Williams, Strathmann Vow to "Keep it Clean"

In an almost unprecedented move in El Paso politics, two candidates in a race have vowed to keep their race clean.

The candidates, Don Willams and Laura Strathmann are both seeking the office of, oh hell, its one of the judicial posts, the 3something.

The two sat near one another at the Young Democrats meeting and I overheard them talking about making appearances at one another's fundraisers.

Williams, an attorney, is the State Democratic Party Executive Committeeman, President of the Black El Paso Democrats, and a member of the El Paso County Democratic Party Hall of Fame. He's also a member of almost every Democratic Party club in town.

Strathmann is also an attorney but I admit I don't know much else about her yet. I do know she has a fundraiser tomorrow and I will post the info as soon as I get it.

Although its really refreshing that both candidates seem to genuinely like each other lets bear in mind that its still a competition. Only one of them is going to get the job. I just wish it was a race other than a judicial race. It would be nice to have a race be a clean but hard-fought race over issues. Judicial races have no issues. They have no personality, they have no excitement.

I know its hard to think of any race with someone like Don Williams as a race with no personality, but they are judicial candidates and can't really say anything.

But then again, after recent headlines involving judges, we as a community had better start asking the tough questions...

I say good for them. One expects judicial candidates to run clean, ethical, and dignified races. Its about time that happened in this town. That should be the norm instead of the exception.