Dr. Ivany recently returned from the Middle East and a New York visit with the Pope.  He will speak on many current topics of interest.

After retiring from the Army, Dr. Ivany joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Business, Columbia University as an adjunct professor in Executive Education. On July 1, 2004, Dr. Robert Ivany became the eighth president of the University of St. Thomas.

Prior to his retirement from the Army with the rank of Major General, he presided over the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. During his various commands as an armored cavalry officer, he led soldiers in the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Federal Republic of Germany and Vietnam where he was wounded in action and decorated for valor.

Ivany also served in a number of unique positions including the Army Aide to the President of the United States from 1984 to 1986 and an assistant professor of history and football coach at the Military Academy at West Point.

In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, he received a Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Charles Cotton will speak on key topics related to the Second Amendment and of interest to Texas gun owners - the Castle Doctrine, the Heller (Washington D.C. gun ban) case in the Supreme Court, and the Joe Horn case, among others.

Charles is a civil trial attorney and partner with the Cotton-Farrell law firm in Houston. He has been a member of the NRA Board of Directors since 2001 and served on numerous NRA Committees.

Closer to home, he is the Vice-Chairman of the Texas State Rifle Association Legislative Committee and was a consultant to the sponsors of the original Concealed Handgun License bill. He is an NRA Certified Instructor & Texas Concealed Handgun Instructor.

Jim Grace has been a valuable supporter of Texans for Lawsuit Reform for many years, traveling across the state speaking to professional and civic groups on behalf of TLR.

Mr. Grace advocated for TLR in Austin during the 2007 legislative session and has been a member of TLR’s Legislative Research Team, playing a key role in researching and drafting civil justice reform bills that were a part of TLR’s legislative agendas.

Jim is a partner of the law firm of Baker Botts where he is in the government relations section. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Houston Law Center.

Empower Texans exists to create and sustain a system of strong fiscal stewardship within all levels of Texas government, ensuring the greatest amounts of economic and personal liberty, and promoting public policies that provide individuals with the freedom to use their strengths and talents in pursuit of greater opportunities.

Michael Quinn Sullivan is president and CEO of Empower Texans, and its premier project, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Sullivan began his career as a reporter before leaving journalism to serve in a Congressional staff position. Sullivan returned to Texas in 2001 to serve as director of media and government relations for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In 2006, he was tapped to lead Empower Texans and begin Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.

Sullivan’s commentaries have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the state and nation. He is a frequent guest on talk radio programs, and is regularly called upon to address policy and political issues before groups and organizations across the country.

Fred Zeidman is an expert on Israel/US relations – will speak to us on his perspective and current relations in this area.

Fred Zeidman was appointed Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by President George W. Bush in March 2002. The Council is the governing board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

A prominent Houston-based business and civic leader, Mr. Zeidman is the former Chairman of the Board of Seitel, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Turnaround Partners, Inc. and Corporate Strategies, Inc. In 2004 he joined Greenberg Traurig as Senior Managing Director of Governmental Affairs.

Mr. Zeidman also currently serves as a director of Prosperity Bank in Houston.

Mr. Zeidman holds a Bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Master's in Business Administration from New York University

District Attorney's Office

Michael Berry was recently voted “Best Radio Show Host in Houston” by readers of the popular blog, “The Insite”. And, according to Houston Chronicle political columnist Kristen Mack, "Michael Berry has made it a practice to provoke. He's not hesitant to express himself."  Michael wants his show to be a "controversial discussion of issues ranging from politics to pop culture." He says, "I want people to discuss openly what they typically think, but can't say. His popular talk show can be heard on KTRH Radio, AM 740

Michael is a former city councilman, elected three times at-large. He has a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a master of laws degree from the University of Nottingham in England. He has been married 13 years to Nandita "Nandy" Berry, a lawyer who hails from Hyderabad, India.

Gary Polland has been a practicing attorney for more than 30 years doing a mix of government relationsand trial work. He served as Republican Chairman in Harris County Texas from 1996 to 2002, where he earned national recognition for the party's success and for his Republican party building efforts. He is a key Republican Party fund raiser.

Gary is author of a book titled "A Time for Choosing 35 Years Later" an update of President Reagan's classic speech and is currently editor of Texas Conservative Review, a bi-weekly E-letter and co-hosts The Connection - Red, White and Blue on PBS in Houston.

Gary received his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor at the University of Texas. He is married and has two sons. He served in the United States Air Force and Army reserves.

Beverly Woolley, longtime Republican and community activist, is serving her seventh term in the Texas House of Representatives and is Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Calendars and serves as a member on the House Committee on Civil Practices and the House Committee on Insurance.

Representative Woolley has initiated legislation to protect private property rights by curbing the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes, to help small businesses have greater access to health insurance, to create greater and more efficient access to quality healthcare by creating the Texas Health Care Council, to protect abused children, to promote financial literacy, to require progress testing of limited English proficiency, and to aid law enforcement. She has also actively supported legislation to curb law suit abuse, establish a state-wide Do-Not Call List, and to define marriage in Texas as a union between a man and a woman.

Judge Mark Davidson, always interesting, will address topics from Texas History to the latest election returns to the judiciary.

Judge Mark Davidson has been Judge of the 11th District Court since 1989.  Since becoming a judge, he has tried over 400 jury trials and cut the backlog in the 11th District Court by 70 percent.  In 1993, he was named "Trial Judge of the Year" by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.  In 2004, he was reelected to his fifth term as judge.  In December, 2005, he was reelected by his colleagues as the Administrative Judge of Harris County.

Judge Davidson is the 26th judge of the oldest court in the state of Texas. Among the first 25 Judges of the 11th District Court are two veterans of the battle of San Jacinto and Texans for whom three Texas Counties have been named.

No Meeting - Primary Election Day - elect strong Republican candidates for State and local offices, including District Attorney, District Clerk, County Judge, and judges for the criminal and civil courts.

Other programs will be posted shortly

• Pat Lykos

"I have dedicated my professional career to the pursuit of justice—first, as a Houston police officer, working my way through college and law school, then in private practice as a litigator. I was elected criminal court judge four times in countywide elections, serving for 15 consecutive years, and then became a senior district judge serving on special assignments."

• Kelly Siegler

"Over her 21 year career, she has risen through the ranks to become the Chief of the Special Crimes Bureau, which includes supervising the Major Offender Division, Major Fraud Division, Identity Theft Division, and Consumer Fraud Division.  In her time as an Assistant District Attorney, she has prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the county. "

• Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs

Dr. Sekula Gibbs strongly supports increased funding for border patrols, a border fence, and is opposed to amnesty. She supports replacing the current tax code with a straightforward and simple to understand Fair Tax based on consumption. She is proud to be pro-life. She supports increased U.S. energy independence by supporting the opening of 8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas exploration.

 

 

• Pete Olson

"I will work tirelessly to strengthen and protect our ability to defend America from future attacks . . .[beginning] with good intelligence and surveillance. . . . I believe in strengthening our borders with fences, increased surveillance, increased man power, detention facilities, and an increased commitment to FULLY enforce our laws . . . . the tax code is broken and should be completely replaced. . . . I am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage. "

 

Patrick will speak on his experiences at the U.S Military Academy. It will provide us with an opportunity to hear about the state of military education in the United States and the prospects for a military career.

Patrick is a graduate of Houston Christian High School and will graduate from the United States Military Academy in May with a degree in Civil Engineering. He will then join the Army Corps of Engineers.

Patrick has maintained himself on the Dean’s List for all 4 years, played Sprint Football for 3 years and is a member of the  USMA Glee Club.

Candidates for Harris County District Attorney

Speakers

Stan Stanart 
Raymond T. Garcia Lindsay Siriko
Louis Guthrie
Ron Hickman
Kirk Bailey
Phil Camus

Judge David Farr
Donna Detamore
Sheri Y. Dean

Candidates for  Justice of the Peace, School Board, and Constable







Candidates for District Court 312.

Candidates for Harris County District Courts # 55

Candidates for Harris County District Court #190




Candidates for District Court 174

The Greater Houston Pachyderm will be addressed by each of the Candidates for Harris County Judge, followed by a question and answer period.

Each candidate will respond to written questions submitted during the presentations.

Please click on these links for information on each person:

• Mr. Charles Bacarisse

• Judge Ed Emmett

Judge Emmett was appointed to replace retiring County Judge Eckels in 2007. The election in November 2008 will be for the first full term since that time, and Charles Bacarisse, formerly the Harris County Clerk, will be challenging Judge Emmett for that post.