Austin candidate challenges state law with criminal past

AUSTIN—A criminal justice activist is challenging a state law that blocks felons from public office by running for a seat on Austin’s City Council.

Lewis Conway Jr., 47, officially launched his campaign Tuesday to join the race against Councilwoman Ora Houston. His campaign focuses on what he calls “radical compassion,” criminal justice reform and funding for community health care, schools and job training, the Austin American-Statesman reported .

Conway has a 1992 manslaughter conviction for fatally stabbing an acquaintance during a fight over stolen money. His voting rights were restored in 2013 after serving eight years in prison and 12 on parole.

State law says a felon can’t hold public office unless the person has been “released from the resulting disabilities.” But state officials don’t know what such a release looks like because no one has challenged it.

“We are not aware of a case in which an individual convicted of a felony has presented a declaration from a court saying they have been ‘otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.’ … So there’s no concrete example we can provide,” said Sam Taylor, a spokesman for the Texas secretary of state’s office. “There’s no clear-cut case law that defines what such a document is and isn’t.”

Candidates will file applications in the summer for a place on the ballot, which include affidavits showing they are eligible to run.