Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Democratic Candidates

	SUSAN STRAWN For Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 www.susanstrawn.com
	J.R. MOLINA For Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 Candidate's background

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for all criminal matters in the State of Texas and is composed of a Presiding Judge and eight Judges. The Presiding Judge and eight remaining Judges are elected to "court place positions" in staggered six-year terms by state-wide general election. The court place position has no special significance. The appeal of all cases in which the death penalty has been assessed go directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals from the trial courts. The appeals of all other criminal cases go to one of the fourteen Courts of Appeals in Texas, however, their decisions may also be reviewed by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

To stand for election a person must be at least 35 years of age, a United States and Texas citizen, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law at least 10 years. When a vacancy arises the Governor of Texas may appoint Judges to the Court of Criminal Appeals, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve out the remainder of an unexpired term until the next general election. Like the Texas Supreme Court, the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals are currently all members of the Republican Party. Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas.

Fifth District Court of Appeals Democratic Candidates

	DON B. CHAE For 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 3 www.chaeforjustice.com
	JUDGE DAVID HANSCHEN For 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 6 www.davidforjustice.com
	JUDGE TINA YOO For 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 8 www.judgetinayoo.com

The Texas District Courts of Appeals are distributed in fourteen districts around the state of Texas. The Courts of Appeal have intermediate appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases appealed from district or county courts. Like the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, Justices of the Texas Courts of Appeals are elected to six-year terms by general election. Appeals from Collin, Dallas, Kaufman, Rockwall and Grayson counties (map) are all heard by the 5th District Court of Appeals, which includes one Chief Justice and 12 and twelve other Justices. In the 2008 General Election Democratic Candidates are running for three of those twelve 5th Court of Appeals places. Both civil and criminal appeals are typically heard by a panel of three justices, unless in a particular case an en banc hearing is ordered, in which instance all the justices of that Court hear and consider the case. (Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas)
Click on the Texas District Courts of Appeals
district numbers in the map below.

	Houston Fort Worth Austin San Antonio Dallas Texarkana Amarillo El Paso Beaumont Waco Eastland Tyler Corpus Christi Houston
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Texas Railroad Commission Democratic Candidate

MARK THOMPSON For Texas Railroad Commissioner www.markfortexas.com

There are three individuals who serve together on the Texas Railroad Commission. Railroad Commissioners serve six year terms, with one commissioner seeking state wide election every two years, including this year. The Texas Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining.

As is suggested by its name, the Railroad Commission was initially created to regulate railroads, terminals, wharves and express companies within the state. Pipelines were added to the commission's jurisdiction in 1917, followed by the oil and gas industry in 1919 and gas utilities in 1920.

Effective October 1, 2005, the Railroad Commission of Texas no longer has regulatory authority over railroads, nor does it have jurisdiction over public utility companies.

Collin County Commissioners Court Democratic Candidates

	VICTOR MANUEL For Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 3 www.victor4collincounty.com
	JEAN POWER For Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 4 www.powerforcommissioner.com

The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of County Judge, who presides over a five-member Commissioner's Court. Four Commissioners, each elected to a commissioners precinct representing approximately a quarter of the county's population, serve with the Presiding County Judge on the Commissioners Court. Click the map.

Members of the Collin County Commissioners Court also serve as Trustees of the Collin County Health Care Foundation, Collin County Housing Finance Corporation, and the Collin County Substance Abuse Foundation.

In addition to assuring that county roads are maintained, commissioners vote with the county judge to set the budget for all county departments and adopt a tax rate. The County Commissioners Court also:

• Sets the yearly property tax rate and approves the budget and employment level for the county;
• Sets commissioners and justice of the peace precinct boundaries;
• Calls, conducts and certifies elections, including bond elections;
• Sets employment and benefit policy;
• Establishes long-range thoroughfare, open space, land use, financial and law enforcement/jail needs plans;
• Acquires property for rights-of-way or other uses determined to be in the public's best interest;
• Reviews and approve subdivision platting and wastewater treatment for rural areas;
• Provides rural ambulance services and subsidizes rural fire protection;
• Oversees the construction, maintenance and improvement of county roads and bridges;
• Appoints non-elected department heads and standing committees;
• Supervises and controls the county courthouse, county buildings and facilities;
• Adopts a county budget;
• Determines county tax rates;
• Fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions; and
• Has exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the county.

Your Collin County Commissioner's Court Precinct Number can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card within the box titled "Com."