Why did you decide to seek this office?

Wise County is my home. I grew up here, attended school here, and played football here. I decided to seek the office of Wise County Attorney at a point in my legal career where I have the necessary legal experience and community involvement to effect positive changes in the future of Wise County.

Please identify a major issue dealing with the position you are seeking and your solutions or views about that issue. Please be as specific as possible.

Wise County growth is phenomenal and our growing county deserves the highest level of dedication to law enforcement, local merchants, and citizens.

I believe that our law enforcement professionals deserve the very best from the County Attorney, including time and effort dedicated to legal training programs and absolute 24/7 availability for legal assistance.

Local merchants deserve a public forum to voice their concerns. Only through a public forum can the concerns of merchants be fully addressed. The dedication of the County Attorney to helping local merchants reduce theft and hot checks is mandatory.

Every citizen should know the Wise County Attorney and their assistant. I don't just mean knowing their name, but really know them. This requires being very involved in the community and participation in public forums to address citizen concerns. This also requires the County Attorney to be extensively involved in community activities outside the office.

What experience qualifies you to serve in the position you seek?

It took me almost nine years, but after a year with the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco, I finally returned to Wise County in the Summer of 2001. Since that time I have handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases, including several trials in both the County Court at Law and District Court. I have also handled many cases for the current Wise County Attorney, Greg Lowery, including misdemeanor criminal cases, protective orders, and justice court cases.

The office of the County Attorney does not only prosecute misdemeanor cases and collect hot checks. The County Attorney is the chief legal advisor to Wise County and, to be truly effective, the County Attorney must have extensive experience in civil litigation and family law. During the past six years, I have represented Wise County citizens in divorce, custody, protective orders, and enforcement actions. I have also been given the opportunity to represent several local merchants in civil actions.

Although legal experience is important in the office of Wise County Attorney, involvement in our community is equally, if not more, important. I continue to stay involved in our county through the Wise County Teen Court, Wise County Domestic Violence Task Force, and Wise Youth Today Magazine. I would not consider myself a good candidate for Wise County Attorney unless I had taken time outside of work and given back to the county.

If elected, what will be your most important goal?

My most important goal is to set a new standard for dedication and involvement to law enforcement, local merchants, and Wise County citizens.