After a Crowded Eight-Candidate Primary, the Race for Bexar County District Attorney Narrows to Jane Davis and Luz Elena Chapa
As with all elections, the results are in! The primary race for the democratic nomination for District Attorney drew a crowded field of eight candidates, where the two with the most votes advanced to a runoff, to be held on May 26th. They are Jane Davis, of the Bexar County District Attorney’s office, and Luz Elena Chapa, a former appeals court judge.
Candidate Davis held a March 5th press conference to highlight the support of a majority of the contenders in the primary. Three appeared in support of candidate Davis: Meli Powers, Jim Bethke, and Veronica Legarreta, with Oscar Salinas not in attendance. Ms. Powers expressed her support for her former colleague in the D.A’s office and touted her experience within that office. Ms. Legarreta expressed the lack of trial experience from the candidate’s opponent Luz Elena Chapa.
Ms. Davis touted her many years of experience, including serving as Chief Justice of the Juvenile Section, working as a prosecutor for 28 years, and handling cases in nearly every section of the District Attorney’s office. She stressed that experience is the primary focus of this election, saying it involves “interviewing victims of family violence and taking cases to trial,” while arguing that her opponent is not ready for trial and lacks the necessary experience in that area.
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When questioned by other media representatives about SAPOA’s endorsement of her opponent, Ms. Davis suggested the organization may not have done its research and added that her opponent could “easily become a puppet.”
My question focused on the candidate’s strategy using the WDEP framework, which examines four areas: what the candidate wants to accomplish, what actions they are taking to achieve it, how progress will be measured, and what specific plan will guide those efforts. In response, she said she would address the backlog of cases but declined to share details of her plan, stating she did not want to “give my opponent an advantage.”
I contacted candidate Luz Elena Chapa, informing her of the support the former opponents for her adversary, Jane Davis. Ms. Chapa related that she had no response, as former candidates were entitled to their own opinions. When asked about the criticism of her “lack of experience”, she explained that many people “have no institutional knowledge of what an appeals court judge does.” She was also concerned that so many “diminished my twelve years at the Court of Appeals.”
Ms. Chapa expressed that she would ensure that the office is well funded, well-managed and will seek to develop a “tone and culture of positivity.” Regarding the reported backlog, Ms. Chapa said that family violence cases would be a priority, as “victims have been robbed of justice, as these cases have reportedly not been addressed or prosecuted properly.”
Regarding her endorsement by the SAPOA, Ms. Chapa related that she feels a better relationship is necessary with law enforcement, one beyond the courtroom, especially in the development of partnerships. She expressed an interest in restorative justice, a Diversion Center, and the development of MH treatment programs, as well as bringing more stakeholders to the table. Overall, Ms. Chapa seeks “to be the necessary change” in the District Attorney’s office.
There’s a two-month “window of opportunity” for voters to learn as much as possible about these candidates, such that when ballots are cast, we may get the best person for this important position with enormous responsibilities to the community.
