The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

District Court races: Campaign contributions

01/19/10

11:12:30 pm, by bill

, 365 words,

Categories: Observer Opinions, Politics, Law, Crime & Punishment, Elections

District Court races: Campaign contributions

All candidates for public office in Texas are required to file periodic campaign finance reports listing their contributors and expenses. The January semi-annual report was due on January 15, 2010. It covers all contributions and expenses from July 1 through December 31.

Candidates for District Judge are required to file their reports electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission in Austin. These reports can be accessed by voters with a simple search tool.

In furthering the interests of open and fair campaigns, The Collin County Observer is publishing summaries of the District Court judicial candidates' filings.

Listed here are the contributions, expenses, and campaign account balance as of December 31. Also listed are any loan balances to the campaign.

To help the voter judge where a candidate gets support, also detailed are any contributions of $1,000 or more.

There are 2 contested District Court races in Collin County. The current judge of the 219th District, Curt Henderson is retiring. Three candidates have filed for the 219th in the Republican Primary.

219th DISTRICT COURT

Scott Becker

http://beckerforjudge.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $24,513.49
Expenditures July - Dec. $18,163.59
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $14,008
Loans $0

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Todd Albin, Albin Harrison & Roach, $1,000
John Becker, $1,000
Bruneman Lake Griffin & Westhoff, $1,498
Vicki Felkner, $1,000
Curtis Harrison, Albin Harrison & Roach $1,000
Danny Jones, Collin County DA Office, $1,350
Parker & Montgomery Attorneys at Law, $1,500
The Garner Firm, $1,000
Robert Wetherill, $999.99

---------------

Angela Tucker

http://angelatuckerforjudge.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $8,025
Expenditures July - Dec. $20,330
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $2,587
Loans $713

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Nida Vogt, $1,000

---------------

Wendy McMillon

http://mcmillonforjudge.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $3,570
Expenditures July - Dec. $3,669
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $0
Loans $102

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
none over $500

---------------

Judge John R. Roach, Jr. is the incumbent serving on the 296th District Court bench. He is challenged by fellow Republican Keith Gore.

296th DISTRICT COURT

Keith Gore

http://goreforjudge.com/

Contributions July - Dec. $0
Expenditures July - Dec. $0
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $0
Loans $0

Major contributors (+- $1,000):
none

---------------

John R. Roach Jr.

http://www.judgeroach.org/

Contributions July - Dec. $22,255
Expenditures July - Dec. $12,036
Campaign account balance Dec. 31 - $12,041
Loans $1,823
Major contributors (+- $1,000):
Bickel & Brewer, $1,000
K & L Gates LLP $1,000
Joe Kendall, Kendall Law Group, $2,500
John Lattimore, $1,000
Lawyers' Resource & Litigation Support Services LLC, $2,500
McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing, $1,500
Quaid and Quaid, $1,000
Harold Simmons, $1,000
Haynes & Boone (pledged), $1,000

---------------

Bill

Permalink 12 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Allen Resident [Visitor]

Angela Tucker seems eminently qualified for this bench. The other candidates seem fine, but they don't appear to have the experience Ms. Tucker would bring.

Permalink 01/20/10 @ 13:08

Comment from: Tony Vitz [Visitor]

Keith Gore is such a gentleman. He just might become one of the best judges Collin County has ever seen.

I can't leave out Angela Tucker for the 219th though because she is a very caring individual who will also be a great judge.

I think most of the people that know these two great candidates, know that they are humble and they would be servants of the people. (which, personally, would be very refreshing)

Permalink 01/20/10 @ 13:16

Comment from: Tanya Henkels Fields [Visitor]

Collin County needs more Judges that have something other than Criminal Law experience. As a litigation attorney with 10 years of experience, my worst case scenario is getting before a Judge with little to no civil experience. It appears as though Wendy McMillon is really the only candidate with the correct experience level, years and years of hands-on civil litigation experience. Judges don’t get bogged down in the criminal dockets, they get bogged down in the civil dockets. If a Judge doesn’t know civil litigation inside and out, they don’t have what is needed for the 219th Court. I have never voted in a county primary before, but I will be for this election. Wendy McMillon will get my vote.

Everyone should realize how misleading financial reports can be. They do NOT reflect the actual popular support a candidate has or that candidate’s qualifications to be Judge. These numbers mostly reflect how long a candidate has been campaigning and how long the candidate has had a declared treasurer. I believe Ms. McMillon only declared in Nov. of '09, NOT months and months earlier as Mr. Becker and Ms. Tucker.

Permalink 01/20/10 @ 15:04

Comment from: Lindy [Visitor]

Keith Gore will bring the experience and the temperament needed in this court. His integrity is beyond reproach and he will make Collin County a great judge.

Permalink 01/20/10 @ 15:25

Comment from: COLLIN COUNTY ATTORNEY [Visitor]

Most of the civil litigation in the District Courts are FAMILY LAW CASES. And the biggest nightmare is a candidate like McMillon who has ZERO EXPERIENCE in family of criminal law. Civil law - not including family law which McMillon tries to lump in with "civil" docket- only comprises about 20% of the docket.

And the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure give priority to felony cases, TROs (usually family) and last on the table is civil. Nothing you can do about speeding up that train - unless we get more courts - which is another story.

I don't really care about the contributions. but for a court that is about 40% criminal, 40% family - McMcMillon is the least qualified.

My vote goes to Scott Becker. He has been in private practice as a civil, criminal defense, and family law attorney. THen he went into the prosecution business. And he has been really campaigning and talking to the legal and lay community about issues concerning this job.

McMillon has done very little campaigning - not even a letter has been sent to the Collin County attorneys. If she doesn't care what the legal community thinks - why should she be judge?

Permalink 01/21/10 @ 08:24

Comment from: Anonymous Citizen [Visitor]

It's amazing to me that Judge Roach, Junior raised $22,255 the last 1/2 of 2009 and spent $12,041 of it. He didn't get an opponent until January 2nd, 2010. Did he anticipate that the policies of his father and the actions of his father would cause him to draw an opponent??? I'd be interested to see where and how the money was spent s well.

Permalink 01/21/10 @ 14:46

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

Anonymous Citizen,

That is an excellent question! If you look at the Texas Ethics Commission reports, Judge Roach was spending meaningful money on his campaign back in early July, 2009. What is it that Judge Roach knew that the rest of us, including his now opponent who did even not decide until recently, did not?

What he involved in the politically motivated Grand Jury investigation?

Permalink 01/21/10 @ 17:00

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

Looking at Judge Roach's last Texas Ethics Report filed, we see that he lent his campaign $1,823.00 per Item 9 on Schedule E.

Then, looking at Schedule F, we find he made sure he was paid back $5,000.00.

That was some intererst rate! Can I get that deal?

Permalink 01/21/10 @ 17:29

Comment from: COLLIN COUNTY ATTORNEY [Visitor]

All incumbant judges who have no opponent get donations from people just to show that they are in the game. The District Clerk did this as well. He and any of the unopposed judges do the same thing. Nothing to see here.

Permalink 01/21/10 @ 18:49

Comment from: Interested in District Clerk Race [Visitor]

There seems to be yet another flyer/letter being circulated again by Ms. Hays taking digs at the District Clerk's office...In it she makes point as to revenues dropped regarding passport processing, she seems to want to relate everything to "how it's done in the private sector", this is NOT the private sector and we all know there is a difference, she also talks alot about closing hours at 4:30 for financial mgmt maybe she should do the math as it relates to employees salaries, night differential, overtime, etc..as it would relate to having employees stay later to balance and the comment about the race not being "sexy" enough for media to cover---is that her major concern---i say maybe she's not doing anything interesting enough for the media to cover--talking about your opponent only gets you so far...For my vote I'd rather have the experienced candidate than the one worried about exposure...

Permalink 01/28/10 @ 06:23

Comment from: Concerned Citizen [Visitor]

Re District clerk comment: Ms. Crigger has stated on her website and to others that "if ain't broke don't fix it". This is the attitude of people who see no need for improvement and wake up someday wondering how the world has passed them by. It is vitally important for any organization to continue to strive for improvement. Ms. Hays has been using the clerk's office the entire time she has been a paralegal. She has ideas of how to improve and bringing in the ideas used in the private sector - why is that such a bad idea? It is time for the clerk's office to realize that they are a service for the people. It is time that we have someone who has the energy, work ethics, drive and ideas -- my vote will go for Alma Hays.

Permalink 01/28/10 @ 08:34

Comment from: Interested voter [Visitor]

RE: District Clerk race---there is something to be said for the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" motto however it doesn't necessarily mean that the Clerk's office doesn't strive everyday to make changes and improvements, you never stop learning and growing and I think the Clerk's office has done just that with whatever they've been handed to work with. The world isn't passing them by they are heartily participating and helping to make a difference. I've been serviced by that office numerous times and have always thought the service and knowledge was excellent! It's not a bad a idea to integrate what you learn somewhere else into what you currently do---IF it works, all I've hear about is she has ideas and plans but have nothing on what the plans are---how do u intend to do it. I think Ms. Hays will find that it easier to talk a good game plan than to implement one, for IF elected she will be under the same restrictions, restraints, budgets and feet of the commissioner's court that the rest of the county is. Where do I find some of those complaints about the workers in the clerks office that has Ms. Hays thinking they are so unintelligent and inefficient? I've not seen any. Service is with a smile and I've always gotten one no matter what I came to the window with. It's time to put the rubber to the road, what big plan does she have that will totally change the Clerk's office into this huge technological giant of a working machine? I say either burn rubber for us or park in the garage---My vote goes for Ms. Crigger

Permalink 01/28/10 @ 17:31

The Collin County Observer

It is my hope that this forum will serve as an acute observer of Collin County government, leading to the return of the county to those it is supposed to serve.

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Bill Baumbach

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The Collin County Observer

District Court races: Campaign contributions

01/19/10

District Court races: Campaign contributions

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