Regarding
“Editorial: We recommend Alexandra Mealer for Harris County judge,” (Oct. 12): Perhaps Lina Hidalgo bit off more than she could handle? Maybe things would have been different for her if she would have run for a commissioner position rather than leader of Commissioners Court as county judge and then learn and work her way up. Coming into a leadership role without any practical business or management experience didn’t help her either. Obviously taking her staff’s suggestion on that $11 million contract to handle a COVID vaccine outreach project without a full review of the bidding process created problems for her. Being elected to a position rather than being hired for a position didn’t work for her, as the elected position has more public exposure and you get reviewed and evaluated in public. With these two candidates, Ms. Mealer brings some good experience that Ms. Hidalgo had to gain while learning on the job and caused her some missteps.
Mike Gonzales, Houston
The editorial board once told readers that on the topic of community safety, it was stheir job
“to
remind you of the facts.”
In their endorsement of Alex Mealer, the editorial board now asks us to ignore the facts.
“Statistics, of course, mean little,” they now say.
We’re asked to ignore the fact that court practices are beyond the county judge’s control, that local crime trends have been in line with a national spike in violence and violent crimes are trending downward as the county implements a systemic response.
But here’s another statistic that apparently means very little to the editorial board — 21.
As in, 21 people have
reportedly died in the Harris County Jail this year, more than any year since 22 people died in 2006. At the same time, reports of violent incidents in the facility have spiked since 2019.
Any response to crime that requires cramming more people into the already overcrowded jail, even if for a few days, only threatens to inflict more harm. This isn’t just about the suffering endured by over 10,000 individual men and women —about
80 percent of whom are pretrial
— who are legally presumed innocent and not convicted of any crime. Research shows that jailing people before trial not only adversely affects their legal outcomes but rips them from their homes, families and jobs and inflicts enormous suffering that can cascade through their communities.
More people in jail on bail means more harm and potential crime in our communities. In fact, the Chronicle reported as much on misdemeanor bail reform. Yet Mealer wants to repeal that policy.
But that’s just another pesky fact. No reason to remind us of that.
Krish Gundu, co-founder and executive director, Texas Jail Project
I would’ve been shocked if the “Lefties” didn’t come after you for this one. I have to admit to being a little surprised because I’ve always thought Hidalgo was the apple of your eye, but I think her demonstrated tendency to play Democratic politics at the expense of Harris County residents is sufficient cause to question her ability to lead the county going forward. I’d be voting for Mealer anyway, but it’s nice to know the editorial board is not always in lockstep with Democrats.
Greg Groh, Houston
Regarding
“GOP candidate Alexandra Mealer runs her campaign on the notion Hidalgo makes Harris County dangerous,” (Oct. 19): Mealer’s focus on the issue of crime and placing blame on the incumbent is a well-worn practice. Her failure to offer real practical solutions is also par for the course.
Newspaper space could be much better utilized with a discussion of the real causes of crime, which could lead to a discussion of real solutions. There is no shortage of sociological studies addressing the correlates of crime. A cursory look at these would reveal that poverty, by far, is the most important variable leading to crime. Poverty, and in turn, its own causes such as level of education, inadequate health care, low wages and economic inequality, must be addressed if one wants to apply real solutions.
If Mealer or any candidate states a desire to address and even partially resolve the stubborn existence of poverty, then that person should warrant our vote.
Shaun Smith, Houston
If, as you say, you’d rather live in Hidalgo’s vision of Harris County, but your concern is crime, why then did you endorse her opponent who refuses to speak out and take a stand against “open carry”? The vast majority of crime involves guns.
I am a registered Democrat who voted for Ed Emmett because he was good for the county. I’m supporting Lina Hidalgo because she too is good for the county.
Delia Clancy Cowles, Houston
The editorial board has lost its way on the road to better Harris County governance. Apparently, the board wants to bring back the good old days of corruption when Ed Emmett and his Republican cohorts worked primarily for big money donors who inhabited the Harris County government swamp. Perhaps, the last sentence of your misguided advice sums up the problem, “Mealer would do well to… listen.” But to whom will she listen? Probably not voters, but she will have to listen to and take direction from real estate developers, law firms and engineering firms that funded her campaign. No doubt, if Mealer wins, the alligators will be on the prowl again come January, and Harris County citizens will be on the menu. As the board knows, in politics, big money always talks loudest. But somehow, the board failed to mention who’s paying for Mealer’s advertising blitz.
Patrick J. Killman, Spring
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