Cypress Edition | October 2022

CANDIDATE Q&A

Get to know candidates running in November’s midterm elections

2022 VOTER GUIDE

COMPILED BY RACHEL CARLTON

Republican D Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. Democrat R

Incumbent

Harris County judge

Why are you running for the role of county judge?

What is the biggest issue facing Harris County?

Our priority on Commissioners Court will be public safety, and as long as we are in agree- ment that that is the top priority, we will be able to nd ways to work together. My obligation as judge will be to our residents above partisan politics. [Previously], Harris County worked in a bipartisan fashion and didn’t get bogged down in left vs. right. That’s what I believe we need to be moving toward. How will you work with your colleagues to get things done? Opposing perspectives can push us to nd more equitable solutions, and I am dedi- cated to keeping Harris County moving for- ward. Since taking oce, I led a bipartisan Commissioners Court to invest in reducing the criminal court backlog and cut home- lessness by 20%. My priority is providing access to brighter opportunities. While my colleagues and I sometimes disagree, we share the goal of providing the best services and outcomes for all residents.

ALEXANDRA DEL MORAL MEALER

Occupation: energy investment banker Relevant experience: West Point grad; Cap- tain, U.S. Army bomb squad; Harvard JD/

I watched as petty crime in my neighbor- hood turned into violent crime and our local ocials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to nd solutions to immediately address the issue. When I launched my campaign in November of 2021, public safety was my top priority. ... My family and I love living in Harris County, and the rst and foremost responsibility of government is to protect the most vulnerable. Before I was elected, county government ew under the radar, dodged tough decisions and operated reactively, not proactively. I’ve steered Harris County through a winter storm, chemical res, oods, hurricanes and COVID[-19]. I did it while making bold changes to how our government operates— from record law enforcement funding to early childhood education [and] smarter ood control. I’m running to protect our progress and keep Harris County moving forward.

The biggest issue facing Harris County is the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. ... To tackle this unprecedented rise in crime there is a funding element and a legal element. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprece- dented crime epidemic, … and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. [The county] signed the ODonnell Consent Decree that created a cashless bail system for misdemeanors. 1. Keeping Harris County safe: from natural disasters, from crime, and from any other threat to our health and well-being. 2. Building an early childhood education system that gives every child in our county a fair start in life. 3. Continuing to strengthen our ood resil- ience and our disaster preparedness.

MBA; wife and mother of two young children www.alexandramealer.com

Occupation: Harris County judge LINA HIDALGO Relevant experience: Medical interpreter, Texas Civil Rights Proj- ect, advocacy through-

out Southeast Asia, Harris County judge 281-624-6225 | www.linahidalgo.com

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CYPRESS EDITION • OCTOBER 2022