We had reservations four years ago when Baylor Wortham and Justin Sanderson announced their intentions to try to succeed their fathers, 58th District Court Judge Bob Wortham and 60th District Court Judge Gary Sanderson, as district judges. Alas, our reservations fell on deaf ears and both were elected.
Don’t we want sons (and daughters) to succeed, and dads (and mothers) to be proud of them? Of course, we do. What, then, were our reservations?
For one thing, we don’t like the idea of public-sector fiefdoms. Political dynasties, no thanks. Clinton or Bush, Democrat or Republican, we’re nonpartisan on this issue. We don’t want either political party or any particular family to entrench themselves.
That’s because, once they do, they tend to get cozy and a little lackadaisical about following the rules that everyone else is expected to follow. They start to think of themselves as being special.
And here’s another thing: Were their fathers’ performances as jurists impressive? No. Are the sons likely to outperform their fathers? No. So, why not give somebody else’s kid a chance?
That was our thinking, back in 2016. We were also troubled by the support that Baylor and Justin garnered for their candidacies from the same trial lawyers who bankrolled the campaigns of the fathers. That stamp of approval for the next generation didn’t bode well.
Now, here we are in 2020 and Wortham and Sanderson, the two heirs to the benches that their fathers sat on, are up for reelection, sort of. They’re up for reelection, but no one’s opposed them, neither in the primary nor in the general election, so they can’t lose.
Sweet! Dude, don’t even bother campaigning. Who needs donations?
Wortham and Sanderson don’t need them, that’s for sure, but they’re being flooded with them just the same, from the same trial attorneys who ponied up for them last time, and for their fathers before them. Only, this time, they’re guaranteed reelection and don’t need the money. So, why is it coming in?