The Runoff to Replace Ronnie Earle
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
On Tuesday, Austin Democrats will elect a new district attorney for the first time in 30 years.
Long-time DA Ronnie Earle is retiring, and the original four-candidate field has been winnowed to two: Rosemary Lehmberg and Mindy Montford. Both work in Earle’s office. With no Republican in the race, the winner of Tuesday’s runoff election will be the next DA.
Why should all Texans care about a local DA’s race?
The office is charged with investigating corruption in state politics — the beat cop of Texas politics. It’s one of the most powerful elected positions in the state. Here’s our dispatch on the race from January.
The race has become heated in recent days. Montford, who has a significant money edge, has blanketed Austin airwaves with ads promising a tougher approach to prosecuting criminals than under Earle’s regime (in which Lehmberg has been a long-time second in command).
Lehmberg has responded by portraying Montford as beholden to the corporate lobby and some state legislators — the very people she would have to investigate in office.
In fact, Montford raised some eyebrows in January when she told the Observer she wanted a closer relationship with lawmakers.
“We’ve got to educate the Legislature and the lobby that, ‘Look you’ve got nothing to be afraid of if you’re following the law.’ We’re not on a witch hunt here,” she said. “I think you have to be visible and have constant meetings with people who could be before you as a witness or a suspect, and let them know how the unit operates. Then they will trust what you do, and they won’t care what political party you are. It’s going to the Capitol and meeting. You’ve got to be able to be welcomed down there. It obviously wouldn’t be possible to meet with every elected official, but it wouldn’t be bad to have a forum where we explain to them how the process works and ask them what improvements they want to see.”
Montford has received significant contributions from corporate interests and major Texas lobbyists (some with Republican ties), according to her campaign finance filings at the county clerk’s office
She’s raised $564,362 for the race. The largest share comes from Dolph Briscoe, the rancher and former Texas governor, who’s contributed a stunning $120,000 to Montford. She’s also received checks from businessman and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt ($2,000), lobbyists Stan Schlueter ($1,000) and David Sibley ($250), and from construction magnate H.B. Zachry ($1,000), whose Zachry Construction firm holds contracts to build the controversial the Trans-Texas Corridor. Top executives at AT&T, where Montford’s father is a top lobbyist, contributed at least $5,000.
Then there’s Herbert Kelleher, chair of the board of Southwest Airlines, who chipped in $750. You know you’re connected when the chairman of a major company contributes to your campaign for county office.
When asked about lobby contributions, Montford has pointed out that her opponents — and Lehmberg in particular — have received huge donations from law firms. And that too could be a conflict of interest. Lehmberg has raised $302,250 for the race. This includes numerous contributions from the defense bar, including $5,000 from high-powered attorney Roy Minton (a self-avowed Liberal who defended Tom Craddick) and $10,000 from Minton’s firm.
Lehmberg’s contributors are also generally more progressive, including long-time Democratic consultant George Shipley ($5,000), the interest group Progressive Action ($5,000) and the national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund ($10,000).
April 8th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
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