VOL 3 No. 14
Phone: 281-980-6745 PRSRT STD
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID STAFFORD, TX PERMIT NO.10
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010
FBISD board position 7 race: Babb versus Hawkins
Attacks galore in DA race By SESHADRI KUMAR Early voting in the runoff election for the party primaries began Monday and it will last until Friday. The runoff election day is Tuesday, April 13. In Fort Bend County, in the Republican primary, the notable race is that of District Attorney. Incumbent John Healey faces Nina Schaefer in this race. Other Republican runoff elections include Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3, Rick Green and Debra Lehrmann; Member, State Board of Education, District 10, Marsha Farney and Brian Russell; and Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2, Gary A. Geick and Mary S. Ward. In the Democratic Party primary, the only runoff race is for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 and the candidates are Aurelia Moore and R. J. Blue. In the March 2 Republican Party primary for DA, Healey was the front runner with 12,743 votes or 47 percent of the votes polled. Schaefer followed with 8,929 votes or 33 percent, while the third candidate, Richard Raymond got 5,445 votes or 20 percent. While Healey has been campaigning on his distinguished performance as DA for 17 years and as assistant district attorney earlier, for 11 years, his opponents campaigned on change and sought to paint Healey as a failure.
178 FBISD teachers to be laid off
By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend ISD has sent letters to 85 certified regular teachers and 93 special education teachers under its “Reduction in force” program, saying their contracts will not be renewed for next year following the declaration of financial exigency. After the April 12 board meeting (when the board will be asked to approve the recommended RIFs) an employee can request a non-renewal hearing and he/she can present information to the Board in an effort to appeal the decision. The only basis for overturning the RIF would be if the process (the criteria) was not followed. The district will begin the identification process of noncertified staff who may be included in the RIF after the April 12 board meeting, according to district spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson. Over the next several weeks, as vacancies become available for which the teachers are certified, the district will plug them back in appropriately, Simpson said. Whether or not an employee resigns, RIF employees will be eligible for unemployment, she said.
Healey Healey oversees more than 40 prosecutors who handle thousands of cases every year and about 10,000 cases last year including felony, capital murder, and juvenile cases. The critical issue this race is that of comparative experience, Healey says. In a campaign mailer, Schaefer listed a litany of negatives against Healey, including a statement that Healey had tried only one case as DA in the last 15 years. Healey says the negative attack and twisting of facts showed a sign of desperation on his opponent’s part. “I have handled more than 3,000 cases, both criminal and juvenile and tried successfully 50 felony cases, as prosecutor,” Healey says. “I have done every job in the district attorney’s office a prosecutor could do and I draw on that experience to guide 42 prosecutors who work for me. I have drawn on my experience as assistant district attorney time and again to give well founded advice to other prosecutors, including on crucial decisions such as to seek death penalty in a case or not, or to try a juvenile as an adult or not,” Healey says. Healey says the conviction
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Schaefer rate obtained by the Fort Bend County DA’s office exceeded the state average and his department had an outstanding percentage of winning cases in appeals. “While deciding the merits of 10,000 cases, you are bound to make a mistake during the course. But, my opponent cherry picks a case here and there as if those results are symbolic of this office,” Healey says. Schaefer, as a municipal judge, only handled cases involving a fine, Healey says. One need not even be an attorney to become a municipal judge, he says. Schaefer rebuts the charge that she is short on criminal experience. “During my 25 year career as an attorney I have personally handled more than 550 criminal cases and over 100 juvenile cases. And as a judge I have presided over hundreds of jury trials.” Schaefer does not deny Healey’s experience as a prosecutor, but says he did not try cases as DA. “I don’t think elected DA should be in the court room every week. But, the DA should try cases often to keep the skills sharp,” she says. See DA, Page 6
The Quail Valley Backyard Garden Tour is a popular spring tour because of its mature gardens in variety of garden styles and settings. Contained in a relatively small geographical area, you can enjoy all 8 gardens at your leisure without rushing or getting lost. With the past year of gardening challenges including drought and extended freeze, this tour will allow you to visit with experienced gardeners of what worked and didn’t. Each garden offers ideas that will stimulate your imagination as well as offer creative solutions to drainage, storage, privacy, pets, sun and shade, urban fruit and vegetable gardening and creating the look that suits your lifestyle and interests. The “All Potted-Up” Garden Sale contains ready-to-go containers, mounted bromeliads and garden specialty items to add instant zing to your garden. A $10 donation covers the entire April 24 tour. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. come rain or shine. For tickets follow the signs from any Quail Valley entrance, contact Janice Scanlan at 281 261-2320 for advanced tickets or visit http:// traction.typepad.com/QVTour/ for more info and a downloadable tour map.
Babb Jim Babb, a 20 year veteran of the Houston Police Department and a former U.S. Marine is seeking FBISD Board of Trustees Position #7. Gerald D. Hawkins, a medical doctor, is another candidate in the race, being vacated by incumbent David Reitz. Babb, a former D.A.R.E. instructor for elementary and middle school is also a published author. Babb has served as chair-
Hawkins person for the Austin Parkway Elementary PTA and currently serves on the Campus Based Leadership Team (CBLT) for Austin Parkway. As the leader of HPD’s “Blue Crew,” Babb is very active in the community. He has been a repeat recipient of the Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts in the community. He has three daughters (ages 14, 13 & 8) currently attending FBISD schools.
According to Babb, “It is important now, more than ever, that the school board work to •Be a responsible steward of the taxpayer’s money •Prepare our children to effectively compete in the “realworld” environment •Fully support current technology resources, before committing to new, lower priority projects •Enhance teacher morale (via training, benefits & compensation) •Retain & support current FBISD educators & paraprofessionals •Be receptive to community concerns & citizen input •Seek Common Sense solutions to the challenges before us Babb says; “If elected, I will dedicate my efforts to making the FBISD Board of Trustees more reflective of the will, the values and the concerns of the community it serves.” See Race, Page 6
Joining forces to fight child abuse
Exchange Club of Sugar Land and Friends of Child Advocates of Fort Bend have joined forces to blanket the county in blue this April for Child Abuse Prevention Month. On Friday, March 26 Exchange Club of Sugar Land and Friends of Child Advocates kicked off April Child Abuse Prevention Month with their annual Light of Hope Ceremony. The ceremony featured a former foster child who spoke about his experience in the foster care system as well as remarks by 328th Judicial District Judge Ronald Pope and several inspirational songs performed by local recording artist Debbie Fancher and former Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace. In addition, Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s expanded blue ribbon quilt was unveiled. The quilt, spread over the steps of Sugar Land City Hall, was made by volunteers, supporters, members of the
community, Girl Scouts and children served by CAFB. More than 300 area Girl Scouts participated in the ceremony by presenting squares to be added to the quilt. Although child abuse knows no season, April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year’s ceremony is even more significant than in the past because Child Advocates of Fort Bend served 30% more children in 2009 than in 2008. Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s annual fundraising
Gala and Auction will take place on April 10 at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. Themed the Yellow Brick Gala, the event promises to be a fun evening while raising money to support the agency’s programs for abused and neglected children. For reservations or more information contact Kelli Metzenthin at 281-344-5106 or go to www. cafb.org. For more information on how you can become a voice for children contact Dena Jones at 281-344-5130 or log onto www.cafb.org.
10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 www.fbindependent.com Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodical postage application pending. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
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