This 5th diary of my series on Democratic nominees in Harris County is about 2 nominees in Justice of the Peace Precinct 1. Constable Alan Rosen is seeking a second term. Eric William Carter is running for Justice of the Peace.
Harris County is divided into 8 Justice of the Peace precincts. Each one elects a Constable in Presidential years to a 4-year term. Each one elects 2 Justices of the Peace to 4-year terms in alternate even-numbered years. Precinct 1 is the central part of the Houston area. It includes the cities Bellaire, West University Place, and Southside Place. It includes Montrose, the Heights, and River Oaks.
Both candidates have Republican opponents.
Incumbent Dale Gorczynski is retiring as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, place 1. Eric William Carter is the Democrat running to take his place. He has a Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law (recently renamed Houston College of Law). He also has a BA in political science from The University of Texas at Austin.
He is currently a named partner of The Carter Law Firm. He has tried hundreds of Medical Fee Dispute Resolution cases before the State Office of Administrative Hearings in Austin. His brother Kyle Carter is a Civil District Judge.
A Justice of the Peace Court handles minor civil and criminal cases. This particular court has a huge docket, as one could expect in a city as large as Houston. Marriages are often performed in this court. A couple of male friends of mine wanted to get married; I recommended Judge Gorczynski and he performed their marriage. I have confidence Carter will continue with this; he has been screened and endorsed in the primary by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. I will cast my vote for marriage equality in November.
He was interviewed in April by Houston Chronicle columnist Charles Kuffner.
A few weeks ago Carter attended a meeting of Houston Area Kossacks and we had good conservation. At a more recent meeting one woman said he was cute. I agreed. But looks are not how I choose candidates. Let me say his intellect.
I am supporting him as a volunteer. I am not a lawyer.
Alan Rosen (see Facebook for website) is seeking re-election as Constable, Precinct 1. He has a Baccalaureate of Sciences in criminal justice from the University of Houston. He has 25 years diverse experience in law enforcement. He was first elected Constable in 2012.
A constable is in law enforcement, also in serving civil notices., a junior sheriff one could say.
He commenced his term of office by having his deputies attend ethics training. He has been building up a record in law enforcement.
Here is an audio interview from Feb. 2012 by Charles Kuffner.
I have seen him speak at political meetings and have been well impressed. He has much to say about how citizens can avoid being victims of crime. Yes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. He has provided security at several political meetings I have attended.
He has generously hosted fundraising parties for the Houston GLBT Political Caucus at his house.
Disclosure: I was employed 6 days by his campaign in 2012 to do phoning. I rarely do politics for the money and have made no plans to do so in 2016.
Campaigns cost money. Please go to the candidates’ websites and donate. Even small donations add up.
The final election date is Tuesday, Nov. 8. To vote you must be registered in Harris County at least 30 days prior to Nov. 8. Early voting starts Monday Oct. 24. Voting early gives one time to rectify problems, avoid long lines at the polls. You may vote early at any of the locations in Harris County, but on Nov. 8 you must vote at your precinct location.