Kim Ogg for District Attorney

I’ll be voting for Kim Ogg in the race for Harris County District Attorney. Unlike the race for Sheriff or Tax Assessor Collector, this wasn’t a clear and easy choice. In fact, it is the hardest choice that I face on the ballot this November.

Why Kim Ogg?

So why would a solid Republican voter, as can be demonstrated by the fact that I have voted in every Republican primary and I am a Republican Precinct Chair, vote for a Democrat? Especially given that current Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson is (a) a solid, long time Republican, (b) a very good political candidate from a consultant’s point of view and (c) a law and order DA in a law and order county.

Justice.

A simple word, with seemingly a simple definition. But it means so much more than “law and order”.

I’m sorry but the facts simply do not support our Republican candidate when it comes to justice. I won’t be condescending and list them all – if you read BJP, you are by definition an informed voter. You know the facts. You know the truth. And the plain truth is that our candidate is not the best choice in this specific race if you define it in terms of justice.

A different philosophy

Ms. Ogg represents a change in philosophy. Ms. Anderson represents the status quo. Ms. Ogg says that we must approach the job of District Attorney and by definition Assistant District Attorney differently. Her vision is that the office and all ADA’s seek justice for victims while protecting the rights of the accused. Ms. Anderson’s vision is that if it takes throwing a victim of a violent rape in jail to obtain a conviction, then that is acceptable. Even if that victim gets further abused while incarcerated. Victims have no rights, they are simply pawns in Ms. Anderson’s universe, pawns to be used to further her prosecutors’ conviction rates.

I reject that. And I hope that you do as well.

Helping people restore their lives

As you know, over the course of two campaigns, Ms. Ogg has been the driver in ideas. Whenever she has suggested a program to improve the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Anderson has copied it, albeit in a watered down fashion. Don’t you think it is time for the originator of the ideas to get a chance to implement them in a non-watered down version?

I’m not exactly certain when Ms. Ogg started holding workshops for innocent people who have been through the wringer of the criminal justice system in Harris County. The earliest email still in my InBox was from February. These workshops enable these people to get their lives back.

“CLEAN UP YOUR LIFE DAY”

OGG WAGES CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE INNOCENT

Even after you are found innocent of a crime, you will still face the stain on your criminal history. These criminal records can keep you from getting a job or housing.

It isn’t fair.

Kim Ogg believes the Harris County District Attorney’s office should help innocent Houstonians clean up their criminal arrest record.  Ogg is not waiting until she gets elected in November to make it happen.

This Saturday, the news media is invited to join Ogg’s team of pro bono lawyers at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church between 10am and 2pm.

Ogg and a team of volunteer lawyers will be on hand to review the criminal records of Houstonians who were wrongfully arrested, or who successfully completed their probations. Those with eligible cases will be referred to partnering law school clinics at U of H, South Texas College of Law, and TSU for additional help.

The best news is this legal help is free, courtesy of the Ogg campaign for Harris County District Attorney.

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church is located at 3826 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, Texas 77004.

“People with criminal records have trouble getting jobs, housing and education.  When the government gets it wrong, and it hurts somebody, then the government needs to make it right. We can start right now by helping people clean up their records,” said Ogg.

And lest you think this was a one off, political manuever, there were many more and there will be still another workshop on Saturday, October 29th:

I think that I saw Anderson’s campaign do something similar a couple of months ago. It reminded me of a popular refrain, do you want the real thing or an imitation? I

But, but she’s a lesbian!

It made me shake my head in disgust when Don Hooper published the emails being passed around Republican circles about Ms. Ogg’s sexual orientation. I thought that we had handled that in 2014 and gotten beyond it. Besides, it wasn’t Devon Anderson or her campaign saying it, so it was just a few holdovers from another generation saying it. Right?

No, not right. This is coming straight from Devon Anderson because she knows that she is down in the polls and is desperate to hold on to power. Don’t believe me? Will you believe Devon Anderson? In her own voice and words?

That clip comes from Vlad Daviduik’s American Chronicle’s podcast with Ms. Anderson. Really Ms. Anderson?

Let’s make a change

Look, I know it is hard for most of you reading this to accept that the Democratic candidate is actually, really, truly better. I get it. Republican principles used to be the high road in every race. But, in this specific race, the Democratic candidate has the high road.

I’ll be voting for Kim Ogg. Let the chips fall where they may.

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