Today I wanted to gather information from the energetic, innovative Justice of the Peace for precinct #1 Bobby Rader that might would shed light for us all on the path forward for Liberty County. Judge Rader is unquestionably one of the hardest working public officials in this community and one of the most well liked, but as an occassional contributor to Liberty Dispatch, I wanted to hear a little more about his view of public service and get a hint as to his political future.
As I knocked and entered the room with Judge Rader’s invitation, he welcomed me warmly and invited me to sit down. “I was just trying to put something down on paper to help you with whatever your going to write about today”, Judge Rader said. He stopped typing and turned around and later handed me the paper he had just started.
“A friend once told me that if you worked somewhere and were not part of the solution then you were part of the problem.”
That single comment should be music to the ears of anyone who has endured the last twenty years or so of scandalous behavior in and around our courthouse. That attitude, if carried out aggressively, is what solves budget problems, what constantly and consistently sets high standards and helps to achieve ever expanding goals. But is that just some kind of platitude or an Obama-like sound byte, or is it what we have seen, and can expect to continue to see from Judge Rader?
Judge Rader appears to be the type of public official who runs into the fires rather than away from them. He has made his JP office the most productive office in the county and has set up routines that are time consuming and sometimes controversial, but always true to the comment above. He exposes himself to questions from people who do not understand the law by taking on some roles that he could avoid.
Always at the jail at 5:00 AM and highly accessible to magistrate cases when the District Judges are elsewhere, he carefully follows the guidelines given to him by the Judge Cain and Judge Morefield. If there is a controversy about bail or any other decision involved in this volunteer duty, Judge Rader may take the heat of differing opinions without the benefit of an opportunity to rebutt his critics because he is simply trying to make the system work better. He has learned cooperation among public officials can make the system work better for the entire community. He does his part. He considers himself part of “the solution”.
But Judge Rader will tell you his aggressive active role as JP does not make him infallible nor does it solve all of the problems and challenges of the county. Justices of the Peace are not attorneys and they are not law enforcement. What this Judge has done is to uses the resources available to him, including the valuable experience of Darla Diaz, a good working relationship with both District Judges and the County Court at Law Judge, and knowledge and experience in law enforcement and a good relationship with them.
Four questions Judge Rader was asked that our readers may like to know the answers from:
1) After years of working to improve JP precinct #1, name something you are still working on
Judge Rader said, “The juvenile problem”. Of course we can always say there is a lack of funds, but saying that does not help solve the fact that the more we overlook and give a pass to juveniles committing their first crimes, the more it encourages some of them to commit worse and worse crimes.” Judge Rader has indicated in the past that if all of our public officials including judges, the County Attorney and District Attorney, and the Probation department would work together to solve this growing problem, some things could be done even without more funding.
2) When you point out the quote from your friend about being a problem solver, are you concerned you set yourself up to be criticized by those who are complaining about the corruption in and around our courthouse?
Because the state of Texas requires that a public official step down as soon as they announce their candidacy for another office, Judge Rader’s answer will remain off of the record so as not to be misconstrued to step into the realm of that law. Judge Rader obviously feels that from his job as JP and his office in the annex, he can not be aware of or solve all of the county’s problems.
3) On the subject of corruption, Judge Rader was asked about the case of Assistant District Attorney Joe Warren. Specifically he was asked with Warren being accused of, and arrested for witness tampering and threatening his next door neighbor with a gun, did he believe Warren should be allowed to continue to handle cases as ADA?
“In cases where someone has felt I was not going to be fair, I have recused myself,“ Judge Rader said as he want on to talk about how the importance of even the appearance of anything unfair should be a top consideration in our courts.
So if you were Joe Warren you would recuse yourself?
“Well, I am not sure he can do that. As a judge I certainly have done that a number of times” Judge Rader responded (Pointing out specific times he had done that - even one case where it was really questionable how anyone would consider it necessary for another judge to be called). “The justice system needs to be above reproach”, Rader continued (he went on to talk about how all judges, including himself may make a mistake, but they need to all go the extra mile to even make the appearance of impartiality a priority).
4) So what do you think District Attorney Mike Little should do about Joe Warren in light of his arrest and pending trial?
(Judge Rader indicated that only the District Attorney or others prescribed by law could address this problem. When reminded he was an elected public official that was known for being a problem solver and that readers wanted to know how this case was being viewed by someone other than media, he did continue to respond to this area of questions). Judge Rader answered, “I would think that the law addresses this kind of situation. I am not an attorney but it seems like there would be laws that told a District Attorney what he had to do in a case like this.”
As a side note, for years it is a known fact among some of the most active local Republicans that Democrats have given Bobby unmitigated hell because he ran on the Republican ticket. We should all appreciate that he continues to be the most open politician in the county. If you want to know why he has done something or exactly how he justifies a ruling etc. All you have to do is ask Judge Rader. Unlike, our District Attorney, Judge Rader will initiate conversations about anything said about him or his office, even if it was said in the media. He addresses matters because he thinks the public deserves an explanation for actions public officials take. Undoubtedly, the few remaining Democrats who have participated in this ritual of trying to ostracize Bobby Rader will now do it more carefully than in the past.
Story and Editorial by LD Contributor
Difficult Day for LCSO Deputies turns worse....
Update:
Deceased-
1st call – Jack Couch 58 w/m
2nd call – Dale Peavy 37 w/m
3rd call – Lewis Boatman 64 w/mLD NOTE:
No word yet on who the deceased were. There have been many people writing and contacting LD asking if some of these people are related to the corruption probe and/or arrest. We will post the names when they become available.
As released yesterday afternoon at approximately 2:45 p.m. two tragic incidents involving firearms were responded to and handled by Deputies from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. However, at approximately 4:25p.m. a third serious incident occurred off of Highway 146 near C.R. 2125 in Liberty County where two Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputies were at an undisclosed location attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted individual.
Unfortunately, a series of events occurred and the person whom Deputies were there to place into custody fled from the residence armed with a firearm. This individual proceeded to flee from the Deputy Sheriff’s and took cover behind a small structure located on the property. As Deputies attempted to negotiate with him, a single gunshot was heard.
One male, positively identified as the person whom Deputies were there to arrest and had witnessed run from the residence with a firearm was in fact found deceased with a single gunshot wound behind the structure where he had taken cover.
No Deputies were injured as a result of this incident and no shots were fired by any of the Sheriff’s Deputies. At this time the identity of the deceased is not released for notification and investigation of the incident. This incident brought the total Deaths, caused by gunfire in Liberty County in one day to three, an unprecedented series of tragic events for Liberty County.
Yesterday, July 20th, 2011, shall be a day where the Dispatchers, Deputies and their Supervisors are all reminded just how difficult, trying and often times demanding their jobs really are. So much tragedy and trauma consumed in one day is extremely difficult for anyone to bear. However, working together, supporting each other through difficult days or a series of serious incidents such as these often brings out the very best in the dedicated men and women of the LCSO.
When you see these folks on the street, please try to remember, whether it’s the Dispatcher on the other side of the 9-1-1 line or a Deputy out on Patrol, their job is a difficult one and very often with nothing but criticism in return. However, a simple “thank you” goes a very long way in making their job just a bit easier and lets each one of them know, though not often said, they are truly appreciated.
Sheriff Patterson and the members of the LCSO would like to take just a moment to say “thank you” to the citizens who called the Sheriff’s Office late yesterday, thanking the LCSO for doing a good job and asking if our Deputies were o.k. Your calls and kind words were greatly appreciated. The support we here at the LCSO receive from our community only encourages us in our endeavor to make Liberty County a safe community for us all.
Prior days story:
Today, Monday, July 20, 2011, Deputy Sheriff’s from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office responded to two separate self-inflicted gunshot scenes. Both incidents resulted in the death of each individual who was shot. The first incident was located on the north side of Liberty County while the second, unrelated incident was located on the south side of Liberty County. Each incident occurred during the morning hours before the noon hour.
While miles apart, each incident sounds as a profound warning to everyone, please, take care of each other. Watch out for friends or family members who may be exhibiting any signs of serious depression, anxiety or expressing suicidal thoughts or tendencies. Anyone who believes they know of another who may in trouble please seek help from Mental Health Authorities or your local Law Enforcement Agency.
Deputy Sheriff’s with the LCSO respond to numerous calls for service from citizens throughout Liberty County every day. Today, however, was an especially difficult and tragic day for all involved. The loss of life, the loss of a loved one to a family and the traumatic effects on Deputies who respond to these calls are all evidence of the toll these incidents bring to bear.
Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens, when a major incident occurs, more especially, when multiple major incidents occur, please understand, the hold time on the telephone lines and the response time of a Deputy Sheriff to a non-emergency call can be extended to longer times than normal. Members of the LCSO strive to respond to all calls as quickly as possible, however, with the resources, assets and personnel available some delays can be experienced and expected.
No information as to the location or persons involved in these two tragic incidents shall be released, citing notification to next of kin.
Rex Evans, Captain
Liberty County Sheriff’s Office
2400 Beaumont Ave.
Liberty, Texas 77575
Texas State Rep. John Otto Brags About Sending Us More Taxes, Again...
State Representative John Otto is at it again. First he and Liberty County Attorney Wes Hinch try to start a multi-county water district to meter and tax our water wells, now he is trying to tax our internet purchases. He comes home to Dayton and gives us eyewitness accounts of what conservatives led on like the recent pro life legislation and then later we find out what he led on while in Austin. John Otto once again led on trying to raise new taxes.
Otto called it the “Nexus” bill, but no matter what you call it, it is Otto’s newest scheme to raise taxes. When reading Otto’s bill it is difficult to not be reminded of when he and County Attorney Wes Hinch promoted a scheme to tax us on our water wells. That effort was defeated and Otto and Hinch were forever branded as politicians who tried to associate with conservatives while acting like tax and spend Democrats.
Eventually the fiscal matters bill had this added as an amendment, John Otto said he originally authored the tax as a bill to redefine what it means to be a retailer doing business in Texas. Taxpayers will see Otto’s efforts as an effort to redefine what it is to be a Republican. Otto continues to try and hide the thrust of his work as our representative. He continues to find ways to take money out of taxpayers’ pockets and send it up to Austin for politicians to play with and call it something other than a tax.
The good news is that online retail giant Amazon.com’s is taking legal action to remain sales tax exempt for internet sales. Additional good news is that recent redistricting of the area John Otto runs for office in may turn up a real conservative to run for this position.
Otto called it the “Nexus” bill, but no matter what you call it, it is Otto’s newest scheme to raise taxes. When reading Otto’s bill it is difficult to not be reminded of when he and County Attorney Wes Hinch promoted a scheme to tax us on our water wells. That effort was defeated and Otto and Hinch were forever branded as politicians who tried to associate with conservatives while acting like tax and spend Democrats.
Eventually the fiscal matters bill had this added as an amendment, John Otto said he originally authored the tax as a bill to redefine what it means to be a retailer doing business in Texas. Taxpayers will see Otto’s efforts as an effort to redefine what it is to be a Republican. Otto continues to try and hide the thrust of his work as our representative. He continues to find ways to take money out of taxpayers’ pockets and send it up to Austin for politicians to play with and call it something other than a tax.
The good news is that online retail giant Amazon.com’s is taking legal action to remain sales tax exempt for internet sales. Additional good news is that recent redistricting of the area John Otto runs for office in may turn up a real conservative to run for this position.
Letter to LD
YOU AREN’T FROM AROUND HERE ARE YOU BOY?
A combination of hurricanes and floods and the Houston media has sometimes painted a picture of Liberty County citizens as dumb toothless hicks who have all built our houses in a flood plane. It is a misconception that is reinforced ever so often when during an emergency in Liberty County the bright lights of the TV cameras find someone coming out of a non air conditioned house that has had little sleep and no bath or hot food. Most of us laugh at how wrong the picture is that is implied by these reports.
The image District Attorney Mike Little is giving Liberty County is not near as funny however. Little’s lack of action in the Joe Warren case will cast a shadow on the way Liberty County is viewed that has long lasting and serious consequences.
Little’s decision to not only keep Joe Warren on the clock and pay him while he prepares to answer charges of tampering with a witness and threatening someone with a deadly weapon makes Liberty County look like a town some people may choose to find an alternate route around. But his decision to allow Joe Warren to actually handle prosecutions may make us a county where criminals end up getting to drive right out of the jail parking lot and rejoin our community.
Little seems to be saying to anyone who questions why he is protecting Joe Warren at the expense of protecting justice, “You aren’t from around here are you boy?”
His glib attitude about such a serious matter really reflects on us all. Accepting a justice system that does not require people to at least be on administrative leave that have been arrested and are charged with such serious crimes, will speak volumes to those who watch Houston channels and local news.
People hearing about Joe Warren and his continued work with the D.A.’s office while under the cloud of investigation himself might wonder who else in the courtroom is charged with criminal behavior. The bailiff maybe? The Judge? They could even imagine a circumstance where Warren is prosecuting someone charged with the same thing he is charged with, or maybe something much less serious.
Defendants in cases might workout a legal angle and try and get their case turned over on the basis of Joe Warren’s participation. Many of us have to wonder about the expense in dollars and the cost in justice Mike Little is exposing us all to. And for what? Is Little trying to influence Joe Warren’s jury by openly supporting him to such an extent?
Next flood when a camera is stuck in front of one of Liberty County’s finest, maybe it will capture someone who is dressed nicely and who is well spoken. But even if one of the Houston channels does focus in on someone like that, the reporter could harden back to this time and ask about when Joe Warren was allowed to investigate and prosecute people while he himself was under investigation. And that person will be left with Little’s defense, “You aren’t from around here are you boy?”
The damage from storms and floods can be unavoidable. So can the damage caused by troubled employees. We are asking you again Mr. Little; please sideline Mr. Warren until he has faced a jury of his peers. Please do your job.
A combination of hurricanes and floods and the Houston media has sometimes painted a picture of Liberty County citizens as dumb toothless hicks who have all built our houses in a flood plane. It is a misconception that is reinforced ever so often when during an emergency in Liberty County the bright lights of the TV cameras find someone coming out of a non air conditioned house that has had little sleep and no bath or hot food. Most of us laugh at how wrong the picture is that is implied by these reports.
The image District Attorney Mike Little is giving Liberty County is not near as funny however. Little’s lack of action in the Joe Warren case will cast a shadow on the way Liberty County is viewed that has long lasting and serious consequences.
Little’s decision to not only keep Joe Warren on the clock and pay him while he prepares to answer charges of tampering with a witness and threatening someone with a deadly weapon makes Liberty County look like a town some people may choose to find an alternate route around. But his decision to allow Joe Warren to actually handle prosecutions may make us a county where criminals end up getting to drive right out of the jail parking lot and rejoin our community.
Little seems to be saying to anyone who questions why he is protecting Joe Warren at the expense of protecting justice, “You aren’t from around here are you boy?”
His glib attitude about such a serious matter really reflects on us all. Accepting a justice system that does not require people to at least be on administrative leave that have been arrested and are charged with such serious crimes, will speak volumes to those who watch Houston channels and local news.
People hearing about Joe Warren and his continued work with the D.A.’s office while under the cloud of investigation himself might wonder who else in the courtroom is charged with criminal behavior. The bailiff maybe? The Judge? They could even imagine a circumstance where Warren is prosecuting someone charged with the same thing he is charged with, or maybe something much less serious.
Defendants in cases might workout a legal angle and try and get their case turned over on the basis of Joe Warren’s participation. Many of us have to wonder about the expense in dollars and the cost in justice Mike Little is exposing us all to. And for what? Is Little trying to influence Joe Warren’s jury by openly supporting him to such an extent?
Next flood when a camera is stuck in front of one of Liberty County’s finest, maybe it will capture someone who is dressed nicely and who is well spoken. But even if one of the Houston channels does focus in on someone like that, the reporter could harden back to this time and ask about when Joe Warren was allowed to investigate and prosecute people while he himself was under investigation. And that person will be left with Little’s defense, “You aren’t from around here are you boy?”
The damage from storms and floods can be unavoidable. So can the damage caused by troubled employees. We are asking you again Mr. Little; please sideline Mr. Warren until he has faced a jury of his peers. Please do your job.
Dear LD,
I enjoyed your recent story regarding the actions of Constable Pct. 6 Royce Wheeler and his deputies in how they took $10,000 from two black men traveling through Liberty County. It just proved one more time how the Mike Little cartel can ruin the lives of innocent people who in this case their only crime was being black and traveling through Liberty County at night.
There was one ray of hope in this story and that was the action of 75th District Court Judge Mark Morefield when he stood up to the Little cartel and gave the Lawson brothers their money back. We all know that if Judge Rusty Hight would have still been Judge these men from Ohio would have never got their money back.
My family and I are proud to have voted for Judge Morefield .and we pray that he will continue his good work.
Proud Republican Voter
There was one ray of hope in this story and that was the action of 75th District Court Judge Mark Morefield when he stood up to the Little cartel and gave the Lawson brothers their money back. We all know that if Judge Rusty Hight would have still been Judge these men from Ohio would have never got their money back.
My family and I are proud to have voted for Judge Morefield .and we pray that he will continue his good work.
Proud Republican Voter
Dear Liberty Dispatch,
I am reading and observing a general theme on here about places to cut county government’s expenses. May I point out no serious attempt to keep government services and cut expenses can be made without including dead weight.
Connie Paintsil appears to me to be that dead weight I refer to. She has had an interesting work history you might want to investigate if she survives the budget cuts. She worked for the City of Liberty in the collections department where rumors and concerns about cash payments of city bills were never proven to have been stolen by any particular person. She worked for the City of Liberty Police Department as a dispatcher where rumors and concerns about someone giving tips to drug dealers before raids were never proven to be any particular person.
Now Connie Paintsil works for the county down in the basement and I really could not tell you what she does to justify getting a paycheck. Besides apparently being sponsored by the taxpayers, Commissioner Todd Fontenot seems to have had an unusually protective attitude towards Paintsil. Of course, Paintsill is rumored to be a key person in organizing a get-out-the-vote effort for Democrats and Todd Fontenot is a Democrat. Figure that!
Could we please cut out the spoils system where the way we have done business around here for years is to use taxpayer money to reward people and give them resources so they can elect the people who make sure they have a position? Paintsil needs to go. While on the clock Fontenot needs to take care of the people’s business instead of his own.
Concerned Taxpayer
Connie Paintsil appears to me to be that dead weight I refer to. She has had an interesting work history you might want to investigate if she survives the budget cuts. She worked for the City of Liberty in the collections department where rumors and concerns about cash payments of city bills were never proven to have been stolen by any particular person. She worked for the City of Liberty Police Department as a dispatcher where rumors and concerns about someone giving tips to drug dealers before raids were never proven to be any particular person.
Now Connie Paintsil works for the county down in the basement and I really could not tell you what she does to justify getting a paycheck. Besides apparently being sponsored by the taxpayers, Commissioner Todd Fontenot seems to have had an unusually protective attitude towards Paintsil. Of course, Paintsill is rumored to be a key person in organizing a get-out-the-vote effort for Democrats and Todd Fontenot is a Democrat. Figure that!
Could we please cut out the spoils system where the way we have done business around here for years is to use taxpayer money to reward people and give them resources so they can elect the people who make sure they have a position? Paintsil needs to go. While on the clock Fontenot needs to take care of the people’s business instead of his own.
Concerned Taxpayer
THE RADER/DIAZ MODEL IS BEST
One of the most encouraging benefits of years of conservatives working to break up the Democrats’ good ole boy system in Liberty County is the efforts we are hearing from County Judge Craig McNair. One of the most recent items up for review is being smarter with taxpayer money by turning the clock back to when we just had 4 justices of the peace and four constables like most counties in Texas. Reducing the number of cars and offices and secretaries and maximizing efficiency is an idea that shows respect for the taxpayers and an adherence to good business practices.
I am hopeful this plan to go back to the number of JP’s and Constables we all see in most Texas counties will be implemented. And if is implemented, I hope officials will look at the JP office here in Liberty and model the other three after it. The JP office here in Liberty is a model of efficiency and professionalism. It handles more cases and runs a court with few complaints. This court actually brings in a great deal more funds than it pays out in expenses. It has the most active JP in the county and its business is done in a manner that makes one proud to be from here.
Managing the office on a daily basis, JP #1 has the knowledgeable and more than capable Darla Diaz. She helps organize and schedule the business surrounding the best JP court in the county. If the lines designating territories for JP offices change to reduce the number of JP’s from six to four change, it would only make sense to keep the court where it is in the county seat and close one of the rural area courts and it would make sense to hope that Mrs. Diaz continues to serve where she is now.
In fact, it may be best to make the new territories coincide with the commissioner territories. Of course, because of the census, these lines are up for review. This would be a tremendous opportunity to redraw these lines that were gerrymandered by Todd Fontenot and others, and create areas that consider the taxpayer and use efficiency and respect for the taxpayers in the rubric guiding decisions.
Favoring consolidation of the JP and Constable offices is no way meant to cast a negative shadow on all of the offices across the county or to take joy in any upstanding public servant’s sudden unemployment. People, like longtime JP Ronnie Davis, may retire or he may run again and simply work from the Liberty court and office in the annex. Others may not have that option, but good public servants should be the first applicants considered for other jobs in local government positions.
Richard Pegues, Contributor
Note: LD Reported on Diaz a month ago.
I am hopeful this plan to go back to the number of JP’s and Constables we all see in most Texas counties will be implemented. And if is implemented, I hope officials will look at the JP office here in Liberty and model the other three after it. The JP office here in Liberty is a model of efficiency and professionalism. It handles more cases and runs a court with few complaints. This court actually brings in a great deal more funds than it pays out in expenses. It has the most active JP in the county and its business is done in a manner that makes one proud to be from here.
Managing the office on a daily basis, JP #1 has the knowledgeable and more than capable Darla Diaz. She helps organize and schedule the business surrounding the best JP court in the county. If the lines designating territories for JP offices change to reduce the number of JP’s from six to four change, it would only make sense to keep the court where it is in the county seat and close one of the rural area courts and it would make sense to hope that Mrs. Diaz continues to serve where she is now.
In fact, it may be best to make the new territories coincide with the commissioner territories. Of course, because of the census, these lines are up for review. This would be a tremendous opportunity to redraw these lines that were gerrymandered by Todd Fontenot and others, and create areas that consider the taxpayer and use efficiency and respect for the taxpayers in the rubric guiding decisions.
Favoring consolidation of the JP and Constable offices is no way meant to cast a negative shadow on all of the offices across the county or to take joy in any upstanding public servant’s sudden unemployment. People, like longtime JP Ronnie Davis, may retire or he may run again and simply work from the Liberty court and office in the annex. Others may not have that option, but good public servants should be the first applicants considered for other jobs in local government positions.
Richard Pegues, Contributor
Note: LD Reported on Diaz a month ago.
WHY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE RADER IS SO HARD TO REPLACE
If rumors are true that Justice of the Peace Bobby Rader will be running for another office, then it is time to start considering who Republicans would want to replace him with. Conservatives need to be prepared to fill these lower court positions because many things happen at this level of the justice system.
First let’s stipulate that conservatives should not be satisfied with replacing Judge Rader with someone who has any connections to Obama. If some has any affiliation with the Democrats while Obama has been their leader, conservatives should not be willing to hear any psychobabble about “conservative Democrats” or voting in the 2010 Democratic primary because so their local vote could count. In the 2010 elections if you voted in the Democratic primary you may be a fine human being and qualified for many things, but running in the Republican primary and being qualified for conservatives’ votes is not one of them. Anyone running for this position is running to replace a man that ran as a Republican when it almost assured his defeat. No one should be able to count on conservative votes to replace Judge Rader who can’t prove they have at least a modicum of the courage he had when he first won office.
Second, the next JP for JP#1 needs to be a hard worker. Sure we have heard about some JP’s who do not work hard and some who spend most of their energy on other jobs, but to replace Judge Rader will require a go getter. Rader is at the jail almost every morning before 5:00 in the morning. He keeps a clean docket. He even handles matters for other judges. I don’t want to hear any misleading nonsense about the Judge running an insurance agency at the same time. He is the exception to what is usually true about JP’s and Constables have two jobs. His record speaks for itself. Lazy candidates need not apply. They will never fill the Judge’s shoes.
Third, the next JP here in Liberty needs to be someone who can handle the type of work the job includes and the inconvenience the job often is. Judge Rader consistently holds court, but in addition his work and his dedication to it include many phone calls in the middle of the night and looking at many gruesome sights. It requires someone who is tough, but also someone who is sensitive to the heartaches and personal tragedies of people that live in this community. I will never forget Bobby Rader looking me in the eye and consoling me over my Mother’s death after her heart attack. He had to be there to pronounce her dead. He has had to tell parents that their kids were caught with a boatload of drugs and he has had to tell husbands that their wife and child were dead on impact in a car wreck. Whoever replaces Judge Rader needs to be a special person. Whoever replaces him should not be some one who woke up one day and thought being a JP would be a neat job that pays pretty well and gives you plenty of time to do other things. We have other JP’s like that and we don’t need another one.
Finally, the next JP needs to be well thought of that when the JP areas are consolidated from 6 in Liberty County to 4, that voters will want for Judge Rader’s replacement to continue their work and be the JP in the consolidates area. JP’s and Constables from this point forward need to pass the test of voters and be seen as the 5:00 AM type of employees that keep their dockets caught up rather than the kind of employees that hire assistants or pawn their workload off on others.
The last Republican meeting I went to there were at least two people attending that are drooling over JP and Constable Jobs. They both need to consider running as Democrats because many of us have no intentions of growing the Republican Party by sitting quietly while people who clearly do not fit the profile above try to win the Republican primary. Sycophants and RINO’s will be identified and life will be dedicated to keeping people who should not be holding public office from winning elections.
Richard Pegues – Liberty Dispatch Contributor
First let’s stipulate that conservatives should not be satisfied with replacing Judge Rader with someone who has any connections to Obama. If some has any affiliation with the Democrats while Obama has been their leader, conservatives should not be willing to hear any psychobabble about “conservative Democrats” or voting in the 2010 Democratic primary because so their local vote could count. In the 2010 elections if you voted in the Democratic primary you may be a fine human being and qualified for many things, but running in the Republican primary and being qualified for conservatives’ votes is not one of them. Anyone running for this position is running to replace a man that ran as a Republican when it almost assured his defeat. No one should be able to count on conservative votes to replace Judge Rader who can’t prove they have at least a modicum of the courage he had when he first won office.
Second, the next JP for JP#1 needs to be a hard worker. Sure we have heard about some JP’s who do not work hard and some who spend most of their energy on other jobs, but to replace Judge Rader will require a go getter. Rader is at the jail almost every morning before 5:00 in the morning. He keeps a clean docket. He even handles matters for other judges. I don’t want to hear any misleading nonsense about the Judge running an insurance agency at the same time. He is the exception to what is usually true about JP’s and Constables have two jobs. His record speaks for itself. Lazy candidates need not apply. They will never fill the Judge’s shoes.
Third, the next JP here in Liberty needs to be someone who can handle the type of work the job includes and the inconvenience the job often is. Judge Rader consistently holds court, but in addition his work and his dedication to it include many phone calls in the middle of the night and looking at many gruesome sights. It requires someone who is tough, but also someone who is sensitive to the heartaches and personal tragedies of people that live in this community. I will never forget Bobby Rader looking me in the eye and consoling me over my Mother’s death after her heart attack. He had to be there to pronounce her dead. He has had to tell parents that their kids were caught with a boatload of drugs and he has had to tell husbands that their wife and child were dead on impact in a car wreck. Whoever replaces Judge Rader needs to be a special person. Whoever replaces him should not be some one who woke up one day and thought being a JP would be a neat job that pays pretty well and gives you plenty of time to do other things. We have other JP’s like that and we don’t need another one.
Finally, the next JP needs to be well thought of that when the JP areas are consolidated from 6 in Liberty County to 4, that voters will want for Judge Rader’s replacement to continue their work and be the JP in the consolidates area. JP’s and Constables from this point forward need to pass the test of voters and be seen as the 5:00 AM type of employees that keep their dockets caught up rather than the kind of employees that hire assistants or pawn their workload off on others.
The last Republican meeting I went to there were at least two people attending that are drooling over JP and Constable Jobs. They both need to consider running as Democrats because many of us have no intentions of growing the Republican Party by sitting quietly while people who clearly do not fit the profile above try to win the Republican primary. Sycophants and RINO’s will be identified and life will be dedicated to keeping people who should not be holding public office from winning elections.
Richard Pegues – Liberty Dispatch Contributor
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