Republican candidate for district attorney Susan Hawk said Wednesday that she believes District Attorney Craig Watkins was “impaired” at a debate between the two last week.
Hawk said that Watkins seemed belligerent but that she could not say he was intoxicated at a forum about crimes against women and children. Hawk again said that her muttered comment after the forum that Watkins should “have another cocktail” was made in jest.
“Mr. Watkins’ behavior at that forum was so bizarre and inappropriate and disrespectful, and I shouldn’t have made the comment,” she said Wednesday. “His behavior was very bizarre and he seemed impaired.” Hawk said it was possible that Watkins was ill.
Hawk made her comments Wednesday before The Dallas Morning News editorial board. Watkins, a Democrat seeking a third term, was invited to attend but did not. His chief political consultant, Mark Littlefield, said in a statement that Watkins “was not impaired nor was he ill.” Littlefield said that Watkins clearly expressed his office’s initiatives in combating domestic violence and sexual assault.
Littlefield did not say why Watkins did not attend the editorial board meeting.
Several times during last week’s forum, Watkins interrupted a moderator and said, “No, I’m not done.” But Littlefield said Watkins was simply trying to discuss the issues.
“Asking for more time and an opportunity to respond is not being belligerent, it’s being American,” Littlefield said.
Watkins last week denied that he had been drinking before the forum.
Littlefield said that in the debate, Hawk offered no “substantive plans” and could not say how she would run the office differently or better.
“I believe that led to Hawk’s frustration and diversion tactic of asking about cocktails,” Littlefield said. “It was a desperate and failed attempt to salvage a lost debate.”
Hawk, a former judge, told the editorial board that she regretted “that we weren’t able to talk about the issues at the family violence symposium.”
Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting begins Monday.
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