Home > Trail Blazers Blog

Craddick: Railroad Commission will continue permitting in Denton, not ruling out action against ban

AUSTIN–Railroad Commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick came out strong against a fracking ban passed this week in North Texas, pledging to continue giving permits to companies that seek to drill in Denton.

Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick

Craddick discussed the state’s oil and gas boom, the agency’s needs and pitfalls, and her own political ambition at a Thursday event sponsored by the Texas Tribune. The Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates oil and gas.

Craddick called it a disappointment that the ban on hydraulic fracturing—the technique of drilling deep into the ground to release oil and gas—passed Tuesday in Denton. The ban is the first in oil and gas rich Texas.

But the Republican conceded that the oil and gas industry and her agency have likely fallen short on communicating with citizens about the processes happening increasingly near homes and schools as oil and gas production spikes and communities grow and sprawl.

“We missed as far as an education process in explaining what fracking is, explaining what was going on. And I think this is the result of that in a lot of respects and a lot of misinformation about fracking,” Craddick said.

“I will say to the city of Denton…it’s my job to give permits, not Denton’s. We’re going to continue permitting up there because that’s my job,” she said.

Continue reading →

Perry goes to court for first time on criminal charges

Gov. Rick Perry made his first court appearance on Thursday on coercion and abuse of office charges, and said afterwards that he has done nothing wrong.

What might have been a routine pre-trial hearing was transformed by a packed courtroom and legal flamboyance.

State district Judge Bert Richardson weighed defense motions to void the charges because of supposed faulty paperwork in the appointment of special prosecutor Michael McCrum. Perry also has asked to view the secret grand jury transcript.

Perry is charged with unlawfully trying to force Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg into leaving her office.
Perry has said that he and the public had lost confidence in Lehmberg after she was pleaded guilty to drunken driving.

He relayed to Lehmberg that he would veto $7.5 million for a state anti-corruption unit run out of the district attorney’s office unless she resigned. When she refused to step down, he made good on his threat in June 2013. Perry would have named her replacement.

In his statement afterwards, Perry cast the charges as an attempt to stop him and future governors from exercising their right to veto legislation.

“I stand behind my authority and I would do it again. I stand behind that veto, and I would make that veto again,” he said.

Inside the courtroom, a hearing the judge said he expected to last 15 minutes went on for almost two hours. While Perry sat quietly in a charcoal suit and coral-colored tie printed with miniature dachshunds – a favorite of the governor – his plaintiff’s lawyer Tony Buzbee made a showing.

Buzbee used sweeping statements, a power point presentation and paced before the judge.

“The whole way this came about is a comedy of errors. But it’s not funny,” Buzbee proclaimed.

His argument centered on legal paperwork that was signed and filed, but he believes was not done so in the proper order, correct folder or made readily available.

Buzbee said the Texas Constitution proscribes certain ways oaths and other papers should be handled, and therefore “it should be a slam dunk to dismiss this case.”

“If we start picking and choosing which provisions of the constitution we’re going to follow, then we are in anarchy and chaos,” Buzbee said.

McCrum countered the Perry defense team is throwing up “red herrings” and issuing statements, “clearly made for the media in the courtroom. It’s just malarkey.”

The judge indicated he would rule on the defense motions next week.

Lehmberg has recused herself and her office from participating in the Perry case and so McCrum was appointed by a Republican judge to guide the investigation in 2013.

Perry’s lawyers have argued the special prosecutor didn’t properly sign and file his oath of office and orders of Lehmberg’s recusal.

Buzbee told the court that he knows that his objections are technical and procedural, but vital to the cause of justice.

“If you’re going to take away someone’s freedom, it’s not too much to ask you follow the letter of the law,” Buzbee said.

By filing the paperwork wrong, “He failed to qualify. He cannot act. Game over,” Buzbee said of McCrum.

McCrum said the Perry team is trying to create rules and laws governing how the oath is handled that aren’t in law.

“The law is clear. Our law doesn’t depend on Mr. Buzbee’s or Mr. Perry’s personal situation,” McCrum said.

The defense team also tried to show that the Perry case was handled differently. While the grand jury was still investigating, and before a criminal case had been filed, a number to track the case was created. That had only been done once before – in the case of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Buzbee indicated that it revealed a political motive in the prosecution.

McCrum said that a file folder, created for bookkeeping to make it easier for the defense to file motions, is being misrepresented.

Again, he reiterated, it is all a red herring and he expected the judge to follow the law and rule in favor of the prosecution.

Former lawmakers give advice to conquering GOP

WASHINGTON – After a long, expensive slog to Election Day, Republicans will control both chambers of Congress in January.

Now comes the hard part.

Former senator Olympia Snowe (Pat Wellenbach/AP)

That was the message from former lawmakers and Beltway operatives on Wednesday, when the National Journal hosted a panel on the impact of Tuesday’s  midterm elections.

The panelists agreed that the elections were a referendum on President Obama’s policies, and inaction by Congress. But they also emphasized that before pursuing a legislative agenda, Republicans must learn lessons in bipartisanship and compromise.

“It was certainly a broad and sweeping repudiation of the status quo,” said Olympia Snowe, a former Republican senator from Maine. “I think it’s abundantly clear that Congress is going to have to move forward and learn how to legislate and govern.”

Republicans needed to pick up six seats to claim a majority in the Senate. They got seven, with races in Alaska and Louisiana still to be decided.

Republicans also padded their majority in the House, where they’ll enjoy their largest advantage in decades.

On Wednesday, panelists said the midterm results called for a new course of action – or any action at all. With only the lame duck session remaining, the 113th Congress has a chance to be the least productive ever.

“It was an election that sent the message ‘get something done for a change.’ That’s something that people want,” said Celinda Lake, president of the Democratic polling group Lake Research Partners.

Immigration reform could top Congress’ to-do list.

According to Martin Frost, a former House Democrat from the Dallas area, passing immigration reform would be a “true test of bipartisanship.”

“Immigration reform is a horribly complex issue,” he said. “Trying to solve this issue will be a real test to whether you can operate on a bipartisan basis.”

Former Rep. Martin Frost (Tom Gannam/AP)

Any immigration bill will require the president’s signature to become law.

Steve LaTourette, a former Republican congressman from Ohio, said that the president’s willingness to compromise will determine the success of the Republican agenda.

“The president has to dance,” LaTourette said “But if the president dances, you can get a lot of stuff done.”

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Obama said that he was “eager to work with the new Congress,” but added that “Congress will pass some bills I cannot sign.”

Before worrying about the president though, Republicans will first need to reach an accord within their own ranks – no easy task, according to Whit Ayres, president North Star Opinion Research, a Republican polling group.

Ayres said that whoever unites the various the factions within the GOP could hold the keys to the party’s presidential nomination.

Its nominee will have to bring together “the Tea Party, libertarians, establishment, social conservatives, and internationalist Republicans all in one coalition.”

“Whoever wins it will…get enough of those groups to build a majority,” Ayres said.

Roger Williams won’t seek NRCC chairmanship after GOP’s big wins

WASHINGTON — Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, won’t challenge National Republican Committee Chairman Greg Walden’s bid for a second term, Roll Call reported Wednesday.

Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin. (Michael Ainsworth/Staff)

A day after Republicans enjoyed sweeping election victories in Congress, Williams wrote a letter saying that “now is not the time for more political gamesmanship” — though he noted he was encouraged to consider running. Roll Call confirmed with Williams’ office that the letter means he won’t make a play for the position.

“Now is the time to work together as a team with strong Republican leadership,” Williams wrote.

Under Walden, House Republicans saw their majority expand to its largest total in more than 60 years. The GOP also seized control of the Senate.

Walden, an Oregon Republican, could still be opposed in his re-election. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., has signaled he may run.

Williams, first elected in 2012, said he looks forward to working with the NRCC and Walden going forward.

“The NRCC has to out-work, over-perform, and out-hustle our opposition this next cycle,” he wrote.

Texas sales tax posts biggest single-month jump in two years

Comptroller Susan Combs, explaining her biennial revenue estimate in January 2013 (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas has logged the biggest single-month percentage increase in sales tax receipts in nearly two years — 12.9 percent.

Last month’s sales tax revenue was $2.41 billion, up from $2.14 billion in October 2013, Comptroller Susan Combs announced Wednesday.

The last time monthly growth pressed into double-digit territory was November 2012, when collections grew by 13.1 percent.

“Strong growth in sales tax receipts was apparent across all major economic sectors,” said Combs, who leaves office in January.

She said “notable increases from retail trade and the oil and natural gas-related sectors led the growth,” signaling “increased spending by both consumers and businesses.”

For the fiscal year that began Sept. 1, Combs has forecast just 3.3 percent growth in revenue from Texas’ 6-1/4-cent sales tax. (Click here, see Table A-13.) September’s receipts were 7.9 percent higher than a year earlier. So as has frequently happened, her projection is looking very conservative.

The news probably will do little to cool the ardor for tax cuts among incoming GOP lawmakers and leaders such as Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott.

In election day interviews, Patrick pledged “serious property tax relief.” Abbott said more vaguely in his Tuesday night victory speech that he would keep Texas No. 1 in job creation by, among other things, “lowering the tax burden.”

But a host of considerations will complicate their effort, including a low-balling of entitlements such as Medicaid by about $1 billion in the current two-year budget cycle; lawmakers’ continued reliance on budget-balancing tricks, such as hoarding $4.2 billion in fees levied for specific purposes; road needs; and the looming threat of a court decision ordering a costly overhaul of school finance.

Cornyn sees “opportunity, not a referendum” for Senate GOP majority

Sen. John Cornyn speaks with Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, during a visit to the Republican Party of Texas headquarters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Austin. (AP/Tamir Kalifa)

WASHINGTON — The new deputy majority leader of the Senate, Texan John Cornyn, is taking a humble approach to the whopping victory Republicans scored on Tuesday.

He called it “an opportunity, not a referendum.”

“The message sent last night from the American people is loud and clear: Washington is broken, the big government experiment has failed, and the time has come for fresh leadership and a new direction for the country,” he said.

“Under the leadership of Majority Leader McConnell, we will work with the Republican-led House to focus on pro-growth legislation that strengthens our economy, relieves Americans from the burdens of Obamacare, grows America’s energy industry and secures a better future for the generations ahead.

“It is my sincere hope that the President will heed the message that was sent last night and work with us to put the interests of the American people ahead of partisan politics and put an end to the gridlock that has plagued Washington.”

Cornyn is expected to join other congressional leaders from both parties on Friday at the White House for a meeting with President Obama, who said at a news conference this afternoon that he’s looking forward to finding out what the GOP agenda is in the next Congress.

 

Post election analysis: The making of a governor


UPDATE 12:22 pm: Jenn Brown and Jeremy Bird, who head Battleground Texas, put out a lengthy memo to say they knew the process of rebuilding the Texas Democratic Party would take time. From the memo:

“While the losses this election were tough, we’re proud of what Team Wendy, Battleground Texas, and our partners across the state accomplished this year. Together, we showed that grassroots organizing can bring new voices into the democratic process. And together, we built the largest-ever grassroots program in Texas, uniting nearly 34,000 volunteers who reached out to voters on the phones and at the doors 7.5 million times. Our investments this year – in a cutting-edge digital program, a more effective data infrastructure, and a lasting grassroots organization – will lay the foundation for Democratic victories in the future.

INITIAL POST: Greg Abbott’s campaign gurus laid out voter diagnostics used to steer his landslide victory, including knowing what TV shows likely voters watched and using 450,000 Facebook likes to follow supporters.”

Political strategist David Carney acknowledged how micro-targeting techniques and data-mining made it pretty “scary” about how much they knew about voters.

The campaign’s target was to win 55 percent of the vote. They did it by targeting 2.5 million voters that were either sure bets – based on their GOP voting history – or were considered persuadable.

They knew the TV shows they’re likely voters watched in greatest numbers – ESPN college football, College Football Scoreboard and the Discovery Channel – and gathered information on their socio-economic status, education, income, wealth and political activism. They used computer cookies and 1,000 phone calls a night to ask voters who they might support and why.

Among the key things it told them was that Abbott’s ad featuring his Hispanic mother-in-law worked extremely well, especially among Latino voters. The campaign also devoted $3 million in Spanish-language advertising.

They also could track rival Democrat Wendy Davis’ ad-buys and how they were affecting likely voters.

Davis’ controversial ad – featuring an empty wheelchair that interposed Abbott’s own $10 million accident settlement against his record of fighting lawsuits – did not do well, Abbott operatives said.

Next to Abbott’s positive mother-in-law ad, Davis’ wheelchair spot, “was our second best advertisement,” said Chris Wilson, who tracked media for the Abbott campaign.

Wilson said the ad moved some voters towards Abbott and had a negative effect on her campaign.

The Abbott campaign staff also said their tracking of newly registered voters and turnout showed that the Davis campaign and Battleground Texas did not move the needle in terms of getting new Democrats to the polls.

“There’s no reality to what they said they were doing and what happened,” Carney said. “No empirical evidence that shows they did anything.”

He said that while voter registration did go up, it followed historical trends, did not spike after Democratic voter drives and did not keep pace with the state’s growing population.

Carney said Abbott’s lopsided victory – 59 percent to her 39 percent – does not mean Democrats could not field a candidate who could be competitive in four years.

He said the Democratic problem is that they are touting policies that don’t resonate with Texas voters.

“It’s not about Democrats. It’s about message,” Carney said. “A flawed candidate and a flawed message doesn’t work.”

In TX 23, Will Hurd defeats Pete Gallego; other Texans in U.S. House win re-election

Update, 12:58 a.m.: The Gallego campaign has conceded. In a statement, Gallego said he will “embrace the will of the voters in this election” and congratulated Hurd on his win.

“Texans deserve far better than what Congress has been giving them and I intend to provide Will any and all help I possibly can to help him work to correct that problem as he prepares to take office,” Gallego said.

Update, 12:50 a.m.: The Congressional Leadership Fund and the American Action Network — two GOP groups who spent a combined $1.6 million to boost Hurd – said the Republican’s victory sends a strong message to “stop runaway government in Washington.”

“Texans can look forward to Will’s leadership as he supports center-right solutions for creating jobs, protecting Americans from Obamacare, and increasing opportunities for all Americans,” the groups said in a statement.

Update, 12:39 a.m.: In a statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden congratulated Hurd on a “hard-earned victory.”

“Will ran a fantastic campaign that focused on the issues Texans care about. Will truly has dedicated his life to helping his country and this is yet another proud chapter,” Walden said. “I’m honored to call him a friend and colleague.”

Update, 12:29 a.m.: Hurd has unseated Gallego, the freshman Democrat from Alpine, according to the Associated Press. The pickup means that the Texas delegation will now have 25 Republicans and 11 Democrats, including three freshmen.

Hurd won 50 percent of the vote to Gallego’s 48 percent, or by a little more than 2,000 votes, with nearly all precincts reporting.

Update, 12:24 a.m.: With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Hurd leads by 2,124 votes.

Update, 12:05 a.m.: Gallego is trailing Hurd by 3,050 votes, with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 11:33 p.m.: Hurd is clinging to a lead of 3,559 votes, with 85 percent of precincts reporting.

In northeast Texas, Ratcliffe said he’s humbled by the trust voters have placed in him.

“My future job title will be United States Representative, and I take that very seriously,” he said in a statement.  “It means that I work for the people and not the other way around.”

Update, 11:04 p.m.: Hurd is still leading 50 percent to 47 percent, or by 3,361 votes. So far, 84 percent of precincts have been reported and counted.

Update, 10:44 p.m: Hurd’s lead over Gallego has widened to 3,596 votes. He’s up 50 percent to Gallego 47 percent, with 81 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 10:23 p.m.: It’s become an even closer race. Gallego trails Hurd now by just 535 votes, with 60 percent of precincts reporting.

In another U.S. House race in Texas, Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold, fresh off his re-election, vowed to continue to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut government spending.

“Tonight’s results show our dedication to meeting the needs of the people of Texas, our message of securing the border, making government accountable to the people, ensuring our veterans receive the benefits they have earned, and providing conservative leadership resonates with the voters of the 27th Congressional District of Texas.” the Republican said in a statement.

Update, 10:01 p.m.: The race could go down to the wire. Hurd continues to lead Gallego, but his margin his shrinking. Just 832 votes separate the candidates, with 58 percent of precincts reporting.

Update, 9:30 p.m.: With 39 percent of precincts reporting, Hurd is up 51 percent to Gallego’s 46 percent.

Meanwhile, Sam Johnson, R-Plano, who sailed to re-election, called his win a “true blessing.”

“I want to thank everyone for their belief in me and for their vote,” Johnson said in a statement. “It’s humbling and I vow to continue to fight for you.”

Update, 9:05 p.m.: Hurd leads by about 2,200 votes, out of almost 62,600 cast. One-fifth of precincts have been counted.

Update, 8:36 p.m.: Hurd still retains an edge over Gallego, 52 percent to 46 percent, with 10 percent of precincts reporting.

In other House races in Texas, there aren’t any surprises: All incumbents appear headed for re-election.

After winning Tuesday night, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, said he was “honored” to be re-elected.

“I am hopeful that we will expand our Conservative presence in the House and win a Republican majority in the Senate,” Barton said in a statement. “The American people have spoken and I urge the President to work with us so we can accomplish the things we were elected to do.”

Update, 8:01 p.m.: Hurd leads Gallego 54 percent to 44 percent, with 4 percent of precincts reporting.

The Associated Press has called several other U.S. House races in Texas, all in favor of incumbents.

Democratic Reps. Marc Veasey, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee and Lloyd Doggett all cruised to another term. On the Republican side, Reps.  Blake Farenthold, Michael Burgess, Mike Conaway, Mac Thornberry, Kay Granger, Pete Olson, Pete Sessions, John Culberson, Michael McCaul, Kenny Marchant and Bill Flores were re-elected. Babin’s victory has also been sealed.

Original post:

WASHINGTON —  There are 36 U.S. House elections in Texas today — but only one that’s truly competitive.

In West Texas, Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, is taking on Republican challenger Will Hurd, a former CIA operative. The famously volatile 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, has elected four congressmen in the past 10 years.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine (AP Photo)

Republican Will Hurd, a former CIA operative (Hurd campaign)

Gallego and his team are watching returns tonight at Don Pedro, a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Hurd and his campaign are at the Eilan Hotel, also in San Antonio.

In two other U.S. House races in the state, newcomers are poised to win: Dr. Brian Babin in suburban Houston and John Ratcliffe in northeast Texas. No other seats are expected to change hands.

Babin, a Republican, is set to replace Rep. Steve Stockman, who gave up his seat in an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. Ratcliffe, also a Republican, defeated 17-term incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall in a primary runoff in May.

Tea Party activist Konni Burton will replace replace Democrat Wendy Davis in state Senate

Konni Burton (left) greets supporters at her election party at the Stockyards Museum in Fort Worth (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News); Libby Willis (right and in blue) at an election-returns event at Mamma Mia's restaurant in Fort Worth (Brandon Wade/Special Contributor)

Update at 11:25 p.m.

With few precincts left, Republican Konni Burton has the state Senate District 10 race in hand. Democrat Libby Willis was trailing by nearly 13,000 votes.

This will give the district back to the Republicans for the first time since Wendy Davis won it in 2008 from Kim Brimer.
The 53 percent to 45 percent spread was much larger than the last two elections when this appeared more like a swing district. Davis won both by less than 3 percentage points.
Still this was by far the closest state Senate race in Texas. The next closest race was Houston Democrat John Whitmire’s re-election race. He was leading his challenger by roughly 20 percentage points.

Update at 9:53 p.m.
Republican Konni Burton, a former vice president of the NE Tarrant Tea Party, has extended her lead over Democrat Libby Willis. The seat has been held by Democrat Wendy Davis since 2008 but now appears to be heading back to the Republican column.

With all but a few dozen precinct reporting, Burton held a 52 percent to 45 percent lead. That was close the margin she held with only early voting ballots counted.

Update at 9:38 p.m.
With more than half the precinct’s reporting, Republican Konni Burton is holding on to her lead over Democrat Libby Willis.
Willis made some progress when the first batch of precincts were released. That’s stalled as the latest votes were tallied with Willis trailing by nearly 6,800 votes.
Update at 8:56 p.m.
Democrat Libby Willis is starting to move on Republican Konni Burton. But it’s going very slowly.
Burton still leads 51 percent to 47 percent. The Republican’s lead is about 1 percentage point smaller than it was after early voting.
Slightly more than 10 percent of the district’s 357 precincts have reported.

Update at 7:30 p.m. Burton has taken a solid lead in early voting, 52 percent to 46 percent. The Libertarian and Green Party candidates make up the rest. To put this in perspective, Davis and her GOP challenger Mark Shelton were almost dead even after early voting in 2012. Davis pulled ahead by winning nearly 55 percent of the Election Day ballots.

Original post A large majority of Texas political races tonight were decided in the March primary thanks to the drawing of safe Republican and Democratic districts. The rare exception is expected to be state Senate District 10, the seat previously held by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis. Republican Tea Party activist Konni Burton and Democrat Libby Willis are running high-dollar campaigns to win that seat. Combined, they’ve raised more than $4.14 million from Republican and Democratic donors hoping to sway the only swing district among the 31 Texas Senate seats. Davis won the seat in 2008 from longtime Republican incumbent Kim Brimer and held off a GOP challenger in 2012. In both elections, Davis won by less than 3 percentage points.

Proposal to increase Dallas council pay maintains a narrow lead

Evening sun sets over Dallas City Hall Friday, January 24, 2014. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)

Update at 11:45 p.m.: With 99 percent of precincts reporting, the proposition to raise Dallas council pay is in the clear by a 51-49 margin.

Update at 11:15 p.m: Dallas City Council members appear poised to receive a substantial pay raise.

It’s not over. But with 95 percent of precincts reporting, the margin is still 51-49 in support of the council raise.

Update at 9:40 p.m.: With 20 percent of precincts reporting, the margin remains 51-49 in favor of the council raise. So still too close to call.

But Mayor Mike Rawlings did weigh in on the early returns:

“If this narrow count holds for the rest of the night, the citizens of Dallas are sending a clear signal … to the City Council that we respect the work you are doing and that we think you are worth us investing in,” he said.

“But that we expect you to live up to doing what’s right by the citizens and that you need to improve the path you are on,” he continued.

Original post: It’s too close to tell if Dallas voters will approve a 60 percent pay raise for City Council members and a 33 percent boost for the mayor.

The proposition to increase council members’ annual pay to $60,000 from $37,500 and the mayor’s salary to $80,000 from $60,000 has a narrow lead after early voting. The raises would go into effect after the next municipal election in May.

Supporters stressed the notion that serving on the City Council in a city of 1.2 million people is a full-time job — and that the salary needs to match. They pushed the increase as a way to attract a more diverse and more qualified pool of candidates.

“We need to get great City Council people,” Mayor Mike Rawlings said leading up to the election. “And the only way we are going to do that is get a living wage.”

The proposal to increase Dallas council members’ pay grew out of a once-a-decade review of the city charter. The City Council approved in total nine proposed charter amendments – covering bond elections to redistricting – to put before voters.

Save for a complicated proposal related to the city’s thoroughfare plan, the slate of propositions was winning the early vote on Tuesday.

But the council pay proposition was considered the most contentious, as proponents had to overcome the public’s knee-jerk opposition to paying politicians more.

Voters have rejected nine of the last 10 attempts to increase council pay in Dallas – the lone exception coming in 2001. And though there was no organized opposition this year, some remain adamant that it’s a part-time job that should be more about public service.

A political action committee supportive of this year’s measure conducted polling that found a slightly negative attitude toward such a raise. But that changed when survey respondents were given reasons why the increase was necessary, a group spokesman said.

On Election Day, Belinda Sweeny proved that as she walked out of the Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse.

Sweeny, a paralegal who works downtown, initially said she was “totally against it.”

“Considering the quality of work they are putting out these days, I think – I won’t even begin to say what I really think,” said Sweeny, who planned to vote later in the day in her precinct.

But asked about supporters’ argument that higher salaries would produce a more qualified pool of candidates, Sweeny paused.

“That does make sense,” she said. “Let me reverse that thought.”