The Matlock Blog

Just 'cause it's fun

I don't know. Sometimes, it's just fun to watch.

Republicans 82 - Democrats 20

"Got a little fight in ya!  I like that."

This is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies (The Dark Knight) by the Joker.  Maybe it's just my sick sense of humor.  What does that have to do with Republicans and Democrats?  Glad you asked.

Of the local seats up for election in 2010, Republicans fielded 82 candidates while the Democrats managed a mere 20.

Monday was the last day to file as a candidate in Texas for the races which have a primary in March.  What that means for Tarrant County, is we found out who was running for judge for virtually all of the criminal courts as well as who was running for what many believed to be one of the most contested races in the county in a long time; Tarrant County District Attorney.  

Well Democrats, it looks like the jokes on you.  Because the party that turned Dallas from Republican red to Democratic blue overnight just four years ago, and who openly claimed to be in a position to take over a number of long-held Republican benches as well as try to seize the District Attorney's office is running no one.  

No, seriously, nobody.  Just look.

(Side note:  I will admit that there appears to be a Democratic challenger for the 233rd District Court, but that's a Family Law Court, and quite frankly, nobody cares.  No one likes Family Court, and there is a special place in hell for family law attorneys anyway.  I don't count them.  They're nobody.  Sorry.)

In Tarrant County, all but three trial courts, whether felony or misdemeanor courts, are on the ballot this year.  In case you're wondering which three are not, it's the 396th District Court, Criminal District Court 2 and the 213th District Court, in which Republican Judges Gallagher, Salvant, and Sturns won reelection two years ago.

So that leaves seventeen criminal trial courts up for reelection this year.  And despite all of the blowhard banter from Democrats in the wake the election of President Obama and the Dallas Blue conversion, the Democrats couldn't find a single person to run.  Seriously?

And you know what?  Apparently Tarrant County Democratic Chairman Steve Maxwell is not disappointed at all.  "It's not disappointing that we fielded so few candidates because the majority of the races are judicial races.  There are very few lawyers who relish the idea of running against an incumbent judge."  Really?  

So you don't run because you might lose?  Way to put up a fight.  Attaboy!

As pathetically anemic as the Democratic offerings for judicial races are, it really isn't much of a surprise.  Whether the Republican judges are good or not (I happen to believe the vast majority of them are, but there are a few that could stand to get a new job), the reality of politics in this county is that the Democrats have no chance.  They have a better chance of ousting Kay Granger than placing a Democrat on the bench.  

But the one race that was supposed to create the most contention was for District Attorney.  If you'll recall, longtime D.A. Tim Curry died last year, and there was a real buzz about who would be the next D.A.  Many suitors called on The Hair the governor to appoint them before he ultimately settled on Assistant District Attorney Joe Shannon.  

That appointment created a bit of a stir.  Many in the party felt former judge Bob Gill would, and should receive the appointment.  He resigned the bench and took a position within the D.A.'s office ostensibly to be the heir apparent.  But things didn't work out that way.  It was also rumored that Shannon would accept the appointment but that he would not seek reelection.  Apparently that's not the case.

Shannon and local attorney Kirk Claunch have filed to run for Tarrant County District Attorney in the Republican primary.  The Democrats have run....oh yeah....nobody!

Many believed former Tarrant County Assistant D.A., defense attorney, and current Dallas County First Assistant District Attorney Terri Moore would run as a Democrat and take the job she campaigned for twice before.  But with the Obama election, it seems Ms. Moore is likely in line for the United States Attorney job for the Northern District of Texas.  Although no decision has been made on that yet.

So that leaves only Shannon and Claunch running for the county's highest law enforcement job.  

It also leaves the Democrats of Tarrant County, all 27 of them, without a candidate for any criminal court or for D.A.

Kind of makes you wonder what they're doing down on Lancaster at Democratic Headquarters, doesn't it?

But what the hell do I know?