Barry Smitherman’s Prosecutor Evaluations Show He Never Backed Down, was One of Best

The Texas Attorney General is the top lawyer in Texas. He defends the state, our laws, our Constitution, and the people. He also prosecutes those who break the laws. With Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott running for Governor, we have a chance to elect a new Texas Attorney General. We need to elect a Texas Attorney General who stands on Conservative values, and who will also be an effective defender and prosecutor.

We already know that Texas Attorney General candidate Barry Smitherman has the conservative values. I have written many articles about what Smitherman believes. He is a strong Christian conservative who always stands for what is right. When his opponents in the Texas Legislature were voting to raise their office budgets, he was voting against his office budget increases. When liberals were rallying for abortion, he was rallying for life. When his opponents were missing hundreds of votes, he never missed one.

So now the only question is, will Barry Smitherman be an effective defender and prosecutor?

The answer is yes!

Smitherman’s Prosecutor Evaluations Show he Never Backed Down and was One of the Best Prosecutors in Harris County

I got a chance to see the evaluation reports that were written about Smitherman by his superiors in Harris County. The evaluations were nothing short of stellar. The reports show that, not only was he a very effective prosecutor, he was also very fair and he never backed down when faced with a tough case. That is the kind of person needed to step in and take over where Greg Abbott has left off.

I could explain more about Smitherman’s performance reviews, but it would be better for you to just see exactly what the reviews said.

Below are some of the exact quotes from Smitherman’s reviews:

"Barry did not shy away from hard to win cases and was not pressured by defense attorneys to see things their way and cave in and either dismiss the case or offer a different punishment unless it was warranted."

“Excellent – extraordinary performance far above the norm.”

“Barry has a strong sense of right and wrong, he never hesitated to try a difficult case….”

“Barry always sought to see justice done….”

“Barry is aggressive and assertive in the courtroom. There is no mistaking that he is a prosecutor, and is out to seek justice for the victim of the crime, or for the state of Texas.”

Smitherman Handled MANY cases in his time at the Harris County DA’s office

Some of the opponents of Smitherman try to distract people from Smitherman’s stellar record as a prosecutor by saying that Smitherman was not a prosecutor for more than 2 years and he only took a couple dozen cases to trial. That is like saying that McCain is a better senator than Ted Cruz because Ted Cruz has not been in the Senate very long. I don’t care if Smitherman worked there for 1 year or 20 years. I care about how he did when he worked there. Ted Cruz is better than McCain based on their performance, not based on the number of years they performed. Smitherman’s reports clearly show that he was one of the best and never backed down. He proved himself to be top notch and it did not take him long before he moved up to bigger and better things.

Also, the idea that Smitherman did not work many cases is incorrect. Smitherman’s case record doesn't count cases that pled out during trial before going to the jury, cases where he sat "second chair" with some other prosecutor as "lead" or where he was still a number "3" and didn't do the case alone or get credit for it. The record also doesn't include the summer spent working with JPs to whittle down their dockets where some cases were tried and lot dismissed or plead out. 

Smitherman was a fighter for Women

While a prosecutor, Smitherman focused on family violence and assault and often stood up for women, who for fear of repercussion, couldn't or wouldn't stand up for themselves. A big function of the Texas Attorney General’s office is standing up for victims who cannot stand up for themselves. In this day and age when the media plays up an idea that that there is a war on women, Smitherman has a clear record of standing up for women who were victims of violence.

Barry Smitherman Sued Obama's EPA 7 times to Protect Texas Oil and Gas - Most Qualified for Attorney General

The Texas Attorney General election is not until the March 2014 Republican Primary, but the race is already in full swing. One candidate is clearly the most qualified and experienced for the job. Barry Smitherman. The Texas Attorney General is the top lawyer for the State of Texas. The Attorney General defends Texas against lawsuits, and he also files lawsuits against others, like Obama, on behalf of Texas in order to protect Texas. When the new Texas late term abortion restrictions passed into law, it was the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, who defended the law in court so that the law could go into effect. When Obama passed Obamacare, it was the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, who sued Obama in order to protect the rights of the people of Texas and to protect the state sovereignty of the State of Texas from the over-reaching healthcare law.

Greg Abbott is stepping down from his current job as Texas Attorney General in order to run in the Texas Governor's race. Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman is stepping up and running to fill the shoes that Greg Abbot will be leaving.

So who in the Texas Attorney General's race is actually experienced and qualified to defend the laws of Texas from President Obama's over-reaching administration?

Barry Smitherman is the only candidate with the qualifications and experience to do the job. Why? Because Barry Smitherman has ALREADY sued Obama's EPA 7 times. Greg Abbott likes to say that he has the best job in the world because he wakes up and gets to sue Obama. Well, if you have to replace Abbott, it should be someone who already knows how to sue Obama and loves doing it. The only person in the race who can say that is Barry Smitherman.

Obama's EPA is constantly coming to Texas trying to kill our oil, gas and energy industry. Obama wants to kill our jobs, raise gas prices, and force his climate change agenda on Texas.

Every time Obama's EPA came to Texas to attack our great State, Barry Smitherman was right there standing tall and fighting back. 

As head of the Texas Public Utilities Commission, Smitherman sued Obama's EPA 5 times. Then, as the statewide, elected Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Smitherman sued Obama's EPA 2 more times. Suing Obama 7 times is a huge statement and one that clearly shows that Smitherman is already ready to step into the position of Texas Attorney General and keep on suing Obama. Smitherman's record is almost too good to be true so PolitiFact has examined all seven lawsuits and has determined that it is true that Smitherman has sues Obama's EPA 7 times. Smitherman really is as conservative, genuine, and dedicated as he seems. His proven record shows that he is not too good to be true. He is just too good.

I want an Attorney General who is not afraid to go toe to toe with Obama and Barry Smitherman has the proven record to show that he can and will Stand up to Obama and protect and defend Texas. According to the Texas Tribune, during one of Smitherman’s past Public Utility Commissions meetings, chairman Barry Smitherman, in a brief digression from the agends, said that the federal agency was attempting to “disarm the U.S. economy,” with a raft of rules covering everything from fly-ash waste from coal plants to greenhouse gasses.

Lastly, check out the video below from Barry Smitherman's campaign. Smitherman calls for Texans to join his conservative crusade to defend and protect the laws and Constitution of the great State of Texas. Count me in!

Related articles:

Barry Smitherman saved Texas Taxpayers OVER $130 MILLION – Slashed Spending, Cut Budgets – Attorney General Race Update

Texas Right to Life Endorses Barry Smitherman for Attorney General

Smitherman REJECTS Budget Increase - Paxton, Branch APPROVE Increases - Texas Attorney General Race

Paxton and Branch Missed Hundreds of Votes in Legislature – Texas Needs a Full Time Attorney General

Statement by Barry Smitherman in response to USDOJ Challenge to Texas Voter ID Law

The Race for Texas Attorney General - Barry Smitherman's Record

AG Candidate Dan Branch Joined House Democrats Seeking to Expand 3rd Trimester Abortions

Barry Smitherman's Outstanding Conservative Record - Texas Attorney General Race

Smitherman has a record. His record has given him an A rating from the NRA. His record has given him an endorsement for Attorney General from Texas Right to Life. He has refused office budget increased and has even reduced his overall state agenct budgets and saved Texas Taxpayers over 130 Million Dollars. He has a record of being a tough prosecutor which will serve us well as he moves forward to use the AG's office to help secure the Texas border with Mexico. He has a record of being a staunch defender of the state's economy against a federal government that has declared war on the people and economy of Texas. He has sued Obama 7 times already to defend the Texas Oil ad Gas Industry. He has a record of being able to manage large executive branch agencies of government and apply the law as it is written.

Opponents of Barry Smitherman like to say, "He doesn't have a legislative record where we can judge him by how he votes." Well guess what... Ted Cruz didn't either. What Barry Smitherman does have is a record that proves he has the skills that will be required of the next Attorney General of Texas.

the following article is by Bob Price originally posted at Texas GOP Vote

Earlier this week we looked at the legislative record of State Representative Dan Branch and found a surprising record where he offered an amendment to a bill that would have expanded third trimester abortion rights in Texas. This illustrates why a candidate's record is important. Opponents of Smitherman like to point out that he does not have a legislative voting record. I think that is a pretty weak argument. Records are important, but you don't have to be a legislator to have a record. Berry Smitherman has a strong and easy-to-find record of public service to the people of Texas.

Smitherman is asking the people of Texas to elect him to be the next Attorney General of Texas. An executive branch of government position that requires many different skills. Certainly different skills than those required to be a legislator. Let's take a look at some of those.

Smitherman served as a prosecutor in one of the greatest District Attorney's Offices in this nation, the Harris County District Attorney's office. While there, he established a strong record of prosecutions, particularly in the area of domestic violence and drunk driving cases. One of the functions of an attorney general is to oversee prosecutions like the one today where Attorney General Greg Abbott's team secured a major human trafficking conviction. During an interview I conducted with Smitherman in September, Smitherman pledged to use the full prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General's Office to assist local prosecutors and law enforcement officers who protect the border regions of Texas, where drug cartels and human traffickers run rampant.

Our state is under continuous attack from an over-reaching and over-regulating federal government. As Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, Smitherman has a solid record of acting as a litigator to protect the extremely valuable energy industry from attacks by the ObamaThugs in the Environmental Protection Agency. In this capacity he has sued the ObamaThugs seven times protecting jobs, families and the Texas Economy.

Barry Smitherman Talks to Voters in Fort Bend County

Also as Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, Smitherman has a record of being able to manage a huge executive branch agency in the Texas government. He has a record of being able to hire good managers to carry out the laws of the state handed to his agency by the Texas Legislature and Governor.
Smitherman earned an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association because of his record as Railroad Commission Chairman where he established policies to allow Railroad Commission employees to carry concealed weapons while on duty. Often times these workers are in remote locations where help could be far away.

Having gathered executive management skills is a record that will serve the people of Texas well as the Texas Attorney General's Office is a vast complex agency, which must be staffed and managed by someone who has a proven record of being able to do so. One needs only look at the Obama Administration to see what happens when you elect an executive manager with no management experience.

Barry Smitherman Speaks at Reagan Dinner in San Jacinto County

Smitherman has a record. He has a record of being a tough prosecutor which will serve us well as he moves forward to use the AG's office to help secure the Texas border with Mexico. He has a record of being a staunch defender of the state's economy against a federal government that has declared war on the people and economy of Texas. He has a record of being able to manage large executive branch agencies of government and apply the law as it is written.

Opponents of Barry Smitherman like to say, "He doesn't have a legislative record where we can judge him by how he votes." Well guess what... Ted Cruz didn't either. What Barry Smitherman does have is a record that proves he has the skills that will be required of the next Attorney General of Texas.

Related articles:
Barry Smitherman saved Texas Taxpayers OVER $130 MILLION – Slashed Spending, Cut Budgets – Attorney General Race Update
Texas Right to Life Endorses Barry Smitherman for Attorney General
Smitherman REJECTS Budget Increase - Paxton, Branch APPROVE Increases - Texas Attorney General Race
Paxton and Branch Missed Hundreds of Votes in Legislature – Texas Needs a Full Time Attorney General
Statement by Barry Smitherman in response to USDOJ Challenge to Texas Voter ID Law

Barry Smitherman saved Texas Taxpayers OVER $130 MILLION – Slashed Spending, Cut Budgets – Attorney General Race Update

If you want to know what a fiscally conservative leader looks like, look no further than Texas Attorney General Candidate Barry Smitherman. As Chairman of Texas Public Utility Commission and the Railroad Commission, Barry Smitherman spent DOUBLE DIGET percentages UNDER BUDGET and gave over 130 million dollars back to the State of Texas. (see facts and numbers below)

I don’t care who you are or which candidate you support for the 2014 Texas Attorney General election, Smitherman’s conservative spending record is IMPRESSIVE!

It is rare for a politician or government agency to spend LESS than what they are given because they know they might not be given as much the next year if they do not spend the amount they have this year. It is even rarer for a politician or government agency to ask for a budget that is LESS than what the government agency had been operating on in the past. Smitherman has done both of those and more. Smitherman accomplished this by being a smart conservative and figuring out how to do more for the money.

Barry Smitherman’s campaign sent me the following statement, along with several eye popping facts and numbers to back up Smitherman’s fiscal conservative credentials:

“Barry Smitherman has always looked out for the taxpayers and managed their money as if it was his own.  Smitherman emphasizes and demands efficient management at state agencies, excellent service, and doing more with few taxpayer dollars.”

Overall Spending at Public Utility Commission and Railroad Commission

During Smitherman’s tenure as Chairman of the PUC, the agency spent 20% less than the amount authorized by the Texas Legislature.  Through shrewd fiscal management, under Smitherman’s leadership the PUC returned unspent over $110 million it was allocated in the budget to the State Treasury.  The final appropriation request made by Smitherman as Chairman of the PUC included an operational budget that was nearly 11% less than the agency’s operational budget when he assumed the Chairmanship. 

Under Smitherman’s leadership at the Railroad Commission, the agency’s actual spending was well below its operating budget by more than $10 million in FY 2012.  As a result of effective management, this trend is projected to continue in FY 2013.  The Commission is in the process of closing out the books for FY 2013, but a conservative estimate shows that the Commission’s spending can be as much as $6 million under its budget for FY 2013.

Overall Spending for Personal Government Office

In FY 2012 and 2013, spending for Chairman Smitherman’s personal government office also came in significantly below its operating budget, saving thousands of dollars of taxpayer money.  Additionally, this year, Smitherman rejected thousands of dollars for a budget increase for his personal government office, while the other two candidates for Attorney General approved budget increases for their personal government offices in the House and Senate. 

Contribution to General Revenue

In FY 2013, the Commission spent approximately $20 million of General Revenue (GR), while generating $33 million of GR for the State of Texas. 

Barry Smitherman: Texas Preparing for Sovereignty if U.S. Falls Apart – Attorney General Race Update

In an interview with WND’s John Griffing, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman, and Texas Attorney General Candidate, Barry Smitherman, said that Texas is preparing to survive as an independent nation if the U.S. falls apart. Smitherman simply wants us to be ready for if the time comes when Texas is on her own without the Federal government. I have a generator to power my house if the power goes out. I do not want the power to go out, but if it does I am prepared to keep the lights on. Shouldn’t Texas also be prepared to keep the lights on if the federal government goes out?

I have always liked Barry Smitherman. He stands for what is right without thinking about political correctness. Heck, he has sued Obama 7 times already! He is not just a Christian conservative. He is a Christian conservative who can LEAD. I see in him the passion that I saw in Ted Cruz when I went out on a limb and supported Cruz against the establishment grain. Smitherman is being smart and thinking ahead. He is thinking about Texas, but certainly not turning his back on America. As a Texan myself, I completely support Smitherman’s survival plan just as I supported a bill that State Rep James White filed in 2013 called the “Texas Self Sufficiency Act”. White’s bill would prepare Texas for sovereignty by doing a study to determine, financially, how Texas will survive on our own if the Federal Government collapses. We are not talking about pushing for Texas Secession. We are just talking about being prepared for anything that might happen if the very volatile and unstable Federal Government falls apart. This means being prepared for even the possibility of Texas secession, independence, surviving on our own, etc.

I am not advocating for Texas to become enemies with America or turn our backs on America, and neither is Smitherman, but there is a very real possibility that the U.S. will fall apart and crumble over things like MASSIVE debt. What will we do if the U.S. falls apart? Do we have a plan for Texans to survive on our own? Are we capable of surviving on our own? The State of Texas should not wait until the U.S. fails to simply be prepared and be capable of surviving IF the U.S. fails.

Select Quotes form Barry Smitherman from the WND interview:

“Generally speaking, we have made great progress in becoming an independent nation, an ‘island nation’ if you will, and I think we want to continue down that path so that if the rest of the country falls apart, Texas can operate as a stand-alone entity with energy, food, water and roads as if we were a closed-loop system,” Smitherman said.

He added that the state is “uniquely situated because we have energy resources, fossil and otherwise, and our own independent electrical grid.”

“This was one of my goals at the Utility Commission and it is one my goals currently as chairman of the Railroad Commission,” Smitherman said. “That’s why I stress so vehemently oil and gas production, permitting turnaround times, and everything that enables the industry to produce as much as it can, as quickly as it can.”

Smitherman added in the interview that Texas has “been very strong leading in the charge against the Obama administration.”

Holder Sues Texas over Voter ID: Barry Smitherman Responds to USDOJ Challenge

AUSTIN – Barry Smitherman, Railroad Commission Chairman and conservative Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General issued the following statement in response to United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that he will challenge Texas Voter ID law:

“Eric Holder and the Obama Justice Department continue their unrelenting attacks on the State of Texas, ignoring the facts and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision (Shelby County, AL vs Holder USAG) that there is presently no evidence of minority voter suppression in Texas. We must stand up against the Obama Justice Department and its politicized attempt to subvert the Texas Voter ID law. Eric Holder's actions fly in the face of the highest court in the land and the laws of the Great State of Texas, and will not be allowed to stand.”

- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/statement-barry-smitherman-response-usdoj-challenge-texas-voter-id-law-005792#sthash.LyhumWiO.dpuf

AUSTIN – Barry Smitherman, conservative Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General issued the following statement in response to United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that he will challenge Texas Voter ID law:
“Eric Holder and the Obama Justice Department continue their unrelenting attacks on the State of Texas, ignoring the facts and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision (Shelby County, AL vs Holder USAG) that there is presently no evidence of minority voter suppression in Texas. We must stand up against the Obama Justice Department and its politicized attempt to subvert the Texas Voter ID law. Eric Holder's actions fly in the face of the highest court in the land and the laws of the Great State of Texas, and will not be allowed to stand.”
- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/statement-barry-smitherman-response-usdoj-challenge-texas-voter-id-law-005792#sthash.LyhumWiO.dpuf

AUSTIN – Barry Smitherman, conservative Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General issued the following statement in response to United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that he will challenge Texas Voter ID law:
“Eric Holder and the Obama Justice Department continue their unrelenting attacks on the State of Texas, ignoring the facts and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision (Shelby County, AL vs Holder USAG) that there is presently no evidence of minority voter suppression in Texas. We must stand up against the Obama Justice Department and its politicized attempt to subvert the Texas Voter ID law. Eric Holder's actions fly in the face of the highest court in the land and the laws of the Great State of Texas, and will not be allowed to stand.”
- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/statement-barry-smitherman-response-usdoj-challenge-texas-voter-id-law-005792#sthash.LyhumWiO.d

AUSTIN – Barry Smitherman, conservative Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General issued the following statement in response to United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that he will challenge Texas Voter ID law:
“Eric Holder and the Obama Justice Department continue their unrelenting attacks on the State of Texas, ignoring the facts and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision (Shelby County, AL vs Holder USAG) that there is presently no evidence of minority voter suppression in Texas. We must stand up against the Obama Justice Department and its politicized attempt to subvert the Texas Voter ID law. Eric Holder's actions fly in the face of the highest court in the land and the laws of the Great State of Texas, and will not be allowed to stand.”
- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/statement-barry-smitherman-response-usdoj-challenge-texas-voter-id-law-005792#sthash.LyhumWiO.dpuf

AUSTIN – Barry Smitherman, conservative Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General issued the following statement in response to United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement that he will challenge Texas Voter ID law:
“Eric Holder and the Obama Justice Department continue their unrelenting attacks on the State of Texas, ignoring the facts and the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision (Shelby County, AL vs Holder USAG) that there is presently no evidence of minority voter suppression in Texas. We must stand up against the Obama Justice Department and its politicized attempt to subvert the Texas Voter ID law. Eric Holder's actions fly in the face of the highest court in the land and the laws of the Great State of Texas, and will not be allowed to stand.”
- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/statement-barry-smitherman-response-usdoj-challenge-texas-voter-id-law-005792#sthash.LyhumWiO.dpuf

Kountze Kids Get Support from Barry Smitherman Texas Railroad Commission Chairman

Letter from Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman: 

The First Amendment -- it's first in our Bill of Rights for a reason! Religious freedom is very dear to our hearts as Christians and Americans, so we've been thinking a lot about the recent events in East Texas.

We're dealing with an attack on the First Amendment in our state right now. The Kountze cheerleaders are in their right to express their religion at school games because the law is clear -- if participants are free to come and go from an event, then a citizen of this country has the right to express his or her faith at that event. The Kountze superintendent is not just out of line on this, he's out of the bounds of nearly 250 years of American law! Thankfully, a judge has issued a stay on the superintendent's ruling and the cheerleaders will continue to be able to express their faith in accordance with the First Amendment. Thus far, the intention of our Founding Fathers, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech are being protected, but we must continue to pay close attention to this case.

We should be proud of these students for standing up for their faith and being willing to tell others about their beliefs as Christians. How many teens do you know of any faith willing to stand up boldly for what they believe? It's such a hard time for many teenagers who just want to blend in with the crowd. These cheerleaders are truly being individuals here -- isn't that what many liberals want? Just not when it comes to Christians, I'm afraid.

We've raised our children to stand firm in their faith. We've stood by our kids as they've had to make a stand for their beliefs as Christians. It's hard for teens sometimes, and we're just so proud of our state's students in Kountze. We'll be praying that they are able to stand strong in their beliefs and that the First Amendment will be protected in this nation. 

What do you think about what's going on in Kountze? Let us know what you and your family have been talking about in the car or around the dinner table.

- Barry and Marijane