Dallas County Democrats
Info On Democratic Candidates For The 2000 Primary Dallas Bar Poll

This site is an ARCHIVE of the website used for the Dallas County Democratic Party from 2000 to May of 2002, and which was built by the then Chair Bill Howell. Though some information here will be relevant through the 2002 elections, other pages here are of interest for history or research (like the list of Clinton administration accomplishments, which was copied from the White House website before George Bush took over and erased them). For the latest updated news about the Dallas County Democratic Party, see their own website at www.dallasdemocrats.org.

NOTE: This information was compiled by Bruce Rothstein for the spring 2000 primary Dallas Bar Poll, so it only covered races where there was a primary contest for one party or the other. Therefore it does not cover several other races which will be contested this fall. In April the Dallas County Democratic Party sent out a booklet to attorneys with more candidates and information for the general election Dallas Bar Poll. We will post that here when available; until then we will leave this partial listing, to provide some information about some of the candidates.

As some of you might know, I am the outgoing chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association. As an attorney with an active litigation practice I am also concerned about the election of Dallas County Judges and am sending this note to you in that personal capacity. In particular, I strongly believe that it does not serve the public interest to have all Judges chosen from one political party, as a result of which I could not be more excited about the fact that more than 20 Democratic Candidates have filed for Dallas County Judicial Positions, the most in nearly 20 years.

For the past 20 years in Dallas County, most people paid attention only to the Republican primary and its candidates. Demographic changes and the results of the 2000 election in which Mary Ann Huey received 49.7% of the vote in her race for Dallas County District Judge have made abundantly clear that this is about to change. Of the Democrats seeking county wide elective office, 10 are involved in primaries or opposing Republicans who are involved in primaries and thus included in the Dallas Bar Association Primary Bar Poll. Please look at this information about our highly qualified Democratic candidates before voting in the Bar Poll. Remember ballots are due to be received at the Dallas Bar Association by February 1, 2002.

(Compiled by Bruce Rothstein.)

Dan Patterson is seeking election to Dallas County Criminal Court #2. Mr. Patterson is well qualified for this job by virtue of his extensive experience as a prosecutor and in private practice. Between 1991 and 1997, as a prosecutor, Mr. Patterson worked his way up from trial division in misdemeanors, to Chief Prosecutor in County Criminal Courts #8 and #9 before being assigned as a felony prosecutor in the 204th District Court the 194th District Court and Criminal District Court #2 where he was involved in all types of prosecutions from state jail felonies to capital murder. He was promoted yet again to the Organized Crime Division where he tried many felony drug cases. In 1997. Mr. Patterson went into private practice and since that time has handled a wide variety of criminal cases at the municipal, state and federal level representing hundreds of clients. Currently in private practice, he practices criminal and appellate law, trying many cases to juries and the bench, and writing numerous appellate briefs. Mr. Patterson is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association.

Elizabeth Frizell is seeking election to Dallas County Criminal Court #10 which primarily hears Class A Assault Family Violence Cases. Ms. Frizell is particularly well qualified for such a position by virtue of her experience since 1995 as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Balch Springs, and since 1996 as an Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Dallas. In her judicial capacity, Ms. Frizell currently hears Class C Misdemeanors including Assault Family Violence Cases (Bench and Jury Trials), signs arrest warrants, conducts arraignments, hears motions, and hears assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct cases. Ms. Frizell also conducts a private law practice including criminal law, family law, and juvenile law. In private practice, she has handled both adult and juvenile misdemeanor and felony cases including numerous bench and jury trials on such matters. Ms. Frizell has been active in public service outside her law practice including participating in the DBA's 5th Grade mentoring project and volunteering for the LAMP/Criminal Justice Program. She is a member of the DBA's Mock Trial Committee, the Bench/Bar Conference Committee, the Bar None Production Company Committee and the Courthouse Renovation Committee.

Lisa McKnight is seeking election to the 255th Judicial District (Family) Court. Her practice is exclusively in the area of family law. She is board certified in family law and is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas based on her strong commitment to Continuing Legal Education in the area of family law. She handles cases large and small, including well over 100 trials, both jury and non-jury. She also has served as a visiting associate judge in several courts including the 255th, hearing and deciding motions. She is a committed member of the Dallas Bar Association, including the family section, as she is currently the treasurer of the DBA Family Law Section; having been its Secretary last year, and having served as Chairman of the Legal Line Committee for the Family Law Section in 2000. She also gives her time to the community including service since 1998 on the Board of Directors of the Ethel Daniels Foundation.

Lennox Bower is the Democratic candidate for the 304th Judicial District (Juvenile Court). He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and has spent the last thirty years practicing family, injury and criminal defense law. He has alternative dispute resolution experience having conducted more than 400 mediations, and having served as an arbitrator in both biding and non-binding arbitrations. He has been a member of the guardian ad litem committee for the juvenile courts, participates in the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program teaching juvenile law issues, and has served as a mentor for the Lawyers Legal Advocate for Minors Project. Mr. Bower has also participated in the gang prevention program for the City of Dallas.

Don Adams, an SMU Law School Graduate, has been practicing law in Dallas for nearly 30 years and is seeking election to the 291st District Court. More than 20 years ago, he became board certified in Criminal Law, and for the past 10 years he has served as alternate judge in the Irving Municipal Court, with duties including presiding over contested jury and non-jury trials, pleas, juvenile statements, emergency family protective orders, issuance of search and arrest warrants, arraigning prisoners and setting bonds on all degrees of felony and misdemeanor violations. Don Adams believes strong law enforcement requires strong judges who will be present, persistent, and impartial while exercising mature judgment and judicial demeanor. He believes the rights of the victim must be ensured and the accused must be assured due process under law.

D'Metria Benson, a 1984 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and a 1981 graduate of Texas Christian University is seeking election to County Court at Law # 1. She has a strong belief in justice and fairness for all and has the courage to administer the law in a fair and impartial manner. Her background includes experience in both governmental and private practice which enabled her to develop a diverse history in representing litigants on both sides of the docket. She possesses a breadth of experience in handling civil matters in areas including: municipal law, health law, environmental law, contracts, administrative procedure, land use, Constitutional law, civil rights and employment law. She has worked with clients in both advisory and trial capacities. In addition to her work in the legal community serving as a member of the DFW Chapter of National Employment Lawyer's Association, and being a former Chair of that organization, Ms Benson has been active in volunteer work in the community at large through the Junior League of Dallas and in serving as a member on several non-profit Boards.

The Democratic candidate for District Attorney is Craig Watkins. Craig Watkins is a graduate of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Between 1994 and 1995 Mr. Watkins was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas in the prosecution division and from 1995 to 1998 an assistant felony public defender in Dallas County during which he gained extensive trial experience. He also served as an adjunct professor at El Centro Junior College and the University of Texas/Arlington. Since 1998 he has been a fee attorney with Fidelity National Title and has also pursued a private practice with an emphasis on Criminal Law. Mr. Watkins is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, the Ethics Committee and the Minority Affairs Committee of the Dallas Bar Association.

The Democratic candidate for the 191st District Court is Greg Gray. Greg Gray is a native of the City of Dallas. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas and his J.D. from the St. Mary's University School of Law. After serving as a Assistant District Attorney he is currently in private practice. Mr. Gray has over 100 jury trials to his credit including multi-million cases involving complex legal issues.

Thank you for your consideration. You may direct replies to me at this e-mail address: [email protected].

--Bruce Rothstein

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