District Judge Rose Vela's intention to run for the 13th Court of Appeals was well known in local political circles, but her intentions to run as a Republican instead of a Democrat apparently shocked many party stalwarts. One of her reasons for switching parties was to save herself from a bruising primary battle with incumbent Federico "Fred" Hinojosa that might become negative, she said Tuesday. She also said she had established roots in the Republican Party while growing up in a military family, voting for Ronald Reagan for president. The decision still took some soul searching, she said, hoping the...