Should I vote Republican or Democrat in my local DA race?

[Sanity]

I live in one of the most conservative counties in Texas (Brazos County). We have the some of the strongest voting for Republicans in Texas here. However, the only two countywide Democratic officials are the county attorney (since 88) and the district attorney (since 84). They have run unopposed since 92. The DA's first assistant is a Republican who is in a runoff for judge. The first assistant has run as a Republican for DA in Austin but lost and has also worked for Cornyn. While under Cornyn, he developed a plan to allow poor counties to seek the death penalty.

While a Democrat, the DA is one very strict dude. From reading the paper and talking to some defense attorneys, the DA seems to support a view of zero tolerance. However, he does articulate his positions really well in the courtroom and I feel confident that he isn't trying to pursue some type of kangaroo court that I feel some local Republican officals try to do sometimes. He goes for the maximum punishment frequently (though not always in my impression) and is really tough on especially repeat offenders but even first-time offenders as well. In essence, the DA is a very conservative Democrat (and thus one that could get elected right in the Bush library's backyard).

The Republican opponent is a former JP. Of course, he is running because he sees political opportunity. He has been sanctioned by county officials (including the JPs, the judges, the DAs, and the sheriff) for being irregular in his magistrate duties. He would advise defendants to not retain an attorney and just talk to the prosecutor as well as he would sometimes leave prisoners in jail for days (usually on the weekends) without providing a bail hearing. He told another defendant that if he took a sobriety test, his bail would be lower.

So based on this information, who should I vote and campaign for? Part of me wants to vote against the Democratic DA because he is too conservative, but the Republican alternative might be much worse.

[Captain_Spud]

1. flip a coin

Heads-vote repub
Tails-vote dem

[GOPisEvil]

2. Brazos County? I feel your pain.

Former College Station resident here.

I'd vote for the Democrat. He at least seems to be interested in performing at a high level. His opponent seems like a flake.

[Sanity]

4. Did you go to Texas A&M?

I am currently a junior here.

[GOPisEvil]

5. Yep; class of 1990.

Place sure has changed a lot since I was a student.

Whatcha studyin'?

[Sanity]

9. Biomed Engineering

I'm hoping to go to either med school or law school.

What are you doing now?

[GOPisEvil]

11. State Government drone!

See what a liberal arts degree gets ya? :-)

[Wickerman]

3. Vote the Dem

you have so few in your county, even if he is DINO, you still have that box to check.

I would imagine Dem has to be strict to function in the County you describe. The R has already demonstrated as a JP that he has no empathy for defendents. Why vote R for someone who is demonstrably worse?

[TX-RAT]

6. Democrat

At that level of government most candidates don't know the difference.

[Maurkov]

7. Write in.

DA races are the worst. They bring out the worst. Who can be the most authoritarian? Most statist? "Toughest" on crime? Check out the canditates to see if you really want to legitimize either one of them with your vote. The write in Jesus.

[bearfan454]

8. I vote Dem every time.

Dems=good guys for the working people(us).

Repukes=bad guys working against us for big business and millionaires.

Every Dem vote helps. It does.

[AP]

10. Not voting is always an option.