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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HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© VOTER INFORMATION, ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN
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.
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”
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.
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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 playout 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
04
HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER© VOTER INFORMATION, ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN
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