Charles Soechting Endorses Rosemary Lehmberg
Former Chief of Texas Democratic Party Says Veteran Prosecutor’s Seasoned Leadership is Critical to Help Austin The Challenges of the Future
(AUSTIN) — Former Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting today threw his enthusiastic endorsement behind Rosemary Lehmberg in the runoff for Travis County District Attorney, saying that the veteran prosecutor’s seasoned leadership is critical to helping Austin meet the challenges of the future.
“Rosemary has helped guide the office and make it into one of the most innovative and respected in the entire nation,” Soechting said. “She has earned our support — and just as importantly, our trust.”
Soechting, a former DPS trooper and longtime lawyer who has been an activist against election fraud, said the Travis County DA’s office has a special obligation to protect not just the local community but the integrity of the electoral process across the state.
“This office requires great legal skills and great human judgment — and Rosemary Lehmberg has plenty of both,” Soechting said.
Lehmberg became one of Travis County’s first women assistant district attorneys and has been praised during her tenure for her work against child abuse and public corruption. She helped create the Center for Child Protection (formerly the Children’s Advocacy Center) and served as chief of the high–profile Public Integrity Unit. She has run the Career Criminal, Trial, and Major Crimes divisions.
In addition, Lehmberg helped create and was the first director of the Family Justice Division, a groundbreaking operation that deals with criminal child abuse, children’s protective services, parental kidnapping, and domestic violence cases.
A native of Taylor, Lehmberg moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas and earned her law degree from St. Mary’s University. She is a founding member of the Center For Child Protection and Child Protection Team, served on the advisory board of the Travis County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and was a member of the Texas Multidisciplinary Task Force on Children’s Justice. She was awarded the first Shauna Jacobson Team Leadership Award and has been named the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Lawyer for Children’s Issues.”
The Democratic runoff is Tuesday, April 8. Early voting starts next Monday, March 31 and runs through Friday, April 4. For a full list of early voting locations, click here: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/20080408/early_polls.pdf
