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Paula Pierson in the News!
PRESS RELEASES |
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Drivers who hurt officers
targeted
Posted on Tue, Feb. 13, 2007
By JOHN MORITZ
STAR-TELEGRAM AUSTIN BUREAU
AUSTIN
- Drunken drivers who injure or kill an on-duty
public safety officer would face longer prison sentences under
legislation filed Monday by freshman Rep. Paula Pierson of
Arlington and dedicated to the memories of two Tarrant County
police officers killed by alcohol-related crashes.
Pierson, a
Democrat, said her first bill is named for Darren Medlin, a
Grapevine police officer killed in June 2004 when he was struck
by a car during a traffic stop on Texas 121, and Dwayne Freeto,
a Fort Worth patrol officer who died Dec. 17 while assisting a
motorist with a flat tire on Interstate 35W.
Both men were 34,
military veterans and the fathers of young children.
"We need to send
a message that drinking and driving has tragic consequences,"
Pierson said. "There are too many police officers who put their
lives at risk on busy thoroughfares all over this state, and
they don't need to be subjected to further danger because of
drunk drivers."
Pierson's House
Bill 1212 would take intoxication assault from a third-degree
felony to a second-degree felony if a police officer or
firefighter were injured. The prison sentence, now two to 10
years, would increase to two to 20 years. The maximum fine,
$10,000, would not change.
Intoxication
manslaughter involving a police officer or firefighter would go
from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, which
carries a prison sentence of five to 99 years and a maximum fine
of $10,000.
Two major
law-enforcement support organizations heartily endorsed the
measure.
"Anytime you
enhance the punishment, part of the goal is to provide a greater
deterrence to the offending behavior," said Chris Heaton,
executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association.
"But too often, some folks don't think about the consequences,
especially in cases of addictive behavior. So this would make
sure those folks are placed in a position where they can't do
any further harm."
Charley Wilkison,
a spokesman for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of
Texas, agreed.
"If you make the
roads safer for police and firefighters, you make the roads
safer for everyone," he said.
Medlin, a
four-year Grapevine police veteran who had served in the
Marines, was killed in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2004. He
was run down by a Lincoln driven by Roy Alvin Adams Jr. of
Bedford.
The accident was
captured on videotape in the officer's car. Adams was sentenced
to 12 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of intoxication
manslaughter.
Freeto had served
in the Fort Worth Police Department for just nine months after
being discharged from the Army. His patrol car was hit by a
vehicle driven by 21-year-old Samuel Lee Hilburn. Freeto's car
burst into flames. Hilburn, who was charged with intoxication
manslaughter, was released from custody in late January after
posting $100,000 bail.
ONLINE:
www.capitol.state.tx.us
ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE
Tarrant County
law enforcement officers who have died in the past 15 years:
Sept. 2, 1992:
Fort Worth officer Brent David Wisdom, 22, was killed when he
was hit by a drunken driver while assisting a motorist.
Oct. 9, 1992:
Arlington patrol officers Jerry J. Crocker, 43, and Terry L.
Lewis, 35, were killed when their patrol car was hit by a
drunken driver in a tractor-trailer rig.
March 6, 1993:
Responding to a report of shots fired, Haltom City officer Gary
Cecil Hires, 48, was shot in his car by a 14-year-old with a
high-power rifle.
June 27, 1993:
Fort Worth Detective Donald James Manning, 28, was shot while
off-duty by five gang members who tried to rob him.
Dec. 27, 1993:
Fort Worth officer Alan Frederick Chick, 33, was hit by a
vehicle while assisting a motorist.
Aug. 3, 1994:
Arlington officer Craig Michael Hanking, 26, was killed in an
accident while responding to a burglary call.
March 31,
1994: Fort Worth officer Jesse Don Moorman, 47, died of a
heart attack while chasing a burglary suspect.
Sept. 17,
1997: Tarrant County sheriff's Lt. George Maurice Hendrix
Jr., 51, and investigator Thomas Jay Smith, 45, died in a
helicopter crash.
June 7, 2001:
Arlington Cpl. Joseph Cushman, 27, was accidentally shot during
training.
April 24,
2002: White Settlement police Capt. George Scott Monier, 37,
was shot responding to a domestic-disturbance call involving a
gun.
June 12, 2004:
Grapevine officer Darren Medlin was hit by a car during a
traffic stop on Texas 121.
June 18, 2004:
Grand Prairie officer Gregory Hunter was killed and officer
Bruce Seix wounded by a man in a parked van during a standoff in
a Grand Prairie Wal-Mart parking lot.
July 29, 2004:
River Oaks officer Nathan Laurie was killed in a collision while
chasing a stolen pickup.
Dec. 1, 2005:
Fort Worth officer Henry "Hank" Nava died two days after he was
shot while searching for a fugitive.
Dec. 17, 2006:
Fort Worth officer Dwayne Freeto's patrol car was rear-ended and
burst into flames along Interstate 35W.
SOURCES: Officer
Down Memorial Page, www.odmp.org;
Star-Telegram archives
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Interview with State Representative
Paula Pierson
(listen
to interview) (download podcast)
By Josh Berthume
The Texas Blue
Paula Pierson,
State Representative for District 93, talks to us about her path from
the Arlington City Council to state government, the explosive growth
in North Texas, and her plans for this legislative session.
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Simpler CHIP law is sought
Dewhurst opposes repeal of
stricter rules for child insurance plan
12:00 AM CST on
Thursday, January 25, 2007
By
ROBERT T. GARRETT
The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN
– Scores of House Democrats urged repeal Wednesday
of a tighter eligibility and enrollment procedure
that the Legislature grafted onto a popular health
program for children four years ago.
HARRY CABLUCK/AP
Paula Pierson of Arlington and Borris
Miles of Houston are among House Democrats
trying to ease eligibility restrictions on the
Children's Health Insurance Program.
"It's just flat the right thing to do," said
freshman Rep. Paula Hightower Pierson,
D-Arlington.
She
and freshman Rep. Allen Vaught, D-Dallas, knocked
off GOP incumbents in last fall's election after
pledging to reverse a sharp enrollment decline in
the Children's Health Insurance Program.
But
while Democrats picked up six seats in the House
last year, they're still not running the show.
And
one Republican leader who has cast himself as a
defender of the program for children in
working-poor families, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst,
said he favors retention of a requirement that
parents apply for the coverage every six months.
Until 2003, coverage lasted a year.
"I
don't think most people in Texas have a lot of
sympathy for someone that can't fill out a
two-page application every six months," said Mr.
Dewhurst, the Senate's presiding officer.
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said 61 House
Democrats have filed or co-written bills to go
back to annual applications and undo other changes
made in 2003, such as a 90-day waiting period for
new applicants and limits on how expensive a car a
family can drive.
Mr.
Coleman and freshman Rep. Borris Miles, D-Houston,
criticized Mr. Dewhurst for touting a "Texas
Children First" program in his inaugural address
last week that was silent about CHIP. The
lieutenant governor would toughen laws against
sexual predators, as well as promote education.
Mr.
Coleman said the agenda should include providing
more poor children with health coverage, and Mr.
Miles challenged the lieutenant governor: "Let's
put our money where our mouth is."
Mr.
Dewhurst responded that he fended off attempts to
eliminate or drastically restrict eligibility for
CHIP four years ago, when the Legislature grappled
with a $10 billion shortfall.
He
said he favors better education of potential
recipients.
"We
just need to reach out, and they need to turn in
their application," he said of low-income parents.
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Incoming lawmakers
prepare for session
By NEIL STRASSMAN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Diane Patrick has an
impressive résumé as an educator, but these days
she's last in her class.
Of 22 rookie state
representatives headed for the 80th Legislature,
Patrick drew the bottom number in a seniority
lottery at last week's orientation for new lawmakers
in Austin.
"I said, 'I'll just go
up and draw No. 22,' and I did," said Patrick, a
former president of the Arlington school board and
state board of education member.
Patrick will rank 149th
of the 150 state representatives, with one
representative still to be elected. The legislative
session begins Jan. 9.
Seniority determines the
location of lawmakers' Capitol offices and the
quality of furnishings, parking spaces and, to some
extent, committee assignments.
Patrick, wrapping up her
faculty duties at the University of Texas at
Arlington on Tuesday, said that she is pleased with
her office and her desk near the front of the House
floor.
"It was quite
awe-inspiring to sit on the House floor and in my
chair," she said.
Patrick, like Arlington
Democrat Paula Hightower Pierson and Republican
Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills -- the other
freshman lawmakers from Tarrant County -- said the
orientation was intense.
"It's an enormous amount
of information being fed to you in a short time,"
said Hancock, who ranks fourth in seniority in the
2007 class.
Hightower Pierson, one
notch higher at third, said she was "really humbled"
by her trip to Austin as a representative-elect.
"The elation of winning
the election really fades in comparison to the
responsibility to the district," she said. "Being a
previously elected official gives you a heads-up,
but this is on such a greater scale."
Patrick and Hightower
Pierson replace long-time incumbents with
considerable seniority.
Patrick defeated Rep.
Kent Grusendorf in the District 94 Republican
primary in March. He was ranked 12th in seniority.
District 93 Rep. Toby
Goodman, whom Hightower Pierson defeated in
November, was ranked 24th.
Hancock replaces
two-term District 91 Rep. Bob Griggs, who did not
run for re-election and did not have much seniority.
Denise Davis, Texas
House parliamentarian, runs the orientation in
conjunction with the offices of the House Speaker,
the Secretary of the Senate and the lieutenant
governor.
"It is a mini-boot camp
for the members," she said.
The lawmakers got an
overview of procedures for drafting bills and
learned about the legislative service agencies, such
as the budget and preservation boards, Davis said.
They attended classes on
ethics and open records laws and heard from veteran
lawmakers and business leaders.
The freshmen learned the
various rules of decorum and protocol on the House
floor -- such as don't walk between the microphones
while two members are debating, and make all motions
from the front microphone.
There were tutorials on
policy issues including property tax appraisal caps
and health and humans service issues such as
Medicaid reform.
"A freshman legislator
really needs to be a listener more than anything,"
Davis said. "They learn that from a number of people
in many different ways." |
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 Paula
Hightower Pierson, Girls Inc. Bold Woman of the Year
Norville urges goal-setting at Girls Inc. event
By Angie
Summers
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Broadcast
journalist Deborah Norville, host of the Inside
Edition television show, shared her philosophy about life
with humor and grace during the third annual Strong, Smart and
Bold "No Limits" luncheon Aug. 18 at the Arlington Convention
Center.
Proceeds
benefit Girls Inc. of Tarrant County.
Candid and
charming, she said women need to set an action plan in their
lives and remember to include their values and priorities in
that plan. "It's OK to say no to things that don't fit in that
plan," she said.
Before the
luncheon, Norville spent nearly an hour talking with four girls
involved in Girls Inc. programs.
Dijon Carter, Johnesha Esco, Shai Ford
and Collette Smith -- along with Girls Inc. staff member
Marquia Nixon -- discussed everything from programs
offered by the agency and peer pressure to their individual
interests. When Norville found out that Smith wanted to be a
fashion designer, she encouraged her to continue that interest.
Norville, who told the girls she had a Kenmore sewing machine,
is an accomplished seamstress.
A strong
advocate for women's and children's rights, Norville donated
$5,000 during the fundraising luncheon. Congratulations to local
residents who were recognized by the agency. Paula Hightower
Pierson received the Bold Woman award, Charles Pierson
received the Strong Man award, and Girls Inc. client Nayeli
Almaraz received the Smart Girl award and a $1,000 college
scholarship.
Radio
personality Anna de Haro served as event emcee.
Kathleen Hicks and Lana Wolff served as honorary
luncheon co-chairwomen, and Joni Wilson served as the
event chairwoman.
Committee
chairwomen included Amanda Brooks, Pat Burton, Jane Cox,
Elizabeth Doane, Cindy Hester, Lezlee Liljenberg, Laura
Loveland, Dawn Mann, Kim Murphy, Tana Sherman, Pat Sutton
and Katherine Haddix. Haddix had a longer commute than
other volunteers who helped organize the luncheon. She moved to
Oakland, Calif., last year but remains committed to Girls Inc.
Call
817-468-0306 or go online at
www.girlsinctarrant.org to learn more about the agency.
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Power
Player
Need Somebody with a powerful Rolodex? Here's who you're going
to call. If you're lucky, they'll call you back.
By O.K. Carter
STAR-TELEGRAM
STAFF WRITER
(Edited for Content and relevance)
Let me flip
the Rolodex file.
Ah here it is.
The name you want.
--From a poem by Christopher Mulrooney
The standard
advice about getting anything done in a community -- to pick a
busy person -- misses the point.
The people to
call to get virtually any civic project rolling are those that
Fortune magazine describes as "power Rolodex people."
Those whom Tipping Point social-change guru Malcolm
Gladwell describes as connectors, people with wide social
circles who are the hubs of any city's social network.
Power Rolodex
people may or may not keep their lists of names, phone numbers,
e-mail addresses and titles in an old-fashioned rotary card
file. Some go high-tech with state-of-the-art Palm Pilots or
computer software. Others keep it simple.
But no matter
what their system of keeping up with contacts is, they also
possess something extra. PRPs are community connectors who can
persuade people to make contributions to the arts or social
services, convince busy citizens that they really do need to
serve on a committee or buy a ticket to a gala, and who -- when
they call the mayor, a bank president or the editor -- will
receive a prompt return call. In short, it is the power of their
many connections -- and the willingness to use those connections
-- that make them power Rolodex people.
One of the most
efficient PRPs in Arlington for many years has been B.J. Hall,
vice president of communications at Southwest Securities Bank,
real estate investor and -- on weekends -- a horse-riding
instructor.
(Edited Here: go
to
www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/14794504.htm )
Then there's
Paula Hightower-Pierson, who has been involved with a multitude
of fundraising events in Arlington over the years. Virtually all
of her endeavors historically have some element of political
connection -- her particular niche. Her contact system is
computerized, but she relies heavily on a phenomenal ability to
recollect names and personal details.
The core of
those connections show up every Memorial Day morning when 900
guests -- getting on the invitation list is a status thing --
consume vast quantities of mimosas and Bloody Marys in the back
yard of Hightower-Pierson's north Arlington home. As she greets
a steady stream of guests, Hightower-Pierson seems to know
everyone's first name. These people will probably be hit up
again and again by her for one cause or another, some civic and
some political. In the past she's been the go-to person for the
Arlington Parade of Lights, corporate sponsorship of Taste of
Arlington and a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels.
"The secret is
not being afraid to ask for money," Hightower-Pierson says. "All
people can say is yes or no. You can't take it personal.
Everyone has a different cause or event they care about. You
just have to ask."
Hightower-Pierson, incidentally, hopes to use her connections to
propel herself to election as a state representative. If she
pulls it off, she will be the first Democrat from Arlington to
snag a spot in the Legislature in more than two decades.
But there is one
serious snag to being a PRP that Hall -- perhaps the queen of
Arlington's PRP crowd -- knows full well.
"If somebody is
in your Rolodex, it's a safe bet that you're in their Rolodex,"
BJ Hall says. "You have to be careful as to what you ask people
to do or contribute to, because what goes around comes around.
You have to be able to return the volunteer time or write the
donation check yourself if you expect others to do it for you."
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Pierson enters District 93 race
By NEIL
STRASSMAN
STAR-TELEGRAM
STAFF WRITER
Democrat Paula Hightower Pierson made it
official Friday that she will challenge longtime Arlington Rep.
Toby Goodman, a Republican, for the state House District 93
seat.
Pierson, an Arlington councilwoman from 1989 to
1997, says the east Arlington and east Mansfield district is
ready to elect a Democrat in November. She filed her candidacy
papers Friday.
“I am running for the Legislature as a
Democrat, but I am an independent and will have an independent
voice, and that is what Arlington should have,” said Pierson,
55, an Arlington real estate agent and small business owner.
“Some change needs to be made in Austin.”
A veteran legislator who has represented
Arlington since 1991, Goodman said he will run on his record and
experience.
“I am proud of my accomplishments in Austin and
on behalf of my district,” said Goodman, 57, a lawyer. Goodman,
the former chairman of the House Juvenile Justice and Family
Issues Committee and the current vice chairman, has sponsored
major legislation regarding juvenile justice and revisions to
the state’s family code.
Pierson also has a strong track record as an
advocate for children.
She is the founder of the Alliance for
Children, an agency that brings together police, district
attorneys and Child Protective Services employees to address
child abuse cases.
“Texas’ children deserve better than what they
are getting from the Legislature,” she said. “The Republicans
have been in the lead, and they are not getting the job done.”
The cuts to the Children’s Health Insurance
Program should be reversed and a solution must be found to
school finance reform, she said.
The 93rd District — about 48 percent Anglo, 19
percent African-American, 25 percent Hispanic and about 9
percent other minorities — is “probably the most competitive”
district between Republicans and Democrats in Tarrant County,
Goodman said, adding that no Democrat has carried the district
in years.
As of Friday, no other Democrats or Republicans
had filed for the seat. The filing deadline is Jan. 2.
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