Here’s the full Chron story on the death of Harris County DA Mike Anderson.
DA Mike Anderson
“We all have suffered a terrible loss today of a devoted public servant, husband and father,” first assistant Belinda Hill said in a statement from the office. “His sense of justice, his wisdom and support, his easy laugh, and, most of all, his friendship were his gifts to us.”
In an email to staffers, Hill mourned the loss of “a good man doing great things.”
[…]
Condolences poured in Saturday from Houston officials, including Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
“We are all grateful for his years of integrity-driven and dedicated public service,” Garcia said, adding, “he and his leadership will be missed.”
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said he had known Anderson for more than 25 years.
“He has contributed so much to the criminal justice system in Harris County and will be sorely missed,” McClelland said. “The community has lost a true champion for justice.”
[…]
Retired district attorney Johnny Holmes, described Anderson as a conscientious, hard-working and competent prosecutor.
“I had faith in his judgment and that’s why I came out so strong in support of his candidacy,” said Holmes.
The loss of Anderson is a shock, and it will take time to recover from it. The political process will go on, however, and with the brouhaha in Travis County over Rosemary Lehmberg, we know what the process to replace a District Attorney is.
By state law, the vacancy means Hill is now in charge of the office, said Rob Kepple, executive director president of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association.
She will run the office until Gov. Rick Perry appoints a replacement. Because Anderson was just beginning his four-year term, the post will be on the ballot in the next general election in November 2014, Kepple said. It will be up for a vote again in 2016, when it was normally scheduled.
It’s too early, and too insensitive, to speculate about anything at this point. This will be a high profile race in Harris County next year, but there will be plenty of time to talk about it later. Texpatriate has more.