08:47 AM CST on Saturday, February 11, 2006

By Ava Thomas Benson / Staff Writer

Candidates for Denton County offices gave insight into their views on the issues to Robson Ranch residents Friday night.

The Robson Ranch Republican Club hosted the forum at the community. Candidates for the Republican nomination to Denton County clerk, state House District 63, district attorney, Denton County Court at Law No. 1 judge, and others presented their views with the hope of
garnering votes.

Denton County Clerk

Denton County Clerk challenger LeDena Ferrell stood by her assertion that incumbent Cynthia Mitchell is not fiscally conservative enough.

Ferrell, 57, also highlighted her experience as a small-business owner, as a legal assistant, and as chief administrator for Denton County Commissioner Jim Carter — all of which, she said, prepared her to be county clerk.

“Our county clerk’s office is funded by your tax dollars and it is here to serve you,” Ferrell said. “I will spend your tax dollars in your best interest, not mine. I’m very conservative financially in my own personal life, and that’s how I’ll handle your tax dollars. I will watch every penny and every line item.”

Mitchell, 33, who has been Denton County clerk since 1998, focused on her accomplishments since taking office. Mitchell said she has increased public access to records, decreased costs in the county, improved the collection rate in the clerk’s office, and worked to bring innovative ways of doing business into the county.

“My leadership has enabled my office to become the national standard for how a clerk’s office should operate,” Mitchell said. “I am recognized as a leader by those who do what I do.”

State House of Representatives, District 63

Candidates for state House of Representatives in District 63 were asked how they felt about the Trans-Texas Corridor, a proposed railway/highway combo system designed to improve traffic flow in the state.

Ricky Grunden, 54, a financial adviser from Krum, called the idea for the Trans-Texas Corridor “visionary,” and said while he could see obstacles, he was in favor of the plan to improve transportation.

Tan Parker, 34, a Flower Mound businessman, said despite mobility issues in Texas, he does not think the Trans-Texas Corridor is a prudent use of taxpayers’ money, and would rather look into other solutions.

Bill Lawrence, 60, former mayor of Highland Village, said he thought the plan was a proactive step to solving Texas’ transportation issues before it was too late, and said he supported the plan because it would get ahead of major transportation problems in North Texas.

Anne Lakusta, 46, a former Lewisville school board member, said she was hesitant to support the Trans-Texas Corridor because it is an expensive plan that would require the relocation of many Texans, and said she thought another solution might be better.

Mike Savoie, 44, former mayor of Northlake, called the concept of the Trans-Texas Corridor “ill-conceived” and said the end product would be more than three times as wide as Interstate Highway 35, and would destroy small towns. He said he would support a transportation plan that was “thought out better.”

District Attorney

Paul Johnson, who is opposing incumbent Bruce Isaacks for district attorney, focused on his experience working for the Denton County district attorney’s office, which he said qualified him for the job.

Johnson, 47, worked in the Denton County district attorney’s office for 15 years, 12 of which were under Isaacks.

Isaacks, 50, emphasized his accomplishments during his time in office. He said he is tough on drug dealers, prosecutes hot-check writers and helped create the Advocacy Center for Children of Denton County.

County Court at Law No. 1 judge

Incumbent Darlene Whitten touted her expertise in the field of juvenile law and said her focus was on helping keep children from re-offending or becoming lifelong criminals.

Challenger Christine “Chris” Ventura said Whitten’s court is inefficiently run and, if elected, she would work to dispose of more cases. Whitten said her court disposes of more cases than are filed in it annually.

Ventura also said Whitten allows too many juvenile sex offenders to delay registration as a sex offender. Whitten said she defers registration until after treatment only when prosecutors are not concerned that the juvenile poses an immediate threat, and does so to allow the juvenile’s therapist to weigh in on her decision.

AVA THOMAS BENSON can be reached at 940-566-6875. Her e-mail address is abenson@dentonrc.com