By Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-537450.mp3
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: Both candidates call this one of the county's most important contests in a town plagued by the nation's worst big-city crime rate. Campaigning's been mostly low-key though, like this civil exchange at a Northeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Toby Shook, candidate, Prosecutor in DA's office: My name's Toby Shook, I'm running for District Attorney. Law enforcement does a good job of catching criminals here in Dallas County. But they're only half the equation. The other half of the equation is what happens once cases are filed at the district attorney's office? That's why I think it's such an important race.
Zeeble: Shook says he's the best choice, with 23 years experience in the DA's office as a prosecutor, mentor, & leader, and because of his plan to bolster neighborhood security through community outreach. Craig Watkins, a defense attorney who lost to Bill Hill four years ago, says it's time for a change in the DA's office, because the tough-on-crime approach hasn't worked.
Craig Watkins, Dallas County DA hopeful: I think the job of District Attorney is not only to prosecute those individuals that commit crimes, but also to represent the citizens of Dallas county in preventing it from happening. And we can do that by addressing the underlying issues as to why they commit crimes. And why do people commit crimes?
Zeeble: Because, Watkins says, they may be uneducated, on drugs, mentally ill, or lacking values. He'd harshly prosecute violent criminals, but work to educate and rehabilitate low-level law-breakers. Instead of hardening them in jail where they'd become better criminals, he says they should get training, then jobs, and contribute to society. Watkins says his approach could lower county crime by 40 percent. Toby Shook backers aren't convinced. In Dallas' Cloisters neighborhood near White Rock Lake, Shook and volunteers are knocking on doors, seeking support. He meets equity investor Jim Nadalini, who already knew about Shook from police officers who'd campaigned for him.
Jim Nadalini, Equity Investor: I think if police are supporting the person, and he's been in the D.A.'s office, those are some positive signs.
Zeeble: Felony prosecutor Brandon McCarthy, in the D.A.'s office, is walking with Shook to help him win.
Brandon McCarthy, Felony Prosecutor D.A.'s Office: He's the type of guy who works with us, mentors us. Which , you know, he doesn't have to. A lot of people don't see that. Craig Watkins, nice guy, I know him. But he's a bail bondsman, he's a defense attorney. If you haven't been a prosecutor, ever, you know. If he's never been a prosecutor, never prosecuted a felony case in his life, that's a little unsettling.
Zeeble: Also unsettling to some are reports that Watkins owes taxes on his business and is embroiled in several lawsuits. Watkins dismisses those problems , saying they're just part of running a business like his. As for his qualifications, Watkins says he went to law school to be a lawyer, not a prosecutor or defender. He knows both sides of the law, which he says, is invaluable for the job. At a recent Democratic fish fry, hotel worker Gary Garcia, explained why he's fed up with those like Toby Shook and the Dallas D.A.'s office.
Gary Garcia, hotel worker: Toby Shook was part of that debacle - the cocaine - where they sent innocent people to jail and didn't prosecute the police officer to the full extent of the law. So that's why I'm for Craig Watkins. I want that discrimination to stop.
Zeeble: Garcia is referring to a fake drug scandal that rocked the Dallas Police Department and D.A.s office after several Mexican immigrants were falsely accused of drug dealing. Eventually, some 48 drug defendants were released, and 69 cases dismissed. Shook says he's the one who took over the investigation in the DA's office that finally put undercover officer Mark Delapaz in jail following an earlier acquittal. Whether a majority of voters believe Shook is unclear
Cal Jillson, SMU Political Science professor: I think it's too close to call
Zeeble: Cal Jillson is a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. He expects votes for the D.A. will split along racial, and north - south lines. Shook is White, seeking North Dallas voters who remember famed law and order prosecutor Henry Wade, Shook's mentor. Watkins is Black, hoping for high turnout in South Dallas where many minorities have had brushes with the law.
Jillson: You've got Toby Shook, essentially saying, I'll continue to march. If you liked what you saw from Henry Wade and from Bill Hill you'll like what you see from me. That's a north Dallas appeal.
And you've got Craig Watkins saying I plan to really make very significant changes in the D.A.'s office.
Zeeble; As always, election day turnout will make the difference, and both candidates say they'll work hard to get their voters to the polls. Cheryl Smith, Executive Editor of The Dallas Weekly, that predominantly serves minority readers, says another issue unrelated to this race may influence its outcome. She says she's seen a big push for the 1.35 billion dollar bond proposal in the southern sector
Cheryl Smith, Executive Editor, Dallas Weekly: If there's a huge - if a bond election actually gets a lot of voters out out, it could be a positive for the Democratic candidate.
Zeeble: Cal Jillson says this'll be an important political year, as he expects a resurgence across the country for Democrats. Dallas, he says, is on the knife's edge. And while he adds that voter trends here will also, eventually, favor more Democrats, this may not yet be the year for a Democratic D.A. Election day is Tuesday November 7th. Early voting continues through November 3rd. For KERA 90.1 I'm Bill Zeeble.
bzeeble@kera.org