio train derailment began arriving in Deer Park last week, Hidalgo says, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Houston remains one of the most affordable big cities in the U.S., even if it no longer feels like it, Santa Fe shooting survivor Trey Louis tugs at judges heartstrings on American Idol, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans, A bill making illegal voting a felony, again, advances in the Texas Senate, Firefighting wastewater from Ohio train derailment to be disposed of in Harris County, experts say it's a common process. What is the biggest issue facing Harris County right now, and how do you plan to address it? Its okay, you may agree you may disagree, but the democracy depends on participation, Hidalgo said. She was a hyper-competent officer with laser focus, a strong work ethic, and unimpeachable integrity. Nov 14, 2021 - Dec 14, 2021 . At the same time, Harris County courts have struggled to tackle a criminal case backlog that dates back five years to Hurricane Harvey and grew during the COVID-19 pandemic as courts stopped holding in-person trials. We are confident voters agree with Judge Hidalgo's vision for Harris County, and they will re-elect her as county judge." The Arizona Legislature's Senate Elections Committee and House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee held a joint hearing on Thursday featuring testimony from several people involved in researching the voter disenfranchisement that occurred in 2020 and 2022. Precinct 4 Mark Herman. Democrat Erica Davis announced her run for Harris County Judge, joining 11 other challengers in the race to unseat Lina Hidalgo. But Mealer faces a tough climb in whats expected to be a tight race for the countys top position. Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. We can't do a greater percentage. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. Incumbent Lina Hidalgo held off a tough challenge from Alexandra del Moral Mealer to win a second term as Harris County Judge. "There are some democrats out there that are going to vote for Beto O'Rourke but they're still uncertain who they're going to vote for in the county judge race, and Hidalgo needs those votes if she's going to win," Jones explained. Hildago, who opened a 10-point lead in recent polling, is accusing Mealer of being an election denier and is questioning whether she would respect the voting wishes of Harris County. Cox, the Democratic candidate, beat Olsen in 2018, who at the time had presided over the same court for years. That has absolutely nothing to do with the county judge.. seeks attorneys with 1-3 years litigation experience for its Morristown, NJ office. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. We will make the jail safe for both jail staff and inmates. 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. Trever Nehls declined to give an interview before the primary. Precinct 8 Phil Sandlin. It's zero.". Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates 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. The proposed county budget blocked by Republicans contains a raise for county law enforcement officers, an attempt to better recruit and retain those officers, she said. Hidalgo has touted annual increases to the countys public safety budget since she took office and notes that violent crime has fallen year over year. With Such Low Win Rates, Should Law Firms Respond to So Many RFPs? Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Luong then practiced law with two civil trial law firms in Houston. "I saw my. Thats scary to me, thats scary to me win or lose, Hidalgo said. It is imperative to have safe and efficient roadway systems, which is accomplished through investment in maintenance and roadway expansions. Application Guidelines 1) Contact the Harris County Elections Office to confirm that your registered address qualifies you for the position you intend to run for, and that you meet other office specific qualifications. Mealer has pitched herself as a back-to-basics candidate who would prioritize traditional county responsibilities like roads and public safety. Its almost like the flip side of President Trump: People either love him or hate him, Cross said. Filing Window. Your donation keeps our trusted reporting free and accessible for all Texans and during a legislative session when lawmakers are set to tackle issues from school choice for K-12 students to school safety improvements to changes in property taxes, its critical that Texans know what lawmakers decisions mean for their futures. Hidalgo is accusing Mealer of being an election denier and is questioning whether she would respect the voting wishes of Harris County. License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand. And while every countywide position is held by a Democrat, the county judges seat has been in Democratic hands for only four years. But a year of scandal and strife has complicated Hidalgos reelection bid. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston. Hidalgo, in turn, has attacked Mealer for not publicly taking a position on the states blanket ban on abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade earlier year. I think shes shown a remarkable ability to exercise leadership during a moment of crisis and, in her case, a series of crises, said County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat and Hidalgo ally. Hidalgo also backed measures to make it easier for people to vote during the pandemic, including 24-hour drive-thru voting which inspired state Republican lawmakers to enact a sweeping bill last year that outlawed those same voting measures. The industry-leading media platform offering competitive intelligence to prepare for today and anticipate opportunities for future success. It's a big answer. Precinct 5 Ted Heap. By Rachel Carlton Its much broader, its national. Hidalgo argues that the issue is relevant given that the county appoints board members of the Harris Health System, which provides abortions when theyre medically necessary, she said. Hidalgo has 546,745 total votes for 50.7%, while Mealer has 530,788 total votes for 49.3%. The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of county judge, who presides over a five-member Commissioners Court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations. Hidalgo and her fellow Democrats have accused the Republicans of defunding law enforcement by blocking a proposed $123 million increase in public safety spending. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. [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. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Lina - you raised your hand and said you wanted to lead this County, stop talking to your national donors and get up on stage with me and defend your policies to the voters of Harris County., RELATED: Public safety a top priority in race for Harris County judge. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. Texas Molecular, the company contracted to dispose of the wastewater, informed Judge Lina Hidalgo Thursday that the first shipments had arrived by truck around Wednesday, February 15. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Hidalgo, meanwhile, had a larger pool of donors but raised less than a third of Mealers haul from July through September about $1.5 million. I frankly view all of this as a distraction from the actual county judge position, Mealer said. Our priority on commissioners court will be public safety, and as long as we are in agreement that that is the top priority, we will be able to find ways to work together. Recognizing innovation in the legal technology sector for working on precedent-setting, game-changing projects and initiatives. Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! County budget officials also are examining whether they can use county funds to provide contraception or transport pregnant people out of state should they need an abortion, she said. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's political future is on the line for 2022. 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. Republicans are betting that a national midterm environment thats generally unfavorable to Democrats, marked by Bidens low approval ratings and high inflation, could be enough to oust Hidalgo and regain a majority on the five-member court. [The county] signed the ODonnell Consent Decree that created a cashless bail system for misdemeanors. How will you work with your colleagues on the court to get things done? "And for those who say they might do more, that is two-thirds of the county budget going towards justice and going towards safety. Hammering the 31-year-old incumbent over the countys high number of homicides and the criminal indictment of three Hidalgo staffers, Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer has mounted a robust challenge against Hidalgo prompting GOP donors to open their wallets for the chance to halt Hidalgos political career and retake the seat they lost in 2018. Like nearly every major U.S. metropolitan area, the Houston region saw a surge of violent crime, particularly homicides, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. So tell me, what does this company tell you about Lina Hidalgo?. A West Point graduate and ex-Army captain who served for a decade in Afghanistan, Mealer has put Hidalgo on the defensive over the countys crime numbers which mirror trends seen in most major U.S. metropolitan areas during the COVID-19 pandemic and a criminal court backlog that dates back to Hurricane Harvey, before Hidalgo took office. George, a Democrat, beat Nehls with 126,828 total votes, or 51.6% of the vote. Chris Watson. To those who are skeptical about my ability to execute my campaign promises, I would just say that if you think I am moving fast on the campaign trail, imagine how fast I can run once in office with a full team behind me," Alexandra Mealer statement on new poll said. There have been some glitches on this Election Day for the nation's first primary of 2022. 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. Great opportunity for advancement. Aaronson Rappaport Feinstein & Deutsch, LLP Is Pleased To Announce Patrick P. Mevs & Daniel W. Milstein Have Become Members Of The Firm. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar in August accused county officials of violating a new state law aimed at discouraging local elected officials from cutting police spending when they ended a policy allowing county constables to roll over unspent funds to the next years budget. The Judge overseeing this case is ROBERTS, KATHLEEN H. The case status is Disposed - Other Disposed. 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. Tuesday, March 1, 2022. . And weve increased, and will continue to increase, the ranks of detention officers to reduce strain on current jail staff. Thats why I think there is this feeling that This is it.. Originally from Northern Virginia, Rachel is an avid soccer fan and unabashedly loves reality TV. Mealer said she plans to hire 1,000 more county law enforcement officers to deal with the surge. The race pins current Democratic County JudgeLina Hidalgo against Alex Mealer, a Republican endorsed by Senator Ted Cruz. Hillary Clinton and Biden both won there by wider margins, as did Beto ORourke when he challenged U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018. Example video title will go here for this video. But that doesn't mean crime is not worse by some metrics. The HCCLA logo is a registered trademark. In terms of elections in Harris County, I fully support returning elections back to our elected officials, regardless of their political affiliation. "During the pandemic, there were some areas of crime that did increase. To Emmett, Hidalgos focus on abortion policies which county governments have little influence over is an attempt to avoid debate on the countys handling of violent crime on her watch. But that skirmish gave way to a standoff between the three Democrats on the commissioners court, including Hidalgo, and the two Republican members, who have skipped several meetings to stop the Democratic majority from passing a budget they contend insufficiently funds public safety while keeping property taxes too high. "It's not a particularly difficult thing. Early in the pandemic, Hidalgo publicly clashed with Gov. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. 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