Civil courts at law
GOP should vote for Chang and Mafrige, while Kovach deserves Dems’ support.
Harris County civil courts at law handle low-level civil disputes and property condemnation cases and also appeals from justice of the peace courts. Think of unpaid bills, eminent domain and landlord-tenant disputes. These are the sorts of trials that rarely make headlines but can make or break someone’s small business or personal quality of life. People will often try to represent themselves without the help of a lawyer, and judges should be prepared for litigation where a $10,000 jury verdict is treated with all the seriousness of a milliondollar case.
The best candidates have experience in these specific courts and understand how small-claims can be a big deal for the people involved. The last day to register to vote is Feb. 5. Early voting runs from Tuesday, Feb. 20 through Friday, March 2. Election Day is March 6.
Republican Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 2: Theresa Chang
Every year, the Houston Bar Association asks its members to evaluate the performance of each judge in Harris County courts. While the results should always be taken with a grain of salt — it isn’t exactly a scientific poll — it is worth noting that Theresa Chang was the top-rated judge last year among the four Harris County Civil Courts at Law. Republican voters should reward this performance by electing her as their candidate in the 2018 general election.
Chang was first appointed by Commissioners Court to fill a vacancy in 2012 and was elected to a full term in 2014. Since then she has developed a reputation as a kind and effective judge. A graduate of South Texas College of Law Houston, Chang, 60, spent 20 years practicing civil law, including a decade in the county attorney’s office. She has also served as Harris County District Clerk.
When handling landlord-tenant cases, Chang told the editorial board, she sometimes tries to work out informal arrangements to avoid an actual eviction charge, which can become a black mark that makes it difficult for tenants to find a new place to rent. That’s the sort of common sense that voters should want to see on the bench. Chang deserves another term.
Also running is Erin Swanson, who did not meet with the editorial board. The winner will face off against the victor of the Democratic primary in the general election.
Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 4: Sophia Mafrige
Two qualified candidates are vying for this open bench being vacated by Roberta Lloyd, who first donned the black robe in 2004. Both individuals exhibit a calm judicial temperament and boast the requisite experience to serve Harris County taxpayers well. But only one candidate has invested years of sweat equity in making the run.
Our nod goes to Sophia Mafrige, 55, who was a candidate for county civil court in 1998 and who has made several other unsuccessful tries for the judiciary. With nearly 30 years of experience as a lawyer, Mafrige, who graduated from South Texas College of Law Houston, has brought more than a hundred cases to a verdict, including the auto wreck, eminent domain and real estate disputes that are the bread and butter of county civil courts at law. She also has quasijudicial experience from serving on the city of Houston Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission, currently as commissioner, for nearly a decade. Finally, this active community volunteer is a licensed real estate broker.
Her opponent David Tang has leadership potential but is a newcomer to the political process. Tang should run again. Mafrige has earned a slot on this ballot. The winner will face Democratic candidate William “Bill” McLeod in the general election.
Democratic Judge, County Civil Court-at-Law Court No. 2: Jim F. Kovach
Democratic voters have a choice between two qualified candidates with very different backgrounds. Jim F. Kovach is a former board chair of Legacy Community Health who has spent more than 20 years working almost exclusively in Harris County Civil Courts at Law. Stanley Santire is a former military officer with extensive national and international experience, including working as chief legal counsel at Lockheed Aircraft International.
We encourage voters to back Kovach, 52, a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. While Santire has an impressive career, Kovach has the on-theground experience in these specific courts that makes for a qualified judge.
Kovach built the early bulk of his career representing the Yellow Pages and pursuing cases about unpaid bills in the civil courts at law. Now he owns his own practice with three full-time employees and is ready to take a seat on the other side of the bench. If elected, Kovach said he plans to work on crafting monthly payment plans that defendants can afford and to guarantee that people receive timely notice.
“Why am I getting set for trial before I’ve served the defendant?” he asked the editorial board.
Kovach also noted the changing tone in Harris County courtrooms as a reason he decided to run for office.
“I don’t like what I’m seeing this year — the tone, the feeling, the atmosphere has gotten more hostile, particularly to pro se [litigants] and people of color,” Kovach said. “I’ve seen instances where I felt very uncomfortable with what was going on in the courtroom, so I decided it was time for a Democrat to take the bench and treat everyone fairly, equally and respectfully.”
The winner of this race will face either Republican incumbent Theresa Chang or her challenger, Erin Swanson, in November.