Posted on 12/29/2006 11:46:40 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
First Democrat to hold spot since '86 has said he plans no major overhaul
DALLAS — The newly elected Dallas County district attorney fired eight of his top prosecutors, and at least nine others are resigning before he assumes the post on Monday.
Craig Watkins, the county's first black district attorney and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1986, sent termination notices to the eight prosecutors Wednesday.
Watkins' election in November was part of a Democratic resurgence in Dallas County that saw the party take 42 judicial races and six other countywide offices. Watkins, a longtime defense attorney, has said he does not plan a major overhaul of the office and that employees who share his philosophy will be welcomed.
"I do not have a comment, and (Watkins) is still enjoying his holiday," said Watkins' campaign manager, Gloria James.
Those receiving pink slips included Gary Arey, the head of the juvenile division; Howard Blackmon, the head of family violence and child abuse prosecutors; and Tom D'Amore, who oversees nine felony courts as a division chief.
D'Amore said he was surprised by his termination because Watkins had told him his job was safe.
"I feel I did a good job for the DA's office, and I'll do a good job wherever I end up," D'Amore said.
Watkins also fired the office's chief prosecutor of child abuse cases, the public integrity chief and two deputy chiefs for misdemeanors. Watkins delivered the termination notices to retiring District Attorney Bill Hill, who notified the affected employees personally.
One of the prosecutors who's leaving the office voluntarily is Toby Shook, the felony trial bureau chief who lost to Watkins in the Nov. 7 election.
I live in the Dallas suburbs and I can tell you that the City of Dallas has lost it's way. Last I heard, I don't think violent crime is too bad but crime in general is one of the worst in the nation. Most conservatives have fled to the outlying areas where you can still go for a walk after dark. The mayor is a joke. I never go downtown unless it's to a Stars or Mavericks game. It's a shame. I still love being in Texas but I'm no longer proud of the city in which I was raised.
Too true, too true............
Pretty much. I did a comparison with other large metro areas, and Dallas seems to be a crime ridden area. They make LA look like kindergarten.
Dems sweep 42 judicial races and 6 other county wide offices
The GOP took Dallas County in 1986 and held it for 20 years
Thanks for the link. If his past was that bad ... the future doesn't look rosy.
Do you suppose that it was the demographics within the city that got him elected? Or did he promise some sort of "law & order" pledge?
BTW: Welcome to FreeRepublic!
Goody goody republicans just do not understand...this IS war!
They think politics is just some sort of game or hoby played for social status within their crowd. Democrats see politics as a war to gain control of the culture and law of this land.
Democrats want power.
Republicans want prestige (which means they lose their prestige if they play too "unfair")
Wow. You just described Detroit.
Dallas Population: 1188580
Male Population: 598991
Female Population: 589589
Households: 451833
Median Age: 30
Average Household Size: 2.5
Good!! That's the way it should be. If Bush had it to do over I bet he would have purged the State Dept. the FBI and CIA, US Atty's office of all non civil service political appointees. Instead Bush came in saying he's a good guy and they turned around and screwed him. Hope the Pubbies learn a lesson and start growing a back bone, I'm afraid they'll continue to be "wussies".
Democrats are smarter about holding power than Republicans. Of course he's going to purge. Any sane officeholder would.
Leave it to Republicans to win the office, but keep the rat infested infrastructure that was there before he got there, and will be there undermining him the entire term, and will be there screwing the public when he is eventually replaced by a Democrat.
I can't parse parce...
Exactly. The voters spoke, so turn out the trash.
I would expect no less from an incoming Republican.
I think your addl figures indicate that 20% of the male population of Dallas is committing 1.5 crimes each or there are a huge number of repeat offenders loose on the streets of Dallas.
In the absence of malfeasance claims by the new DA, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume these are strictly Democrat-tribe vs. Republican-tribe terminations. Which suggests that this guy's focus is on party and perks, rather than on crime. The fact that he was a defense attorney does not discourage me in this prejudice.
I conclude that this clown and the city of Dallas will be rewarded with a skyrocketing crime rate, for which the DA will blame everyone except himself and the criminals. Just call me Nostra-freaking-damus.
Oh, no.. you are far from alone. All the people thinking there is no difference between Hillary and any of our GOP candidates has no clue about what Hillary did to the FBI, Justice, State, IRS, etc.
I'm afraid he described almost every liberal large city in the country, with the possible exception of NYC (thanks to Rudy G)...
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