Fifteen candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming March primaries, including nine Republicans and six Democrats. The winners for each party in the March primaries will be on the ballot in the November general election.
Candidate responses may have been edited for length and clarity. To view Q&As with the Democratic candidates for the position of Harris County judge, click here.For more information about voting in Harris County, click here.
H.Q. Bolanos
Experience: land acquisition, commercial and residential contracts, federal and state of Texas compliance expectations mortgage securities
Occupation: certified residential appraiser
Website: www.hqforharriscounty.com
George Harry Zoes
Experience: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Occupation: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Website: www.facebook.com/georgeharryzoes
Alexandra del Moral Mealer
Experience: former vice president, energy services investment banking
Occupation: I am a combat veteran (West Point graduate and served in Afghanistan in the Army bomb squat) and I have spent the last six years as an energy investment banker (law and business degrees from Harvard).
Website: https://alexandramealer.com
Vidal Martinez
Experience: I am a businessman and attorney who began my career in 1978 as a federal prosecutor in Houston. [I have] served as chairman of the State Bar of Texas, and have experience in litigation, transactional matters, and investigating corruption. I served as commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority and on the board of the Greater Houston Partnership. I currently serve on the board of the Houston Methodist Hospital System, the No. 1 ranked hospital in Texas.
Occupation: attorney and business owner
Website: www.votevidalmartinez.com
Contact information: 832-779-3250
Robert Dorris
Experience: three years in architecture; one and a half years in manufacturing, management; more than 15 years in construction, labor and management; 10 years as a marketing manager in the construction industry
Occupation: marketing manager
Website: www.robertdorris.org
Contact information: 281-755-1811
Randy Kubosh
Experience: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Occupation: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Website: www.kuboshforcountyjudge.com
Martina Lemond Dixon
Experience: I am the president of the Humble ISD school board, board secretary on the Harris County Appraisal District board of directors, and on the Lone Star Investment Pool Board. I have also served on the Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council, Lake Houston Family YMCA board, the Humble ISD Education Foundation executive board, and on the Humble ISD parent-teacher association's executive board. ... My degrees are in communication, construction, management and education from Auburn University and Louisiana State University.
Occupation: candidate
Website: www.voteformartina.com
Contact information: [email protected]
Oscar Gonzales
Experience: 30-year employee of Harris County
Occupation: current truck driver/DJ, previous deputy sheriff
Website: www.oscargonzalesforharriscountyjudge.com
Contact information: 713-208-5721
Warren A. Howell
Experience: manager and owner of businesses for over 50 years in construction, manufacturing, supplies, real estate development, safety, insurance and risk management
Occupation: owner of Risk Management Inc. and Employers Risk Insurance
Contact information: 281-578-2462
QUESTIONS:
Q: What inspired you to run for this office and what qualifications do you possess?
Bolanos: Harris County, Texas is a diverse community with multiple beliefs and dreams. The residents of Harris County identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other counties. Unfortunately, many politicians have fallen outside of the scope of their job as they succumb to graft and corruption and lose sight of what they were hired to do: serve the community. I want to commit to the principles of the post and nothing else. It is time to focus and solve the problems that we all face in today's rapidly changing Harris County. it is time to provide young people with resources and tools to foster their own worth. It is time to make smart decisions about the county's ecosystem (flood mitigation) and infrastructure.
Zoes: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Mealer: I can fix Harris County. I have the motivation as well as the grit and leadership experience necessary to tackle the critical issues facing our county. Fundamentally, the role of county judge is an executive position, and it required the county judge to lead the county's emergency response and manage an extremely large and complex budget. This is a unique set of skills and I am the only candidate with significant experience in both of these core functions. From my time in the Army bomb squad, I personally disarmed bombs but just as importantly, spent significant time in the operations center managing bomb squad teams in times of crisis. From my experience in energy finance, I have worked with public and private company CEOs/CFOs and helped them benchmark and analyze their financial performance—so I can dig into the county budget in ways that others have not been trained to do.
Martinez: This election is about crime, corruption and common sense. I'm running to fight back against the current radically progressive, defund-the-police agenda and get Harris County back on track. As county judge, I'll bring my decades of experience in health care, transportation, infrastructure and the legal system, and I'll work to tackle skyrocketing crime, fix the revolving-door criminal justice system, curb wasteful spending of your tax dollars, and restore transparency and integrity to our county government.
Dorris: My son is the biggest reason. I will do anything and everything to protect him. The wave of crime that has swept through our county is unacceptable, and if I don't stand up to fight back for him and everyone else in this county, I'm not sure who would. If you want it done right, then get up and do it yourself. And I want people to feel safe and proud of this area again. The second reason is the power grab that has been happening on commissioners court since [Harris County Judge Lina] Hidalgo was elected. Creating new positions/departments with very little input and are unnecessary. Awarding an $11M contract to a single woman, unqualified firm, bypassing the UTHSC. Building out an emergency medical shelter for nearly $17M that went completely unused. The movement of bond money to areas it wasn't slated for. Paying for immigration lawyers for illegal immigrants with taxpayer money.
Kubosh: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Dixon: I'm inspired to run by the people of Harris county, where I was born, raised and have lived my entire life. This race is about people who are afraid to let their kids ride their bikes in their neighborhoods because crime is out of control. It is about people who are victims of crimes committed by violent offenders being released on low or no bail, which my extended family has fallen victim to. It is about equipping our sheriff's deputies and constables with the tools to keep our communities safe. It is about flood prevention, better roads and highways, and making common sense decisions for what is best for the entire county. It is about the future of Harris County. Currently, I serve as the president of the Humble ISD school board where we manage a district budget of more than $500 million. While the student population continues to increase, we have cut property taxes every year since 2018—a total M&O tax rate reduction of 15.48%.
Gonzales: I could no longer quietly sit on the sidelines and watch our beloved city and county, slowly devolve into crime and chaos. I have been a public servant for 30 years within the framework of Harris County, where I gained experience and knowledge of the many facets of the inner workings of various divisions of Harris County.
Howell: I realized that the county judge, a management position, was not being managed but in fact acting like a bureaucracy involved in social issues rather than the maintenance of infrastructure and the care of our jails, which are a complete mess, while we're still flooding and the crime rate is soaring. I have the management experience and skills to solve problems in which I've been doing for over 50 years in every industry. The politicians now in office or running against me can't do this.
Q: What would be your top priorities if elected?
Bolanos: [A] Harris County that prioritizes the people and the environment. Empty malls can be filled with educational centers in the arts and technology for our youth. There is ample room for a public gym that can serve everyone, even a center dedicated to the fitness for the elderly staffed with college students majoring in kinesiology. Public funds for public safety are a must. Bike paths, maintenance of public parks, etc. [In] the words of our great American novelist, Ernest Hemingway: "No man is any island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent; a part of the main." The words of Hemingway are more apparent today.
Zoes: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Mealer: [My top priorities would be to] end the revolving door at the courthouse; fully fund our criminal justice system; lower property taxes by reducing wasteful spending; secure our elections; end mask mandates; [and] reduce flooding by accelerating flood control projects.
Martinez: [I would] fire the unelected, unaccountable election administrator position. [I would] fire the county administrator position. [I would] fund more assistant district attorneys and put the district attorney's office on a performance review to solve the problem with the backlog in criminal cases. [I would] provide our sheriff and constable's office with the resources they need. [I would] work with the state legislature to permanently undo [Harris County Judge] Lina Hidalgo's dangerous bail reform scheme, which has caused the rapid increase in crime.
Dorris: Crime: hold elected officials and judges accountable by providing details of cases to the public, ensure the jail system is running effectively, create an interactive map of criminal activity, work to end human trafficking. Growth: promote Houston as a hub of innovation and bring business to our area, become a top spot of Made In The USA products, highlight one business a week to showcase their work. Infrastructure: communicate what projects exist and their stage of development, provide an interactive dashboard for residents. Transparency: ensure the public knows every agenda item, budget line, and meeting occurrence. Create online platforms to clearly see all county projects and spending.
Kubosh: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Dixon: Public safety, reducing crime, flood mitigation and infrastructure projects. As county judge, I will take the fight to the criminals, and we will run extended court hours every day if we must, to clear the current backlog and get the criminals off our streets. We will stop the wasteful spending and begin cutting a county government that has grown beyond what is necessary or needed to ensure we have good roads and highways, and make common sense decisions for the good of the entire county. And we will immediately stop the misuse of funds approved by voters for flood control. I have been tested and I am ready for the challenge of leading Harris County.
Gonzales: [My top priorities would be] crime/law enforcement, reducing wasteful spending, property tax relief and disaster preparedness and response.
Howell: Violent crime control: commissioners court put pressure on the judges to lower or soften bonding so that criminals could get out of jail easier and more often. So violent criminals are out on multiple bonds. The judges, due to COVID-19, shut down their courts. On top of that, we have one officer per every 2,300 citizens when, according to the FBI, we need one per every 1,000. Solution: get the law changed allowing for multiple bonds. While changing the law, put pressure on the judges to allow bonds that are commensurate with the charges filed and offer no bond to repeat offenders. Elect more conservative judges. Increase the pay and number of officers to the FBI formula. Budget and taxes: our budget increased from some $3 billion to over $7 billion. I have concluded that when in office with the help of [Harris County] commissioners [Jack] Cagle and [Tom] Ramsey, we'll get back to business and even after raising the law enforcement budget we'll cut about $1.5 to $2 billion and property tax rates.
Q: What do you believe county government's role should be in COVID-19 response?
Bolanos: The county's government role during a health crisis is strictly emergency management. A county judge should not vary from the instructions from state and federal government.
Zoes: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Mealer: I am firmly against mask and vaccine mandates. The county's role should be limited to providing resources, to include rapid testing, so that individuals may exercise their individual liberty to make informed decisions. Instead of prioritizing lockdowns and mandates, as county judge, I will prioritize education so that citizens, not the government, can make informed decisions about what is best for their family, business or faith.
Martinez: I do not believe in government mandates: masks or vaccines. Mandates are unconstitutional and illegal. The county should focus on solutions that provide relief and help people get back on their feet. As county judge, I'll work in conjunction with our health system, maximize the use of our current resources and expertise at the world's largest medical center, and trust the people of Harris County to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Dorris: The county should act more as communicator of information and less as a tool of control. Explain, in precise detail, the numbers in terms of cases, hospitalizations, hospital duration, etc. The county should never be allowed to determine who can or can't stay open, and not be allowed to force any sort of medical mandate on any business or citizen. The county should ensure the proper tools and resources are made available to businesses and residents as needed, similar to natural disaster response.
Kubosh: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Dixon: As president of the Humble ISD [school board], I have been on the front lines of managing the pandemic from a leadership role. In Humble, we chose to open schools after summer break to do what is best for children. In fact, while other districts were literally losing students, Humble ISD's student population continued to grow. Again, when others were canceling graduations, we persevered. Not because we are so-called "science deniers," but because we knew that we could mitigate the risk and keep people safe. It is what leaders are supposed to do. The tassels I have from those six graduating classes in Humble ISD remind me of that every day.
Gonzales: The county government's role in responding to COVID-19 or any biological threat should be to work closely with the medical community and other governmental bodies for continuity of up-to-date relevant information and emergency services, in order to provide the best care for the public.
Howell: The county should have listened to all of the doctors who are experts on the subject, not just Dr. [Anthony] Fauci who has never seen a patient or Dr. [Peter] Hotez. It's the county's job to inform the citizens of the correct information regarding the true effectiveness of masks and the vaccines so the public can make an informed decision to take the vaccine. In any event, no mask or vaccine mandates. The county should not and if I'm your county judge, [I] would not make a decision to shut down businesses ever.
Q: How would you work to prevent future flooding in Harris County or minimize its effects?
Bolanos: We need to protect prairie lands and restore prairie lands and wetlands. Restoring prairie lands slows water traveling downstream in catastrophic flooding events. The Army Corps of Engineers released an interim report on Oct. 5, 2020 [with] viable options for flood mitigation. [A] Cypress Creek reservoir and dam and Buffalo Bayou improvements are projects that I believe we should consider.
Zoes: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Mealer: Fixing flooding must be above politics. Immediately, I will form a technical task force, composed of industry and academic experts to identify the key projects to fund. I would then work with our state and federal legislators to ensure we are using the full power of Harris County to get state and federal dollars for flood control projects.
Martinez: We must ensure dollars allocated under the previous flood bond, as approved by voters, are spent on their specifically stated projects for flood mitigation. We cannot allow the Democrat majority to reallocate these funds for their own projects, as [Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner] Adrian Garcia attempted to do with the $191 million allocated for Cedar Bayou. We already have the mitigation plans and funding in place; it's up to the commissioners court to make sure those projects happen.
Dorris: Complete our current bond projects as they were voted on. Work directly with Harris County Flood Control District to determine an overall plan of action and ensure communication of planned projects; they have a good dashboard of projects. Look at what large capital projects would need to be undertaken to avoid any major flooding events similar to [Tropical Storm] Allison, Tax Day [Flood], and [Hurricane] Harvey and present all options and costs. This can be done in the first six to 12 months.
Kubosh: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Dixon: I would begin by stopping the use of the voter-approved flood bond as a political football. I would go back to the table with our state and federal partners to maximize Harris County taxpayer dollars and spend the flood money by prioritizing the worst first, not based on politics. I would visit each of the watersheds and channels, and have town hall meetings in each area to hear the concerns of the residents. Also, partnership with Texas Water Development Board, Harris County Flood Control District, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, flood control organizations, experts in flood control, engineering firms, meteorologists, and groups like Houston Stronger to get a high-level perspective on the overall best plan to reduce flooding. There are many reports, studies, and investigations already completed that have been essentially ignored, which endangers the people of Harris County.
Gonzales: Continue working with experts in the field of flood control and develop a comprehensive proactive response plan when flooding occurs.
Howell: The Army Corps of Engineers are actually working on a tunnel plan that would divert the flood waters back to the ship channel and, as an added benefit, increase the current going out enough to eliminate or greatly reduce the need for dredging. In addition, we can double the size of our reservoirs. We, along with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, can do this and [this] will be a priority from the first day I begin my administration. I would also implement a more permanent solution to our drainage ditch program with a custom designed culvert plan.
Q: What kind of investments would you like to see the county make to improve its criminal justice system?
Bolanos: We need to support our sheriff's office by prosecuting criminals, monetarily compensate longtime officers and new recruits of the department to show how we value their service.
Zoes: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Mealer: I will fully fund the criminal justice system by increasing the number of district attorneys, sheriff deputies and constable deputies that are desperately needed to tackle the unprecedented crime epidemic in Harris County.
Martinez: The county must dismantle the current failed bail reform, which is directly responsible for the rapid increase in crime and homicides. We must address the revolving door at the courthouse and prevent partisan, agenda-driven judges from allowing habitual violent criminals out on the streets on little or no bond. We must also address the backlog in 100,000 criminal court cases, which is delaying trials and creating more opportunities for offenders to commit more crimes.
Dorris: Harris County Jail needs to be more efficiently funded and staffed. New jails may need to be built. More robust program to tackle and root out human trafficking. Ensure commissioners court cannot take away money from constables. Develop an interactive map to highlight where crime has occurred to help keep our residents informed. Establish a more robust and cost-effective community outreach program that helps to root out criminal elements and develops trust and communication with law enforcement.
Kubosh: Candidate did not submit responses as of press time.
Dixon: The current backlog of criminal cases was inherited by Lina Hidalgo. She made it worse by refusing to fund more prosecutors, therefor denying the accused their right to a speedy and fair trial. We need to surge the number of prosecutors and expand court hours to clear the backlog, so we can get the most violent criminals off our streets. We need to revisit bail reform with lawmakers because a one-size-fits-all approach is not what is best for the people of Harris County. And we need to refund dollars taken from the budgets of constables and sheriff's departments. This is an untenable situation and needs to be dealt with immediately. We need to properly staff our jails, review the pay for law enforcement to be sure we are being competitive with other agencies in our area, and focus on strategic workforce planning.
Gonzales: Fully staffed jail, more police officers, fix jury assembly room, repair and expand jails and improvement of the juvenile Justice center.
Howell: As discussed above, we need to almost double the budget for the officers to increase the pay and number to get closer to the FBI's formula, we have to increase pay to get more quality officers hired, and reorganize the jail system with the proper staff of guards and nurses. Invest in more jails or convert unused commercial properties into temporary jails, while we get caught up on hiring and clear the docket.
