I know that the title of this post is a cliché but that is my lasting impression after sitting and chatting with Harris County District Attorney candidate Kim Ogg. Not justice for some, not justice for the connected, not justice for a certain social class, not justice for those of a particular skin color, but justice for everyone.
We’ve seen a lot of “justice for xxx” through the years, especially in Harris County. Especially with the group that currently controls the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. So when I met with Ms. Ogg, that was my overriding concern – will she truly adopt a justice for all approach? The criminal justice system should be blind and that includes your political party affiliation/leaning. After all, what does the color of your party have to do with the scales of justice?
I think, after an extensive discussion with Ms. Ogg, that I can say unequivocally that she will approach the job of District Attorney with blinders on as far as social status, color of skin, political affiliation, or whatever category you choose to evaluate. It isn’t a simple discussion that leads me to say that – her track record of working inside, outside, and in-between the various players in the criminal justice system leads me to that conclusion. You know, things that you can point to. This is from her website, normally something I wouldn’t quote, but in this case it is unchallenged by her opponent:
Kim Ogg is a former Executive Director of Crime Stoppers whose leadership resulted in the arrest of thousands of felons for unsolved murders, rapes, robberies and serious property crimes. She served as Houston’s first Anti-Gang Task Force Director and oversaw a 40 percent reduction in gang violence. And she’s a former Chief Felony Prosecutor who literally wrote the textbook on fighting criminal street gangs.
Kim understands that the best and fastest way to make our neighborhoods safer is to target the real criminals – violent predators and gang members who commit serious crimes. Instead, our current district attorney is wasting millions of our limited tax dollars jailing thousands of low-level drug offenders. Our jails are overcrowded, and drive-by shootings, identity theft and burglaries are on the rise.
Kim will modernize the DA’s office, using technology and common sense to target crime cartels and local gangs responsible for increasing gang-related murders, human trafficking and the child sex trade, identity theft and burglaries of cars and homes — the real criminals who prey on us. She will reform our grand jury system and make sure drug forfeiture funds are used effectively against violent criminals, white-collar thieves, environmental polluters, and those who would betray the public trust through corruption and oppression.
Ms. Ogg has a unique background which has prepared her for the job of DA.
- Chief Felony Prosecutor for seven years under legendary DA Johnny Holmes, mentored by legendary prosecutor/defense attorney Rusty Hardin.
- Started the City of Houston’s anti-gang task force under former Mayor Bob Lanier and ran it for six years.
- Head of Crime Stoppers-Houston for seven years, modernizing it and implementing policies that increased the capture of violent criminals.
- Private practice with her family that represents both the accused and victims for the last eight years.
As you can see, Ms. Ogg has a world of experience across the board.
But the refreshing thing about Ms. Ogg is that she isn’t jaded by her experience and continues to think that she really can affect public policy and make the world a better place to live. Talking with her doesn’t produce a bulleted list of campaign talking points. Rather, it is about changing the criminal justice system in Harris County for the better for ALL parties – victims, the accused, the police, and the attorneys that represent both sides. Think about all of the illustrations of “blind scales of justice” and I think that you have her core philosophy.
Finally, what about “family values”? I bring this up because it is going to be an issue amongst the older Republicans in Harris County and for people like my little buddy Terry Lowry and Dr. Steven Hotze. In fact, look at one of the first comments I received when I covered her campaign announcement months ago:
She also probably realized that she would not get endorsements from social conservative groups because of her lifestyle.
Her lifestyle. Hmm. Let’s see. With the same life partner for 28 years. Raising a 15 year old. Running a family owned law practice with her 72 year old daddy. Yeah, that certainly rules her out! Sheesh. It’s not like she beats her spouse or anything. It was embarrassing when that comment was placed on the website and it was embarrassing when Ms. Ogg thought it necessary to tell me that she lived in a non-traditional relationship because she didn’t want me to be “blindsided” or anything.
Fact is, Ms. Ogg reminds me of an old school conservative Democrat, the ones that ran Texas for a century and a half quite successfully. She has an uphill battle in Harris County in a non-presidential year. But I think that if enough Republicans forego voting straight ticket and study the candidates, they will find that they are in agreement with her on more issues as related to the criminal justice system than with her opponent. And if that happens, anything can happen in November.
I’ll be writing more about specific policy differences between the two but for now, I’d urge you to simply take a look and learn more about her at these links.
Website: KimOggForDA.com
Facebook: Kim Ogg for DA
Linked In: Kim Ogg for DA
Twitter: @kimoggforda
Foolish Memo says
Is there a little bias here?
David Jennings says
Not unless you think supporting the candidate closest to your belief is biased.
filmmaker01 says
So, David, are you formally endorsing Kim for DA?
David Jennings says
Filmmaker, you know by now that I don’t endorse candidates. Weird to think that anyone would care who I “endorsed”. But I do step out and tell people who I am voting for. In this case, I will vote for Kim Ogg and encourage people to research her. DJ
Ed Vidal says
Where does Ms. Ogg stand on: (1) justice for unborn children? (2) the right to bear arms? and (3) the definition of marriage, and Mayor Parker’s gay-rights ordinance?
pdiddie says
Those topics aren’t under the purview of the Harris County District Attorney.
Manuel Barrera says
Good choice, as to Mr. Vidal I don’t believe those issues will be brought up before her as DA.
Ed Vidal says
Mr. Barrera, These issues may not be brought up before her directly, but they are brought up indirectly, and in any event, her position on these issues are a useful indication of her character.
Don Hooper says
Ed,
Have you asked Devon Anderson whether or not she has done a judicial bypass? Ask her then stop me next time you see me. You may also want to ask why she took 15k from Doug Karpen’s lawyer. Devon had a grand jury no bill Karpen days after she found out she would not have a Republican opponent. This same lawyer, Chip Lewis, has over 80 dismissals since Mike Anderson became DA. I know many prosecutors who would have gladly prosecuted Karpen. If your issue is the pro-life issue, you would never vote for Devon Anderson.
Ed Vidal says
Don, The time to resolve those disputes is in the primaries. Thereafter, any political candidate with a (D) after his name stands for Obamanomics, ObamaCare, disregard for the rule of law, Persian appeasement and the rest of the Obama agenda, and therefore deserves to be opposed.
filmmaker01 says
Ed,
With all due respect (and taking a backseat to nobody in my detestment for Barack Obama and his policies and politics) I’m afraid I must disagree. As far as I can tell the District Attorney is not tasked with dealing with Obamacare, Obamanomics and/or foreign policy. We need to find a DA who will enforce the laws that we have on the books – without regard to color, creed, gender or any of the myriad of labels that society insists on placing on people. And, we need a DA who will work in an honest, above board, lawful, ethical fashion.
There are dishonest and unethical people on both sides of the political aisle. It pains me to say it, but it’s true. We need to evaluate every candidate, (especially for this position!) individually, without regard to their political affiliation, which after all call be easily changed.
Ed Vidal says
Don, Aristotle pointed out that the only reason virtuous men go into politics is to avoid being governed by other men. The public sector, in all parties, attracts a disproportionately high number of the corrupt and incompetent. The time to sort that out is in the primaries.
For example, Senator Julian Cornyn is a back-stabbing RINO, but he won his primary and will vote against Senator Reid as majority leader, so he deserves our support.
Erich says
“As far as I can tell the District Attorney is not tasked with dealing with Obamacare, Obamanomics and/or foreign policy” — Few people achieve high office without first holding a lower office. Some people become congressional representatives, senators, or presidents without having been elected to a lesser office. But most representatives, senators, and presidents started their political careers at the local level. The same is true for state lawmakers. Most of them began on city councils and school boards and worked their way up the political ladder.
Tomorrow’s candidates for higher offices will come mainly from today’s candidates for lower offices. It is therefore prudent to apply comparable standards to local candidates.
Manuel Barrera says
Interesting answer Mr. Vidal, if one is pro life one is of low character. If one believes that homosexuals should have the right to marry they are of low character. If one believes that one does not agree with the NRA one is of low character. If one does not believe that Obama has done a terrible job one is of low character.
I imagine that the list that you have is much longer as it seems that anyone with a D before them in the election is of low character.
I have to admit that you have made selection of candidates very easy and uncomplicated, to think that I bother reading where they stand on issues, that they will have to deal with, stupid me.
Ed Vidal says
Comrade Barrera, Every Democrat believes that: (1) Ambassador Chris Stevens and his three colleagues should have been left to die in Benghazi; (2) Lois Lerner and the IRS should persecute Catherine Engelbrecht and other Tea Party leaders; and (3) Marine Sgt. Tamooresi should languish in a foreign prison. Their bad character is self-evident. What is their defense?
Manuel Barrera says
Mr. Vidal, your resorting to name calling by suggesting that if one does not agree with you they are communist certainly indicates something about your ability, rather inability, to reason, to argue logic or facts. End of discussion as name calling is not necessary, adios comrade.
MJ in Kingwood says
David – Remember, this is Harris County, Texas and you can bet that she’s in deep with the good-old boys of Harris County law enforcement or she wouldn’t be a candidate. The “apparatus” in Harris County will do a great job of protecting the most corrupt law enforcement system in Texas. Cops, deputies and constables will keep maiming, injuring and killing innocent citizens in Harris County and she’ll be there to do her first duty as District Attorney – to make sure no legal repercussions ever touch an LEO in Harris County. LEO’s know that the Harris County District Attorney’s office is the birth place of Grand Jury No-bills.
Don Hooper says
MJ,
Devon Anderson is endorsed by the HPOU for a reason.