Pubdate: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 Source: Denton Record-Chronicle, The (TX) Copyright: 2005 Denton Record-Chronicle Contact: http://www.dentonrc.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1472 Author: Dave Moore JOHNSON PLANS TO TAKE ON ISAACKS IN DA PRIMARY Denton attorney Paul Johnson has come out firing against Denton County District Attorney Bruce Isaacks, who faces the first Republican challenge to his seat since he took office in 1990. "I want to run my office with integrity. I'm a conservative Republican and I will try all types of cases," Johnson said, adding that he believes not all defendants are treated equally by Isaacks. But Isaacks said he believes his record of criminal convictions and money-saving measures for the county proves he should be re-elected district attorney. "He's got one, two or three cases that he has some kind of problem with" in the district attorney's office, and he's trying to build a case for being elected, Isaacks said. Johnson, a former assistant prosecutor at the district attorney's office under Isaacks, plans to run for the Republican nomination for Denton County district attorney in the March 7 primary. Candidates have until Jan. 2 to file. Winners in the Democratic and Republican primaries -- along with independents and write-ins -- will be on the ballot in the general election Nov. 7. Winners assume their positions Jan. 1, 2007. Johnson has focused on the following charges against Isaacks: n Isaacks has a conflict of interest when it comes to reviewing bills from his wife, Judge Vicki Isaacks, who has ordered Denton County to pay more than $393,000 between 2000 and 2005 for court-appointed attorneys. Some of that money went to attorneys representing children in private divorce cases. n The district attorney shouldn't accept a $5,400 fixed-car allowance from Denton County; the district attorney's annual salary of $166,567 should be enough compensation. n Isaacks has allowed county grants to lapse, costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. In response to those charges, Isaacks says: n His wife's court-appointed attorney bills were legal and proper, and approved by the Commissioners Court with the legal guidance of the court's legal counsel, who is an employee of the district attorney's office. If members of the Commissioners Court want outside legal counsel to evaluate the bills from judges, they are free to hire such help. n Isaacks drives enough to justify to the fixed-car allowance, keeping touch with justices of the peace and police across the county face-to-face. n Isaacks said some members of his staff missed a deadline for seeking a grant renewal, but that he would take responsibility for it, adding that his office has secured $4 million in grants in his tenure as district attorney. When he took office in 1991, the district attorney's office wasn't receiving any state or federal grants for its operation, he said. The race for the district attorney will likely be among many of the high-profile contests voters will hear about until Election Day. Denton County Republican Party official Tom Ferguson said that Isaacks being challenged doesn't indicate a split in the party. "It's not a lack of unity -- it is the primary season," Ferguson said. "These things go in cycles. People are going to step up and jump into it." Johnson, 47, a Denton lawyer with 15 years experience in criminal prosecution, said his sense of fairness and passion for making a difference for victims make him the best person for the job. Johnson said he plans to file for the district attorney race sometime this week. "You've got a tremendous responsibility with victims," Johnson said, adding that victims often must repeat their trauma by describing it to the police, prosecutors and jurors. "You've got to make them feel that they do count." Isaacks, 49, says he has returned $16 million to individuals and businesses in Denton County by enforcing the county's hot checks program. He said he also initiated a mentoring program that has resulted in about 200 mentors currently working with at-risk children in the Denton school district. He said he also started the Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County, a nonprofit agency that provides a child-friendly environment where a forensic interviewer videotapes children's statements. The young victims then don't have to repeat their statements to multiple agencies involved in abuse investigations. Isaacks said an aggressive strategy for bail bond violations has resulted in the collection of about $5 million for the county's general fund since August 1996. While Isaacks is counting on the public to look at his accomplishments, Johnson hopes to call attention to instances that he says demonstrate unequal treatment to defendants, as well as incompetence Isaacks has demonstrated as district attorney. One lapse during the grant application cost the county $362,811 in Driving While Intoxicated Task Force grants, Johnson said. "As the district attorney, I think one would take responsibility for the good and the bad of what happens under his administration," Johnson said. "I'll be held accountable for how I run the office." Isaacks said he takes responsibility for that oversight. "The only person who is responsible for that ultimately is me," Isaacks said. "Yeah, you could say, 'They [members of his staff] dropped the ball,' but if you look at the big picture, we can say we've saved taxpayers $4 million," he said, referring to the grants his office secured. Johnson said if he is elected, all grant applications would be submitted well in advance, and that he would seek new grants for the office. Johnson also accused Isaacks of failing to fill a prosecutor's position on the North Central Texas Drug Task Force, allowing grants to lapse. Isaacks said he purposely didn't fill the position because he felt the task force "had lost its focus." "I decided I did not want an employee assigned to that," Isaacks said. "During that period of time, there was a lot of consolidation going on. The state decided they wanted fewer task forces, because there were problems with them. We just didn't need those sorts of issues here." Johnson said that when he worked at the district attorney's office, no one was supposed to get probation for delivery of a controlled substance. But there were instances in which drug dealers gave up boats, cars and more to the state, and then received probation, he said. Another former prosecutor has said publicly that such deals were struck with a half-dozen defendants over two years. "In essence, you just bought leniency," Johnson said. "The mere fact that they have cars, jewelry, et cetera, will not get them a probation offer." But Isaacks said that such deals do not happen. "I can assure you that your chances of going to prison for narcotics delivery are a hell of a lot higher here than it is anywhere else in the state," Isaacks said. Isaacks said police from Dallas County arrange drug buys in Lewisville because they know drug dealers will go to prison if prosecuted in Denton County. Johnson also promises that if he's elected, residents will see their district attorney in the courtroom more often. "I will personally try more jury trials in my first year than Bruce Isaacks has for the past 16 years," Johnson said. "I think it's important that the people know their district attorney will actually try cases and get in those trenches and not just be a paper pusher." But Isaacks said Johnson will likely reconsider that promise if he ever becomes a district attorney, since that is not the best use of the district attorney's time. "Quite frankly, it's a lot more fun to be in the courtroom trying a case," Isaacks said. "That's where the excitement and the action is." But, he said, the more important job of a district attorney is preparing cases for grand juries, because it determines the quality of the cases arriving in courtrooms. He also said another function of his job is to hire and maintain a staff of aggressive, effective prosecutors. "I think in a county this size and of this population, handling this many cases per year -- we handle over 10,000 cases a year through here -- the district attorney's job is to make sure we hire, train and retain efficient, effective, aggressive prosecutors," Isaacks said. "I don't think you're going to see the elected DA down handling cases on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis in a county this size. It's not realistic. You can't do both." Also, Isaacks said Johnson doesn't have the experience to try a death-penalty case. But Johnson said he has plenty of criminal trial experience -- that he has prosecuted more than 100 criminal jury trials over 15 years, and that he was the chief felony prosecutor in the 158th District Court. He said that experience has made him more than ready for a death-penalty case. Johnson said in one instance, while working for the district attorney's office, he was given what would have been a death-penalty case, but Isaacks didn't properly prepare the indictment, so the defendant couldn't face the death penalty. Isaacks said he never gave Johnson a death-penalty case. "That demonstrates his lack of knowledge of the system," Isaacks said. - ----------------------------------- Bruce Isaacks Age: 49 Lives in: Carrollton Education: Received law degree at Baylor University in 1982 Career highlights: Was the first district attorney in Denton County to obtain grants to fund the office's operation. Helped found the Denton County Child Advocacy Center. Was given two state bar association awards from the state for founding the COOL (Community Offering One On One Learning) mentoring program with Rivera Elementary School. Has encouraged more aggressive collection of bad checks and violated bail bonds. Political experience: Served as an assistant Dallas County district attorney before taking office of Denton County District Attorney in 1990. Has not been challenged by a Republican since taking office, until now. Paul Johnson Age: 47 Lives in: Highland Village Education: Received law degree at the University of Houston in 1985 Career highlights: Worked as a prison guard in 1977. As a result, he says, when he asks for a prison sentence, he knows what prison's all about. Has 20 years experience practicing law, including 15 years prosecuting cases in the Denton County District Attorney's office. Served as chief felony prosecutor for the 367th and 158th District Courts. Currently practices civil law, but wants to serve as district attorney because he prefers criminal prosecution. Political experience: Has been active in the Republican Party since 1997. Unsuccessfully ran for County Criminal Court 3 in 1998. Has served as the precinct chairman for the 316th Voter Precinct for six years. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman