District Judge Candidate Contreras (Democrat) Arrested Over the Weekend.
September 23, 2008Democrat 449th District Court Candidate Jesse Contreras was arrested over the weekend in South Padre Island…for DUI charges. The Monitor reports:
Contreras, who serves as municipal judge in Mercedes, is seeking the bench of Hidalgo County’s newest district court.
Contreras defeated former juvenile justice judge Maxine Longoria-Nash in the March primary to secure the Democratic Party nomination.
He is set to face incumbent Judge Daniel Rios, a Republican who was appointed to the bench, in the race for the 449th state District Court in November.
Not such a fine example for the youth, are we?
The state legislature created the 449th state District Court last year to handle juvenile cases. During his campaign against Longoria-Nash, Contreras emphasized his upbringing in a low-income, single-parent home, arguing he was familiar with the conditions that lead young people to break the law.
Though the 449th focuses on juvenile cases, as a district judge, Contreras potentially would have found himself presiding over DWI cases.
And as a municipal judge, Contreras regularly handles arraignments of those who have been arrested.
Will Contreras argue that his conditions led to breaking the law or perhaps being irresponsible?
No statement has been released yet.
