GOP commissioner candidate Jack Morman speaking at the press conference at the Harris County Deputies Organization in Houston. Would you continue to implement any of the emergency measures after the pandemic? | 3:59 PM Feb 14, 2022 CST What needs do you see for parks and roads in Precinct 2 and what can be done to improve them?J. Homicides in Harris County rose again last year, from 566 to 632. The petition, which names Lunceford as the contestant and Craft as contestee, claims numerous violations of the Texas Election Code, including a failure to provide a sufficient amount of ballot paper to 25 polling locations. I want to continue to serve this community by implementing creative ideas. Mouton: Everyone deserves a safe place to live. Why or why not? 3:59 PM Feb 14, 2022 CST, Five candidates are competing in the Republican primary election for Harris County commissioner Precinct 2. It is entrusted for a certain defined purpose and for a certain limited period in order to form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote welfare, and ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves. I will continue to use whatever measures that are available to keep dockets moving. Relevant experience matters. Among the former candidates challenging election resultsare: The challenges follow a contentious race for Harris County Judge that saw GOP candidate Mealer losing to incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo despite posting record-breaking fundraising numbers just ahead of election day in November. Ive worked in the legal, financial, and medical fields for the last 15 years. I raised my family in Precinct 1, and I have lived in the precinct for more than 30 years. I believe that JP Judges should ensure that tenants have all available resources at their disposal that can aid in paying their rent during a pandemic. According to the Secretary of States office, to be eligible to register to vote in Texas, you must: The Harris County Republican Party does not endorse any candidate in contested primary elections.The Harris County Republican Party may endorse candidates in contested non-partisan elections and general elections. Why are you running? No. The lawsuits contesting the 2022 election results in Harris County are: Alexandra del Moral Mealer (R) v. Lina Hidalgo* (D) for Harris County Judge Nile I am 36 years old born and raised here all my life. To answer this question would be a violation of the Judicial Canons. Commissioners Court is weighing a $2.2 billion proposed spending plan for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, which includes some $880 million for the sheriffs office and eight constables. Morman: We must keep all the promises made to residents during the historic flood control bond issue. Many of our law enforcement need new equipment such as cars, vests, riot gear and new technologies to keep up with investigation processes in solving more crimes.D. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, the Republican nominee challenging Hidalgo, estimated the addition of 1,000 new law enforcement officers, at a cost of about $100,000 each in salary and benefits, would amount to roughly 5 percent of Harris Countys annual budget. Final decisions should be made once all other resources have been exhausted. If elected I'll be the first gay JP in Harris County. Republican judicial candidate Erin Lunceford filed a petition seeking a new election in Harris County's 189th judicial district court race after losing by 2,743 votes. We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. Still, he acknowledged crime remains a serious issue for Harris County voters. Biographical statement: They should be community-centered courts that are accessible and welcoming. Overseeing the watersheds and making sure they are functioning properly; working with engineers while using the strategies to allow us to perform better in bad weather. ELECTION ROUNDUP: Who won and who lost in the 2022 midterm elections across Houston and rest of Texas? Do you believe tenants should be evicted for nonpayment of rent during a pandemic? He argued that scrapping the elections administrator position simply would shift the cost to another department, as the county still would be required to hold elections. Harris County Democratic officials slammed Mealer on Friday for announcing a Dolores Lozano is a community organizer and advocate. Houston has 3 law schools with excellent clinical programs that courts should encourage people to use. After representing tenants facing retaliatory evictions in 2019 and 2020, I realized the need to rethink the role JP courts play. Vega: One thing that COVID[-19] has done for families here in Precinct 2 is push us to go outside. Our Justice of the Peace courts can serve as a resource for community members dealing with evictions. The Democratic Party candidates are Ron Campana, Steve Duble, Victor Lombrana, Sonia Lopez, Jonathan JP Preston and Chris Watson. 1. What is the role of the JP in trying to improve the justice system? How can JPs play a role in helping to reduce the number of nonpayment of rent evictions in their precinct? No Democratic Party candidates filed to run. I understand the issues our community faces daily. I obtained a bachelor's degree in business and have experiences with finances and finding solutions to budgets our county needs. The largest source of that committee funding is the Stop Houston Murders PAC, which formed this year and has spent more than $2 million in this year's county elections. A dozen losing Republican candidates in Harris County have filed election contests to void the results of their races in the November 2022 election, according to the Harris County attorneys office. WebNikita Harmon Ryan Patrick David Mendoza Texas judicial district 230 Chris Morton Texas judicial district 232 Josh Hill (Texas) Texas judicial district 234 Lauren Reeder Texas judicial district 245 Angela Lancelin Texas judicial district 246 Angela Graves-Harrington Texas judicial district 247 Janice Berg Texas judicial district 248 Hilary Unger Effective interventions at this level are crucial to avoid progression within justice system. I have practiced in JP Courts handling small claims matters as well as landlord tenant matters. Changes I would implement include having a "zoom room" for legal aid and law clinic representatives to meet virtually with those in need. Mouton: As Precinct 2 Commissioner, my focus will be on elevating levels of public safety, including ensuring that our constables are fully funded, greater investment in infrastructure/flooding mitigation, and better financial management and planning. Evictions are devastating to families and communities, so it's vital that everyone has full access to the protections of the law. I have 32 years' experience as an attorney on a wide variety of cases, including representing both individual tenants and landlords in JP courts. Michael Wyke/Contributor. Overall violent crime has stayed comparatively flat over the same period, rising nearly 4 percent from 2019 to 2021, before falling about 6 percent in the first half of this year, according to DPS data. Louie Ditta, a Republican, is running for reelection. Dolores has spent years organizing for quality education, gender equity, and equitable development throughout Harris County. We've got to address all of these things that Republicans refuse to address and just say, 'I want to solve crime.'". Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming March primaries, including nine Republicans and six Democrats. (Community Impact Newspaper file photo) Editor's note: This article has been updated to include responses submitted by Alexandra del Moral Mealer. What is the role of the JP in trying to improve the justice system? We understand that," Evbagharu said. Building a five-year capital improvement plan and then sticking to it is the best path forward. Why are you running? Mealer said she wants to increase longevity pay and offer more competitive salary and benefits to encourage deputies to stick around, though she acknowledged we will not be able to hire 1,000 on Day One., In a statement Wednesday, Hidalgo noted that Harris Countys law enforcement agencies currently have more than 400 fully funded yet unfilled positions. Manlove: I would begin working on prevention more than reaction. How can JPs play a role in helping to reduce the number of nonpayment of rent evictions in their precinct? Do you believe tenants should be evicted for nonpayment of rent during a pandemic? Harris County Judge is on the ballot in the 2022 Texas Primary Election. My name is Ron Campana, and I am running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2. If elected, Mealer said she would meet with the countys law enforcement leaders within 30 days of taking office to identify where officers are most needed. What is the role of the JP in trying to improve the justice system? Democrats hold a 3-2 edge on the court. The JP should strive to eliminate confusion and provide information to help people make reasoned decisions before proceeding. A native of San Francisco, he graduated from Northwestern University in 2017 with degrees in journalism and political science, and has interned for the Tampa Bay Times, Washington Post and Fortune magazine. Incumbent Judge Laryssa Korduba, a Republican, is running for reelection. We've had many trials and errors but wasteful spending of over $60 million on a makeshift hospital is mismanagement of taxpayers' money.D. During the pandemic, JP courts have implemented a number of emergency procedures that changed the eviction process, like access to virtual hearings via Zoom/phone, allowing legal aid attorneys to provide assistance to tenants during court proceedings, and limiting the size of eviction dockets. Korduba is the only Republican Party candidate in the race. Filings have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, causing some crowded courtrooms despite continued concerns about COVID-19 spreading. Lunceford's opponent, Democrat Tamika Craft, won the election by 0.26 percent of the vote. In a statement, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said his office will keep a close eye on Lunceford's election contest. Monitor current developments and watersheds, and begin a real push for the development of an Ike Dike type of solution for storm surge.What kind of improvements would you make to the county criminal justice system?J. Manlove: Deferred maintenance is crippling our roads and infrastructure. Jasper Scherer covers Texas politics and government for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The campaign also received $92,400 from the Conservatives for Law Enforcement and Border Security PAC, which is funded by Republican state Rep. Mayes Middleton. Two Republican candidates Pete Flores and Raul Reyes are moving onto the runoff in Texas Senate District 24, as they hope to succeed Dawn Buckingham. I am an Arkansas native, military veteran, and have lived in Texas for over 30 years. Out of Harris County during the early voting period and on Election Day; 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or confined in jail, but eligible to vote. By Jishnu Nair A Precinct 2 commissioner should provide public safety while ensuring the blessings of liberty to our constituents.J. During the pandemic, JP courts have implemented a number of emergency procedures that changed the eviction process, like access to virtual hearings via Zoom/phone, allowing legal aid attorneys to provide assistance to tenants during court proceedings, and limiting the size of eviction dockets. Morman: Public safety, good roads, quality of life enhancements like parks and programs for seniors, economic development, public healthR. Siegel said larger donors are getting involved because they are concerned about crime and government transparency. Before coming to the Chronicle, Jen spent three years covering City Hall for Houston's NPR station. There needs to be massive hiring initiatives at most of our local law enforcements in Harris County Precinct 2. Vega: Working with local and state government is vital to our communities that flood. Commissioner Jack Cagle speaking at the press conference at the Harris County Deputies Organization in Houston. Cagle and Republican Jack Morman, a former Precinct 2 commissioner who is aiming to win his seat back from Democratic incumbent Adrian Garcia in November, joined Mealer at the press conference Wednesday in support of the plan to hire 1,000 new officers. Biographical statement: Over the last five years, the crime rate in Deer Park decreased approximately 15%. Five Republican candidates are running for Harris County's Precinct 2 commissioner seat in the upcoming March primaries. I am a small business co-founder on the East Side of Harris County and an elected School Board Trustee. Justice courts played a leading role in dealing with evictions during the pandemic and will continue to do so long after COVID. In a closely watched election between Democrat DaSean Jones and Republican Tami Pierce for the 180th state district court, Pierce led Jones by more than 1,200 votes the morning after the election, but the final count including absentee and provisional ballots flipped the race in Jones' favor. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. As a lower level court my role as a JP will be one of compassion, empathy, education, and to bring about a more in touch approach with the demographic of precinct 1. Why are you running? "That's why you're seeing him make such a large investment in Stop Houston Murders PAC and in Mealer's race, and in Morman's too. Eviction petitions must be handled with transparency, compassion, and competence to uphold the law. 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