Perhaps finally realizing that Early Voting starts tomorrow, the Chron throws out a bunch of endorsements to try and catch up. It's a fairly long list, so I'll put it beneath the fold. Three items to note: One, they did endorse Rick Noriega as expected, though you'd think that a Senate primary would merit more than two sentences per race. Two, they like Supreme Court candidate Sam Houston so much they endorse him again. And three, they've still got a lot to do. Here's my list of races where they had not endorsed as of last week, updated to reflect where we now stand:
1. President.- Done on Sunday
2. US Senate.- Done3. CDs 14, 18, and 22 on the GOP side, and CD10 on the Dem side. - Still not done
4. Railroad Commissioner (Dem) and Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 (GOP).- Done5. State Senate, Districts 4 (GOP) and 11 (Dem). - Still not done
6. State Rep, Districts 140, 145, 146, 147, and 148 (Dem); and Districts 127, 129, 130, 134, and 144 (GOP). - Still not done
7.
First Court of Appeals, Place 3, and 14th Court of Appeals, Place 6 (both GOP). - Half done8. District Judge in the following District Courts:
80, 125, 152, 174,190, 215, and 351(Dem); 55,174, 176,190, and 312(GOP). - The struck-through ones are done, the bolded ones aren't. I suppose this may mean they're not offering an endorsement in those races, but it would have been nice for them to make that clear.9. Harris County Sheriff (both parties), Tax Assessor (Dem), District Clerk (GOP), and County School Trustees, Positions 5 and 7 (GOP). - Still not done
10. County Commissioner, Precinct 3 (Dem). - Still not done
Posted by Charles Kuffner on February 18, 2008 to Election 2008
- U.S. Senate, Republican John Cornyn -- The incumbent junior senator from Texas has showed courage and reason in supporting President Bush's call for immigration reform that would meet U.S. labor needs and offer undocumented residents an avenue to legal status. He faces only token opposition in the GOP primary.
- U.S. Senate, Democrat Rick Noriega -- A lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard, Noriega is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He served with distinction in the Texas Legislature for nine years and helped to manage the care of Hurricane Katrina victims evacuated to Houston.
- Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Place 7, Democrat Sam Houston -- No relation to the hero of the battle of San Jacinto, Houston is an experienced civil litigator. He's running for this office to bring balance to a court with a reputation of favoring big business over individuals, no matter the law and the facts.
- Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4, Republican Paul Womack -- Womack is a voice of reason on a court that has been frequently indifferent or hostile to defendants who turn out to be innocent or who had their constitutional rights violated. A scholar, Womack teaches at the University of Texas Law School and is well-suited to serve on the state's highest court for criminal matters.
- Texas Railroad Commissioner, Democrat Art Hall -- A resident of San Antonio, Hall wants the commission to focus more on alternative energy sources. A Hempstead native, Hall is a graduate of Harvard and Texas Tech Law School. He served two terms as a San Antonio city councilman.
- 1st Court of Appeals, Place 3, Republican Sam Nuchia -- The incumbent in this seat on an important intermediate court, Nuchia is a former Houston police chief. Rarely reversed by the Texas Supreme Court, Nuchia wrote the admirable opinion reversing the wrongful conviction of Andrea Yates, who was mentally ill when she drowned her five children in the bath.
- Judge 80th Civil District Court, Democrat Larry Weiman -- Weiman has 16 years' experience as a civil trial lawyer. A mediator, he can see both sides of the case and rule fairly. Weiman says he wishes to bring balance to Harris County's district courts, which sometimes have stopped meritorious lawsuits and failed to correct miscarriages of justice.
- Judge, 125th Civil District Court, Democrat Kyle Carter -- A graduate of South Texas College of Law, Carter wants the courts to be nonpartisan and treat all citizens with respect. He would bring to the bench a refreshing passion for fairness and justice in a system that tends to favor litigants with the most resources, regardless of merit.
- Judge, 174th Criminal District Court, Republican Terrance Windham -- A retired Air Force judge advocate, Windham has extensive experience as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer. He pledged that he would never allow an innocent defendant to plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit.
- Judge, 190th Civil District Court, Republican Patricia Kerrigan -- The appointed incumbent on this bench, Kerrigan managed to be active in community service despite a demanding career as an honored trial lawyer with Fulbright & Jaworski and then with her own firm. She pledges to rule fairly and has the support of former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips.
- Judge, 190th Civil District Court, Democrat Andres Pereira -- An experienced civil litigator, Pereira has argued cases before state and federal trial and appeals courts representing families and small and midsized businesses. An active community volunteer, Pereira is well-qualified to be his party's nominee for this bench.
- Judge, 215th Civil District Court, Democrat Steven Kirkland -- Highly favored in the Houston Bar Poll, Kirkland is a graduate of Rice and the University of Houston's law school. He has 12 years' experience in law practice and served as a Houston municipal judge.
- Judge, 312th Family District Court, Republican David Farr -- The incumbent, Farr has earned the respect of the family bar. An officer in the Texas Army National Guard, Farr's service to community and country recommends him to receive his party's nomination for this bench.
- Judge, 351st Criminal District Court, Democrat Sylvia Pubchara -- A Cuban immigrant, Pubchara has been a criminal defense lawyer and a Fort Bend County prosecutor. Her varied experience in her life and her career make her well-suited for this bench.