Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 04:08:15 -0800 Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2000 Houston Chronicle Contact: Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260 Fax: (713) 220-3575 Website: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Page: 24A Author: Julie Mason, Houston Chronicle Political Writer SUSPENDED LAW LICENSE PUTS DEMOCRAT OUT OF COUNTY RACE The lone Democrat running for Harris County district attorney has been disqualified, and the deadline for new candidates to join the race extended to Friday. Stephen Hale, who announced his candidacy last month, was declared ineligible because his law license has been suspended, said Harris County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Schechter. "We posted it at the courthouse and filing has reopened in our party for that office until Friday at 6 p.m.," Schechter said. The original filing deadline was Jan. 3. Hale on Monday vowed a legal battle to keep his name on the ballot, but declined further comment. The party's action clears the way for other Democrats interested in the race to sign up. There are six Republican contenders in the race. Hale's troubles arise from a 1997 arrest and subsequent guilty plea for delivery of marijuana. Hale said that in August 1999, he withdrew his plea and the indictment against him was dismissed. According to Hale, the State Bar of Texas considered his earlier plea a conviction, and suspended his law license until Oct. 19. That means, according to Hale, he will be eligible to practice law in time for the Nov. 7, 2000, election, and therefore qualified to appear on the ballot. - --- MAP posted-by: allan wilkinson