El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99B, No. 20, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 30, 1984 Page: 3 of 42
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Kl Campo Leader-News, El Campo, TX, Wed., May :i0, 1984 Page 3-A
Run-Off Candidates Confront Issues
El>\\ XltDVVl TllltK II
I I IRVIN JR.
(JUS WESSELS JR. HARRY KECK
JOHN ROADES
I» Wil l MIINDI.EK
Candidates for county judge
Why are you qualified for this
particular job?
WUTHRICH: It seems that I have been training for 30 years for this
job. My master’s degree in engineering, my 20 years of construction
and maintenance experience, and my 25 years of experience with ar-
my and private budgeting serve me well in coordinating the work of
the Commissioners Court and supervising the maintenance of the
courthouse and office buildings. My law degree, my experience as
an attorney and as judge and my work in a Harris County court of
law are of great assistance in accomplishing the judge’s duties
quickly and efficiently. My years of experience in other countries
help me to anticipate questions from citizens and take care of their
needs.
IRVIN: Article V of the Constitution establishes the qualifications
for this job. 1 meet these qualifications and more. A law degree is not
a requirement and rightfully so. County business is a big business
and requires management experience. I have been formally trained
in planning and management. I have over 25 years experience in
planning, budget development, and budget implementation as well
as management. I have the added benefit of formal training in
public relations. I have participated in or personally conducted
negotiations with government at local, state and national level over
the past 20 years. My major in formal studies was in government
and political science I attended Texas A & M from 1936 to 1940, com-
pleted undergraduate work at the University of Maryland and at-
tended graduate school at Duquesne University. I am completely
familiar with existing problems particularly the problem of tax
payers and will use my experience to seek relief.
List your reasons for running.
VVUTHRICII:I feel that my training and background uniquely
qualify me for the position and that I can make a real contribution to
county government and my fellow citizens. I am proud of the good
reputation of Wharton County and feel that I can save the county
money, contribute to a lean but efficient government and help build
Wharton County with the proper industry to provide jobs for its
citizenery, while retaining our way of life My aim is to reduce taxes.
IRVIN: For two major reasons: 1) I seriously detest tax abuse and
the waste of tax dollars and 2) I believe it is time for the county judge
to serve the people of the county the law-abiding citizens The im-
position of increased taxes on the taxpayers in the county at a time
when a $3.7 million surplus of tax money exist Collecting taxes in
advance should be unlawful Management procedure based on
realistic planning has completely disappeared The only way that
taxpayers’ rights can Ik* protected and effective services provided is
by developing workable short and long range planning We can have
effective drainage, roads, bridges, parks and other needs with pru
dent, conservative planning and effective management.
Does an attorney make a better
judge? Why or why not?
WTTIIRICII:Yes First, the county judge must preside over
criminal cases < 80 per month > which have attorneys on each side To
be able to conduct the court, he should also be an attorney For pro-
bate court, civil court and mental health commitments, the judge
needs an attorney’s training to fully comprehend and accommodate
the legal implications to insure that no errors are made to place title
to property in jeopardy. Every duty of county government is dic-
tated by law, only an attorney initially has the background
understanding to keep the county from violating laws in their daily
routine
IRVIN: To the contrary The vast majority of county judg«*s are
business-oriented and the number of lawyers serving has sharply
declined in recent years because of this (Qualified and experienced
lawyers have also told me fhat it is very difficult for someone train
ed to bo either a prosecutor or a defender to be object iv e This is not
a fault of the individual but a fault of law schools Ia*gal interpreta
tions and legal bias should not enter into the decision making pro
cess Decisions are based on fact, evidence presented and weighed
using common sense Very few cases in county court either criminal
or civil result in a trial Records reflect that over 98 percent of all
county court trials result in guilty pleas or by fx-mg settled out of
court If the reader w ill refer to the statistics that .ire now apix-anng
in the press provid<*d by the district attorney candidates you ( an im
mediately verify that few county court trials are held
lie Sure To Vote!
Saturday. Jam* 2
W
Candidates for county treasurer
Why are you qualified for (his
particular job?
WESSELS: My qualifications include a degree in accounting from
SWTSU and five years of accounting experience including auditing
experience with a Wharton CPA firm, which has conducted an in-
dependent audit of Wharton County as well as audits of other local
governmental entities. I’ve had varied accounting experience, all of
which utilize compterized accounting systems. I'm also very well
acquainted with the duties of county treasurer, having been ap-
pointed in November, 1983
BECK: I have turned my college education into 33 years of actual
accounting experience, giving me a solid background to efficiently
perform the duties. Having seven years of experience w ith Mobil Oil
Co., using computer product control, and my know ledge of financial
management and investments adds to my qualifications My ac-
counting experience has been out in the business world where
overhead budgets are prepared w ith income and profits the only con-
sideration. I had no room for errors or mismanagement Using com-
mon sense, accounting skills and proven know-how has resulted in
years of proven success and gives me the maturity to represent you
the taxpayer.
Lis( your reasons for running.
WESSELS: Serving as your county treasurer is my fulltime occupa-
tion and I feel as though I’m qualified to serve the voters in a profes-
sional manner and 1 desire to continue to do so. My background in
governmental auditing and accounting experience gives me a solid
foundation and ability to meet the increasing demands of the
treasurer’s office. It is also a pleasure and an honor to serve the jx*o
pie of Wharton County.
BECK: I was shocked to learn the precedent established for the ap-
pointment of county sheriff would be ignored and not even con-
sidered for the treasurer, regardless of similar circumstances
When Rose Flournoy retired, her appointee was asked to take an
oath not to seek election. I offered to do this as treasurer for $1 a
month or any amount considered to be fair, for the few months until
the election. This would give Dorothy Kucera, an employee for nine
years and acting treasurer during Johnnie Vee Bohan’s illness, a
chance to seek election and we would continue to have a woman
represent us officially. You know the rest, it was already decided
and the appointment was made No wonder we have so much voter
apathy There are just too many appointments.
The treasurer has many areas of
responsibility. Explain them.
WESSELS: The treasurer is responsible tor collection ot all
revenues derived from taxes, fines and all other sources as well as
for the disbursement of all funds My duties include recording the
above transactions to the appropriate revenue and expenditure ac-
count I’m also responsible for maintenance as well as preparation
of payroll and personnel records which in itself is a great task due to
the changing legislative and reporting requirements The treasurer
is also responsible for preparing the documents for general obliga-
tion bond issue and is the official charged with payment and
maintenance of all bond issues I’m also serving as federal revenue
sharing coordinator which entails filing detailed reports to the office
of revenue sharing I'm also responsible for investing all funds
BE( K: The treasurer has custody of the finances, receives and at
counts for monies from all sources and designates depositories and
disburses funds as directed by Commissioners Court The treasurer
must keep a true account of all transactions and keep the Court in
formed at each regular session of court The treasurer must fx- Ixmd
n>d in the amount which Commissioners Court feels is adequate but
not less than the minimum required by law The treasurer may pro
secute according to the law to recover any debts due the county and
do all in the power of the office to lx- sure all collecting officials are
accounting for all funds received by them
WEssEl.s My office is currently staffed by myself and three
assistants and is functioning quite well considering the fact we have
taken over payroll and personnel and preparation as well as
dishursemnt of all a< < ounts jiayahlc as was desired by the < omtnis
seiners Court I will add additional personnel nnlv if I deem it
ne< ess.irv to el(e< tiv elv accomplish my dut u*s as | m ll vilig to kr*ep
the cost of mv office to the taxpaver at the lowest level jms>ih|e
Four years from now additional st.df may or may not fie n-quired
defending on many variable fhercfore I w ill approach staffing of
mv offm e one tnidget vcar at a tunc
KM K I all or' tb< '!! 1 ' pi "|X'r I v bitdgcted |l eert we flow
have three employe* instead <4 only one a we had for veaf I plan
to roll up mv sleeve and go to work for von and not just U ,i
prestigious liguretiead in It** office t feel I ran hold tlx budget III
lux for at least tour years Aitft the allowance for normal >r■ fI.•
ternary items I will do the hv working just ,is hard in office a I
have in my < ainpaign
I *
Candidates for district attorney
What are your reasons for running
for (his office?
ROADES: I am running for district attorney because I want to con-
tinue to serve the people of El Campo and this district The people
need the most qualified and experienced person available to be their
district attorney An inexperienced prosecutor will make many
mistakes which will result in criminals not getting the punishment
they deserve. 1 have devoted my career to being a prosecutor and to
trying to make the criminal justice system serve the public better
than it has in the past I am proud of my record and the many im-
provements that have been made in a very short period of time 1 en-
joy this work and request the opportunity to continue with a full four-
year term.
SIIINDI.ER: First of all, to bring back strong criminal prosecution.
It's time that the criminal justice system paid special attention to
the victim of a crime Further we need speedy prosecution of all
felony cases, including drug pushers
Do you think the DA investigator,
a non-attorney, should plea
bargain with defendants?
ROADES: The practice of the investigator being in charge ot plea
bargaining decisions ended when 1 took otfice on May 31, 1983.
Before I became district attorney one year ago, the DA investigator
had complete authority over cases including plea bargaining.
When I became district attorney I immediately took charge of all
cases, including plea bargaining. The investigator continues to
discuss the cases w ith defendants and their attorneys and is allowed
to explain my suggestions to them This is a part of gathering in for
motion which is a major function of the investigator But fie
reports to me and I make the decisions.
SHINDLEK: Plea bargaining should be done by the district at-
torney. The DA investigator should be used as an investigator, for
example that office could lend assistance to our law enforcement of-
ficers in the area of drug enforcement.
What plans do you have to make
sure more lawbreakers reeeive
just punishment?
ROADES: I will continue with what I have begun this first year as
district attorney The district attorney’s office is now run in a
business like manner Sound management and hard work have im-
proved the efficiency and performance of tins office Com (tare to
day s lawbreaker with a lawbreaker one year ago Today's
lawbreaker is twice as likely to go to prison, if he received proba
lion, then his fine will be three times higher, the number of years of
probation will be doubled and he is three times more likely to have
his probation revoked and lie sent to prison I have prosecuted more
lawbreakers than ever before, which means that more lawbreakers
are being punished than ever before And because I have not ex
jiected our county attorney to do my work for me. he has more time
to work on his misdemeanor cases I w ill continue working to reduce
delays in the court system because older cases are less likely to fx*
successfully prosecuted
SIIINDI.ER Each and every criminal case requires careful evalua
tion. whether the crime occurs in our cities, small towns or rural
areas.
W ho derides to bold a jury (rial?
State your position on jury (rials.
ROXDEN: I believe we need more jury trials and wili have more
jury trials in the future In the first five months of this year we have
already selected as many trial juries in Wharton County as m any
year since at least 1976 'and we still have seven months left m this
year ' I enjoy try mg cases to juries and am glad that the courts will
be able to handle more trials tins year I he I exas ( <*le of < ninirial
Procedure gi\r*s the defendant and the defendant onl\ the r ight to a
jury trial Thus a jury trial is field unless the defendant give up this
right Contrary to what m> opponent says thedi inct atturnev doe
not have a right to a jury trial VWiy not'' Because the distnct at
tornev is not permitted to appeal the defendant de< i ion to w.iim
give up a trial by jury
s|||NIII I R I here ate lar ton lew jury trial Ita dislr m t atioi ix
ti.i < ontrol of the criminal d<x ket If hi oiler a lenient enterx >
defendants Will seldom Dxjliest a trial Jill V trial all in > i at
tx i an e i rirnihuls rx*ed to know il '(xv < orninit a < r ilia tlx ill lx
trad' \s it is now thev know 'hcv call (ilea hatgaii
Do you feel (lie office U
adequately staffed?
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99B, No. 20, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 30, 1984, newspaper, May 30, 1984; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1017424/m1/3/: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.