Dallas County Democrats
Bar Poll Mailing: Frequently Asked Questions

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. For the latest updated news about the Dallas County Democratic Party, see their own website at www.dallasdemocrats.org.

[This is the FAQ, or Frequently Asked Questions, sidebar from the booklet about Democratic candidates for judicial office, mailed in April by the Dallas County Democratic Party to attorneys voting in the Dallas Bar poll. The booklet had photos and brief bios of 23 candidates.]

These candidates have very impressive qualifications, but Democrats can?t win in Dallas County, can they?

The fact is that Democrats are rapidly becoming the majority party in Dallas County. That?s why Democrats out-polled Republicans by nearly 3-2 in the recent local primary (5-1 in the runoff) ?the first time that has happened in 10 years. That?s why Democrats garnered more straight party votes than Republicans in 2000. That?s why the only Democrat running for judge in Dallas County that year received 49.7% of the vote against an established incumbent, almost pulling an upset. And that?s why 24 outstanding members of the local bar chose this time to run for countywide office, the most judicial candidates on the Democratic slate since 1982. The primary purpose of this publication is to convince you that Democrats should win the judicial elections. But, make no mistake: Democrats can and will win judicial elections this fall.

Well, of course the Dallas County Democratic Party would say that.

You don?t have to take our word for it. Increasingly, independent journalists are picking up on and writing about this trend. For starters, take a look at ?GOP Demise: Why Democrats Will Carry Dallas? in the April, 2002, issue of D Magazine.

We seem to be doing okay with all Republican judges. What?s wrong with a one-party system?

Unfortunately, a one-party system tends to cater to the most extreme elements of that party. Restoring a two-party system to Dallas County would be a big step in the direction of an independent and mainstream judiciary?one that does not tilt the playing field in favor of either side in a dispute.

I?d like more information about these candidates, where can I get it?

If you want to keep up with progress of these campaigns, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject heading ?subscribe judicial newsletter.? Once or twice a month between now and November you will receive progress reports on the campaigns, in-depth profiles of the candidates and information about the Dallas County Court System. Or you can go to http://geocities.com/dalldems/2002candidates.html. There you?ll find the names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, web sites and other information about our candidates, both judicial and non-judicial. No web access? Call the Dallas County Democratic Party at 214-821-8331 and someone will provide you the information you need.

I only practice in one area of the law. Why should I care about courts outside my practice area?

Even if you personally practice or find yourself in a particular type court most of the time, the quality of our entire justice system makes a huge impact on the everyday lives of people in Dallas County. Approximately half of Dallas County families encounter a family court at some point. Anyone can find themselves in a civil court even if they only practice transactional law. And chances are that someone you know will find themselves in criminal court. Moreover, as officers of the court, attorneys have an obligation to monitor the quality of the judiciary. Finally, voters often turn to attorneys for advice on which judicial candidates to support. This makes your knowledge of all the races very important.

What about Democratic candidates for other countywide offices?

Although this publication focuses on candidates for office requiring a law degree and included in the DBA Bar Poll, we also have an excellent group of candidates for non-judicial office led by State Rep. Harryette Ehrhardt, our candidate for Dallas County Judge. Despite its name, this office is actually that of the chief executive of Dallas County, and not a judicial position at all. Find out more about Harryette Ehrhardt?s campaign at www.harryette.com.

I?m convinced. How can I help?

There are several ways you can help. The candidates need financial contributions to get their message out to the rest of Dallas County. Many can accept contributions directly through their web sites. If you prefer to help the entire ticket as opposed to one or more particular candidates you can make a contribution to the Dallas County Democratic Victory Fund, a political action committee dedicated to the election of Democrats to countywide office, at 1200 Main Street, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202. You can also contribute to the Dallas County Democratic Party, at 4209 Parry Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75223. More time than money? You can volunteer to help an individual candidate or the party, and can make a big difference by talking to your friends, neighbors, family members and business associates, or by passing this publication on to them.