2018 Harris County Candidates Featured Inside Houston Business Connections Newspaper

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS HOUSTON

...Harris County

“THE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION BALLOT IS THE MOST DIVERSE EVER ASSEMBLED IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.”

®

Lupe Valdez

281.788.3033

Greg Abbott

TEXAS KEY HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES!

- SPOTLIGHT -

Lillie Schechter

HARRIS COUNTY

Congratulations to Lillie Schechter and Paul Simpson from Aubrey R. Taylor

Paul Simpson

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “I want to personally thank Lillie Schechter and Paul Simpson for the role they’ve played in assembling the most diverse ballot in the history of Harris County.”

ELECTION DAY:

under the direction In case you of Paul Simpson aren’t aware, Dehas done the same. mocrats won the But will it be enough straight-ticket voting TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 to avoid a repeat of contest in Harris the crushing countyCounty, Texas back wide defeats the VOTE EARLY: October 22nd - November 2, 2018 in 2016, 2012, and Harris County Re2008. And Republipublican Party suffered back in the direction of Lillie Schechter has cans won the straight-ticket voting 2016 Presidential Election? Well, it’s contest in Harris County, Texas back assembled the most diverse field too early to tell – but you can bet of candidates in the history of her in 2014 and 2010. So with that said, your bottom dollar that the turnout the battlelines are drawn. The Harris party. But not to be outdone, The on November 6th, will be historic.

Harris County Republican Party, County Democratic Party, under the

FEATURED 2018 HARRIS COUNTY SHOWDOWN

The battle for Judge, County Criminal Court No. 9 between Toria J. Finch and Attorney John Wakefield

TORIA J. FINCH

JOHN WAKEFIELD

In case you don’t already know, Judge Analia Wilkerson, the current presiding judge for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9 decided to not seek re-election back in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Republican Primary in Harris County, Texas. Judge Wilkerson’s absence on the Tuesday, November 6, 2018 ballot has set the stage for a showdown between John Wakefield, the Republican nominee, and Toria J. Finch, the Democrat nominee in the race for the 9th Criminal Court at Law in Harris County, Texas.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.” — Aubrey R. Taylor

A MAN ON A MISSION

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “As publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper, I would like to Congratulate William “Bill” McLeod on receiving the support and coveted endorsement from his Pastor, Harvey M. Walker.”

William “Bill” McLeod: “I truly believe every VOTER is Important, I am asking for YOUR VOTE to be the next Judge for Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4.”

www.mcleodforjustice.com

Harris County Has Never Seen Anything Like William “Bill” McLeod’s PRECINCT GROUND-GAME!

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ANALYSIS BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR

If you’ve never heard of William “Bill” McLeod before – now you have! This 2018 Democratic candidate running for Harris County Civil Court at Law #4 is a man on a mission. Sure, he wants to become a judge, but that’s not what has caught my attention and has caused Bill to stick out in my mind – it’s the vision he’s conceptualized that’s geared at providing an organized way for Precinct Chairs, Captains, Community Leaders, Activist, Volunteers, and Candidates to meet, engage, mobilize, and work together for positive change. His goal is lofty but achievable. And the great news for Bill is that it’s already starting to catch on in Harris County, Texas.

MAKING CHANGE FROM THE BOTTOM UP

Bill a proud Democrat, who at first glance just appears to be running a conventional campaign. BUT when I dug into his story his campaign is being built on volunteerism, activism and connecting all of the ground players together, which has a much greater upside. Bill is not just running for a judicial bench that covers all of Harris

County. In my opinion, Bill is transforming the process and the importance of the ground game, mobilizing Precinct Chairs, Volunteers and Activists in our communities to be up front and center working together. In my opinion, these groups are the ones who are making victories possible. Bill is not just building teams throughout Harris County to move voters to the polls he is building an army of Democrats, who will be transformed into Generational Voters.

WILLIAM “Bill” McLEOD 2018 AND BEYOND...

Bill is not looking in any rear-view mirror to see how Harris County Polities works. He is full steam ahead with his skilled volunteer team focused on 2018. They have scheduled (9) nine “PRECINCT GROUND GAME” #PGG, EVENTS all across Harris County scheduled to happen before the 2018 General Election, on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Imagine being afforded the opportunity to spend (5) hours with this workforce nine times across Harris County, who are making the difference at the polls! In my opinion, the opportunity to build and cultivate lasting relationships that will empower an “army” of people to get out into the streets, door

Aubrey R. Taylor Communications 957 NASA Parkway #251 Houston, Texas 77058

PRESS INQUIRES: 832.212.8735

CELL: 281,788,3033

knocking across Harris County bringing information to thousands of Democratic homes that are craving for knowledge, that will be quenched by a door hanging bag.

Now imagine, the pride these “EMPOWERED VOLUNTEERS” are going to experience as they see their fruits of the Labor realized at the PGG watch party on ELECTION NIGHT, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

CONGRATULATIONS BILL ...Again, we would like to congratulate William “Bill” McLeod for receiving the “COVETED ENDORSEMENT’ from his Pastor Harvey M. Walker.

Harvey M. Walker

Pastor, Crossing Community Church

2018 Candidates Running for Office in Harris County, Texas Must Focus on Base Turnout, Swing-Voter Outreach Says, Aubrey R. Taylor EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

ANALYSIS BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR

to do as it relates to rallying United States their party faithful and Representative, District 7 courting swing-voters between now Election Day! John Culberson

Make no mistake about it Harris County will be battleground central in the state of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Who’s going to win? At this point, nobody can say with complete certainty which major Don’t forget that Houston Business Connections Newspaper© will not be issupolitical party is going to ing out any endorsements on Tuesday, carry Harris County, Texas November 6, 2018. However, we will be publishing a “2018 MIDTERM ELECTION during the fall. However, GUIDE” highlighting over (251) two-hunHarris County Democrats dred fifty-one candidates who will appear on the ballot in precincts across Harris have made a very comCounty, Texas. Though we will not be endorsing candidates outright, we will propelling argument that a listing of the candidates who value they’re ready to compete in vide the vote, prayers, and support of our readership from this list of duly-qualified and a Midterm Election Cycle. distinguished list of Democratic and ReAnd in my opinion, they publican candidates. proved their worthiness by United States Senator besting the Harris County Republicans back during Ted Cruz the March primaries – held (Republican) on Tuesday, March 6, Nominee 2018. In case you’re not sure what I’m talking about, back on Tuesday, March 6, Beto O’Rourke (Democrat) 2018, the Harris County Nominee Democratic Party Primary Turnout was 167,982 Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke are votes. Comparatively the Republican and Democratic candidates speaking, back on Tuesrunning for United States Senator in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. day, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican ——————————————————— Party Primary Turnout was United States 156,387 votes. But what Representative, District 2 you have to keep in mind here is that these numbers Dan Crenshaw only represent a fraction of (Republican) what the overall voter Nominee turnout will be on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, when Todd Litton the Midterm Election takes (Democrat) place. So, keep in mind Nominee that Harris County has more than 2,259,591 regisDan Crenshaw and Todd Litton tered voters – and with that are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Represensaid, both major political tative, District 2 in the State of Texas on parties have a lot of work Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

RESEARCH ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES

United States Representative, District 10

(Republican)

Michael T. McCaul (Republican)

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (Democrat)

Michael Siegel (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

John Culberson and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 7 in the State of Texas on November 6, 2018.

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United States Representative, District 8

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Nominee Nominee

Michael T. McCaul and Michael Siegel are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 10 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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United States Representative, District 18

Kevin Brady (Republican)

Ava Reynero Pate (Republican)

Steven David (Democrat)

Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Nominee Nominee

Kevin Brady and Steven David are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 8 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Ava Reynero Pate and Sheila Jackson Lee are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 18 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

United States Representative, District 9

United States Representative, District 22

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Al Green (Democratic)

Nominee Congressman Al Green does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for United States Representative, District 9 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Back on January 3, 2017, U.S. Congressman Al Green took the oath of office to serve the people of Texas’ 9th Congressional District and began his seventh term in the United States House of Representatives. As a veteran civil rights advocate, he has fought for those in society whose voices, too often, are not heard.

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Pete Olson (Republican)

Nominee Sri Preston Kulkarni (Democrat)

Nominee

Pete Olson and Sri Preston Kulkarni are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 22 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Don’t forget that you can vote early at any of the early voting locations.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

United States Representative, District 29

The Race for Governor of the State of Texas

The Race for Attorney General of Texas

Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas

Phillip Aronoff (Republican)

Greg Abbott (Republican)

Ken Paxton (Republican)

George P. Bush (Republican)

Sylvia Garcia (Democrat)

Lupe Valdez (Democrat)

Justin Nelson (Democrat)

Miguel Suazo (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Phillip Aronoff and Sylvia R. Garcia are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 29 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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United States Representative, District 36 Brian Babin (Republican)

Nominee Dayna Steele (Democrat)

Nominee Brian Babin and Dayna Steele are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Representative, District 36 in the State of Texas.

Nominee Nominee

Nominee Nominee

Nominee Nominee

Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Governor of the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Ken Paxton and Justin Nelson are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Attorney General of the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

George P. Bush and Miguel Suazo are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas on November. 6, 2018.

The Race for Lieutenant Governor of Texas

The Race for Comptroller of Public Accounts

Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Texas

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Dan Patrick (Republican)

Glenn Hegar (Republican)

Sid Miller (Republican)

Mike Collier (Democrat)

Joi Chevalier (Democrat)

Kim Olson (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee Dan Patrick and Mike Collier are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee Glenn Hegar and Joi Chevalier are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

Sid Miller and Kim Olson are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

Railroad Commissioner for the State of Texas Christi Craddick (Republican)

Nominee Roman McAllen (Democrat)

Nominee Christi Craddick and Roman McAllen are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Railroad Commissioner of the State of Texas.

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Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 Jimmy Blacklock (Republican)

Nominee Steven Kirkland (Democrat)

Nominee Jimmy Blacklock and Steven Kirkland are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Supreme Court, Place 2 of Texas.

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Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4 John Devine (Republican)

Nominee R. K. Sandill (Democrat)

Nominee

John Devine and R.K. Sandill are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Supreme Court, Place 4 of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 Jeff Brown (Republican)

Nominee Kathy Cheng (Democrat)

Nominee

Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Sharon Keller (Republican)

Nominee Maria T. Jackson (Democrat)

Nominee Sharon Keller and Maria T. Jackson are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1 of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7

Barbara Paker Hervey (Republican)

Nominee

Ramona Franklin (Democrat)

Nominee

Barbara Parker Hervey and Ramona Franklin are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8 Michelle Slaughter (Republican)

Nominee

State Senator, District 7 Paul Bettencourt (Republican)

Nominee David Romero (Democrat)

Nominee Paul Bettencourt and David Romero are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Senator, District 7 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Senator, District 15 Randy Orr (Republican)

Nominee John Whitmire (Democrat)

Nominee

Randy Orr and John Whitmire are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Senator, District 15 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Senator, District 17 Joan Huffman (Republican)

Nominee Rita Lucido (Democrat)

Nominee

Michelle Slaughter does not have a Democratic opponent running against her in the race for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Joan Huffman and Rita Lucido are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Senator, District 17 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Member Board of Education, District 4

State Representative, District 126

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Lawrence Allen, Jr. (Democrat)

Nominee

Lawrence Allen, Jr. does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for Member, Board of Education, District 4 in the State of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Lawrence Allen, Jr., a third-generation educator, was elected to the State Board of Education in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, and will be reelected in 2018. A lot of folks don’t know this, but his mom, State Rep. Alma Allen also served as the District 4, Board Member on the State Board of Education.

State Representative, District 127 Dan Huberty (Republican)

Nominee Dan Huberty does not have a Democratic opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 127 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Representative, District 128 Briscoe Cain (Republican)

Nominee

Briscoe Cain does not have a Democratic opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 128 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. State Representative Briscoe Cain: “I went to Austin to stand up for you and to serve your values in the Capitol. I did that, and I’m proud to have been named the most conservative legislator.

For me it was easy – it was about keeping my word to you.”

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State Representative, District 129 Dennis Paul (Republican)

Nominee Alexander Jonathan Karjeker (Democrat)

Nominee

Dennis Paul and Alexander Jonathan Karjeker are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 129 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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E. Sam Harless (Republican)

Tom Oliverson (Republican)

Natali Hurtado (Democrat)

Fred Infortunio (Democrat)

E. Sam Harless and Natali Hurtado are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 126 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. In case you don’t already know, Sam Harless is the husband of former District 126 Rep. Patricia Harless.

Tom Oliverson and Fred Infortunio are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 129 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Don’t forget that early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

State Representative, District 130

Nominee Nominee

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

Jeff Brown and Kathy Cheng are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Supreme Court, Place 6 of Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

State Representative, District 131

State Representative, District 133

State Representative, District 135

State Representative, District 138

Syed S. Ali (Republican)

Jim Murphy (Republican)

Gary Elkins (Republican)

Dwayne Bohac (Republican)

Alma A. Allen (Democrat)

Marty Schexnayder (Democrat)

Jon E. Rosenthal (Democrat)

Adam Milasincic (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Syed S. Ali and Alma A. Allen are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 131 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 in the Midterm Election.

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State Representative, District 132 Mike Schofield (Republican)

Nominee Gina Calanni (Democrat)

Nominee

Mike Schofield and Gina Calanni are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 132 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

Nominee Nominee

Jim Murphy and Marty Schexnayder are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 133 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Gary Elkins and Jon E. Rosenthal are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 135 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

State Representative, District 134

State Representative, District 137

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Sarah Davis (Republican)

Nominee Allison Lami Sawyer (Democrat)

Nominee

Sarah Davis and Allison Lami Sawyer are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 134 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Gene Wu (Democrat)

Nominee Gene Wu does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 137 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

State Representative Gene Wu proudly serves the people of District 137 in the Texas House. Prior to being elected in 2012, he served as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he sought justice for thousands of crime victims. Gene is currently an attorney in private practice.

Nominee Nominee

Dwayne Bohac and Adam Milasincic are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 138 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Representative, District 139 Jarvis Johnson (Democrat)

Nominee

Jarvis Johnson does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 139 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. State Representative Jarvis Johnson: “My dedicated Team and I are committed to serving our constituents with the highest level of care and integrity. My goal is to enhance student success, increase career and workforce opportunities and expand senior citizens healthcare.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

State Representative, District 140 Armando Lucio Walle (Democrat)

Nominee

Armando Lucio Walle does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 140 in Texas.

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State Representative, District 141

Senfronia Thompson (Democrat)

Nominee

Senfronia Thompson does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for State Representative, District 141 in Texas.

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State Representative, District 142

Harold V. Dutton (Democrat)

Nominee Harold V. Dutton, Jr. does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 142 in Texas.

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State Representative, District 143 Ana Hernandez (Democrat)

Nominee Ana Hernandez does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for State Representative, District 143 in Texas.

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State Representative, District 144

State Representative, District 145 Carol Alvarado (Democrat)

Nominee Carol Alvarado does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for State Representative, District 145 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Before being elected to the Texas House, State Rep. Alvarado served on the Houston City Council and as Houston Mayor Pro Tem. In 2008, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. She serves as Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee and is a member of the Higher Education Committee and the Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse.

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State Representative, District 146

Shawn Nicole Thierry (Democrat)

Nominee

Shawn Nicole Thierry does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for State Representative, District 146 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Representative, District 147 Thomas Wang (Republican)

Nominee Garnet F. Coleman (Democrat)

Nominee

Thomas Wang and Garnet F. Coleman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 147 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Representative, District 148

Ruben Villarreal (Republican)

Ryan T. McConnico (Republican)

Mary Ann Perez (Democrat)

Jessica Cristina Farrar (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Ruben Villarreal and Mary Ann Perez are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 144 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee

Nominee

Ryan T. McConnico and Jessica Cristina Farrar are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 148 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

State Representative, District 149 Hubert Vo (Democrat)

Nominee Hubert Vo does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for State Representative, District 149 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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State Representative, District 150

Valoree Swanson (Republican)

Nominee

Michael Shawn Kelly (Democrat)

Nominee

Valoree Swanson and Michael Shawn Kelly are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for State Representative, District 150 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 2 Jane Bland (Republican)

Nominee Gordon Goodman (Democrat)

Nominee

Jane Bland and Gordon Goodman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 2 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 6 Harvey Brown (Republican)

Nominee Sarah Beth Landau (Democrat)

Nominee

Harvey Brown and Sarah Beth Landau are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 2 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Every vote will matter! So Don’t forget that early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 7 Terry Yates (Republican)

Nominee Julie Countiss (Democrat)

Nominee Terry Yates and Julie Countiss are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 7 in Texas.

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Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 8 Michael Massengale (Republican)

Nominee

Richard Hightower (Democrat)

Nominee

Michael Massengale and Richard Hightower are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 8 in Texas.

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Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 9 Jennifer Caughey (Republican)

Nominee Peter Kelly (Democrat)

Nominee

Jennifer Caughey and Peter Kelly are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 9 in Texas.

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Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 Brett Busby (Republican)

Nominee Jerry Zimmerer (Democrat)

Nominee

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

Brett Busby and Jerry Zimmerer are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 in Texas.

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 4

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 6

District Judge, 55th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 157th Judicial District Court

Marc Brown (Republican)

Bill Boyce (Republican)

Jeff Shadwick (Republican)

Randy Wilson (Republican)

Charles Spain (Democrat)

Meagan Hassan (Democrat)

Latosha Lewis Payne (Democrat)

Tanya Garrison (Democrat)

Marc Brown and Charles Spain are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 4 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Bill Boyce and Meagan Hassan are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 6 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Jeff Shadwick and Latosha Lewis Payne are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 55th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 5

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 8

District Judge, 113th Judicial District Court

Nominee Nominee

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Randy Wilson and Tanya Garrison are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 157th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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District Judge, 180th Judicial District Court

Martha Hill Jamison (Republican)

John Donovan (Republican)

Michael Landrum (Republican)

Catherine Evans (Republican)

Frances Bourliot (Democrat)

Margaret “Meg” Poissant (Democrat)

Rabeea Collier (Democrat)

DaSean Jones (Democrat)

Michael Landrum and Rabeea Collier are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 113th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Catherine Evans and DaSean Jones are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 180th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee

Nominee Martha Hill Jamison and Frances Bourliot are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 5 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

John Donovan and Margaret “Meg” Poissant are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 8 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee

Nominee

Nominee Nominee

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

District Judge, 182nd Judicial District Court

District Judge, 189th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 228th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 248th Judicial District Court

Jesse McClure (Republican)

Sharon Hemphill (Republican)

Marc Carter (Republican)

Katherine Cabaniss (Republican)

Danilo “Danny” Lacayo (Democrat)

Scot “Dolli” Dollinger (Democrat)

Frank Aguilar (Democrat)

Hilary Unger (Democrat)

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Jesse McClure and Danilo “Danny” Lacayo are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 182nd Judicial District Court in Harris County.

Sharon Hemphill and Scot “Dolli” Dollinger are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 189th Judicial District Court.

Marc Carter and Frank Aguilar are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 228th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

District Judge, 183rd Judicial District Court

District Judge, 190th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 230th Judicial District Court

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Katherine Cabaniss and Hilary Unger are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 248th Judicial District Court.

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District Judge, 262nd Judicial District Court

Vannessa Velasquez (Republican)

Debra Ibarra Mayfield (Republican)

Brad Hart (Republican)

Tammy J. Thomas (Republican)

Chuck Silverman (Democrat)

Beau Miller (Democrat)

Chris Morton (Democrat)

Lori Chambers Gray (Democrat)

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Vanessa Valesquez and Chuck Silverman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 183rd Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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District Judge, 184th Judicial District Court Renee Magee (Republican)

Nominee Abigail Anastasio (Democrat)

Nominee

Renee Magee and Abigail Anastasio are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 184th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

District Judge, 185th Judicial District Stacey W. Bond (Republican)

Nominee Jason Luong (Democrat)

Nominee

Stacey W. Bond and Jason Luong are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 185th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Debra Ibarra Mayfield and Beau Miller are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 190th Judicial District Court.

Brad Hart and Chris Morton are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 230th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

District Judge, 208th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 232nd Judicial District Court

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Tammy J. Thomas and Lori Chambers Gray are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 262nd Judicial District Court.

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District Judge, 263rd Judicial District Court

Denise Collins (Republican)

Kristin M. Guiney (Republican)

Charles Johnson (Republican)

Greg Glass (Democrat)

Josh Hill (Democrat)

Amy Martin (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

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Denise Collins and Greg Glass are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 208th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

Kristin M. Guiney and Josh Hill are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 232nd Judicial District Court in Harris County.

Charles Johnson and Amy Martin are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District Court in Harris County.

District Judge, 209th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 234th Judicial District Court

District Judge, 269th Judicial District Court

Mike McSpadden (Republican)

Wesley Ward (Republican)

Dan Hinde (Republican)

Brian Warren (Democrat)

Lauren Reeder (Democrat)

Cory Sepolio (Democrat)

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Nominee

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www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com Mike McSpadden and Brian Warren are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 209th Judicial District Court.

Wesley Ward and Lauren Reeder are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 234th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

Dan Hinde and Cory Sepolio are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 269th Judicial District Court in Harris County.

®

832.212.8735

10a

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

District Judge, 270th Judicial District

District Judge, 295th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District Court

Brent Gamble (Republican)

Michelle Fraga (Republican)

Charley Prine (Republican)

Melanie Flowers (Republican)

Dedra Davis (Democrat)

Donna Roth (Democrat)

Angela Graves-Harrington (Democrat)

Sandra J. Peake (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

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Brent Gamble and Dedra Davis are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 270th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Michelle Fraga and Donna Roth are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 295th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Charley Prine and Angela GravesHarrington are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

District Judge, 281st Judicial District

Family District Judge, 245th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 247th Judicial District Court

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Nominee Nominee

Melanie Flowers and Sandra J. Peake are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District Court

Sylvia Matthews (Republican)

Roy L. Moore (Republican)

John Schmude (Republican)

Angelina D.A. Gooden (Republican)

Christine Weems (Democrat)

Tristan H. Longino (Democrat)

Janice Berg (Democrat)

Barbara J. Stalder (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Sylvia Matthews and Christine Weems are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for District Judge, 281st Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Roy L. Moore and Tristan H. Longino are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 245th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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John Schmude and Janice Berg are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 247th Judicial District Court in Harris County on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee

Nominee

Angelina D.A. Gooden and Barbara J. Stalder are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District Court in Harris County on November 6, 2018.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District Court James Lombardino (Republican)

Nominee Gloria Lopez (Democrat)

Nominee

Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District Court David Farr (Republican)

Nominee Clinton “Chip” Wells (Democrat)

Nominee

James Lombardino and Gloria Lopez are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District Court.

David Farr and Clinton “Chip” Wells are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District Court.

Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 313th Judicial District Court

Sheri Y. Dean (Republican)

Glenn Devlin (Republican)

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Nominee Linda Marie Dunson (Democrat)

Nominee

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Nominee Natalia Oakes (Democrat)

Nominee

Sheri Y. Dean and Linda Marie Dunson are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District Court.

Glenn Devlin and Natalia Oakes are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 313th Judicial District Court.

Family District Judge, 310th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 314th Judicial District Court

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Lisa A. Millard (Republican)

John F. Phillips (Republican)

Sonya Heath (Democrat)

Michelle Moore (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

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Lisa A. Millard and Sonya Heath are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 310th Judicial District Court.

John F. Phillips and Michelle Moore are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 314th Judicial District Court.

Family District Judge, 311th Judicial District Court

Family District Judge, 315th Judicial District Court

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Alicia Franklin York (Republican)

Michael “Mike” Schneider (Republican)

Germaine Tanner (Democrat)

Leah Shapiro (Democrat)

Nominee

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Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (Republican)

Nominee Lina Hidalgo (Democrat)

Nominee

Ed Emmett and Lina Hidalgo are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for County Judge on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in Harris County.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 Paula Goodhart (Republican)

Nominee Alex Salgado (Democrat)

Nominee Paula Goodhart and Alex Salgado are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #1 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 Bill Harmon (Republican)

Nominee Ronnisha Bowman (Democrat)

Nominee

Bill Harmon and Ronnisha Bowman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #2.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 3

Natalie C. Fleming (Republican)

Nominee Erica Hughes (Democrat)

Nominee Natalie C. Fleming and Erica Hughes are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 John Clinton (Republican)

Nominee Shannon Baldwin (Democrat)

Nominee

John Clinton and Shannon Baldwin are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #4.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 5 Xavier Alfaro (Republican)

Nominee David M. Fleischer (Democrat)

Nominee

Xavier Alfaro and David M. Fleischer are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #5.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 6 Linda Garcia (Republican)

Nominee Kelley Andrews (Democrat)

Nominee

Linda Garcia and Kelley Andrews are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #6.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 7 Pam Derbyshire (Republican)

Nominee Andrew A. Wright (Democrat)

Nominee

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

Alicia Franklin York and Germaine Tanner are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 311th Judicial District Court.

Michael “Mike” Schneider and Leah Shapiro are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Family District Judge, 315th Judicial District Court.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

Pam Derbyshire and Andrew A. Wright are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #7.

®

832.212.8735

12a

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 8

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 10

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 12

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 14

Dan Simons (Republican)

Dan Spjut (Republican)

John Spjut (Republican)

Mike Fields (Republican)

Franklin Bynum (Democrat)

Lee Harper Wilson (Democrat)

Cassandra Y. Hollemon (Democrat)

David L. Singer (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

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Dan Simons and Franklin Bynum are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #8 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Dan Spjut and Lee Harper Wilson are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #10 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

John Spjut and Cassandra Y. Hollemon are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #12 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 9

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 11

Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 13

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Nominee Nominee

Mike Fields and David L. Singer are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #14 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 15

John Wakefield (Republican)

Aaron Burdette (Republican)

Jessica Padilla (Republican)

Roger Bridgwater (Republican)

Toria J. Finch (Democrat)

Sedrick T. Walker, II (Democrat)

Raul Rodriguez (Democrat)

Tonya Jones (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

John Wakefield and Toria J. Finch are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #9 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

Aaron Burdette and Sedrick T. Walker, II are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #11 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee Nominee

Jessica Padilla and Raul Rodriguez are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #13 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Nominee

Nominee Roger Bridgwater and Tonya Jones are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #15 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

Judge, County Probate Court No. 1 Loyd Wright (Republican)

Nominee Jerry Simoneaux (Democrat)

Nominee

Loyd Wright and Jerry Simoneaux are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Probate Court #1 on November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Probate Court No. 2

Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 1 Clyde Raymond Leuchtag (Republican)

Nominee

George Barnstone (Democrat)

Nominee

Clyde Raymond Leuchtag and George Barnstone are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law #1 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 2

Ray Black (Republican)

Erin Swanson (Republican)

Michael Newman (Democrat)

Jim F. Kovach (Democrat)

Nominee Nominee

Ray Black and Michael Newman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Probate Court #2 on November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Probate Court No. 3

Rory Robert Olsen (Republican)

Nominee Jason Cox (Democrat)

Nominee

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Erin Swanson and Jim F. Kovach are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law #2 on November 6, 2018.

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Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 3 Linda Storey (Republican)

Nominee LaShawn A. Williams (Democrat)

Nominee

Rory Robert Olsen and Jason Cox are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Probate Court #3 on November 6, 2018.

Linda Storey and LaShawn A. Williams are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law #3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Judge, County Probate Court No. 4

Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 4

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Christine Riddle Butts (Republican)

Nominee James Horwitz (Democrat)

Nominee

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Sophia Mafrige (Republican)

Nominee William “Bill” McLeod (Democrat)

Nominee

Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel (Republican)

Nominee Marilyn Burgess (Democrat)

Nominee Chris Daniel and Marilyn Burgess are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County District Clerk on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart (Republican)

Nominee Diane Trautman (Democrat)

Nominee Stan Stanart and Diane Trautman are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County Clerk on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Harris County Treasurer

Harris County School Trustee, Position 4, Precinct 3 Josh Flynn (Republican)

Nominee Andrea Duhon (Democrat)

Nominee Josh Flynn and Andrea Duhon are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County School Trustee, Position 4, Place 3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Harris County School Trustee, Position 6, Precinct 1 Danyahel “Danny” Norris (Democratic)

Nominee

Danyahel “Danny” Norris does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for Harris County School Trustee, Position 6, Precinct 1 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2

Orlando Sanchez (Republican)

Jack Morman (Republican)

Dylan Osborne (Democrat)

Adrian Garcia (Democrat)

Orlando Sanchez and Dylan Osborne are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County Treasurer on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Jack Morman and Andrian Garcia are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2 on November 6, 2018. Don’t forget that you can vote early at any of the early voting locations conveniently positioned throughout Harris County.

Nominee

Nominee

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County School Trustee, Position 3, At-Large Marc Cowart (Republican)

Nominee Richard Cantu (Democrat)

Nominee Marc Cowart and Richard Cantu are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County School Trustee, Position 3, At-Large on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Don’t forget that you can vote early at any of the early voting locations conveniently positioned throughout Harris County.

Nominee Nominee

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Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4 R. Jack Cagle (Republican)

Nominee Penny Shaw (Democrat)

Nominee R. Jack Cagle and Penny Shaw are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 4 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

Christine Riddle Butts and James Horwitz are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Probate Court #4 on November 6, 2018.

Sophia Mafrige and William “Bill” McLeod are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law #1 on Nov. 6th.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

14a

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County has more than 2,259,591 registered voters, so both major political parties have a lot of work to do as it relates to rallying their party faithful and courting swing-voters between now and Tuesday, November 6, 2018!”

Democrat and Republican

2018 HARRIS COUNTY CANDIDATES

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “In case you don’t know, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Democratic Party Primary turnout was 167,982 votes county-wide. Comparatively speaking, back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, the Harris County Republican Party Primary turnout was 156,387 votes county-wide. However, the turnout on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 will be much higher — so don’t forget to vote early!”

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 David M. Patronella (Democratic)

Nominee

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2 Lucia G. Bates (Democratic)

Nominee

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2 Jeff Williams (Republican)

Nominee

David M. Patronella does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Lucia G. Bates does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Jeff Williams does not have a Democratic opponent running against him in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6, Place 2

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George E. Risner (Democratic)

Nominee

George E. Risner does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Laryssa Korduba (Republican)

Nominee

Laryssa Korduba does not have a Democratic opponent running against her in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

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Angela D. Rodriguez (Democrat)

Nominee

Angela D. Rodriguez does not have a Republican opponent running against her in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Place 2 “DC” Caldwell (Republican)

Nominee Sharon M. Burney (Democrat)

Nominee

“DC” Caldwell and Sharon M. Burney are the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Place 2.

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Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2

Louie Ditta does not have a Republican opponent running against him in the race for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018, and end on Friday, November 2, 2018 for the 2018 Midterm Election. If for some reason you can’t vote during the early voting period, you will still be afforded the opportunity to cast your ballot on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 – if you’re registered to vote!”

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

SPECIAL RECOGNITION PAGE EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “On behalf of Houston Business Connections Newspaper© I would like to thank Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia for his support given to supporting our mission to inform, empower, and implore our readers to actively participate in the process of electing “DULY-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES” who value us at the ballot box. We would also like to thank Audia Jones for her generous personal donation to assist us with furthering our mission to increase voter participation and mobilization in under-served areas.”

MEET AUDIA JONES

“I served for 35 years as a dedicated public servant, as a 23 year veteran for the Houston Police Department; as a three time elected Houston City Council Member where I represented District H and served as Chair of the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee, Chair of the Minority/Women Business Enterprise Committee and also appointed as Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Bill White; and as the first Hispanic Sheriff of Harris County, Texas where I lead the largest Sheriff's Office in Texas and third largest in the United States. Serving the people is in my DNA and taking on the tough issues and finding common ground is what I enjoy doing.” — ADRIAN GARCIA

ELECT ADRIAN GARCIA ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018 POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY ADRIAN GARCIA CAMPAIGN, P.O. BOX 30066, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77249

Audia Jones was born to her loving parents, who are now retired. Her dad is a decorated Vietnam Veteran, who served as a paratrooper and member of the Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP), followed by a career as an aviation engineer. Her mom was a lifelong educator who taught special needs children for more than thirty (30) years.

Education. Jones received a full four-year NCAA College Basketball Scholarship to the University of Rhode Island (URI) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. After leaving URI, Jones attended Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law where she earned an academic scholarship and graduated magna cum laude. After law school, she demonstrated herself to be a devoted civil servant, clerking at several highly-esteemed governmental agencies including the United States House of Representatives and the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.

Justice of the Peace Court Experience. Jones has practiced before all sixteen (16) Justice of the Peace Courts (JP) in Harris County. She knows first-hand the impact that JP Court Judges have in the lives of citizens and their communities. After her undergraduate studies, prior to becoming an attorney, Jones worked as an intern for a JP Court. During that experience, Jones witnessed how compassion and understanding while upholding the law ensured decisions served the best interests of the community.

As an Assistant District Attorney, Jones completed a JP Court rotation where the balance of her time was served in Precinct 7, Place 1. There, she handled multiple cases, including traffic violations, assaults, theft by check, truancy, and evictions.

United States House of Representatives. Upon completing law school, driven by her love for her Houston community, Jones served as the Counsel Fellow for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. As a Counsel Fellow, she quickly advanced from the duties of a Graduate Fellow to a Congressional Staffer managing the Judiciary Committee Portfolio for the Congresswoman. In approximately 50 hearings, Jones successfully prepared a detailed analysis of key legislation affecting the 18th Congressional District of Harris County while effectively communicating the pros and cons of each legislative item to the Congresswoman.

Skilled, Practicing Attorney. Following her experiences at the U.S. House of Representatives, Jones joined the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney where she has handled non-violent and violent misdemeanor and felony offenses. As a Prosecutor, Jones has served as a Chief in a county court. She has also been assigned to the Family Criminal Law Division (FCLD) where she was the Chief Prosecutor of the Misdemeanor Division prosecuting felony domestic violence cases. Currently, Jones works as a senior felony prosecutor in the Financial Crimes Division. She focuses on the prosecution of public assistance fraud committed against various governmental agencies. The office recovers stolen State and Federal funding that should be allocated to Houstonians in need of flooding, housing, medical, unemployment, welfare, and other life support assistance.

Personal Life. Audia Jones is married and has two children, a seventeen (17) month old son, and ten (10) year old niece. They reside in Precinct 7. She is a member of the Harris County Democratic Party, Texas Democratic Women, Houston Black American Democrats, Houston Association of Women Attorneys, Junior League of Houston and the Wheeler Avenue Christian Academy Parent Teacher Committee.

"Fair access to a fair forum ...because justice matters."

DEMOCRAT SCOT “DOLLI” D0LLINGER FOR JUDGE, 189TH CIVIL DISTRICT COURT

E XPERIENCED

I

E FFICIENT

I'm Houston lawyer Scot Dollinger. Folks ask me, "How did 'dolli' get started?" Simple story. Growing up in Beaumont, Texas, my friends started calling me "Dolli." The name stuck and carried over to high school, college and my professional life. Though born and raised in Beaumont, I have lived and worked in Harris County for over twenty-five years.

I'm running for judge of the 189th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas. If you're a registered voter in Harris County, you can vote for me because it's a county-wide seat. The 189th District Court hears civil disputes from $500 and up and is considered a court of general jurisdiction. The Democratic Primary for this position will be March 6, 2018. The general election will be November 6, 2018. Seems like a long way off, but it will be here before we know it.

In 2014, I was the Democratic candidate on the ballot for Civil Court No. 2 in Harris County. I am running again in the 2018 election cycle for the 189th bench because I continue to believe the best way to improve Harris County is to make sure that everyone has "fair access to a fair forum." That means having experienced judges who bring people together to solve problems without bias, sympathy or prejudice. Everybody needs to know when they come to court they will be treated fairly by an experienced, knowledgeable judge. Justice matters. It's that simple. After practicing law for over 30 years, I'm experienced, efficient and enlightened enough to run a fair court for all.

Please get involved in the Harris County Democratic party by getting your friends EARLY VOTING BEGINS; and family to vote for me on Monday, October 22, 2018 Tues., Nov. 6th. Remember: www.dolli4judge.com ELECTION DAY:

Thank you!

I

E NLIGHTENED

Primary Endorsements for Scot “Dolli” Dollinger

BAY AREA NEW DEMOCRATS AREA FIVE DEMOCRATS TEJANO DEMOCRATS, HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS COALITION OF BLACK DEMOCRATS - HARRIS COUNTY HARRIS COUNTY LABOR ASSEMBLY C.O.P.E., AFL - CIO COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA 6222 (CWA) HOUSTON GLBT POLITICAL CAUCUS OUR REVOLUTION - HARRIS COUNTY CHAPTER TEXAS PROGRESSIVE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HOUSTON CHRONICLE BAY AREA DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Scot “Dolli” Dollinger

Political advertising paid for by Scot Dollinger in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

"It's not about Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. It's about justice. Justice for all matters."

- Scot “Dolli” Dollinger for Judge

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS HOUSTON

...Harris County, Texas

“As we endeavor to inform and empower our readers to make an informed voting decision at the ballot box, it is “OUR PRAYER” that you would strongly consider casting your ballot for “DULY-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES” who value, respect, appreciate and ask for your vote and support. Remember, what we do to educate, enlighten, mobilize, and implore our readers to become more actively involved in the process of choosing our “PUBLIC SERVANTS” would not be possible without the support of candidates like Captain Erica Hughes who values every Harris County voter!” — Aubrey R. Taylor, Publisher

Meet Captain Erica Hughes, 2018 Democrat Candidate for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3

CAPTAIN ERICA HUGHES MAKES HISTORY

2018 Candidate Running for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No.3

Captain Erica Hughes is the record-setting Democrat candidate running for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No.3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Captain Hughes entered the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant as a Direct Commission in the Judge Advocate General Corps. However, she is now a Captain in the U.S. Army National Guard where she’s assigned to a unit based out of Houston, Texas. In case you don't know, Captain Erica Hughes received a record-setting 131,686 votes back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in the Harris County Democratic Party Primary. To put her historic feat into perspective, no other Democratic or Republican candidate (man or woman) of any ethnicity has ever garnered a vote total that high in an "UNCONTESTED" race for a Harris County Criminal Court at Law bench during a Midterm Primary Election. So, as Captain Erica Hughes and her fellow Democrat soldiers prepare for battle on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Houston Business Connection Newspaper© would like to take this moment to congratulate Captain Erica Hughes for the historic accomplishment she’s already achieved.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com “It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote.”

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

The battle for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 between Attorney Erica Hughes and Judge Natalie C. Fleming Will Take Place on November 6, 2018, in Harris County, Texas ANALYSIS BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR

A lot of folks don't know this, but

back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in the Harris County Democratic Party Primary, Captain Erica Hughes received more votes than any other “DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARY” or “REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARY” candidate running “CONTESTED OR UNCONTESTED” for a Harris County Criminal Court at Law bench in the history of Harris County Midterm Primary Elections. As publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©, I can assure you that we’ve looked at all of the data that we’ve been able to find dating back to the 1980’s and have not been able to find one person, from either major political party in Harris County who has garnered more votes than this rising Democrat political star. So, to put things into perspective as it pertains to Captain Erica Hughes' historic accomplishment here's a look back at the range of votes “UNCONTESTED” Republi-

can Party Primary and “UNCONTESTED” Democratic Party Primary candidates received who was running for County Criminal Court at Law benches in the last few Midterm Election cycles.

2014 MIDTERM PRIMARY

BY THE NUMBERS

Back in the Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Harris County Democratic Party Primary, key “UNCONTESTED” County Criminal Court at Law candidates only garnered votes in the 39,000 to 41,000 vote range – nothing close to the 131,686 votes received by Captain Erica Hughes in her historic showing back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in the Harris County Democratic Party Primary race for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No.3. Comparatively speaking, back in the Tuesday, March 4, 2014, Harris County Republican Party Primary, County Criminal Court at Law “UNCONTESTED” candidates only garnered votes in the 91,000 to 95,000 vote range.

day, March 2, 2010, Harris County Republican Party Primary, key “UNCONTESTED” County Criminal Court at Law candidates only garnered votes in the 100,000 to 103,000 vote range.

2006 MIDTERM PRIMARY

BY THE NUMBERS

Back in the Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Harris County Democratic Party Primary, key “UNCONTESTED” County Criminal Court at Law candidates only garnered votes in the 23,000 to 24,000 vote range – nothing close to the 131,686 votes garnered by Captain Erica Hughes in her historic showing back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in the Democratic Primary race for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No.3. Comparatively speaking, back in the Tuesday, March 2, 2010, Republican Party Primary, key “UNCONTESTED” Republican County Criminal Court at Law candidates only garnered votes in the 51,000 to 52,000 vote range.

CONTINUED ON

2010 MIDTERM PRIMARY

BY THE NUMBERS

Back in the Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Harris County Democratic Party Primary, key “UNCONTESTED” County Criminal Court at Law candidates only garnered votes in the 61,000 to 63,000 vote range – nothing close to the 131,686 votes garnered by Captain Erica Hughes in her historic showing back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in the Democratic Primary race for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No.3. Comparatively speaking, back in the Tues-

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“I’m asking for your vote!”

— Captain Erica Hughes

...Every Vote Counts!

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “We are encouraging you to vote early!

ELECTION DAY:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

EARLY VOTING DATES FOR THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION: Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on - Friday, November 2, 2018

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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The battle for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 between Attorney Erica Hughes and Judge Natalie C. Fleming Will Take Place on November 6, 2018, in Harris County, Texas CAPTAIN ERICA HUGHES VERSUS JUDGE NATALIE C. FLEMING

Measuring the strength of a candidate in an “UNCONTESTED” primary race isn’t as easy as analyzing a race where there are two or more candidates campaigning against one another. However, don’t forget that “VOTERS” still go to the polls to cast ballots for “UNCONTESTED” candidates. For this reason, the candidacy of Captain Erica Hughes, a commissioned officer in the United States Army is very intriguing to me. She became a First Lieutenant as a Direct Commission in the Judge Advocate General Corps several years ago. For those who don’t know, a direct commission officer is a United States uniformed officer who received their commission without the typical prerequisites for achieving a commission, (such as a four-year service academy, a four-year or two-year college ROTC program, or one of the officer candidate school or officer training school programs, the latter OCS/OTS programs typically slightly over three months in length) according to information readily available online. Accomplished individuals like Captain Erica Hughes, who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations, supporting troops, health and scientific study are typically given direct commissions because of their leadership abilities or expertise in given areas of law, science, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nurse corps, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain corps, oceanography, merchant marine affairs, and others areas of specialization.

CAPTAIN HUGHES IS A FIGHTER

Fast forward to today, Captain Erica Hughes continues to serve the American people as a Captain in the U.S. Army National Guard where she’s assigned to a unit in Houston, Texas. As a service member, Captain Hughes is able to utilize her physical ability as a soldier and legal skillset as an attorney to protect and serve all Americans as she advocates for her clients to receive fair, unbiased blind-fold justice in the courtroom.

MEET JUDGE NATALIE C. FLEMING

According to her website, Judge Natalie C. Fleming is a first-generation Hispanic American born and raised in Houston. She is a graduate of St. Agnes Academy and received her undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas. She then went on and earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1988.

Upon becoming licensed to practice law in 1989, Judge Fleming started her legal career working for Harris County District Attorney, John B. Holmes, Jr. as a prosecutor. As an Assistant District Attorney, Judge Fleming obtained experience in many areas, including felony, misdemeanor, and death row penalty appeals.

After over 5 years, Judge Fleming resigned as a prosecutor to stay home with her children and work part-time as a visiting judge throughout the then 15 County Criminal Courts, she continued this practice for 15 years. Also, during this time, Judge Fleming also gained experience as being an Ad Litem attorney in representing the interest of children throughout the several County Civil Courts.

In 2010, Judge Fleming was appointed by unanimous vote by the Harris County Commissioners’ Court to be Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law #3.

Judge Fleming was then subsequently elected two times

to that position.

Because Judge Fleming is fluent in Spanish, since 2010, she has volunteered tireless hours as the first Judge in Harris County to preside over a Spanish-speaking SOBER Court. The Harris County SOBER Court program helps rehabilitate intoxicated driving offenders to prevent recidivism. Judge Fleming has devoted herself, through this program to improve public safety for the citizens of Harris County.

Judge Fleming has been active in various charitable activities in her community and has been recognized by a number of these. Judge Fleming and her husband of almost 30 years, Michael P. Fleming are the proud parents of six children.

Captain Erica Hughes or Judge Natalie C. Fleming can be considered the clear front-runner at this time – so I will do a recap of the race for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 sometime before the start of early voting which begins on Monday, October 22, 2018, and ends on Friday, November 2, 2018.

STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Captain Erica Hughes, was the “TOP VOTE-GETTER” in a stellar field of highly-qualified, honorable and distinguished judges and attorneys seeking to earn nominations from their respective political parties back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in Harris County. Who will win this race? Well, for Captain Hughes to unseat Judge Natalie Fleming she will need to raise money and have a potent strategy. Captain Hughes won't be able to rely on straight-ticket Democrat voting alone. (But she's smart, so I'm sure that she already knows this.) However, even without a large number of donations in the coffers she's managed to maneuver her way into the "TOP VOTEGETTER" position as it pertains to the entire group of Harris County Criminal Court at Law candidates heading into her Tuesday, November 6, 2018 “SHOWDOWN” with Judge Natalie C. Fleming. A LOOK BACK AT THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Erica Hughes received (18,711) absentee votes, and Natalie C. Fleming received (18,604) absentee votes – so Erica Hughes has demonstrated that she can beat Natalie C. Fleming in this category. A LOOK BACK AT THE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS: Erica Hughes received (55,159) early votes, and Natalie C. Fleming received (44,611) early votes – so Erica Hughes has also demonstrated that she can beat Fleming during the early voting period. A LOOK BACK AT THE ELECTION DAY VOTING NUMBERS: Erica Hughes received (57,816) Election Day votes, and Natalie C. Fleming received (49,508) Election Day votes. The ballots cast on Election Day for Erica Hughes also demonstrates that she can beat, or at the very least run a very competitive campaign against Fleming on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. However, that’s not all, you must keep in mind that 43,664 Republican Primary voters chose to either not cast a ballot for Judge Natalie C. Fleming, or simply skipped over her race for one reason or another. But relatively speaking, Captain Hughes had a fairly good number of “UNDERVOTES” in her race as well.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Based on her historic Harris County Democratic Party Primary showing alone, it is conceivable that Captain Erica Hughes could be considered the clear and decisive front-runner in the race for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No.3 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. How can I say this? Well for starters, Hughes received (131,686) total votes back in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Democratic Party Primary for Harris County, Texas. By comparison, Judge Natalie C. Fleming, the Republican received (112,723) total votes back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Republican Party Primary for Harris County, Texas.

TOO CLOSE TO CALL

There are absolutely too many variables associated with the current political climate in America to say with full certainty what's going to happen on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in the Midterm Elections. So, neither

MEET CAPTAIN ERICA HUGHES

Captain Erica Hughes is a Houston based attorney and Judge Advocate for the National Guard who has a desire to see that the Judicial System becomes fair and balanced for all. Captain Hughes joined the race for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3, in part, because she has witnessed firsthand how some judges fall short of administering justice in an even-handed manner.

In her opinion, some local judges seem to be closedminded and display a disposition of prejudiced toward some defendants and attorneys alike – who enter their courtroom. There’s a distinct difference, in her opinion between individuals who enter the Harris County courtrooms with "LOW INCOME" and very little knowledge of their rights – and those who enter the same courtrooms with “HIGH-POWERED” attorneys and deep pocketbooks. Captain Hughes believes that fairness is more often than not, doled out to individuals based upon their financial status, connections, ethnicity, and other contributing factors that should not be coming into play whereas court matters are concerned. Captain Hughes also believes that the time has come for things to change in Harris County! Captain Hughes furthermore believes that “IMPARTIALITY” and an “UNFAIR JUSTICE SYSTEM" must become a thing of the past. Her passion and drive to become the presiding judge for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 is fueled by the inequality she’s seen play out as it relates to individuals with low income, no political ties, or no knowledge of the legal system.

Captain Hughes attended and graduated from Prairie View A&M University. And after obtaining her undergraduate degree she received a full scholarship to Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law located at 3100 Cleburne Street in Houston, Texas.

Captain Hughes’s mother and father who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, and a retired United States postal worker raised her into the woman she's become today.

After achieving her “LIFELONG DREAM” of becoming a lawyer back in 2006, Captain Hughes has remained in Houston, Texas and has successfully practiced law in the bayou city.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

ATTORNEY ERICA HUGHES: “I believe that justice is blind.

I am ready to be a Judge that Harris County can be proud of.”

2018 MIDTERM ELECTION Early Voting Begins: Monday, October 22, 2018 Early Voting Ends: November 2, 2018

ELECTION DAY:

JUSTICE

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

INTEGRITY

READY TO SERVE

“I’m asking for the vote of every open-minded registered voter in Harris County, Texas on November 6, 2018. ” —Erica Hughes, Democratic Candidate for Judge

Attorney Erica Hughes Has the Experience: Attorney- Licensed in Texas 2006 Solo Practice Judge Advocate- Captain United States Army National Guard Adjunct Faculty- San Jacinto College since 2010

Erica’s Memberships and Affiliations:

Higher Dimension Church San Jacinto College Association, Board Member Harris County Democratic Party, Sustaining Member Houston Black American Democrats, General Member Houston Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.- Member

— EMPOWER YOURSELF BY CASTING YOUR VOTE FOR ERICA HUGHES ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 —

Attorney Erica Hughes is Endorsed by Chris Blauser and Lil KeKe in the race for Judge, Harris County Criminal Court At Law #3

“WE ARE THE PEOPLE!” “Chris Blauser is a paralegal student, as well as a server at The Cheesecake Factory here in Houston.

He's the president of the Paralegal Student Organization at San Jacinto College, and a member of the LGBTQ community. Thank you for your support Chris, and good luck this semester!” — Erica Hughes

“Lil KeKe da Don is an artist that has been central to the Houston area for years! In 2016 he received an award from President Obama for his community service. Thank you for inspiring us all with your humanitarian efforts and your artistic talent; and thank you for your support!”

— Erica Hughes for Judge, County Criminal Court No.3

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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I'm Linda Marie Dunson, Judicial Candidate for the 309th Family District Court, Harris County, Texas. I BELIEVE In FAMILY & I Believe in AMERICA.

Education

• High School: Huntsville High School, Huntsville, Texas

• College: University of Houston - Central Major: Bachelor of Science (B.S. Double Major), Psychology/Sociology, magna cum laude

College Honors:

• Honors- Biology • Dean’s List • Internship, Northwest Assistance Ministries, Homeless Shelter • Law School: Texas Southern UniversityThurgood Marshall School of Law (2001), magna cum laude

Noteworthy Law School Achievements:

• Dean’s List • TMSL Law Review- Articles Editor • CALI Award – Legal Research and Writing • American Juris Prudence Award – Consumer Law • Student Bar Association Treasurer • Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Society • Judicial Externship, Judge Greendyke, U.S. Southern District Bankruptcy Court (2000) • Judicial Externship, Judge Nancy Johnson, U.S. Southern District Court (2000)

Other College and Professional Degrees:

• University of Houston Law Center LL.M in Taxation (2009) • Research Interest: Taxation provisions which affects social benefits to the poor.

• Masters Seminar: IRA Charitable Rollover and Supporting Organizations: Do Legislative Changes Provide Maximum Social Benefit

Certifications

• Basic Mediation Certification • Advance Family Law Mediation Certification • State Bar of Texas Evidence Academy • Texas Lawyers Care Trial Academy • TDCLA Trial Academy • Licensed U.S. Customs Broker (2014)

State Bars Admitted to:

309TH DISTRICT COURT

“I VALUE EVERY VOTE!” TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Admitted to Practice: Supreme Court of Texas (2002); United States District Court, Southern District of Texas (2003); United States 5th Circuit Court Appeals (2003) Family Law Section State Bar of Texas

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: LEADERSHIP

• Houston Lawyers Association, President 2007-2008 • Project Blueprint Leadership- Class XXIX

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: SERVICE

• Children At Risk, Law Advisory Board Member • Jewish Community Center, Senior Companion • Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Volunteer • Elder Law Committee/ AIDS Outreach Houston Bar Association • Law Practice Management Committee State Bar of Texas • Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Election Protection • Board Member Houston Lawyers Foundation • Community Referrals and Education Harris County Felony Mental Health Planning Commission • Volunteer Attorney Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program • Volunteer Attorney Texas Legal Answers

Beau Miller

is fighting for fair access to the courts and a fair shake when you get there.

B

eau Miller knows that when judges don’t do their jobs effectively every day, the wheels of justice grind to a halt — and grind down hard working people with limited resources who are just trying to get their day in court.

Beau is an accomplished attorney with deep experience in complex litigation and a track record of promoting diversity in the legal profession.

He is the founder of a local nonprofit organization fighting to end the stigma of HIV. He is a former college band geek who stays involved with his alma mater to push for music and arts education.

And Beau is a thoughtful leader who has won fights to protect vulnerable children from abuse at school in civil rights cases against Texas school districts. When other institutions fail us, Beau knows the courts must always be the one place that delivers justice.

www.votebeaumiller.com

“I’m running for judge to make sure everyone has fair access to the courts and a fair shake when they get there. Please join our campaign!” — Beau Miller

EARLY VOTING BEGINS: Monday, October 22, 2018 EARLY VOTING ENDS: Friday, November 2, 2018

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Cast Your Vote for Beau Miller on Election Day!

P O L . A D V. B E A U M I L L E R C A M PA I G N , I N V O L U N TA R Y C O M P L I A N C E W I T H T H E L I M I T S O F T H E J U D I C I A L C A M PA I G N FA I R N E S S A C T.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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Shannon Baldwin 2411 Emancipation Ave, Suite 202, Houston, Texas 77004

Shannon Baldwin has been practicing law for over 21 years. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia as well as Texas. She enjoyed a full service law firm in Atlanta, Georgia for four years before returning home to Texas. In Texas, Shannon opened her own successful law practice in 2003 and hasn’t looked back. Currently, she is a Partner at Baldwin Williams & Associates, PLLC. Presently, Shannon practices criminal defense. She is a former prosecutor, so she is well acquainted with both sides of criminal law. She has tried cases before a jury from the smallest traffic violations up to capital murder.

As a candidate for judge, she is very experienced and prepared to make tough decisions while seeking justice.

She will be firm yet compassionate.

Shannon joined the U.S. Army Reserves on September 23, 1987.

She was just 17 years old. She was a member of Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) in high school as well as college. When she graduated from Sam Houston State University, she was commissioned as an officer, 2nd Lieutenant.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Police Science at Sam Houston State University. Shannon went on to graduate Cum Laude from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia.

Shannon is married and a foster parent.

Essentially, Shannon has been a public servant for most of her life starting with serving her country at age 17.

At 19, she joined a community service organization where serving the community was its primary goal. She was the Social Action Chair for many years educating, organizing and participating in all aspects of politics and social justice. For years she participated as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. through her organization. She has also been a Harris County deputy voter registrar and participated in several voter registration drives. Shannon has voted in EVERY election in Harris County since 2009!

Shannon is running for Judge because she wants to restore faith in our justice system. Today our system is broken. Somehow, we’ve lost the original intent of our founding fathers.

SHANNON B. BALDWIN: “It will be my personal goal to bring dignity and diversity to the judicial bench. With your vote and support, I will serve you honorably.”

The U.S. Constitution gives EVERY citizen INALIENABLE rights! These rights are without condition. It seems some judges have forgotten that ALL CITIZENS are entitled to EVERYTHING the Constitution allows. Blatant disrespect for most accused citizens and some victims run rampant in the courthouse. The lack of respect and common courtesy for some citizens negatively affect them on a daily basis. Citizens are demeaned and humiliated unnecessarily. This cancer

within the courthouse has NOTHING to do with justice, it can only be connected with discrimination and bias.

Citizens are often judged based on their race, lack of money, status or connections. This unfair behavior has to stop.

“Fairness and justice are the norms for anyone wanting to be a judge. But I want to do more, it’s time we end the culture of blatant disrespect and lack of dignity coming from the bench. Every person, be it com-

plainant or accused citizen, that enters my court will know that their race, wealth or lack thereof, who they choose to love will have no bearing on their case. As I know it today, I am the only African American LGBT candidate running for judge in Harris County. And I welcome the responsibility that comes with that. As such, it will be my personal goal to bring dignity and diversity back to the judicial bench. With your vote and support, I will serve you honorably.” Shannon

www.ShannonBaldwin4judge.com

Political ad paid for by Shannon Baldwin for Judge Campaign, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, Terra Fontenot, Treasurer.

Judge Maria T. Jackson Received 878,581 Statewide ‘Dem’ Primary Votes, Judge Keller Received 674,889 Statewide ‘Rep’ Primary Votes 08b

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Judge Maria T. Jackson: 878,581

*Democratic Party Primary votes received statewide back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

Judge Sharon Keller: 674,889

*Republican Party Primary votes received statewide back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

*The above report does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Judge Maria T. Jackson, Judge Sharon Keller, or any other Houston Business Connections Newspaper sponsor, advertiser, or associate.

“I VALUE EVERY VOTE!”

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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“As presiding Judge of Harris County Criminal Court No. 2, I will work to restore blind justice.

Justice is rooted in the principles of accountability, fairness, and truthfulness. Let us restore the People’s Court by casting your vote for Ronnisha Bowman.”

www.VoteBowmanforJudge.com

Pol Ad Paid for by Germaine Tanner Campaign, Abbie Kamin Treasurer

EARLY VOTING BEGINS: Monday, October 22, 2018 EARLY VOTING ENDS: Friday, November 2, 2018 ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Meet Germaine

Seventeen years ago, Germaine J. Tanner began visiting inmates at jails in Harris County, Texas. The visits were on behalf of the Fatherhood Project through the Office of the Attorney General. She learned two things: Inmates who were fathers needed better legal advice so they could maintain relationships with their children. And she discovered she had a passion for helping families understand and navigate the legal system.

That experience while still a law student set the course for Tanner’s successful career in family law.

Tanner established her law office with a concentration in family law in 2003. She handles a wide range of family law issues including divorce with emphasis on complex property issues, child custody, child support, post-divorce modifications and enforcements, family law-related appeals, and mediations. She has been appointed as an amicus attorney, attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, and special master.

Putting her legal expertise to work in the area of education, Tanner is also a Certified Hearing Examiner for the Texas Education Agency. In that role, she presides over due-process hearings involving educator employment contracts. She administers oaths of witnesses, rules on questions of evidence, and makes factual and legal determinations. She is responsible for issuing recommendations for the school district’s board of trustees to consider. This position is equivalent to that of an Administrative Law Judge.

Tanner has now handled over 500 family law cases. She regularly turns down opportunities to take on cases in other areas of law, because she is fully dedicated to work in family law.

Now, Germaine Tanner seeks to apply her passion, experience and skill in family law to serve Harris County as a Judge for the 311th Family District Court.

Her experience and career-long focus on family law equip her to serve the citizens of Harris County as Judge on day one.

“The moment I began helping incarcerated dads understand their legal rights regarding their children, was eye-opening. I saw the expressions on their faces. Here was information they should have known but didn’t have access to. It was rewarding, and I felt like I was giving back. From then on I knew family law would be the focus of my career.” — GERMAINE TANNER

Here are a few of Germaine’s Memberships and Affiliations State Bar of Texas Family Law Section

Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association

Annie’s List: Co-Chair, Houston Steering Committee Cypress Tomball Democrats: First Vice President

Harris County Democrats: Former Precinct 602 Chair

Harris County Democrats: Sustaining Member

State of Texas Democrats: Sustaining Member

Join Me In Voting for Germaine Tanner!

“Ms. Tanner has a great working relationship with the Office of the Attorney General. Her first priority is and always will be the safety and welfare of the children of Texas. As a single, working mother, Germaine Tanner knows first-hand the challenges, rights, and responsibilities of both raising a child and co-parenting successfully.” – SJ Whitaker, Attorney

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Fair

Focused

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Forward-Thinking

Sedrick T. Walker II Plans to Bring an Even-Keeled Approach to Harris County Criminal Court at Law #11 Bench When Elected on Tuesday, November 6, 2018

MEET SEDRICK T. WALKER II

facebook.com/sedrickforjudge EARLY VOTING BEGINS: Monday, October 22, 2018

After working tirelessly in the criminal courtrooms of Harris County for nearly ten years, Sedrick T. Walker is running to become your next judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 11.

Sedrick will bring a reasonable and even-keeled approach to the bench and ensure that everyone entering the courtroom is treated with professionalism, dignity, and respect.

A Houston native, Sedrick graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. While in college, he made the Dean’s List and was a recipient of the Texas A&M Political Science Excellence Scholarship. Sedrick also was a participant in the prestigious Ralph Bunche Summer Institute for emerging political science scholars at Duke University.

In 2006, Sedrick began his legal education at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. Sedrick's focus towards criminal law began as a student attorney with the law school's Criminal Defense Clinic. The defense clinic gave students the opportunity to represent Austin-area residents charged with misdemeanor offenses who could not afford an attorney under the supervision of experienced criminal defense attorneys. Sedrick also completed an internship with the Travis County District Attorney's Office where he assisted veteran felony prosecutors.

After graduating from law school, Sedrick worked as a prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney's Office from 2009 to 2012. During his time at the DA's office, Sedrick spent countless hours handling thousands of cases ranging from misdemeanors to 1st-degree felonies. His experience included working on every aspect of cases from the initial filing stage, gathering evidence, making grand jury presentations in felony cases, and ultimately the trial phase. As an Assistant DA, Sedrick was praised for his willingness to work long hours, fairness in negotiations with the defense bar, and a constant commitment to a prosecutor’s ultimate duty – to seek justice, not merely to convict.

Sedrick opened a private law practice in 2013 that primarily focuses on criminal defense. Most of his practice is devoted to representing and fighting for people who cannot otherwise afford to hire counsel. As a defense attorney, Sedrick gained an even greater insight into the impact of the criminal justice system on the daily lives of those accused and their families. Although in many instances the system assesses criminal cases with an assembly-line approach, Sedrick is a strong advocate for individualized justice. He believes fairness and equity are more likely to be achieved with a case-by-case analysis of the facts and the background of the individual standing before the court. On too many occasions, people are brought in and out of court proceedings without receiving the attention they rightly deserve.

Sedrick’s blend of legal experience and his infinite knowledge of the Harris County criminal court system makes him uniquely qualified to serve as Judge of County Criminal Court No. 11. He’s had a front-row seat for every major issue facing our criminal courts and will bring a fresh approach to a system in drastic need of change.

EARLY VOTING ENDS: Friday, November 2, 2018

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 6, 2018

PAID POLITICAL AD BY SEDRICK WALKER FOR JUDGE CAMPAIGN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY LIMITS OF THE JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS ACT.

“VOTE FINCH TO THE BENCH” Attorney Toria J. Finch is “PROUDLY’ endorsed by:

Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity Tejano Democrats Area 5 Democrats

Toria J. Finch

FOR JUDGE OF HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NO. 9

Attorney Toria J. Finch is Board Certified in Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization 11 (+) Plus Years of Experience in Criminal Law Former Harris County Felony Prosecutor Experienced Trial Lawyer Former Juvenile Public Defender Former Harris County Misdemeanor Court Chief

ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

VOTE EARLY: October 22nd - November 2, 2018

QUESTION: Why should YOU VOTE for Judicial Democratic Candidate Toria J. Finch on November 6th?

ANSWER: A Vote for Toria J. Finch is a Vote For:

(T) = Truth

(J) = Justice

(F) = Fairness

WWW.VOTETORIAFINCH.COM

Pd. Pol. Ad by Vote Toria J. Finch for Judge Campaign, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, Pedro Danilo Quezada, Treasurer

FOR JUDGE 270th CIVIL DISTRICT COURT

Licensed: State of Texas Licensed: Federal District Court Attorney Ad Litem Certified Mediator Instructor: Peer Mediation Member: Houston Bar Association Member: Road Women Founder, LISTEN AND EXCHANGE Guardian Ad Litem Member: League of Women Voters ACLU Member: Greater Houston Black Chamber Member: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Member: Houston Lawyers Association

“Making Law and Order

EQUAL Justice.”

A few of Dedra Davis’ Endorsements

Transport Workers Union Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Tejano Democrats Area 5 Democrats Many Other Leaders “More than 30 years of Legal Experience.”

Facebook - DedraDavisForJudge Twitter - @DedraDavisWins

Instagram - @DedraDavisForJudge

www.DedraDavisForJudge.com

PAID POLITICAL AD BY DEDRA DAVIS FOR JUDGE CAMPAIGN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY LIMITS OF THE JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS ACT, TOI ANDERSON, CPA, TREASURER.

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Excellence in Law University of Texas School of Law Graduate

18-year civil trial experience in hundreds of cases, with multiple cases tried to jury verdict in Texas courts Promoted to Partner in 7.5 years at International law firm

American Bar Fellow, limited to 1% of licensed TX lawyers Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star every year from 2008 to 2014

2007 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the year, Houston Young Lawyers Assoc. *Only African-American in its history

Legacy of Service to the Community

Texas Executive Women, mentoring & scholarship program for high school girls - 2018 President Houston Lawyers Association (HLA) - Past President

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston - Former Board Member

Communities-In-Schools, Drop Out Prevention Program - Past Mentor 2014 Hainsworth Outstanding Service Award, HLA

Despite Harvey flooding of home, donated clothing/shoes to professional women & provided free office for displaced attorney

HERE’S A FEW OF MY KEY ENDORSEMENT: Houston Chronicle Harris County Labor Assembly AFL CIO (COPE) *DUAL Harris County Chapter, Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Our Revolution Houston Black American Democrats Harris County Tejano Democrats Texas Progressive Council Clear Lake And Webster Bar Association Area 5 Democrats *DUAL Bay Area New Democrats *DUAL

Works Hard for Justice

Provided over 1700 hours of free legal services 2017 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Award-Small Firm

Election Protection Legal Volunteer for past 13 years

Founder/Member, Houston Diversity Report Card on Law Firm since 2007

Coordinated HLA legal team brief to TX Supreme Court re African-American woman denied right to serve on jury

Fun Facts

400 Meter Hurdles College Track Conference Champion and current volunteer youth hurdles coach Raised in Acres Homes and Cypress, Harris County, Texas Mom of three amazing kids

Cassandra

HOLLEMON for Judge

HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW #12

“Standing for Fair, Equal and Unbiased Justice for ALL.” ABOUT ME...

WHY I’M RUNNING...

I am an Attorney licensed in Texas

Fair Treatment for the Mentally Challenged

Texas Southern University -Elementary Education (Attended)

Ruling without Prejudice and Bias

I have been practicing law for over 22 years Houston Community College - Legal Assistant Technology - (AAS)

University of St. Thomas - Legal Studies - (BA)

South Texas College of Law - (JD) 1994

Seeking Truth Regardless of Ones Job or Title

Alternative Sentencing Terms that are Manageable and Purposeful

I am an Advocate for Fairness in the jury selection process

Adhere to the Laws of the United States and the State of Texas

DEMOCRATIC JUDICIAL CANDIDATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW #12

Cassandra

HOLLEMON

EARLY VOTING BEGINS:

Monday, October 22, 2018

EARLY VOTING ENDS:

Friday, November 2, 2018

hollemonforjudge@gmail.com ELECTION DAY VOTING:

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

PAID POL. AD. BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT CASSANDRA HOLLEMON FOR JUDGE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW #12

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PEAKE

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

QUALIFIED

EXPERIENCED

Sandra

FAIR

DEMOCRAT

For Judge, 257th

Family District Court “FAMILIES FIRST!”

EARLY VOTING BEGINS: Monday, October 22, 2018 EARLY VOTING ENDS: Friday, November 2, 2018 ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 6, 2018

SANDRA J. PEAKE: “I have practiced before these Courts for more than 30 years and am sensitive to the unique issues that arise in family law cases. I believe the citizens of Harris County deserve consistent application of law, courtesy and fairness. I am up to the challenge of ensuring judicial excellence by ruling decisively and with impartiality.”

ABOUT SANDRA

Professional Memberships: State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, The Family Law Group

Licenses: State Bar of Texas, U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Texas

Education: Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Houston College of Law, B.S., University of Houston

Experience: 35 years private practice experience,certified mediator, past instructor, hearing examiner

Community: Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association, Delta Sigma Theta Public Service Sorority, Jack & Jill of America, Inc., Texas Spring Cypress Chapter, Links, Inc., volunteer and referral attorney

Personal and Family: Married to David G. Peake, two children, and one grandchild

In voluntary compliance with the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act. Political ad paid for by the Sandra Peake for Judge Campaign, David G. Peake, Treasurer

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS HOUSTON

...Harris County, Texas

“As we endeavor to inform and empower our readers to make an informed voting decision at the ballot box, it is “OUR PRAYER” that you would strongly consider casting your ballot for “DULY-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES” who value, respect, appreciate and ask for your vote and support. Remember, what we do to educate, enlighten, mobilize, and implore our readers to become more actively involved in the process of choosing our “PUBLIC SERVANTS” would not be possible without the support of candidates like Judge John Schmude who values every Harris County voter!” — Aubrey R. Taylor, Publisher

Meet Judge John Schmude, Presiding Judge, 247th Family District Court in Harris County, Texas

A FAMILY MAN FOR A FAMILY COURT State District Judge at the 247th District Court of Harris County, Texas

Judge John Schmude resides with his wife and two children in Spring. Before taking the Bench, Judge Schmude was a successful family law attorney with an extensive business & financial background and a strong record of service to children and to families – especially those children and families who have faced substantial challenges involving extreme poverty and abuse. Judge Schmude’s commitment to family law is motivated by his strong faith and his recognition that families are the first and firmest foundation upon which any healthy society is built. Judge Schmude is an active member of Annunciation Catholic Church in downtown Houston.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

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Judge John Schmude: A Record of Success After His First Term EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Meet Judge John Schmude, the

Presiding Judge of the 247th District Court. Judge Schmude was elected in 2014 and is currently asking for your vote as he runs for re-election in 2018. Here are some interesting facts to keep in mind in determining whether or not this Judge deserves your vote for re-election.

First, when Judge Schmude took office in January 2015, he inherited a court with a tremendous backlog of cases. After his first year in office, the 247th District Court disposed of more than 4,000 cases, more than any other family court in Harris County! The 247th District Court was repeatedly recognized in 2015 by the District Clerk’s Office for being the most efficient court in Harris County for electronic filing. This was an impressive accomplishment for a new Judge that was criticized by many within his own party for lacking the experience necessary to preside over this very important Court.

In accomplishing this objective, Judge Schmude implemented several innovative measures to promote efficiency, including the launch of an express docket, which allows any lawyer or litigant with a matter that requires five minutes or less of the court’s time to be heard before the call of the main docket. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of cases heard during the main docket and has allowed lawyers and litigants with matters of short duration to get in and out of court quickly, thereby reducing costs and promoting efficiency. He has also implemented a strong mediation policy – to encourage amicable solutions for families – and has allowed litigants to prove up settlement agreements any time during the day that the court is in session and available. This User-Friendly Court has won the overwhelming respect of the family law bar as Judge Schmude was rated as either “Excellent” or “Above Average” by nearly three-quarters of family law practitioners in the most recent HBA Bar Poll in every single judicial evaluation category.

Also, Judge Schmude, and his Associate Judge, Paula Vlahakos, have done an impressive job in presiding over CPS cases. CPS cases disproportionately affect minority families, and it is extremely important to have judges that take their gatekeeping role seriously. In other words, it’s important to have judges that act quickly to protect children from abuse and neglect while at the same time protect the constitutional rights of parents from illegal removals, which can decimate families and traumatize children. Judge Schmude demonstrated clearly his gatekeeping role in 2016 after it was apparent that a father’s constitutional rights had been grossly violated by an illegal removal. In this case, he rendered a scathing sanctions order in which he ordered CPS to pay nearly $30,000 in fees and ordered all CPS personnel associated with the case to read the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to the Texas Constitution. Having a Judge that is not intimidated by powerful government agencies and who takes his gatekeeping role seriously is a benefit to all of our families. As a result of this case, Judge Schmude earned the prestigious Defender of the Family Award from the THSC. In order to serve the interests of justice, it’s so critical to have judges that ensure a level playing field: from powerful governmental agencies all the way down to the poorest litigant who cannot afford an attorney.

As he nears the end of his first term, Judge Schmude has demonstrated the ability to effectively and efficiently preside over a large and complex docket. Secondly, he has shown his conviction to treat all litigants with dignity and respect. Lastly, he has demonstrated a fair and impartial temperament and a conviction to make decisions based not on expediency but based merely on the desire to do what is right.

Can we expect more from a family court judge?

CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT: Judge John Schmude will be fighting off the challenge of Democrat (nominee) Attorney Janice Berg in the race for District Judge, 247th Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018, and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

...Every Vote Counts!

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS: Judge John Schmude is a conservative who values, respects, and would appreciate your consideration on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

ELECTION DAY:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

EARLY VOTING DATES FOR THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION: Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on - Friday, November 2, 2018

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

FREEDOM...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

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The Bill of Rights - Proposed in 1789 and enacted on December 15, 1791

Gov. Greg Abbott

Judge Wright

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to earn your trust and support as Judge of Harris County Probate Court No. 1” -- JUDGE LOYD WRIGHT

LOYD WRIGHT

-JUDGE HARRIS COUNTY PROBATE COURT #1

INTEGRITYFEXPERIENCEFDILIGENCE POL. AD PAID FOR BY JUDGE LOYD WRIGHT CAMPAIGN 2018, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY LIMITS OF JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS ACT.

1st Amendment: Protects the people's right to practice religion, to speak freely, to assemble (meet), to address the government and of the press to publish.

2nd Amendment: Protects the right to own guns.

3rd Amendment: Guarantees that the army cannot force homeowners to give them room and board.

4th Amendment: Protects the people from the government improperly taking property, papers, or people, without a valid warrant based on probable cause (good reason).

5th Amendment: Protects people from being held for committing a crime unless they are properly indicted, that they may not be tried twice for the same crime, and that you need not be forced to testify against yourself. It also contains due process guarantees.

6th Amendment: Guarantees a speedy trial, an impartial jury, and that the accused can confront witnesses against them, and that the accused must be allowed to have a lawyer.

7th Amendment: Guarantees a jury trial in federal civil court cases. This type of case is normally no longer heard in federal court.

8th Amendment: Guarantees that punishments will be fair, and not cruel, and that extraordinarily large fines will not be set.

9th Amendment: Simply a statement that other rights aside from those listed may exist, and just because they are not listed doesn't mean they can be violated.

10th Amendment: Says that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states.

Amendments passed once the Constitution was adopted.

11th Amendment - Enacted on February 7, 1795 — Says how someone from one state can sue another state.

12th Amendment - Enacted on June 15, 1804 — Redefines how the President and VicePresident are chosen by the Electoral College.

13th Amendment - Enacted on December 6, 1865 — Abolished slavery in the entire United States.

14th Amendment - Enacted on July 9, 1868 — People had rights on the federal level and on the state level, too. Dealt with civil war items.

15th Amendment - Enacted on February 3, 1870 — Ensured that a person’s race could not be used as criteria for voting.

16th Amendment - Enacted on February 3, 1913 — Authorizes the United States to collect income taxes.

17th Amendment - Enacted on April 8, 1913 — Shifted the choosing of Senators from the state legislatures to the people of the states.

18th Amendment - Enacted on January 16, 1919 — Abolished the sale or manufacture of alcohol in the United States.

19th Amendment - Enacted on August 18, 1920 — Ensures that sex could not be used as a criteria for voting.

20th Amendment - Enacted on January 23, 1933 — Set new start dates for the terms of the Congress and the President.

21st Amendment - Enacted on December 5, 1933 — Repealed the 18th Amendment.

22nd Amendment - Enacted on February 27, 1951 — Set a limit on the number of times a President could be elected - two four-year terms.

23rd Amendment - Enacted on March 29, 1961 — Grants the Washington D.C. the right to three electors in Presidential elections.

24th Amendment - Enacted on January 23, 1964 — Ensured that no tax could be charged to vote for any federal office.

25th Amendment - Enacted on February 10, 1967 — Establishes rules for a President who becomes unable to perform his duties while in office.

26th Amendment - Enacted on July 1, 1971 — Ensures that any person 18 or over may vote.

27th Amendment - Enacted on May 7, 1992 — Any law that increased the pay of legislators may not take effect until after an election.

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OPEN POLITICAL THOUGHTS

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Black Leaders Applaud Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court

W

Washington, DC - Applauding President Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, members of the Project 21 black leadership network praise Judge Kavanaugh's dedication to the Constitution and his impressive record of accomplishment.

"This is a judicial grand slam! As someone familiar with Judge Kavanaugh's record, I can say that – though the left may be upset – those who love our Constitution will be thrilled," said Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper, a former professor of constitutional law at George Mason University and senior counsel to congressional leadership. "His record in over 300 opinions reveals a judge truly committed to the constitutional principles of textualism and originalism."

"Brett Kavanaugh has a record of sticking to his guns and protecting our constitutional values," added Project 21 member Rich Holt, a political consultant who co-chairs the Ohio Center-Right Coalition meeting. "I have no doubt his tenure on the Court will strengthen the rights of all Americans over the next generation."

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for over 25 years, is sponsored by theNational Center for Public Policy Research. Its members have been quoted, interviewed or published over 40,000 times since the program was created in 1992. Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated, and may be earmarked exclusively for the use of Project 21.

Founded in 1982, the National Center for Public Policy Research is a non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think-tank. Ninety-four percent of its support comes from some 60,000 individuals, less than four percent from foundations and less than two percent from corporations. Sign up for email updates here.

Follow Project 21 on Twitter at @Project21News or general announcements. To be alerted to upcoming media appearances by Project 21 members, follow our media appearances Twitter account at @NCPPRMedia.

HORACE COOPER IS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE PROJECT 21 NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Horace Cooper is a senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, co-chairman of the Project 21 National Advisory Board and a legal commentator.

Horace averages over 400 talk radio appearances per year representing the National Center and Project 21, in addition to regular television appearances and interviews by the print media.

Horace taught constitutional law at George Mason University in Virginia and was a senior counsel to U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Judge Kavanaugh, who currently serves on the U.S. Court of Federal Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, is a former Supreme Court clerk for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. In his remarks at the White House, he specifically recognized the "importance of equality for all Americans." He is expected to adhere to a strict interpretation of the U.S Constitution.

Cooper recently wrote about Kavanaugh in the Washington Examiner:

I can confirm the far-left has reason to worry, but people devoted to the Constitution and the rule of law do not…

The real beef the left has with originalists like Kavanaugh is they expect judges to do the job that leftists don't like – the hard work of convincing their fellow citizens to voluntarily adopt their radical vision for America. Instead of persuasion, the left wants courts to force its vision down people's throats.

"In selecting Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump nominated 'a judge's judge' to succeed Anthony Kennedy as an associate justice on the United States Supreme Court," saidProject 21 Co-Chairman Stacy Washington, a nationally-syndicated talk radio host. "Judge Kavanaugh is an excellent choice with impeccable credentials. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to provide advice and consent. I look forward to closely watching its deliberative process."

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

DISCLAIMER: “This article is the expressed written opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©, or any of our readers, advertisers, sponsors, or supporters in any way shape or form.”

®

832.212.8735

COMPASSION

FAIRNESS

INTEGRITY

2018

Harris County Civil Courthouse 201 Caroline St. Houston, Texas 77002

www.fairandimpartialJustice.com

John Schmude

Judge 247th District Court

“We are grateful for your prayers, love, vote, and continued support.”

g{x fv{Åâwx YtÅ|Äç TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY JOHN SCHMUDE FOR JUDGE CAMPAIGN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY LIMITS OF JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS ACT, VALOREE SWANSON, TREASURER.

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart will faceoff Against Diane Trautman on November 6, 2018 PICTURED: Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart will be running for re-election on November 6th, Terri Leo, and Paul F. Simpson, Harris County Republican Party Chairman.

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart received 113,449 votes back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in the race for Republican Party Primary race for Harris County Clerk. However, there were 42,349 “UNDER VOTES” in his race according to the “UNOFFICIAL” numbers released by the Harris County Clerk’s Office.”

MEET STAN STANART

Stan Stanart was elected Harris County Clerk on November 2, 2010 and reelected in November 2014 to a second term.

S

tan has spent most of his professional career as an Engineer and being evolved in local politics to ensure a better future for our children and grandchildren. He was born, raised and educated in Oklahoma, but after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Electronic Engineering, Stan quickly moved to Texas. He has worked in the aerospace industry, the Central Test Facility for the International Space Station and managed technical development teams at Compaq Computer for Desktop Computer and Laptop computer development.

Before serving as your County Clerk, Stan was the

Associate Director for the Harris County Tax Office where he was responsible for over 600 computers and dozens of servers. Stan has used his technical skills and knowledge to bring innovation and many new efficiency to the County Clerk’s Office.

Stan is married to Gail Stanart, past President of Texas Tea Party Republican Woman, who is equally active in making Harris County a better place to live. Stan is the father of three grown sons; Derek, Michael and Matthew, and a grandfather to Daniel (5) and Elisa (2). He served as a Boy Scout Den leader and assistant Scout master for

his sons in their younger years.

As a grassroots activist, Stan has attended and served as a Delegate to every Republican Senatorial and State Convention since 1988.

Stan is a known leader across Harris County, in numerous Senate Districts and has served numerous times as Chairman of the Nominations Committee and Chairman of the Registration Committee for Senate District 7.

Stan has also served on the Republican Party of Texas Organizations and Nominations Committees.

Stan was elected by his State Delegate peers to serve as a Presidential Elector in the 2000 Electoral College and as a National Delegate to the 2016, 2012, 2008 and 2004 Republican National Conventions.

Stan served as President of Cherry Tree Republicans for 2005-2007. Cherry Tree is a conservative Republican Club in the Champions area of NW Harris County. His wife Gail served as President of Texas Tea Party Republican Women in 2007.

In addition, Stan served as the Executive Director of CLOUT (Citizens Lowering Our Unfair Taxes) for 3 years; supporting President Edd Hendee and the CLOUT membership.

Stan is a taxpayer, activist and leader. He desires to serve the voters and the residents of Harris County.

Stan will continue to represent you and make you proud. Please support and re-elect Stan Stanart for Harris County Clerk.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

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Making government work for the individual…

Dr. Diane Trautman, a life-long Texan

and Houstonian, was elected as an At- Large, Countywide board member on the Harris County Board of Education in 2012 for a 6 year term. During that time, she has served as board Vice President, Chair of the Adult Education committee, and Chair of the Head Start policy council. Along with the rest of the board, she has hired a new superintendent, presided over a 100 million dollar budget, and understands that as a public servant, she works for the people of Harris County and not the other way around. Dr. Trautman has always believed that as an elected official, she should make government work for the individual. While on the board, she supported federal grants that maximized your tax dollars resulting in savings for the school districts and the taxpayers. Along with the rest of the board, she was successful in reducing your HCDE property taxes for the last three years.

Her past work experience includes tenures as Assistant. Professor of Education at both Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin State universities. She has worked as a Teacher in both Houston and Humble ISDs and a Principal in Conroe and Tomball ISDs. Prior to her work in the field of education, she worked in the banking industry at both Texas Commerce Bank (Trust Asset Management) and First City National Bank (Energy Lending).

Dr. Trautman holds a Bachelor's degree in English and a Masters degree in Secondary Education, both from the University of Houston. She also earned a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University where she received the Morphet Award for her dissertation developing a new leadership theory.

Dr. Trautman is a current member of the League of Women Voters, the Humble Area Retired Teachers Association, the Girl Scouts Alumni Organization, HAAM Covenant Council, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Atascocita Lutheran Church. She and her husband Tim have three grown children and two grandchildren.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 AND END ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018.

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

832.212.8735

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EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel will face Marilyn Burgess on November 6, 2018 PICTURED: In 2012, Chris married Jennifer Barber, a CPA and Baylor graduate who grew up in Barber’s Hill, Texas. They have two amazing children, John and Amanda.

“Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel received 112,331 votes back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in the race for Harris County District Clerk. However, there were 43,467 “UNDER VOTES” in his race according to the “UNOFFICIAL” numbers released by the Harris County Clerk on Election Night!”

MEET CHRIS DANIEL

C

hris Daniel, an engineer and attorney, has brought his energy, skills and training to the Harris County District Clerk’s Office. First elected to this office in 2010, he heads an office staffed by about 550 people and oversees a $36 million budget that has remained lean even as the county is putting the recession behind it. His office staffs 80 statutory courts and ten (10) specialty courts with clerks, maintains records for these courts and runs jury service. Chris knows that bridge-building and diplomacy skills are a great advantage as he works with scores of judges and county officials to improve court operations. Previously, Chris Daniel was elected to the Board for Lone Star College System.

In 2013, with Chris Daniel’s leadership, the office implemented a convenient passport application operation to assist the people of Harris County in applying for and renewing their passports. With such innovative thinking, Chris was re-elected to the Office in 2014.

In 2016, he opened four (4) satellite passport application operations to meet suburbanites’ needs. He partnered with the Harris County Library System to make the passport application services available in County libraries in Clear Lake, Humble, Spring/Tomball and Katy. There is now a passport application operation office in Pasadena.

Chris collaborated with the Harris County Sheriff’s Of-

fice, the District Attorney’s Office and judges to create eSubpoena, an efficient, electronic system that greatly reduces the time it takes to notify witnesses of their service.

The digitized system helped make the courts safer at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. One person can now process the subpoenas, allowing three dozen deputies to remain in the courtrooms and help maintain courtroom security.

Chris has spearheaded efforts to warn the public about jury scams. He oversaw a multi-pronged public awareness campaign, featuring public service announcements on television and radio, radio PSAs in Spanish, posters on more than 900 Metro buses and news interviews with newspaper, TV and radio reporters.

Chris was born in Houston and grew up in Jersey Village and north of Acres Homes in Willowwood. His mother, Jolie, grew up on Curacao, an island off Venezuela that was part of the Netherlands Antilles. From his family, especially his mother, he learned to speak Dutch among other languages. His father was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and came from a long line of farmers and ranchers.

After earning a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Texas at Austin, he first worked as a project manager at National Oilwell Varco. Furthering his engineering career, he moved on to KBR, where he was employed as a design engineer. While employed full-time, and while serving on the Board of Lone Star College (elected in 2006), he also enrolled in classes and graduated from South Texas College of Law, passing the bar in 2011.

In 2012, Chris married Jennifer Barber, a CPA and Baylor graduate who grew up in Barber’s Hill, Texas. They have two amazing children, John and Amanda. The Daniel family resides in Humble and they are active members of Second Baptist Church. Chris also attends Bible classes at Champion Forest Baptist Church. Chris and Jennifer, have many varied interests, including traveling and scuba diving.

An active Boy Scout, he went on to become an Eagle Scout. His pride in this achievement remains – his award decorated Scout’s shirt hangs in his office today and he serves on the Board for the Sam Houston Area Council. Chris Daniel is an ex-officio Director and a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. He is a member of the World Champion Barbecue Cook-off Committee and the Lamb and Goat Auction Committee.

CHRIS DANIEL

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

Harris County District Clerk

®

832.212.8735

“We’re praying that you will consider casting your vote for the most dedicated, committed, and experienced candidate in the race for Judge, 309th Family Judicial District Court on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.”

JUDGE SHERI Y. DEAN & TEAM DEAN

Dedication, commitment, experience...

Judge Sheri Y. Dean was elected as Presiding Judge for the 309th Family Court in 2010 and is now seeking re-election for her third term. Please join Team Dean in our grass-roots effort to keep Judge Dean!

Family

Judge Dean has been married to her high school sweetheart, Lance, for 43 years and has three wonderful sons and two lovely daughter-in-laws who have given her five adorable grandchildren.

Determination

Judge Dean earned her Business Administration Degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976. Following college, she worked many years with the family business until, at the age of 34, she decided to follow her dream to become an attorney. With her children, ages 8, 7 and 4 years old, Judge Dean took the leap and left her home in Tyler, Texas to begin law school in

Houston. While working and taking care of her family, Judge Dean graduated in two and a half years from South Texas College of Law. After graduating she began her own law firm and practiced family law in all nine family law courts in Harris County for 18 years.

Experience

Judge Dean was appointed by the Governor of Texas in 2010 to serve as the Judge for the 309th Family Court.

Shorty after her appointment, she was then elected and continues to serves as your Judge of the 309th Family Court. Judge Dean wants to continue the work she has started. Since she began her tenure, Judge Dean has worked full time to clear backlogged cases, while making sure that litigants get their day in court and are heard.

Judge Dean is known as a tough, but fair judge, who waits to decide a case once she has heard all the facts and circumstances, before making timely decisions based on the law and Constitution. She also is a member of the Jury Committee that streamlined the process to save thousands of dollars for Harris County citizens.

JUDGE SHERI Y. DEAN IS A HARD-WORKING COMMUNITY LEADER!

www.dean4judge.com Paid Pol. Ad. by Sheri Y. Dean in compliance with the voluntary limits of the judicial campaign fairness act.

Community

Today, Judge Dean is well known in Harris County for her hard work and active participation in the community.

Judge Dean’s record and participation reflects her loyalty, commitment and respect as a Judge and community leader. She has expanded her efforts as an elected official and public servant to reach out into the community on several projects, encouraging children and families to seek education and unity, increasing opportunities for families. Judge Dean has worked to be a part of the solution for others in need. After her appointment, she was then elected and continues to serve as your Judge of the 309th Family Court. Judge Dean wants to continue the work she has started.

Since she began her tenure, Judge Dean has worked full time to clear backlogged cases, while making sure litigants get their day in court and are heard.

Judge Sheri Y. Dean is proud to be endorsed by The Baptist Ministers’ Association of Houston & Vicinity PAC, Church of God in Christ PAC, C Club, Houston Realty Business Coalition (HRBC), Texas Asian Republican Club, Conservative Coalition of Harris County, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH), many other local leaders and organizations.

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...Harris County, Texas

“As we endeavor to inform and empower our readers to make an informed voting decision at the ballot box, I would like to take this moment to congratulate Judge Michelle Slaughter on her Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Republican Party Primary victory. While Judge Slaughter will not have a Democratic opponent in the Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Midterm Election, she will have to face off against a candidate by the name of Mark Ash who is running as an independent candidate. I would like to encourage all “SWING-VOTERS” to go to the polls to cast your vote during the early voting period which begins on Monday, October 22, 2018.” — Aubrey R. Taylor, Publisher

“I am excited to be your choice for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in Place 8. I promise to stick to my constitutional conservative values and be a judge that you can always be proud to support!”– Michelle ANALYSIS BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR

In case you don’t already know, Judge Michelle Slaughter beat both her fellow Republican Primary opponents in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018, (STATEWIDE) race for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8. So, while Judge Slaughter will not have a Democratic opponent on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, she will have to face off against a candidate running as an independent.

Judge Slaughter is Conservative, Effective and Experienced.

Judge Michelle Slaughter is a constitutional conservative judge and an originalist – much like Justice Clarence Thomas. As a district judge, Judge Slaughter has presided over thousands of felony criminal cases and well over a hundred felony criminal jury trials ranging from statejail felonies to capital murder cases. She is the only candidate in this race with a proven track record of efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and saving taxpayer dollars.

Judge Slaughter Gets Things Done.

As a highly-accomplished attorney, Michelle was disgusted at what she saw happening in the 405th District Court. The judge in that court at the time was a liberal, activist judge. The court was the least efficient, least effective court with the highest reversal rate and the highest backlog (by far) in Galveston County. This was a judge that had been there for 12 years, had been a lifelong prosecutor and a 1st Assistant District Attorney with a lot

of criminal experience. On paper, he looked like an excellent judge. But he had the worst track record of any judge in Galveston County.

As a person who gets things done, Michelle ran against and beat this 12-year incumbent judge. Within her first two years on the bench, Judge Slaughter transformed the court into the most efficient, most effective district court with the lowest backlog in Galveston County. She fought for and implemented transparency for the court. She also found cost-savings solutions and has saved taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars every year she has been on the bench. Now in her second term as a district judge, Judge Slaughter has maintained that efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.

With her conservative values, proven track record, experience with thousands of criminal cases, and quality credentials, Judge Slaughter was indeed the best candidate for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8.

Judge Slaughter is proud of the fact that she earned well over 90% of all endorsements made in this race back in the March primary.

In case you don’t know, Judge Slaughter received the unanimous board endorsement of Grassroots America – We the People and received 16 out of 17 votes of the board for the Conservative Coalition of Harris County endorsement. She also earned the endorsements of Empower Texans, Texas Right to Life, Texas Homeschool Coalition, Texas Values, and many, many more!

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CONSERVATIVES ON THE MOVE IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: Honorable Michelle Slaughter and Attorney Charles Johnson who will be seeking to beat Democrat (nominee) Attorney Amy Martin in the race for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018, and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Justice Brett Busby (pictured in the back - far right) will be fighting off the challenge of Democrat (nominee) Attorney Jerry Zimmerer in the race for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 in Texas on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018, and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

dra who were with Burt Levine and his wife San Honorable Michelle Slaughter r secure her ghte y others) with helping Judge Slau both instrumental (along with man Affairs Conent ernm Gov itol, lyst at Texas State Cap victory. Burt Levine is a Policy Ana s Campaigns.

Communications Manager at Texa sultant at Texas Campaigns and

Honorable Michelle Slaughter with Congressman Kevin Brady who will be fighting off the challenge of Democrat (nominee) Steven David in the race for United States Representative for the 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018, and end on Friday, November 2, 2018.

*Example of how branding advertorials will look inside the “2018 MIDTERM ELECTION GUIDE” to be published

by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications.

ELECTION DAY:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

EARLY VOTING DATES FOR THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION: Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on - Friday, November 2, 2018

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THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGES: The Court of Criminal Appeals is Texas' highest court for criminal cases.

The Court consists of a Presiding Judge and eight Judges. They are elected by the voters of the entire state, and they hold their offices for terms of six years. The Court sits in Austin, near the Capitol. From time to time it may sit in other cities to hear cases.

A Victory by Judge Michelle Slaughter on November 6th Will Earn her a Spot on The Highest Court for Criminal Appeals in the State of Texas PRESIDING JUDGE - Place 1

HONORABLE SHARON KELLER

Judge Sharon Keller was first elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 1994. She was elected Presiding Judge in 2000 and re-elected to that position in 2006. She is the first woman to have served on the Court. A native Texan, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Rice University in 1975 and her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1978.

Presiding Judge Keller is chairman of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission and she is on the board of the Council of State Governments Justice Center. She is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a member of the Judicial Advisory Council to the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. By virtue of her office, she is vice-chair of the Texas Judicial Council.

In 2003 Presiding Judge Keller received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Her current term on the Court extends through December of 2018.

In 2003 Presiding Judge Keller received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Her current term on the Court extends through December of 2018.

JUDGE - Place 2

2016 she presided over the 232nd District Court in Harris County, Texas.

She also served Harris County as an assistant district attorney at trial and on appeal. She was a briefing attorney for the First Court of Appeals from 1985-86. She has been board certified in Criminal Law since 1990.

She earned a BA in English from the University of Texas in 1982 and a JD from the University of Houston Law Center in 1985.

She is married to attorney Jim Hippard, Jr., and they have three children, all now young adults.

Judge - Place 3

HONORABLE BERT RICHARDSON

Judge Bert Richardson was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2014. He served as an Assistant District Attorney for Bexar County and Assistant U. S. Attorney. He was appointed to the 379th District Court of Bexar County in 1999. He is a graduate of St. Mary's University School of Law and is board certified in Criminal Law.

JUDGE - Place 4

HONORABLE KEVIN YEARY

Judge Kevin Patrick Yeary was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2014. In 1991, he served as briefing attorney at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. He has worked as a defense attorney in private practice and as an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas, Harris and

Bexar Counties. He is a graduate of the St. Mary's University School of Law.

JUDGE - Place 5

HONORABLE SCOTT WALKER

Judge Scott Walker was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in November of 2016. Prior to taking the bench, his law practice consisted of criminal litigation, appellate advocacy, civil defense, and veteran's disability. His undergraduate degree is from Dallas Baptist University and his Juris Doctorate is from Baylor School of Law. Judge Walker is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Bar College, an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained in Texas. He is a former member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Judge Walker is a native Texan. He and his wife have been married for 44 years. They are evangelical Christians and are active members in their Dallas area church. They have one son, one daughter, and two grandchildren.

JUDGE - Place 6

HONORABLE MICHAEL KEASLER

Judge Michael E. Keasler earned his B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1969, he was appointed assistant district attorney for Dallas County, where he served for twelve years. He was a senior felony chief prosecutor in the Career Criminal Division and a veteran of over four hundred jury trials when in 1981 he was appointed judge of

the 292nd District Court in Dallas. He served as judge of that trial court for over seventeen years. He was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the State Bar Judicial Section, Chair of the Texas Center for the Judiciary's Board of Directors, Chair of the Dallas County Juvenile Board, Chair of the Dallas County Criminal District Judges, and Presiding Local Administrative Judge. He also served as Chair of the ABA State Trial Judges' Ethics Committee. From 1990 to 1997, Judge Keasler served as dean of continuing judicial education in Texas and instituted the Texas College of Advanced Judicial Studies in 1993. He has been a faculty member at The National Judicial College since 1992, served on its faculty council, and was the April, 2002 Robert H. Jackson Lecturer at its General Jurisdiction Course.

He is a member of The American Law Institute, the ABA Appellate Judges Conference. He is also a Fellow of the Texas and American Bar Foundations. He teaches judicial ethics, constitutional criminal law, statutory construction, and appellate standards of review nationally.

Judge Keasler has been married to the former Nancy Lawson of Austin since 1969. She is a classroom teacher at St. Andrew's Episcopal School. Their daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren also reside in Austin. Current term expires December 31, 2020.

JUDGE - Place 7

HONORABLE BARBARA HERVEY

Judge Barbara Parker Hervey was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in November 2000. A native of New Jersey, Judge Hervey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her J.D. in 1979 from St. Mary's University

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HONORABLE MARY LOU KEEL

Judge Mary Lou Keel was elected to the Court in 2016. From 1995 through

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Here’s what Judge Slaughter said after receiving Senator Cruz’ endorsement: “I am incredibly honored, humbled, and overwhelmed to have earned the endorsement of our Senator Ted Cruz!” Here’s the message Senator Ted Cruz said in his endorsement of Judge Michelle Slaughter in the race for Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8: “We are blessed in Texas to have so many solid conservatives running for office. I’m asking Texas voters to carefully consider the choices before them this election cycle, and to stand with those who have proven themselves to be conservatives of conviction. I am proud to endorse Judge Michelle Slaughter for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and urge the voters of the Texas to join me by supporting her.”

School of Law, where she is currently an Adjunct Professor and a past recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Hervey was in private practice for 5 years with the Law Office of M.M. Pena, Jr. of San Antonio.

She was also an Assistant Criminal District Attorney in the appellate section of the Bexar County District Attorney's Office for 16 years. Judge Hervey has been an author and speaker for over 150 lectures and legal seminars, served on the Governor's Ad Hoc Committee to Rewrite the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, supervised continuing legal education training for attorneys in the D.A.'s Office, served as a Faculty Member of the National College of District Attorneys, and co-authored The Appellate Prosecutor: "Professional Responsibility on Appeal."

Judge Hervey is currently a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the American Law Institute. She is the Chair of the Grants Committee and the Criminal Justice Integrity Unit and is a member of the Rules Committee for the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Judge Hervey has served as a member of the Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council and the Tim Cole Advisory Panel.

She has received the Appellate Advocacy Award from Region VI, Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.

She has also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the San Antonio Police Officers Association in recognition of work on

Johnathan Moore v. State of Texas, tried for the Capital Murder of S.A.P.D. Officer Fabian Dominguez.

Judge Hervey and her husband Richard Langlois (defense attorney, Bexar County) reside in San Antonio, Texas.

They have three children, Edward, Christopher, and Melissa.

Her current term is through 2018.

JUDGE - Place 8

HONORABLE ELSA ALCALA

In May 2011, Judge Elsa Alcala was appointed to the Court of Criminal Appeals

by Governor Rick Perry and unanimously confirmed by the Texas Senate. Prior to becoming a judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals, she served for nine years as a justice on the First Court of Appeals, an intermediate court of appeals in Texas with jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters.

Prior to serving on the appellate courts, Judge Alcala presided over trials as a state district court judge for over three years.

During her tenure on the 338th District Court, she presided over hundreds of felony criminal offenses, ranging from property offenses to violent crimes. Before becoming a judge, Judge Alcala was an assistant district attorney for nine years, serving under District Attorney Johnny Holmes at the Harris County District Attor-

ney's Office. Judge Alcala is double board certified in criminal law and in criminal appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Judge Alcala has a JD from the University of Texas, where she received the honor of Order of Barristers. Before becoming a Longhorn, she was a Javelina, receiving a BA degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Judge Alcala is a mother of three teenagers and married to Dan Spjut, Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law Number Ten.

JUDGE - Place 9

HONORABLE DAVID NEWELL

Judge David Newell was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on November 4, 2014.

The son of Thomas and Linda Newell, David was born at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, though he grew up in Sugar Land, Texas with his much taller, older brother, Robert Newell.

David graduated cum laude from William P. Clements High School. He earned his undergraduate degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. He graduated magna cum laude, earning University honors and honors in his major. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1997 before returning

home to work in the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. He served as an appellate prosecutor for 16 years, first in Fort Bend County and later in the Harris County District Attorney's Office from 2007 until his election to the Court.

Judge Newell has twice served as the Chairman of the Editorial Board for the Texas District and County Attorney's bimonthly journal, The Texas Prosecutor. He also co-authored a regular byline for the journal, "As the Judges Saw It," a column that analyzed and summarized the significant decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He served repeatedly on the planning committee for the Advanced Criminal Law Course for the State Bar of Texas. And he has presented the Court of Criminal Appeals Update at the Texas Conference on Criminal Appeals, the TDCAA Criminal and Civil Law Update, and the Texas State Bar's Advanced Criminal Law Course.

Judge Newell is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both criminal law and criminal appellate law. He is also licensed by the State Bar of Texas and admitted to practice before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. In 2013, David received the C. Chris Marshall Award for Distinguished Faculty from the Texas District and County Attorneys' Association. David and his beautiful wife, Shayne, currently live in the Houston area with their two sons.

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EARLY VOTING BEGINS ON OCTOBER 22ND I ELECTION DAY: NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Six years as a felony chief in the white collar crime and public assistance fraudspecial crimes divisions.

GET TO KNOW RENEE

FAIR HONEST DILIGENT

Renee Magee was born in Texas City and was one of eight children. At a young age, her father's job took Renee and her family to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. During this time, Renee began swimming competitively at age 5 1/2. She eventually went on to represent Texas and the United States in the 1976 olympics in Montreal. (See Team USA below.) Renee returned to Texas in high school where she graduated from Clear Lake High School and went on to complete college and law school at the University of Houston.

Renee is one of the most respected in her field for being fair, honest and hard working. Throughout her athletic career and her career as a top prosecutor, Renee's drive and determination have humbly been on display. The same drive and determination that made her a young olympian and the same respected record she has earned as a prosecutor and district court judge will continue to benefit the citizens of Harris County upon her re-election.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As Judge of the 337th District court, Renee significantly reduced her pending caseload through diligence and hard work in an effort to provide a fair and speedy resolution of cases. Renee also volunteered to preside over a mental health caseload, wherein she supervised mentally ill defendants who were on probation for criminal offenses and needed assistance in connecting with community programs designed to prevent recidivism.

TEAM USA

Renee put her pride in her country and her special talent on the world stage when she competed in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Renee broke the glass ceiling for female swimmers in Texas. She was the first female Texas swimmer to make an Olympic team in an individual event. In April 2011, Renee was inducted into the Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame.

FAMILY

Renee and her husband, Tucker, reside in Houston. Renee has two grown children: Angela, a physician with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and Christopher, a licensed attorney in Miami, Florida. Renee and Tucker are the proud grandparents of four-year-old Benjamin and two-year-old, Elissa. Renee's parents, June and Jack Magee, reside in El Lago, Texas. Renee is a lifelong Republican and a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church.

Renee began working at the Harris County District Attorney office in 1992.

Renee was a strong asset for the citizens of Harris County as an Assistant District Attorney for 21 years and as a District Court Judge in the 337th for 4 years.

Her accomplishments included:

www.judgereneemagee.com

Trying 148 criminal cases to a jury including murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery and home invasion cases

A 12-year tenure as a felony district court chief supervising junior prosecutors in 4 District courts Trying 10 capital murder cases to a jury

Pd. Pol. Ad by Renee Magee Campaign, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, James Tucker, Treasurer

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Pol. Adv. Christine Riddle Butts Campaign, Michael C. Riddle, Treasurer, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

"My mission is to help in times of crisis when the crisis involves the death, incapacity, or mental illness of a loved one."

Integrity matters.

Justice should prevail.

Service above self.

Honesty is a given.

Humility is a gift.

Faith, Family, Community.

Christine Butts, Judge

Harris County Probate Court 4 ABOUT CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS

In November of 2010, after fourteen years of practice as a probate lawyer in Harris County, Christine Butts was elected to serve as the judge of Probate Court 4.

Probate judges in Harris County preside over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health cases. In the past five years, Harris County Probate Court 4 has undergone the following enhancements designed to expand its service to the public:

The Guardianship Handbook was created and published. It is now given to every person appointed as a guardian. It is also available in Spanish.

The court offers a free Continuing Legal Education program every quarter

Attorneys may now obtain docket settings online

Helpful Guidelines designed to assist attorneys seeking help with less common probate procedures were published to the court’s website and are offered in the offices of the court free of charge. The changes set out above enable guardians to more effectively help families care for their loved ones and enable attorneys to more efficiently serve families in crisis.

Christine Butts was raised in Houston and graduated from Westfield High School. While in high school, she worked with her father, a probate lawyer, in his small law firm. Christine Butts went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of business administration degree. Soon after college, she

married Donald Butts and studied law at the University of Houston. After graduating from law school, she joined her father's law practice. Serving clients in a private practice enabled her to learn a great deal about probate, guardianship, and mental health matters. More importantly, private practice has given her a balanced perspective and view into how the loss or incapacity of a loved one impacts families.

Christine Butts asks for your support in her re-election campaign because she is dedicated to and experienced in serving those who must handle a probate, guardianship, or mental health matter. _________________________________ CHRISTINE VALUES EVERY VOTE!

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...Harris County, Texas

“As we endeavor to inform and empower our readers to make an informed voting decision at the ballot box, it is “OUR PRAYER” that both candidates featured below would commit themselves to running a “POSITIVE CAMPAIGN” focused on issues and the strength of their candidacy rather than negative campaign advertisements and strategies. And with that said, on behalf of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper© I would like to encourage all “SWING-VOTERS” to cast your ballot for “DULY-QUALIFIED” candidates who value, respect, and appreciate your vote!”— Aubrey R. Taylor, Publisher

The battle for Judge, County Criminal Court No. 9 between Attorney Toria J. Finch and Attorney John Wakefield Will Take Place on November 6, 2018 ANALYSIS BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR

In case you don’t already know, Judge Analia Wilkerson, the current presiding judge for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9 decided to not seek re-election back in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Republican Primary in Harris County, Texas.

Judge Wilkerson’s absence on the Tuesday, November 6, 2018 ballot has set the stage for a showdown between John Wakefield, the Republican nominee, and Toria J. Finch, the Democrat nominee in the race for the 9th Criminal Court at Law in Harris County, Texas.

TWO DULY-QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS

Toria J. Finch is a former Harris County Felony Prosecutor, and current Criminal Defense Attorney who is Board Certified in Juvenile Law. And John Wakefield is a career prosecutor, who is also board certified in the area of criminal law. Wakefield also happens to be a licensed peace officer who has dedicated his life to public service.

MEET JOHN WAKEFIELD

According to his website, during the fall of his senior year at Purdue University, Wakefield watched with the rest of the world as the attacks of 9/11 unfolded. Upon witnessing the horror of that day, Wakefield decided right then and there to pursue a life of public service to Americans. How-

FEATURED 2018 “DULY-QUALIFIED” CANDIDATES: Toria J. Finch (left) is the Democrat nominee and John Wakefield (right) is the Republican nominee in the race for Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 9 in Harris County, Texas. ever, due to a medical condition, he was disqualified from enlisting in the military, and ultimately decided to contribute to our nation by becoming an Assistant District Attorney.

Now, according to his website, Wakefield seeks to continue his commitment to public service by seeking to become the next judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9 – the seat currently held by his fellow Republican.

STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS

Who will win this race? Well, for John Wakefield to emerge successful on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 he’s going to have to get past Toria J. Finch, the Democrat nominee who could very-well easily be considered to be the front-runner heading into their Midterm Election show-

down. How can I say this? Well, neither of the two, (Wakefield or Finch) drew opponents back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in their respective party primaries. However, there are still a few takeaways that speak to the areas of strength for each candidate. A LOOK BACK AT THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS: John Wakefield received (18,609) absentee votes, and Toria J. Finch received (18,711) absentee votes – so Toria J. Finch has demonstrated that she can beat John Wakefield in this category. A LOOK BACK AT THE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS: John Wakefield received (44,101) early votes, and Toria J. Finch received (54,348) early votes – so Toria J. Finch has also

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The battle for Judge, County Criminal Court No. 9 between Attorney Toria J. Finch and Attorney John Wakefield Will Take Place on November 6, 2018 CONTINUED FROM

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demonstrated that she can beat Wakefield during the early voting period. A LOOK BACK AT THE ELECTION DAY VOTING NUMBERS: John Wakefield received (48,875) Election Day votes, and Toria J. Finch received (56,863) Election Day votes to demonstrate that she can also beat John Wakefield in turning out votes on Election Day!

TALE OF THE TAPE

Based on her stellar Democratic Party Primary showing alone, it would not be a stretch to label Toria J. Finch, the Democrat as the front-runner in this race based on the fact that she received (129,922) total votes back in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Democratic Party Primary for Harris County. By comparison, John Wakefield, the Republican received 111,585 total votes in the Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Republican Party Primary for Harris County. But that’s not all, you must also keep in mind that 44,802 Republican Primary voters chose to either not cast a ballot for John Wakefield, or simply skipped over his race for one reason or another. But to be fair, Toria J. Finch also had a large number of Democratic Primary voters to skip over her race on the ballot as well – triggering 38,060 under votes – which could mean that voters either chose to not cast a ballot, or simply skipped over a particular race altogether while casting their ballot.

TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Neither, John Wakefield or Toria J. Finch can be considered the clear front-runner at this time – so I will do a recap of this race sometime before the start of early voting which begins on Monday, October 22, 2018 and ends on Friday, November 2, 2018.

2,249,591 REGISTERED VOTERS

The voter turnout wasn’t large enough for me to say with complete certainty what’s going to happen on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. But please keep in mind that according to the Harris County Clerk’s Office there are over 2,249,591 registered voters living in Harris County, Texas.

With that number in mind, we only heard the voices of 167,982 Democrats, and 156,387 Republicans speak up back on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 – so who knows what’s going to happen when the big boys come to play?

A Message From The Toria J. Finch Campaign

Attorney Toria J. Finch is a first-generation attorney from Nashville, Tennessee. Attorney Finch is the youngest child of three, and the proud daughter of two humble civil servants who committed their lives to education, ministry, and community outreach programs. Attorney Finch has devoted her life and career to seeking out effective ways to inspire positive change in the lives of individuals and the community.

Following graduation from high school, Attorney Finch attended undergraduate school at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. While attending undergraduate school, Attorney Finch actively served in vari-

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ous civic and professional organizations which include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gamma Mu Undergraduate Chapter (President) (Attorney Finch is currently an active member of the Xi Alpha Omega Graduate Chapter located in Houston, Texas); Delta Mu National Honor Society; Mu Kappa Tau National Honor Society; and Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Inc., XI XI Chapter.

She remains actively involved in community service here in the Houston community through her sorority and volunteers with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Clinic. Attorney Finch worked as a marketing intern with m companies such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) during its groundbreaking year introducing the Semi-professional National Basketball Development League (NBDL), and with the Southeastern Regional Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A, Inc. While completing her undergraduate curriculum, Attorney Finch discovered her interest in the law during a Business Law Course. After graduating from Alabama A&M University with Honors (cum laude) obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing, she continued her education and research in the legal field by attending the Southeastern Paralegal Institute (ABA Approved) located in Nashville, Tennessee. Attorney Finch completed her paralegal studies and graduated with Honors earning a Paralegal Certificate.

Following paralegal school, Attorney Finch accepted an offer to work as a Paralegal Clerk for the Nashville office of Frost Brown Todd, a large law firm based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Thereafter, Attorney Finch was blessed to receive admission into law school and chose to attend the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) located on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

During Attorney Finch’s matriculation at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, she continued a working relationship with Frost Brown Todd as a law clerk. Attorney Finch worked in various divisions, focusing the majority of her efforts in the Litigation Division handling civil litigation matters such as Contract Disputes, Employment Discrimination, and Bankruptcy. Also, as a law student, Attorney Finch worked with the State of Texas Attorney General’s Office in the Child Support Division, located in Houston, Texas; the Harris County District Attorney’s Office located in Houston, Texas; and the Travis County Juvenile Public Defender’s Office, located in Austin, Texas. While attending law school, Attorney Finch remained active with both civic and professional organizations. Attorney Finch was a student member of the prestigious Garland Walker Inns of

Court; Senior Staff Editor for the Thurgood Marshall Law Review; Chief Justice of the TMSL Honor Court; and Treasurer for the Board of Advocates. While maintaining her grades, Attorney Finch developed her lawyering skills and trial abilities by participating in numerous inter-mural and intra-mural mock trial and moot court competitions.

Attorney Finch, along with her teammates regularly placed in the top ranks in competitions, and at times 1st place. Attorney Finch has a natural ability to stand bold and effectively advocate her position. It is through these experiences that Attorney Finch decided to use her advocacy skills and legal talents to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and the community. Thereby, Attorney Finch has committed her life and career to working for her community and being a voice for the people.

In November 2006, Attorney Finch gained admission to practice law in the State of Texas. She has worked as an Assistant Juvenile Public Defender with the Travis County Juvenile Public Defender’s Office located in Austin, Texas, where she acquired Board Certification in Juvenile Law awarded by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations; as an Adjunct Professor for the Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law; and as an Assistant District Attorney for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. While an Assistant District Attorney, she tried various misdemeanor and felony level bench trials and jury trials and achieved the level of Felony Prosecutor, and Misdemeanor Court Chief.

In March 2015, Attorney Finch founded and manages The Finch Law Firm, PLLC, located in Houston, Texas where she dedicates her time and talents to fight for the rights, privileges, and protections of her clients afforded by both federal and state laws.

During her many years of practice, Attorney Finch has accumulated a significant amount of relevant legal experiences in the areas of civil litigation, criminal law, family law, and juvenile law. Attorney Finch’s commitment to the community, compassion for people, her moral and spiritual integrity, her belief in the Constitution and that justice should truly be for all, in conjunction with her legal and analytical abilities make her a true champion for the people, and the right choice for Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9. Given her beliefs, when you vote for Attorney Finch, you vote for Truth, Justice, and Fairness.

Currently, Attorney Finch is proudly endorsed by the following: Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Harris County Chapter, Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity, Tejano Democrats. and Area 5 Democrats.

ELECTION DAY:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

EARLY VOTING DATES FOR THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTION: Early voting will begin on Monday, October 22, 2018 and end on - Friday, November 2, 2018

OPEN POLITICAL THOUGHTS EVERY VOTE COUNTS! — HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© FOCUSED ON THE 2018 “SWING-VOTE”

BERNIE SANDERS *Potential 2018 Democratic Candidate for U.S. President

JOE BIDEN *Potential 2018 Democratic Candidate for U.S. President

TIM KAINE *Potential 2018 Democratic Candidate for U.S. President

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HILLARY CLINTON *Potential 2018 Democratic Candidate for U.S. President

A NEW APPROACH RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020

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Carroll G. Robinson & Dr. Michael O. Adams*

Though the potential candidates and their key consultants don't want to publicly admit it, the campaign for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination is well underway.

Other than Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine and Joe Biden, none of the other potential candidates have ever run a national campaign. Some however have built major online fundraising operations and have enthusiastic supporters across the country. That alone may not be enough of a foundation to build a winning campaign on but it is a good start.

In addition to fundraising and volunteers, the candidates will also need a message that can win the party primary and carry them through to victory in the general election.

In the 2020 primary, it is unlikely that any candidate will have the preferential support of the DNC or overwhelming support among super delegates.

This means that, at a minimum, the first-time candidates will have to do innovative things to distinguish themselves from the rest of what is likely to be a crowded primary field.

Any of the people now seriously thinking about running for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2020 should break with tradition and break new ground by naming their Vice-Presidential running mate, Cabinet selections and potential Supreme Court nominees on the day they kick-off their campaign.

This should be done so voters can see where the candidate wants to lead our nation based on who they will bring into government with them.

In the past, doing this would have been considered by some as a candidate being presumptuous (as opposed to being transparent and forthright) when in fact the real reason it hasn't been done is because presidential candidates-and their advisors- thought they would lose political leverage and support if they did. That calculus may no longer be valid. In light of the volatility of the Trump presidency to date, Democratic primary voters-and even more so, Independent general election voters-may be much more willing to support Carroll G. Robinson, Esq.

and reward that level of campaign and-more importantly-governance transparency.

Democrats thinking about running for President should also be encouraged to give serious consideration to governance even as they plan for the election campaign.

Even before the Trump transition, there were serious concerns about the presidential transition process-including Senate confirmation of presidential nominees.

As we are now witnessing, the transition process is seriously broken and could have serious ramifications in the not too distant future in terms of continuity of government in a domestic national security situation or major terrorist attack on the eve of a presidential transition. There are a lot of proposed solutions for fixing these problems, and part of the answer(s) may be putting forward the names of people who would be helping to run the government early in the campaign cycle. Some people may say this will subject those individuals to public scrutiny and attack. The reality is they will be subject to political attack whenever they are named and early scrutiny is not a bad thing. Interestingly, it may turn out that the early announcements may result in fewer, rather than more, political attacks because the other candidates and Party will have to decide who to focus on; their opponent or the possible nominees.

Will the other Party and candidates focus on the candidate or the people they announce as potential nominees? We believe it will be the former rather than the latter.

If 2020 is to be a generational leadership transition for national Democrats, shouldn't new leadership be willing to lead in new ways?

Now that we know what we know, shouldn't Americans hold candidates for President to a higher standard in 2020 than what we did in 2016?

If you are a Democrat, don't you want to know who the candidates running for your party's presidential nomination in 2020 want as their running mate? Who they want to serve in their Cabinet? Who they would appoint to serve on the Supreme Court? This information should no longer be a matter of post nomination or post-election disclosure.

When it comes to messaging, the candidates should each release a proposed federal budget that offers a coherent and comprehensive synthesis of their policy vision as it relates to their plans for economic growth, jobs creation, dealing with economic inequality, national security, foreign affairs, global trade and leadership, energy security and independence, global warming and environmental justice, infrastructure modernization, civil rights, education, healthcare, and retirement security.

Offering all this information to the public early in a presidential primary campaign would mean that the people running for the Democratic presiDr. Michael dential nomination were not only O. Adams bold, but more importantly, that they had given more thought to running for President than simply fundraising and delegate selection.

Wouldn't this be a positive and refreshing change? As public administrators, we believe so. If the public wants better governance at the federal level, they need to encourage and reward this kind of innovative effort.

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DISCLAIMER: “This article is the expressed written opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©, or any of our readers, advertisers, sponsors, or supporters in any way shape or form.”

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Dr. Kendall L. Baker Will Be on the Ballot for Mayor of Houston in 2019 04d

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2019

DR. KENDALL L. BAKER: “My first task is to make sure our police department has adequate resources and personnel to provide better security for every Houstonian. Public safety overall includes improving the infrastructure by making sure roads are safe, by addressing our enormous pothole problem and broken streets. Many streets in our city are broken in part by the underlying deteriorating water and sewer lines. I vow to immediately correct and improve these conditions when I’m elected says Dr. Baker.” DR KENDALL BAKER PICTURED WITH OTHER LEADERS: (a) Dr. Kendall L. Baker is a leader in the community. (b) Dr. Kendall L. Baker pictured with Bishop T.D. Jakes and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. (c) Dr. Kendall L. Baker pictured with Pastor Joel Osteen and Pastor Hayes Baker. (d) Dr. Kendall L. Baker pictured with United States Senator Ted Cruz. (e) Dr. Kendall L. Baker pictured with our 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush. (f) Dr. Kendall L. Baker pictured with our 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

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r. Kendall L. Baker is a native of Houston, Texas who was raised in Fontaine Place; a northeastern Houston suburb. He attended several local colleges, Bible colleges and seminaries and currently holds a Doctorate of Divinity degree from Kingdom Builders Bible Seminary and a Ph.D in Pulpit Communication and Expository from Covenant International University.

Dr. Baker retired from the City of Houston after 29 years of public service. His exiting position was a Division Manager for the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, Operations Division, 311 Help and Information Center. There he served as a versatile professional with broad experience including management and staff development, in depth knowledge of contact center operations, and problem solving abilities. During his tenure, he also worked in various management capacities in other departments including the Office of the Mayor, Public Works & Engineering Department (PWE)- PWE – Consumer Affairs Division, PWE – Utility Operations Center and the then General Services Department – 911 Emergency Network.

Dr. Baker was widely known as “the voice of the City” for the many illustrious voice-over jobs he performed for the City whenever called upon by the Houston Information Technology Services or (HITS} Department. While working for the City of Houston, Dr. Baker simultaneously pursued the call to ministry.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

From 2012 to 2014, Dr. Baker served as the inaugural Chairman of the Houston Police and Clergy Alliance as well as a past member of the Houston Ministers Against Crime, where he served for nearly 20 years. In the past,

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c

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e Dr. Baker has also served with the Houston Independent School District south area, the Harris County Juvenile Operating Board and the NAACP Houston Branch.

Most recently, Dr. Baker served as the Director of Field Operations for the Houston Area Pastor Council (HAPC), under the leadership of Rev. Dave Welch. HAPC was founded in 2003 by Rev. Welch working alongside a group of thirteen pastors as a trans-denominational, inter-racial coalition of senior pastors who came together to bring a united, Biblical voice to the city, state and nation. The HAPC has grown to over 300 plus senior pastors in the Houston area as well as assisted in developing Pastor Councils in Austin, Beaumont, Sacramento, Virginia Beach, San Antonio, El Paso and other cities around the nation that are organizing, subsequently birthing the identity of the U. S. Pastor Council (USPC) and Texas Pastor Council (TXPC) to connect those teams of pastors. USPC is the only culturally and politically active organization from a Biblically grounded perspective that is focused on developing strong, functioning teams of pastors in each city as a means to enlist-

f ing a strong remnant at the grassroots level.

In 2007 Dr. Baker contested for a Houston City Council At-Large seat that was later won in a run-off by Melissa Noriega. In March of 2011, Dr. Baker was elected to the office of the 3rd Vice President/3rd Bishop and Overseer of the Family Life International Fellowship, Houston jurisdiction under the leadership of the late Bishop Robert C. Jefferson.

In 1994, Dr. Baker accepted his ministerial calling while ministering alongside his now deceased biological father, Pastor Earnest L. Baker of Wilson Temple Church of God in Christ in Rosenberg, TX. In 2004, Dr. Baker was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ.

Nineteen years later, in 2013, Dr. Baker founded Christ Solid International Church; a trans-denominational Christian church.

In addition to traveling annually around the country and to South Africa for ministry opportunities with Bishop T. D. Jakes Ministries, Dr. Baker has been used by God to preach the gospel in many countries including, Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom.

Dr. Baker also attends crusades and works closely with Pastor Benny Hinn.

In 2006, he was ordained under the Potter’s House International Pastoral Alliance (P.H.I.P.A.) – a spiritual covering for senior pastors, under the leadership of Bishop T. D. Jakes.

Dr. Baker is also the founder of Orion Title I Community Development Center, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 geared towards, caring for the needy, sheltering the homeless, employment consultant, motivational speaking and mentoring and empowerment of youth and more.

www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

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Meet Your Current Houston City Council Members HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Sixteen Council Members, along with the Mayor and City Controller, are elected every four years. Council Members are limited to serving two terms of four years each, with each term beginning on January 2. Five Council Members are elected At-Large, or city-wide, while the other eleven are elected to geographic districts of roughly the same proportion of population.

Beginning January 2, 2016, City elected officials

can serve a maximum of two four-year terms. Those who already served one two-year term are eligible to serve two more four-year terms, for a maximum of ten years, and those who already served two two-year terms are eligible to serve for one more four-year term, for a maximum of eight years.

The next election for Mayor, Controller, and City Council Members will be on Tuesday, November 5, 2019,

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with the next inauguration on January 2, 2020.

You can write to your Council Member at: 900 Bagby / City Hall Annex / First Floor / Houston, TX 77002.

Mayor Pro-Tem is Ellen Cohen Vice Mayor Pro-Tem is Jerry Davis

Brenda Stardig District A

Jerry Davis District B

Ellen Cohen District C

Dwight Boykins District D

Dave Martin District E

Steve Le District F

Greg Travis District G

Karla Cisneros District H

Robert Gallegos District I

Mike Laster District J

Martha Castex-Tatum District K

Mike Knox At-Large 1

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David Robinson At-Large 2

Michael Kubosh At-Large 3

Amanda Edwards At-Large 4

“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

Jack Christie At-Large 5

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HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2019 PAID POL. AD. BY RENEE JEFFERSON SMITH

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A Little Something to Think About...

By Renee Jefferson Smith

I remember growing up in the community of Acres Homes and it seemed as if we had everything. Acres Homes is a small community in Northwest Houston with a population that consists of over 25,000 residents, the majority being African American. As we would stroll down the streets of West Montgomery, there I would see small meat markets, Dr’s offices, lawn mower repair shops and our very own cab service. Scattered throughout the neighborhood there would be small family owned restaurants that would cater to the residents. However, over the years, all of that changed. Our businesses started to close down, the cab service was no longer available and some of our business owners passed away one by one.

As I evaluate where we are today, now living in the community of Trinity Gardens I’ve come to realize our communities are the same throughout our entire district. I’ve also come to realize we were never taught generational wealth. This all started as a result of slavery and continued on with the Jim Crow Laws. Now because of this, many of our communities were naturally faced with economic, educational, and social disadvantages, and although our foundations were built on faith, it seemed as if the walls of every black community would come tumbling down. It took over 400 years of slavery, isolation, and oppression in the labor and real estate market to build the wealth gap that we see today.

Most of us were never taught to save our money, start a business, keep good credit, purchase real estate, or invest in the stock market. In most households, if you graduated from high school and you had a decent job, then you were doing great. It is because of the lack of knowledge and lack of wisdom that we find ourselves losing our homes in our African American communities.

If you were anything like me growing up, your grandparents were a major influence in your life.

Today, many of our Grandparents have passed away and there are others that are still living. As we continue to turn the pages of life, we find that many of our seniors don’t have the support that most think they do. Either their kids live out of town, across town or they are not actively

involved in their lives. Most seniors are left alone and have no choice but to continue to support themselves. It is because of this alarming increase that many of our seniors are now being targets to reverse mortgages.

According to the Washington Post, across the nation, an increasing number of seniors are facing foreclosure after taking out reverse mortgages, either because they fell behind on property charges or failed to meet other requirements of the complex mortgage loans, according to federal data and interviews with consumer and housing specialists.

This growing trend has left many senior citizens homeless and some worried about where their next move could possibly be. There is a growing trend in most urban communities, and when seniors can’t afford their taxes and family members are not willing to save the family property then we see investors of all kind bidding to take over these properties.

While there is a noticeable increase in gentrification in several of our inner-city communities, there is also the need to preserve the legacy and history that helped create the streets of those communities.

The problem with gentrification is not the opportunity to bring about change, but it is the displacement of the residents that live there, and have a legacy there.

Gentrification is also known to push out an ethnic group, unfairly forcing them to take on the financial burden of what will be a short moving process.

As our communities become gentrified, we not only lose our homes, but we lose our churches, our schools, and our overall communities. My plea to our community is “ We have to get involved”. If we are not involved in any aspect of the community, we lose the right to utilize our voices. I believe it was the late Shirley Chisholm who said:” If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. In order for us to move forward in life and our communities, we have to make sure we have a seat at the table. I believe that God continues to give us precious opportunities, and with those opportunities, I believe that we must make our greatest impact. The lack of generational wealth does not have to become a generational curse. The change can start today and the change can start with you!

“Gentrification is taking over all inner-city communities one by one. When residents don't pay their taxes, this is what typically happens.” — Renee Jefferson Smith

SERVING HER COMMUNITY: Renee Jefferson Smith was honored recently by The City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner for her efforts in working throughout the community. She was recognized in part for helping a senior citizen to get her property back due after a reverse mortgage.

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“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

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OPEN POLITICAL THOUGHTS

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© THE CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2019

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Elected Officials: Rulers or Representatives?

By Councilman Mike Knox

Once again, the Houston Council is being confronted with another ethical issue.

During July of 2017, the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 341, submitted a petition to amend the Charter of the City of Houston to require the city to pay Fire Fighters of comparable rank equal to the officers of the Houston Police Department.

The Fire Fighters followed the requirements of the city ordinance and collected the required signatures and turned them in to the City Secretary to be verified. The City Secretary failed to verify the signatures in a timely manner. The opportunity was lost to place the petition before the voters on the November 2017 ballot. Following a court order, the city secretary verified the required signatures.

The Mayor has subsequently delayed placing the petition on the agenda for consideration

by Council Members until August 8, 2018. The Mayor reasoned that he did not understand what parity means, how it is defined, or how much it would cost. Following weeks and months of questions by Council, and the attempt by some Council Members to force the item onto the agenda, the Mayor directed the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee (BFA Committee) to conduct a meeting. The purpose of this meeting was not to discuss placing the item onto the agenda but rather to inform Council Members about the merits and potential costs of the proposed City Charter Amendment.

Two things to note about the timing of this meeting. First, Council Members were informed by a memo from the city legal department that Council Members have a “ministerial duty” to place the item onto a ballot because the requirements to do so had been met. However, there is no requirement to place the item on the next available ballot. The suggestion was we, as Council Members, could vote to place the item on some future ballot beyond the upcoming November 2018 ballot. Second, The BFA meeting called was to focus on the costs to the city and the impact of those costs on the city budget.

Therefore, the meeting provided Council Mem-

No Quorum Present

The special called Houston City Council meeting on July 20th, failed to obtain a quorum, and therefore did not occur.

I attended the meeting because I believe the people have the right to have items placed on the ballot in a timely manner. The firefighters followed the rules.

They collected the required number of signatures over 1 year ago, and those signatures were verified by the City Secretary. There is no good rea-

bers the opportunity to legitimately postpone placing this item on the November 2018 ballot.

Clearly, the unstated basis for the delay in placing the item on the November 2018 ballot is that it will adversely affect the current budget approved by council in May of 2018. The Mayor and several City Council Members do not agree with the content of the Fire Fighters’ petition.

Therein lies the ethical issue.

Regardless of your stance on the issue, each Council Member and the Mayor must decide if it is their duty to rule over the citizens of Houston by denying this petition a place on the November 2018 ballot or, should they honor the process and represent their constituents by placing the item on the November 2018 ballot for the voters to decide.

Should the Charter Amendment pass, there is no doubt significant changes will have to be made to the existing budget. By postponing or delaying the placement of the item on the ballot your city leaders are indicating they think they know better how to spend your money than you do. More importantly, the City Government is suggesting they can ignore the process and decide, based on whether or not they agree with the proposed amendment, to place it on the first available ballot or to delay the item to some future ballot.

The upcoming August vote by council to place the item on the November 2018 ballot will be very telling. The citizens of Houston will be able to clearly see which of their elected officials view themselves as rulers and which ones recognize their responsibility to represent the will of the people.

It is my belief I was elected to represent the citizens of Houston – not to rule over them.

The city charter has a provision which allows the citizens to force the city to consider their concerns by using the petition process. We should respect that process. We should not work to circumvent it by delaying, slow walking, or ignoring these issues altogether. Therefore, regardless of what I think about the merits of the Fire Fighters’ petition, or for that matter any petition brought forth by the citizens of Houston, I will be supporting placing the item on the November 6, 2018 ballot. son to delay placing the item on the ballot.

Despite numerous attempts by some of my council colleagues to have this item placed on the agenda, the Mayor has slow-walked the process and promised to place the item on the agenda, to be discussed by Council, as close to the deadline as possible in August.

I am disappointed that so many of my colleagues yielded to the pressure applied by the Administration to not attend the meeting, rather than standing for the rights of our citizens to place issues of importance before the voters of Houston.

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Mayor Sylvester Turner will Be Running for Re-election in 2019

Elected in December 2015, Sylvester Turner is serving his first four-year term as Houston’s 62nd mayor. Since taking office, Mayor Turner eliminated a $160 million budget shortfall in record time; led the city’s remarkable rebound from Hurricane Harvey; championed historic pension reform; cheered on the 2017 World Series-winning Houston Astros; hosted a successful Super Bowl LI; expanded municipal investments in renewable energy and led the winning bid to host the World Petroleum Congress in 2020.

As the head of the energy capital of the world and the most diverse city in the nation, Mayor Turner has brought a performancedriven approach to the job, creating more responsive, streamlined and efficient delivery of city services while shoring up Houston’s financial future. Thanks to his leadership, the Texas Legislature and local voters approved the pension reform package that reduces the city’s liability by billions of dollars and provided a “fix” that had eluded the city for 17 years.

One of the mayor’s signature initiatives is Complete Communities, which aims to improve the quality of life for residents in all neighborhoods. The mayor’s other priorities include filling more than 90,000 potholes on city streets, implementing a six-point holistic plan for addressing homelessness, reducing flooding and improving drainage.

Mayor Turner’s civic leadership has been nationally recognized through his service as a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Standing Committee, vice chair of the National Climate Action Agenda, member of the C40 and Global Covenant for Mayor’s for Climate and Energy and an advisory board member of the African American Mayors Association. He is also the recipient of the Ohtli Award, the Mexican government’s highest honor. Turner has been featured in publications and news outlets such as 60 Minutes, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX News, Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise Magazine, Cuba Today Magazine, Ebony, New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today.

Prior to his election as mayor, Turner served for 27 years in the Texas House as the representative for District 139. He worked on the House Appropriations Committee for 21 years and served as Speaker Pro Tem for three terms. He was appointed to several Budget Conference Committees to help balance the state’s budget and served on the Legislative Budget Board.

Mayor Turner is a life-long resident of Houston and lives in the Acres Homes community where he grew up with eight siblings. He is a graduate of the University of Houston and earned a law degree from Harvard University. He began his law practice at Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. and later founded the Barnes & Turner Law Firm.

Mayor Turner is the proud father of First Daughter Ashley Turner, who is continuing the family tradition of public service in the healthcare field.

CONTACT THE MAYOR

Mayor Sylvester Turner City of Houston P.O. Box 1562 Houston, TX 77251 Phone: 311 or 713.837.0311 Email: sylvester.turner@houstontx.gov, or to request an appearance: scheduling@houstontx.gov

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“It’s imperative that we make it our business to elect the “BEST-QUALIFIED” candidates who value “US” when we go to the polls to vote in 2018.”

®

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ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 EARLY VOTING BEGINS: OCTOBER 22ND 2018

EARLY VOTING ENDS: NOVEMBER 2ND 2018

LET’S KEEP JUDGE GEORGE BARNSTONE! George Barnstone is the judge at Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1. Judge Barnstone treats every litigant with respect and dignity. Evictions from Justice of the Peace Courts are the largest part of his docket.

Instead of simply processing cases and evicting tenants, Judge Barnstone encourages tenants to voluntarily move out and to pay any missing rent. In doing so, tenants avoid an eviction judgment, which destroys their credit for seven years and limits their ability to rent in Harris County. Lease applications customarily contain a paragraph authorizing the prospective landlord to research potential tenants’ rental history. Landlords won’t lease to people with eviction judgments.

Judge George Barnstone also hears debt collection cases. Rather than burdening consumers with unrealistic payments, Judge Barnstone strongly encourages creditors to work with debtors on realistic payment plans.

VENUE AND JURISDICTION

George Barnstone

Harris County Civil Court at Law #1 Pol. adv. by George Barnstone, Tim Riley, Treasurer. In compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

A county civil court at law in Harris County has jurisdiction over all civil matters and causes, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts, but does not have the jurisdiction of a probate court.

A county civil court at law has jurisdiction in appeals of civil cases from justice courts in Harris County; exclusive jurisdiction in Harris County of eminent domain proceedings, both statutory and inverse, regardless of the amount in controversy.

In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a county civil court at law has jurisdiction to: 1. decide the issue of title to real or personal property; 2. hear a suit to recover damages for slander or defamation of character; 3. hear a suit for the enforcement of a lien on real property; 4. hear a suit for the forfeiture of a corporate charter; 5. hear a suit for the trial of the right to property valued at $200 or more that has been levied on under a writ of execution, sequestration, or attachment; and 6. hear a suit for the recovery of real property.

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