I am Travis McConnell and I’m running for county commissioner, but I want to take time to write about another of our local races.
I have been an attorney for over a decade and I can tell you that law should have little to do with political party affiliation. And yet, there has been a lot of party politics in our local judge race. There has also been a lot of talk about “experience” and “qualifications.” I have written before about actual experience versus experience that sounds good, but doesn’t really matter.
As Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stated, “I don't know that there are any shortcuts to doing a good job.” To do a good job as judge, one must first have the proper character and decorum to hold the position. In this regard, I believe both candidates are well suited. The other part of doing a good job as judge is having the experience and wisdom that comes from practicing as an attorney, trying cases and getting court room experience to be able to handle the decisions that need to be made quickly and correctly as a judge.
One candidate stands far above the other in terms of this crucial experience. That candidate is Antony Garza. The vast majority of the legal community seems to have rallied behind him, which in and of itself is telling. Moreover, the continued partisan division from the other campaign is inappropriate for a judgeship which demands impartiality towards all, not just those that go to a certain group’s fish dinners. Garza is supported by people on both sides of the aisle and if anything by more Republicans than Democrats, including not just his colleagues, but also former judges and strong members of our community.
