DA Nominations Reveal Local Party Status

Analysis - The Republican’s nomination of Anna Jimenez was a stark contrast to the Democrats nomination of Mark Skurka. The Republican’s May 19th precinct chair meeting to select a District Attorney candidate was rife with contention, resembling, well, a typical Democratic Party meeting. Meanwhile the Democratic meeting on May 26th was an unusual kumbaya moment.

The Republicans started off with an argument between new tea party elected Chairman Ron McClain and the party’s old guard over the selection of officers. McClain began by announcing officers he had selected and was immediately challenged by over his decision who wanted to nominate and elect officers from the floor. After a few minutes of back and forth, McClain ended the conversation by ruling further nominations out of order and stating by party rules he had the power to select his own executive officers. While that seemed to solve the immediate problem various McClain supporters who asked not to be identified accused traditional party leaders of not only being uncooperative, but actively undermining McClain’s leadership.

The tension didn’t let up after starting the main event as Governor Perry appointed fill in Jimenz and James Sales quickly went to work on each other in a war of accusations and charges. Sales had previously been in the Nueces County prosecutor’s office but now works in Beeville. The accusations from Sales primarily centered around Jimenez lack of board certification and her elevation of relatively rookie uncertified staff over board certified criminal attorneys Mark Skurka and Gail Loeb along with the firing of Sandra Eastwood.

Sales reviewed his experience and training and talked about how the political firings and reassignments were damaging to the DA’s office and meant she couldn’t win in November. Sales attacked Jimenez ability to be elected, pointing out what he called a unprofessional motion that she later referred to as the “joke motion” regarding attorney Rene Rodriquez who was her courtroom opponent in a child abuse case

Jimenez for her part made the case that she had cleared a lot of cases since taking over and that the changes she made were necessary. She stated that what was really going on was that she was the first woman Republican District Attorney in Nueces County and that Rick Perry had picked her.

The theme picked by Perry, was reinforced by the Party old guard, including past party chair Mike Bertuzzi, Connie Scott (running against Abel Herrero in Nov.), radio host Bob Jones and County Judge Loyd Neal, all who reportedly lobbied Perry to give Jimenez the job. Bertuzzi filled the role of axe man handing out copies from Sales divorce proceedings accusing him of abusive behavior towards his ex-wife. Sales in turn produced a letter from her sating that she had previously “said things that weren’t true” about Sales.

In the end even support from party dissidents couldn’t overcome the discussion of Sales past and support for Jimenez from traditional party powerbrokers giving Jimenez the nomination 26-16. Republicans have only 42 total precinct chairs for 126 precincts.

Dems uncharacteristically unified
Whether it was the influence of new party Chairwoman Rose Meza-Harrison or a desire to head into November as a unified force, the Democrats were uncharacteristically tame. A three way race between Asst. Prosecutors Mark Skurka and Aida Trevino and former Asst. Prosecutor Ed Garza quickly came to an end when Aida Trevino withdrew to give the nomination speech for Skurka. Trevino demonstrated real class, stating she had confidence that Skurka shared her views on how the office should be conducted and had more experience than her.

Skurka gave a positive talk about his record stressing that the office of the Prosecutor was not about being a Republican or a Democrat but about the administration of justice and protecting the public from criminals. Garza got off on the wrong foot twice during his speech, the first time when he stated that he didn’t ask the Republican governor for the appointment. This didn’t go over well with the precinct chairs who were fully aware that Skurka had turned down the appointment when it was made clear he had to change parties to get it.

Garza’s second mistake was challenging Skurka’s ability to be elected based on his past failures to unseat Judges Jose Longoria and John Martinez in previous Democratic primaries. When he state that Skurka was “beaten by Hispanics, Hispanics” the crowd returned a boo of disapproval for injecting ethnicity into the mix.

The result was Skurka won over 2/3s of the 75 delegates in the first vote after which Hugo Berlanga made a motion that the vote not continue and Skurka be given unanimous support, which passed. In other business the Dems filled all by eight of their 126 precinct chair positions.

Analysis
The election is Skurka’s to lose. He enjoys good name recognition and a stellar record in the DA’s office. Democratic Hispanics are much less likely to vote Republican just to vote for a Hispanic name, then Republicans upset over Jimenez’ actions since taking over are to vote Democrat for Skurka.