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Craig Watkins and Susan Hawk in spirited race for Dallas County DA

Update: From my colleague Sarah Mervosh.

Watkins spent the night holed up at his campaign headquarters, a brick building in South Dallas with a large “Re-Elect Craig Watkins” sign hanging on the porch.
The district attorney and a small group, which included his top assistant and his spokeswoman, met for the first part of the evening in a library-like conference room. His spokeswoman, Debbie Denmon, said they planned to move next door to have an “intimate” dinner with family and friends at Watkins’ mother’s business, an adult day care center called The Bridge.
“Craig’s kind of going back to his roots,” Denmon said. “Just keeping it small. He didn’t want a big to-do.”
She said Watkins planned to address the media once the votes had been tallied.

Update at 7:55 p.m.: Hawk won early voting by the slimmest of margins, 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent, about 400 votes. But odds are that’s not enough. Democrats in Dallas County typically score many more votes on Election Day that Republicans.

Original item: Republican Susan Hawk is waging a strong challenge against incumbent Democrat Craig Watkins for Dallas County district attorney.

In a race that’s expected to be close, Hawk has outspent Watkins and developed the more prolific campaign.

Her strategy involves getting a strong Republican base turnout and enough crossover votes to win against Watkins, who is expected to be boosted by a powerful push from Democrats voting along party lines.

Watkins was first elected DA in 2006, and soon after became a national star. But he’s squandered much of that star-power with questions about how he using his power and spends money under his control.

Despite being a two-term incumbent, Watkins ran his campaign on a shoe-string budget, with no campaign manager or significant field staff.

Hawk, a former state district judge who in 2010 ran for re-election to the bench as a Democrat, received significant backing from much of Dallas’ business elite.

In 2010 Watkins’ wife, Tanya Watkins, was Hawk’s political consultant. And Hawk ran on a ticket that included Watkins, though she says that year she voted for Republican Danny Clancy over the incumbent. Clancy lost to Watkins by just over 5,000 votes.

The campaign for district attorney has been nasty. At a forum on domestic violence Hawk suggested that Watkins had been drinking before the event. “Have another cocktail,” she told Watkins after the event.

Susan Hawk outspending Craig Watkins in DA race

Republican Susan Hawk is dramatically outspending incumbent Democrat Craig Watkins as the race for Dallas County district attorney enters its final weekend.

Hawk, a former state district judge, raised $342,441 from Sept. 9 to Oct. 25. Financial reports released this week show she spent $416,886 during the same period and has $239,427 in her campaign account.

Meanwhile, Watkins, the two-term incumbent, raised $44,850 for the period and spent $33,379. He has $61,000 left in his campaign account, though both candidates are still raising money.

Watkins’ low-budget campaign, aides say, is not of great concern because he’s running with a team of Democrats, including candidate for governor Wendy Davis and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

For the latest reporting period, Watkins got a $10,000 contribution from the Baron & Budd law firm, as well as $5,000 from Dallas lawyer Brian Loncar.

Watkins has spent money to run commercials over cable television outlets.

Hawk has a more prolific television media campaign in place and she continues to be powered by donations from the county’s business elite, and others. She received a $25,000 donation from oilman Trevor Reee-Jones. Businessman Stephen Davis gave her $10,000.

Dallas County DA candidate Susan Hawk’s first television ad focuses on trust

Republican Susan Hawk, with a campaign flushed with cash, has bolstered her media campaign with a television ad currently airing on local television stations.

The 30-second spot is titled “trust.” It features Hawk, a former state district judge, discussing why she wants to unseat Democrat Craig Watkins as Dallas County District Attorney.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent,” Hawk said. “Your job as district attorney is to seek justice.”

According to the latest financial disclosure reports, Hawk has $247,000 on hand to close out her campaign. That number is rising. Watkins, the two-term incumbent, had $55,000 in his campaign account.

Democratic Party leader Darlene Ewing puts aside spat with DA Craig Watkins, backs him for re-election

Dallas County Democratic Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing

Darlene Ewing

Dallas County Democratic Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing has moved past a primary feud with District Attorney Craig Watkins, saying this week that she’s fully committed to getting her recent rival re-elected in November.

“We’re like the family at Thanksgiving,” Ewing said. “Somebody comes after my crazy Uncle Henry, I’m going to defend him. I’m not saying Craig is my crazy Uncle Henry, but we’re all family.”

In March Watkins supported his first assistant DA, Heath Harris, is a primary battle against Ewing.

But Ewing, the most successful Democratic Party leader of this era, easily fended off Harris to win re-election.

Now Watkins has a general election fight against Susan Hawk, the former state district judge who in 2010 ran for re-election to the bench as a Democrat.

Ewing backed Hawk in 2010 and was instrumented in helping her transition to the Democratic Party. Hawk started her career as a Republican.

“In 2010 I worked hard to get her elected,” Ewing said. “She’s on the dark side now. I’m going to do everything I can to get my DA elected.”

Craig Watkins responds to rival Susan Hawk’s proposal to make district attorney elections non-partisan

Update: 5:55 p.m.
District Attorney Craig Watkins called to criticize Susan Hawk’s proposal to make DA elections non-partisan.

“Her message changes with the audience. She tells people in southern Dallas that she wants to be non-partisan. Then she goes and tell folks in North Dallas that she’s a tea party conservative,” Watkins said. “She doesn’t believe in any values. She believes in Susan Hawk.”

Watkins said that Hawk is only interested in political survival and points to her party switching as evidence.

The original post containing Hawk’s comments is below.

Republican nominee for Dallas County district attorney Susan Hawk wants the DA to be chosen through non-partisan elections.

“Our District Attorney should be focused on law enforcement, not partisan politics,” Hawk said in a prepared statement. “Today, party politics permeates our DA’s office, from hiring and firing to who gets prosecuted and who goes free. When it comes to upholding the law, it shouldn’t matter if you are Republican or Democrat.”

Hawk is running for DA against incumbent Democrat Craig Watkins, an unabashed Democrat who contends political ideology should be considered by voters when choosing a district attorney.

He says Democrats in the DA’s office and on the judicial bench help to refocus criminal justice on more than simply putting folks in prison.

And Watkins has criticized Hawk for switching parties for political gain. She was a Republican when she first became a state district judge. Then she joined the Democratic Party for her 2010 re-election campaign. Last year Hawk returned to the GOP to challenge Watkins.

For the moment, it’s virtually impossible for Texas district attorneys to be elected in non-partisan elections. Such changes would have to be authorized by the Texas Legislature. Over the years, bills have been introduced to make judicial elections non-partisan, but there has been little appetite to change the way the state’s top prosecutors are elected.

But Hawk says making the district attorney office non-partisan would provide greater oversight and accountability.

She has criticized Watkins use of forfeiture money seized from criminals. Last year Watkins paid a settlement to a man involved in a car accident he caused. He did not tell county commissioners about the accident.

“If the DA were non-partisan, there may have been a more frank discussion at the Commissioner’s Court this week about the improper use of forfeiture funds,” Hawk said. “Partisanship sometimes creates a conflict between holding leaders accountable and doing what’s best for your own political party.”

Hawk added that partisanship may also influence the legal process and raise questions about the motive of investigations.

Earlier this year defense lawyers accuse Watkins of bringing a mortgage fraud case against oil heir Al Hill III at the behest of prominent Dallas lawyer Lisa Blue, his friend and political benefactor.

Watkins denied the allegation. When he wouldn’t testify about his office’s handling of the case, state District Judge Lena Levario levied a contempt of court charge against him. That charge was later dismissed.

“There should be no doubt about the motives of an investigation, or the Grand Jury process,” Hawk said. “But some of Mr. Watkins decisions have raised questions about political favors and political payback. Our citizens deserve a DA that makes justice the first and only priority.”

Nowak concedes to Hawk; Levario concedes loss to Kemp; other judicial races

Nowak concedes to Hawk: “I’ve been a life-long republican and will remain so. I will do what I can to help the party be a success in Dallas County. The results are not at all what we expected, but because of all the opportunities this country has given me, I have plenty to keep me happy, especially my wife and children.”

Update 10:50 p.m.

State District Judge Lena Levario of the 204th District Court told me that she is not expecting to win her race. She is losing to Dallas County prosecutor Tammy Kemp, who has about 60 percent of the vote.

“I’m looking at the numbers and studying the patterns” throughout the county, she said. Women against men are running away with the race. Males against males are within 5 percent, she said.

But in races like one between Kemp and Levario  where there is a black female candidate, Levario said, “the people coming out on top are the African American females.”

“I think pattern is pretty consistent, I’m not expecting a win.”

Levario sounded upbeat despite what looked like a loss for tonight.

“It’s exciting to see what the future holds,” she said, adding that she is looking forward to the November elections.

The voting patterns, she said, likely have a lot of office holders concerned about future elections.

“A lot of the sitting incumbents are probably pretty worried about their jobs,” she said.

Also, with 528 of 797 precincts reporting, the candidate leading remains unchanged.

Update 10:10 p.m.:

Not much change in the percentages with 309 of 797 precincts reporting:

Hawk has 63 percent of the vote and Nowak has 37 percent in the Republican DA.

In the 204th, Kemp has 59 percent of the vote and Levario has 41 percent.

In the 265th, Bennett has 68.75 percent, Eiland has 19.33 percent and Barr has 11.92 percent.

In the 282nd, Givens has 63 percent of the vote and Chatham has 37 percent.

In the 292nd, Birmingham has 51 percent and Mitchell has 49 percent.

In the 283rd, Magnis 54 percent and Lord 46 percent.

In the 291st, Mitchell has 59 percent and Anderson has 41 percent.

In the 363rd, Holmes has 73 percent and Redmond has 27 percent.

 

Update 9:23 p.m. :

With 140 of 797 precincts reporting:

Hawk has 63 percent of the vote and Nowak has 37 percent in the Republican DA.

In the 204th, Kemp has 60 percent of the vote and Levario has 40 percent.

In the 265th, Bennett has 68.56 percent, Eiland has 19.68 percent and Barr has 11.77 percent.

In the 282nd, Givens has 63 percent of the vote and Chatham has 37 percent.

In the 292nd, Birmingham has 51 percent and Mitchell has 49 percent.

In the 291st, Mitchell has 60 percent and Anderson has 40 percent.

In the 363rd, Holmes has 73 percent and Redmond has 27 percent.

Update 7:09 p.m.: 

Early voting results are in for the Dallas County courthouse races.

Susan Hawk (on the right), a Republican candidate for Dallas County District Attorney, looked at early voting results with Jennifer Ring Pascal, chief operating officer and co-owner of Allyn Media. They are at Mi Cocina in North Dallas. (Credit Stella M. Chávez / KERA News)

Former state district judge Susan Hawk had a sizeable lead over defense attorney Tom Nowak in the Republican primary. Hawk resigned her bench to run for district attorney.

The winner will face Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins in November. The two-term Democrat does not have a primary opponent.

The county’s judicial races were talked about more than usual this election season. Some accused Watkins of running a slate of prosecutors against incumbent judges, all who were fellow Democrats elected with the DA in 2006. Watkins denied such a move.

Prosecutors were allowed to run for the bench while keeping their job, which has not always been Watkins’ policy. Watkins’ underlings are running for six of the seven contested felony court races. Only Democrats have contested primary judicial races.

No judicial race has been more watched than that of state District Judge Lena Levario and her challenger, Dallas County prosecutor Tammy Kemp. Early voting results had Kemp winning by a wide margin.

Levario held Watkins in contempt one year ago this week when he refused to testify in her courtroom about allegations of prosecutorial misconduct against him. Watkins was later acquitted.

In the 265th District Court, Dallas County prosecutor Jennifer Bennett was leading by a large margin over defense attorney Anthony Eiland and defense attorney William R. Barr. To avoid a runoff, one candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote. The winner will face Republican defense attorney Lisa DeWitt in November.

In the 282nd District Court, prosecutor Amber Givens was leading by a large margin over state district judge Andy Chatham. There is no Republican challenger. Givens questioned Chatham’s competency and Chatham said Givens lacked the experience.

In the 283rd District Court, state district judge Rick Magnis was leading prosecutor Justin Lord. There is no Republican challenger. Lord said Magnis was inefficient while Magnis touted his credential working with domestic violence victim advocates and working to create a program to curb recidivism and lethality among abusers on probation.

In the 291st District Court, prosecutor Stephanie Mitchell was leading defense attorney Susan Anderson. The winner will face Republican state District Judge Jennifer Balido in November. Balido was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry when Hawk resigned to run for district attorney. Both candidates touted their experience as the reason voters should chose them.

In the 292nd District Court, prosecutor Brandon Birmingham had a slight edge over state District Judge Larry Mitchell. The winner will face Collin County prosecutor Janet Cook in November.

Birmingham capitalized of Mitchell’s law license suspension by the State Bar of Texas for problems that occurred while Mitchell was in private practice. The bar’s action did not prevent Mitchell from carrying out his job as judge.

In the 363rd District Court, state District Judge Tracy Holmes had a sizeable lead over defense attorney Nigel Redmond. There is no Republican challenger.

Redmond targeted Holmes, he said, because of the way she handled the trial of former Dallas County constable Derick Evans. Evans was convicted of engaging in organized crime for running an illegal raffle and an appellate court upheld that verdict, although Evans continues to appeal.

Dallas County Democratic Chair Darlene Ewing had a sizeable lead over Watkins’ first assistant DA, Heath Harris.

Original post 6:58 p.m.: The polls will close at 7 p.m. I’ll post the results from early voting as soon as we get them.

In the Republican primary for Dallas County District Attorney former judge Susan Hawk is battling defense attorney Tom Nowak to take on DA Craig Watkins in November.

Watkins, a Democrat seeking a third term, does not have a primary challenger.

In Dallas County’s felony courts, no race is more watched than the battle between state District Judge Lena Levario and her challenger, Tammy Kemp for the 204th District Court.

The other felony court races:

265th District Court: Dallas County prosecutor Jennifer Bennett vs. defense attorney Anthony Eiland vs. William R. Barr. One candidate must get more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. The winner will face Republican defense attorney Lisa DeWitt in November.

282nd District Court: state District Judge Andy Chatham vs. Dallas County prosecutor Amber Givens. There is no Republican challenger.

283rd District Court: Dallas County prosecutor Justin Lord vs. state District Judge Rick Magnis. There is no Republican challenger.

291st District Court: defense attorney Susan Anderson vs. Dallas County prosecutor Stephanie Mitchell. The winner will face state District Judge Jennifer Balido in November. She was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry after Hawk resigned her bench to run for DA.

292nd District Court: Dallas County prosecutor Brandon Birmingham vs. state District Judge Larry Mitchell. The winner will face Collin County prosecutor Janet Cook in November.

363rd District Court: state District Judge Tracy Holmes vs. Nigel Redmond. There is no Republican challenger.

 

Dallas County races take shape as filing deadline looms

Check out my Political Points conversation with DMN reporter Tom Benning. Monday is the last day to file candidacies for the March primary elections.

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Former state District Judge Susan Hawk files for Dallas County DA, unveils steering committee

The race for the Republican nomination for Dallas County District Attorney is now set.

Today former state District Judge Susan Hawk filed her candidacy for DA and released a steering committee that included some of the biggest names in local Republican politics.

Dallas lawyer and former prosecutor Tom Nowak has already started his Republican campaign. Nowak and Hawk are battling for the chance to unseat Democratic incumbent District Attorney Craig Watkins in next year’s general election.

Hawk served a decade as a criminal court judge. She left the Democratic Party this summer to mount a Republican campaign against Watkins.

Nowak hopes to exploit the fact that Hawk is a former Democrat, but the former judge’s steering committee shows she has GOP support.

Supporters include former Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey, former local GOP party chairman Bob Driegert, former U.S. Attorney Jim Rolfe, former Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher and former Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Jonathan Neerman. Hawk also has the backing of the last two Republican nominees for district attorney, former prosecutor Toby Shook and former criminal court Judge Danny Clancy.

“I’m very proud of my support,” Hawk said. “The fact that I have endorsements from leaders in the legal community, the Republican Party and the business community speaks to my credentials.”

Nowak was not impressed, saying Hawk’s supporters were only interested in backing the political “flavor of the month.”

“It’s not surprising that the persons on her list haven’t been to any party meetings in years and often give to Democrat candidates, given Susan’s history as a Democrat herself,” he said. “There is only one Republican in this race and Republicans in Dallas County already know that. I invite the public to examine her so-called Republican supporters and who they give money to and even what county they live in. I think Republican voters will be surprised by what they find.”

Hawk and Nowak are expected to be the only major Republican candidates in the March primary, though the filing period for those elections closed on Dec. 9.

Here’s a list of Hawk’s supporters.

Hawk Steering Committee by rjrusak

Former state District Judge Susan Hawk rallying GOP support

Former state District Judge Susan Hawk is off and running for the GOP nomination for district attorney.

Hawk is being opposed in the March primary by Dallas lawyer Tom Nowak.

My sources tell me that Hawk, in the coming days, will release a list of Republican supporters to show her strength in the GOP. We’ll see.

Hawk switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP to run for DA. She resigned her judicial post as a criminal court judge last week.

She told me last week she’s in the race because Republicans and some Democrats want her to take down Democratic incumbent Craig Watkins in next year’s general election and bring “integrity and professionalism” to the office. Watkins has been DA since 2007. His campaign has not commented on Hawk’s entry into the contest.

In Tuesday’s Politics column in editions of The Dallas Morning News, I’ll give an early breakdown of the contest.

State District Judge Susan Hawk begins campaign to oust Craig Watkins as district attorney

State District Judge Susan Hawk Wednesday announced her campaign for Dallas County district attorney, saying she would restore integrity and efficiency to the office.

“With nearly two decades as a felony prosecutor and a Criminal Court Judge presiding over high-profile felony cases, I’ve gained experience from both sides of the bench,” Hawk said in a prepared statement. “Our families deserve a District Attorney who will restore integrity, efficiency and a law-and-order spirit.”

On Tuesday Hawk mailed a letter to Gov. Rick Perry resigning from her felony court post.

She’ll also renounce her membership to the Democratic Party and once again become a Republican.

Hawk will be opposed in the March GOP primary by Dallas lawyer and former county prosecutor Tom Nowak.

Nowak, who in 2010 was fired by Watkins after attending a Republican election night party, dismissed Hawk as an opportunist.

“Dallas County Republicans won’t be fooled by this,” Nowak said. “By having her run against me, I’m sure the Dems hope to have two Democrat candidates in the general election, but I’m confident Republican voters will see through the ruse…I don’t think that changing your beliefs depending on the political winds is an example of integrity in a leader.”

But many leading Republicans and various segments of the criminal justice community are excited about Hawk’s campaign.

They hope Hawk, a pioneer in mental health diversion programs that helped some offenders avoid unnecessary prison sentences, will be an effective contrast to Watkins. She is one of the most respected judges on the bench.

After his election in 2006, Watkins, a Democrat, became a national figure by embracing the freeing of inmates wrongfully convicted of various crimes.

Hawk intends to mount a campaign that exposes Watkins as unqualified for his job.

But she won’t have an easy road.

Democrats have won every contested countywide contest since 2006, and demographics suggest the county has more Democratic voters today than eight years ago.

What’s more, Hawk has now changed political parties twice. She was a Republican when she first took the bench in 2003. She switched to the Democratic Party in 2010, even using Watkins wife, Tanya Watkins, as her political consultant.

Hawk will contend that partisan affiliations should not matter with law enforcement offices. Her focus, she says, is protecting the public against crime and developing an efficient criminal justice system.

Her stint as a Democrat doesn’t bother Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Wade Emmert.

“It’s never a mistake to come back to the Republican Party,” Emmert said of Hawk’s candidacy for DA.

Meanwhile, Watkins is unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

Perry will select Hawk’s replacement to the felony court bench.

Dallas County prosecutor Stephanie Mitchell, a Democrat, is a candidate for Hawk’s felony court judicial seat.