Jeff Weems one-half years. Jim Sharp Rairoad Commissioner Upon graduating, Jeff began working for Liddell, Supreme Court, Place 3 Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon, a premier firm. Jeff Weems is a named Jeff’s practice focused almost exclusively on energy Justice Jim partner at the Houston litigation litigation. A few years after becoming a partner at Sharp was elected to the firm of Harrison, Bettis, Staff, what was by then known as Locke Liddell & Sapp, First Court of Appeals in McFarland & Weems, L.L.P. Jeff’s Jeff joined Harrison Bettis in 2000 as a partner, November 2008. He practice centers on the energy where he remains today. Jeff’s practice, which previously practiced as a industry; in fact, his whole life has involves the representation of operating compa- general solo practitioner centered on the oil and gas nies, energy service companies, royalty and land for nineteen years, repre- business. owners, has grown more successful each year. senting clients in a wide Following in this Jeff’s recent article on royalty treatment for injected range of matters, tradition of his father and grand- carbon dioxide, co-authored with his law partner encompassing probate, fathers, Jeff began working for Robert Boemer, was published by the Texas Journal civil, criminal, juvenile, energy service companies at of Oil, Gas and Energy Law. Jeff is a member of the and family law. He litigated cases in trial courts across the every opportunity while in high school and college, which State Bar of Texas Sections on Litigation and Oil, Gas and state and prosecuted and defended appeals before the allowed him to pay for his education. Jeff worked on the Mineral Law. He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell, the courts of appeals in Houston, Corpus Christi, and San rigs and as a drilling mud representative. highest rating given out by this preeminent rating organi- Antonio, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Born in Louisiana, Jeff grew up in Houma, Louisi- zation. Supreme Court of Texas. ana before moving to Houston during high school. Jeff Jeff is both a member and a speaker for the Justice Sharp graduated from South Texas attended Rice University and graduated with high honors National Association of Royalty Owners. He is a member College of Law in Houston. While attending night classes from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 with a B.B.A. of the American Petroleum Institute. He is on the Board of at South Texas, he worked full-time as a law clerk for Reyn- in Petroleum Land Management. Advisors for the Institute for Energy Law. Jeff is a Life olds, Allen & Cook; Butler & Binion; Fulbright & Jaworski; After graduating, Jeff went to work for Shell member of the 100 Club, the group that benefits families Hardy, Milutin, & Johns; and The Chaffin Law Firm. Western E&P Inc. as a landman, taking leases throughout of slain policemen and firefighters. He also is a life Fellow An English and Government student at The the United States and negotiating countless complex of the Texas Bar Foundation, the organization that University of Texas at Austin, he worked full-time for the commercial transactions. Later, Jeff left Shell and worked provides a huge portion of the funding for affordable , serving on the House Calendar Clerk’s as an independent landman. In 1987, he enrolled at the legal services throughout Texas. staff, on the Senate Education Committee staff, and as University of Texas School of Law. Jeff lives in Houston with his wife Dinah, and administrative and legislative director to two state repre- In law school, Jeff was selected to be a member serves as the Democratic Precinct Chair for Precinct 274. sentatives. of the prestigious Texas Law Review. He graduated with They have 5 children – Matthew, Kent, Virginia, Heather, Prior to attending law school, Justice Sharp honors from the University of Texas School of Law in and Lindsay. worked for the Washington, D.C. political consulting firm December 1989, completing his studies in only two and of Matt Reese & Associates, where he planned and imple- mented U.S. Senate and gubernatorial campaigns for candidates from Alaska to New Hampshire. Thereafter, he Bill Moody sion, where he worked for greater integrity in Texas served as public relations director for American Income Supreme Court, Place 5 government. In 1986, Bill was appointed to the 34th Life Insurance Co. in New Mexico and Massachusetts and District Court, to which he has been re-elected many was a sales representative for Federal Envelope, a division As a District Judge times. As a District Judge, he has tried over 500 felony and of Champion International Company. who has tried over 500 civil jury trials, including capital murder cases. He was Commissioned in 1986 by Governor Mark White, felony and civil jury trials, also appointed Presiding Judge of the Sixth Judicial Sharp has served as an Admiral of the Texas Navy for more Judge Bill Moody knows Region of Texas by former Governor Ann Richards. For 6 than twenty-three years. He is also a member of the Naval what it takes to dispense years, he was presiding judge of the El Paso Council of Order of the United States and the Texas Navy Associa- justice with integrity and Judges. tion; a member of the Board of Directors of HoustonWorks efficiency – he’s been Judge Bill Moody’s commitment to fairness and USA; a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas; a doing it for over 23 years. impartiality is legendary. State Senator Eliot Shapleigh of Preservation Council Steward of the National Trust for He puts in long hours at the El Paso called Judge Moody, “very highly regarded and Historic Preservation; a donor to the Commit for Life courthouse because he respected. He works well with a wide cross-section of the program of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center; a knows that justice delayed bar.” member of the Irish Society of Houston; an Honorary is justice denied – which is In addition to his dedication to justice, Bill has a Citizen of Father Flanagan’s Boy’s Town, Boy’s Town, why he listens carefully to both sides of the case and keen interest in history and has assisted in producing Nebraska; a Patron of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston; treats everyone who walks into his courtroom with historical novels. He and his wife of thirty-four years have and a patron of Kenneally’s. dignity and respect. four children and are members of St. Matthew’s Catholic Married to Susan Sharp, his wife of 20 years, Jim serves as Bill worked his way through Texas Tech Law Church in El Paso where Judge Moody has been a lector a lector at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houston. School and was a distinguished military graduate in for nearly 20 years. college. He was then commissioned as an officer in the US Army, eventually being honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. Northwest Democrats Bill has fought for justice his entire career, which Campaign Office began as an Assistant District Attorney and later as First Assistant District Attorney of El Paso. In his eleven years as 1101 Broadway a prosecutor, he tried over 100 felony jury trials, including 210-227-VOTE (8683) 30 homicides. He also served on the State Ethics Commis- www.northwestdemocrats.org Blake Bailey Keith Hampton nal Defense Lawyers Association for over 15 Supreme Court, Place 9 Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6 years, appearing before legislative commit- tees as well as serving on the Ad Hoc I have been repre- When elected, Keith Hamp- Committee to Revise the Texas Code of Crimi- senting individuals for 37 ton will be the only judge on the Court nal Procedure, the Legislative Task Force for years both in trial and on who has handled death penalty cases the Rewrite of the Incompetency and Insan- appeal. I am board certified in in all stages of litigation – from accusa- ity Statutes, and the Texas Supreme Court personal injury trial law and tion, trial, appeal and all post- Jury Task Force. He has written and donated a civil appellate law and a diplo- conviction proceedings, including book to all lawyers on criminal law, and mate in the American Board of appearing before the Supreme Court co-authored two others. In 2008, he was Trial Advocates. I have written of the United States. He has been bestowed the State Bar’s "Lawyer of the Year" several legal articles and named a Texas "Super-Lawyer" for award. lectured for law schools and nine consecutive years and has been repeatedly named Among many other activities in the field of professional organizations. Most recently I have been invited as one of the Best Lawyers in America. In the 2010 criminal justice, Hampton has successfully worked for to lecture at Russian universities about American law. Judicial Candidate bar poll, the lawyers of Texas who the creation of innocence clinics for indigent defen- Serving on the Supreme Court would allow me to use know this court and these candidates best overwhelm- dants who are falsely accused of crimes, diversion my experience for the purpose of addressing issues concern- ingly voted Keith Hampton the most qualified candi- programs for veterans suffering from mental illness, and ing our modern jurisprudence. date for the Court of Criminal Appeals. A life-long Texas won life without parole as an alternative to death in Recently, a professor from the University of Texas Law Democrat, Keith Hampton began his career at age 17, as capital cases on behalf of Texas juries. His goal is to School published a study showing that common citizens like the youngest precinct chairperson for the Texas Demo- improve the judiciary by offering his unique legal expe- you or me win only 13% of the time against insurance compa- cratic Party. He earned his B.A. in government from the rience and perspective to the important work of the nies and large corporations. This figure includes even nominal University of Texas and his law degree from St. Mary’s Court. "From the ‘sleeping lawyer’ case to the prosecu- awards for individuals. You can read the entire study at School of Law. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law by tion of its Presiding Judge for shutting the doors of www.baileyforsupremecourt.com. I do not want to be an the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. justice," Hampton said, "I have long been concerned anti-insurance judge—to the contrary. I want to fight for For the last twenty years, Keith has defended about the direction and future of the Court of Criminal decisions that give all who come before the court to have an the Texas Constitution and the Constitution of the Appeals. Rather than merely being a critic, I decided to equal and fair consideration. United States in hundreds of criminal defense cases. As offer my own experience and judgment to help the It is time for me to take advantage of the education an active member of the criminal defense bar, a Fellow Court fulfill its central mission – to ensure justice for all and experience coming from my years of fighting for the of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a member of the Pro Texans." Keith Hampton lives in Austin with his wife and rights of my clients. I want to be on the Supreme Court so that Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, Keith has daughter. To learn more about his candidacy and quali- I can champion the goal of making decisions that fairly repre- tirelessly worked for fairness, integrity and justice for all fications, please visit his website, sent the rights of all parties. Texans. He has been a representative of the Texas Crimi- www.Hamptonforjudge.com.

Michael Soto utilize their positions for politics rather than Carlos Uresti School Board of Education, District 3 to advance the public school agenda. By State Senate, District 19 politicizing curriculum and textbook I was born in Corpus Christi and decisions in needlessly crass ways, and by Sen. Carlos Uresti, seeking raised in McAllen and Brownsville, where I placing the Permanent School Fund in his second term represent- attended public schools throughout my jeopardy just to make political hay, the ing Senate District 19, has youth. I earned a scholarship to study at current SBOE has become distracted from the emerged as a true cham- Stanford University (BA with honors) and later important business of preparing children for pion for Texas children, Harvard University (PhD). For the past eleven success in college and in their careers. veterans and the elderly years, I have served on the faculty at Trinity Enough is enough. during his 13 years in the University, where I am currently associate But I’m genuinely hopeful that with the Texas Legislature. professor of English and director of the right leadership, the SBOE might once again The recipient of five Legis- McNair Scholars Program. My wife, Celina Peña, and I are pay close attention to the real needs of schools and school lator of the Year awards for the proud parents of two boys: Alejo, a second grader in districts, and that Texas might emerge as a leader in key his efforts to combat child the San Antonio ISD, and newborn Américo, SAISD class of areas such as dropout prevention and math and science abuse, Sen. Uresti is the founder of the Bexar County 2028. With your support, I’ll bring my experience as an education. Blue Ribbon Task Force, created to raise public aware- educator and my dedication as a public school dad to the My vision for the State Board of Education and Texas public ness about child abuse following the Christmas Day Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). schools rests on four pillars: 1) relying on educational 2003 starvation death of Jovonie Ochoa. The duties of the fifteen-member SBOE are critical experts, not on partisan ideologues, in developing school In the last session of the Legislature, Sen. Uresti to the future of Texas: setting academic standards for Texas policies; 2) listening to teachers and other front-line educa- created a statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force to explore public schools; approving textbooks for use by Texas tors when adopting new standards and textbooks; 3) new child abuse prevention strategies, and he students and teachers; and overseeing the investment of restoring public trust in how Texas manages its Permanent authored a law that requires the Department of Family the Permanent School Fund, an endowment for purchas- School Fund; and 4) preparing Texas schools for a longer and Protective Services to develop new requirements ing schoolbooks. The current SBOE is woefully out of touch school year and the highest academic standards in the and guidelines for the speedy disclosure of informa- with the needs of the 4.8 million public school students nation. tion related to child fatalities resulting from abuse or that it serves, and too often it disregards the experience Texas kids and schools deserve better from the neglect. and insight of front-line educators and other education SBOE. I hope you’ll visit my website-www.michael- Born on the West Side of San Antonio and advocates. Unfortunately, a number of SBOE members soto.org-to learn more about how you can help put Texas raised on the South Side, Sen. Uresti graduated from kids first. McCollum High School, served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and obtained a BA in Rebecca Bell-Metereau to pass these last-minute changes, a move that political science and a law degree from St. Mary's prompted protests from board and audience School Board of Education, District 5 University. He has two sons, Michael and Carlos, Jr., members. Right-wing incumbent Ken Mercer and a grandson, Benjamin Michael, born July 22, 2008. later bragged in a San Antonio Express edito- Voters need to understand what is Sen. Uresti has risen to a position of leader- rial that the teachers had received a “well happening on the Texas State Board of ship in the , where he is vice chairman of deserved spanking.” This kind of disrespect for Education. Extremists on the board are the Administration Committee and the Agriculture teachers and education must stop. As making bad decisions on curriculum and and Rural Affairs Committee and serves on the Health concerned citizens, we must resist extreme investments of the $22 billion Permanent and Human Services, Natural Resources and Jurispru- partisan efforts to rewrite history, weaken the School Fund, and we must stop this. As a dence committees. He was recently selected by his curriculum, and brainwash our children. professor of English and film at Texas State colleagues to serve as chairman of the Senate My background as a Peace Corps University, I see the results of our educa- Hispanic Caucus. teacher, Fulbright scholar, visiting professor at tional system firsthand. I am running for Raised with seven siblings, Sen. Uresti knows University of Nebraska, and professor at Texas the State Board of Education in District 5 against incum- the importance of strong families, and he is seeking State University since 1981, has prepared me to serve on bent Ken Mercer to bring common sense, ethics, and another term in the Senate to fight for issues and the State Board of Education. Experience on Planning fiscal responsibility to the board. We must listen to teach- programs that allow families to thrive. The success of and Zoning, Solid Waste, and Blue Ribbon Bond commis- ers and experts and take politics out of the classroom, individual families, measured by their access to good sions in San Marcos has trained me to work effectively on preparing our students for a 21st century jobs and educa- jobs and living wages, health care, and educational a volunteer board. I led a team coordinating public tion. opportunities, should be the Legislature’s only gauge schools and the president’s cabinet at Texas State Univer- Extremist members of the elected, non-paid of its own success. Indeed, Sen. Uresti believes the sity to improve college readiness and smooth the transi- State Board of Education have hijacked textbook selec- success of families is the measure of our greatness as a tion from high school to college. We improved our reten- tion and curriculum requirements for future generations nation. tion of freshman students to sophomore level from 68% of Texas school children, censoring the information they The next session of the Legislature is going to to 79% over the last decade. receive. The board has made hundreds of revisions, elimi- be immensely important, and challenging. Lawmak- We need experienced educators to repair the nating any references to the word “democracy” until the ers must make up a budget shortfall of $18 billion damage caused by the current board. It’s not too late to high school level, referring to the United States instead as without abandoning their commitment to public fix the curriculum and select good textbooks, but we a “representative republic” throughout the document. I education, public health and public safety. The Legis- must act now to remove political and ideological extrem- have no objection to the phrase “representative republic,” lature must do everything it can to ensure that ists. As a State Board member, I will respect teachers, but I have a big objection to systematic censorship of the families do more than just get by. Every Texan should researchers, parents, students, and local school boards. I word “democracy.” have the opportunity to live a produc- will oversee management of the Permanent School Fund In considering the English curriculum, conserva- tive, fulfilling life and create some- ethically, economically, and without any conflict of tives on the board threw out months of review commit- thing of value for the next generation. interest. We will return the Texas State Board of Education tee work on the night before the final vote, substituting a to its proper mission of educating students for the 21st hastily crafted new curriculum that reduced the number century. of women and minority authors. Conservatives were able Trey Martinez Fischer major newspapers, MSNBC and even ESPN. Joe Farias State Representative, District Recognizing his leadership within the Latino State Representative, District 118 116 community, Rep. Martinez Fischer is a frequent invitee to the White House—attending a reception honoring A lifelong resident of House A champion for the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia District 118, Joe Farias has a proven hard working families of District Sotomayor and, most recently, to the annual White record of service to his community 116, in the heart of San Antonio, House Easter Egg Roll. and his country. When Joe State Representative Trey Marti- Rep. Martinez Fischer attended St. Luke's returned from military service, he nez Fischer is in his fifth term in Catholic School and graduated from Oliver Wendell went straight to work at City Public the Texas House of Representa- Holmes High School, which inducted him into its Hall Service, San Antonio’s local public tives. Rep. Martinez Fischer is of Fame. In 1993, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in politi- utility, working his way up from a the Chairman of the Mexican cal science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. novice machinist to implementing American Legislative Caucus, In 1994, Rep. Martinez Fischer was selected to study as and supervising CPS’ technical the oldest and largest Latino a National Urban Fellow earning him a Master's of training section. After 32 years, Joe Caucus in the Country. Public Administration from the Baruch College of Public retired from CPS in 2003. He is the Vice Chairman of the Insurance Affairs. In 1998, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence Over the past 38 years, Joe has served his community Committee and also serves on the Natural Resources from the University of Texas School of Law. in a variety of ways including serving on the Harlandale ISD Committee and Local and Consent Calendars Commit- Rep. Martinez Fischer is a practicing attorney in School Board and the San Antonio Zoning Commission, Joe tee and the Select Committee on Federal Legislation. San Antonio and is married to San Antonio attorney strongly believes in giving back to the community that has Under his leadership MALC was called the Elizabeth Provencio and the proud parent of Francesca given him so much. As a school board member, Joe stood up "body to watch" by The Economist. He has also been Maria Provencio Fischer and Camilla Marie Provencio time after time for our children, teachers, and the classrooms covered by the Associated Press, statewide publications, Fischer. where they learn and teach. Joe took the tough votes and always put our children first. Joe worked hard to make sure that Harlandale’s budget was spent wisely and not wastefully. Joe demanded accountability, and he fought to ensure all kids receive a quality education, especially those with special David McQuade Leibowitz corporate special interests. He was also honored by education needs, even as Harlandale struggled with scandal. Joe’s first term as a Texas State Representative was State Representative, District 117 The Wind Coalition as an Outstanding Supporter of the wind energy industry. distinguished by his fight on behalf of working families. Joe fought for bipartisan legislation that would cap the interest State Representative David Rep. Leibowitz will return to Austin in 2011 rates of predatory payday loans for members of the Armed McQuade Leibowitz is running for with the goal of protecting the families of Texas Forces and their families. Joe introduced legislation that would re-election to the Texas House of from failed Republican leadership which leadership reverse the harsh cuts to the CHIP program from 2003. Representatives. Representative ordered state agencies to submit proposals to cut Language from that bill was incorporated into the successful Leibowitz completed his third services. The proposed cuts reveal what continued bipartisan bill that has put over 150,000 more kids on the CHIP legislative session last year serving Republican leadership will mean for this state: rolls. Joe passed a bill that would study how Texas can better the residents of District 117. 24,000 fewer Texas Grants for college students, implement a wildly successful program that brings down “It has been my honor and eliminating 84% of child abuse prevention and juvenile crime. In recognition of his hard work during his first privilege to serve as your state early intervention, cutting mental health services term, Joe’s colleagues in the Mexican American Legislative representative and I am humbly asking the voters of for 2,000 children, cuts to EMS trauma care and child- Caucus voted him Freshman of the Year. Bexar County for their continued support,” Representative hood immunizations. Rep. Leibowitz is committed to During his second legislative session, Joe continued Leibowitz said. “I hope that the voters continue to put balancing the budget with common sense decision- his work fighting predatory lending by leading a coalition of their trust in me, and I will continue to provide the voters making; closing tax loopholes used by corporations fellow House members and consumer rights advocates in an of Bexar County with independent, progressive leader- and special interests and cutting wasteful spending effort to regulate the payday lending industry in Texas. He ship in the House.” like the $10,000 a month mansion rental for the passed legislation that will inform the 25% of working Texas Rep. Leibowitz has been a strong Democratic Governor. families who fail to claim their federal Earned Income Tax Credit voice for the working families of Bexar County, tackling Rep. Leibowitz will be authoring legislation that they may qualify to receive nearly $5,000 in entitled such issues as tougher penalties for graffiti, opposing toll that represents the ideals of the Democratic Party. assistance. With the help of the Texas Veterans Caucus which roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor, and protecting He will offer legislation to put limits on insurance he created and chaired, Joe was able to expand benefits homeowners from high property tax and insurance bills. companies that are increasing their rates while offered under the Hazelwood Act - the waiver of college tuition During the 81st Legislative Session in 2009, Rep. Leibow- cutting coverage. He will author bills to protect - to spouses of veterans who were killed in action, or who are itz passed bills and authored language that included homeowners from out-of-control homeowners completely disabled because of a service-connected injury. improved prescription labeling, toughened penalties for associations that foreclose on homeowners for small Finally, Joe was a leader in the legislative effort to recognize the offense of graffiti, changes to make it easier to collect fines with no judicial recourse. Rep. Leibowitz will Texas A&M University - San Antonio as a standalone campus, child support from deadbeat dads in prison, and continue to be an environmental leader offering bills and helped it secure $40,000,000 for the construction of its first protected small athletics businesses from government to protect the Edwards Aquifer and encourage building. regulation. recycling of old televisions. Today, our families face many problems, including job He has been honored for his work in the Legisla- “My priorities will continue to be fighting for loss, high mortgage rates, and foreclosures. More than ever, ture. The non-partisan publication, Capitol Inside, named the working families of Bexar County and making our our citizens need a proven leader with a strong voice in the him Freshman of the Year in 2005 and an Honorable communities stronger, safer and more prosperous,” Texas House of Representatives to continue fighting every day Mention on their Best Legislator list in 2009. Texas Watch, Rep. Leibowitz said. “This includes working to for Texas House District 118. Joe will continue to seek support an insurance reform organization, named Rep. Leibowitz improve and expand educational opportunities for for his re-election to the Texas House of Representatives and to its Legislative Honor Roll last year for fighting to make our children, increasing access to affordable, quality work hard to continue representing the needs of House District sure consumers, patients, and small business owners are health care, keeping our streets safe, and fighting tax 118. on a level playing field with the insurance companies and increases on our families whether by tax or toll.”