"Are we in the right place?"

Political Pulse: 06.25.06
June 25, 2006
Shamsie tells sheriff that jail ordeal is politics


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County Judge Terry Shamsie, who phoned in to this week's commissioners court meeting, hinted that the brouhaha over the jail is nothing but politics. "I would like to welcome the sheriff again to politics. She doesn't run a prison like George Bush runs Guantanamo Bay," he said while calling in from his vacation.
Several district judges, including Jose Longoria, Jack Hunter and Rose Vela, disagreed, saying prisoners were being treated "like animals" and that the conditions at the jail are inhumane.
Ortiz resents comment about jail's prisoners
A memo from Hunter saying jail prisoners were being treated like animals drew fire from County Commissioner Oscar Ortiz, who said, "That's uncalled for. I really resent the judge saying that."
Living conditions are not comparable
Taking a shot at Vela, who blasted the conditions in the Nueces County Jail this week, Shamsie said, "She lives on Ocean Drive. Anything less than that probably does look like a Third World country."
Strange coincidence as Shamsie phones in
Shamsie, out of the country on vacation, phoned in right as the minister was walking up to the podium to give the invocation at this week's commissioners court
meeting.
County Commissioner Oscar Ortiz intoned, "You have a direct line to God."
Media at presentation, confuses Banales
Walking into the Nueces County Commissioners courtroom for a presentation on conditions at the Nueces County Jail, District Judge Manuel Banales looked around the room, which was chockfull of reporters and cameras, and asked District Judge Tom Greenwell, "Are we in the right place?"
"Did you say you were going to close the meeting," Greenwell joked, alluding to Banales' role, along with Judge Nanette Hasette, in closing a meeting media member protested should be open.
Pharmacy comment strikes a nerve
After that meeting concluded, Longoria, angered by the "sorry state" of affairs at the jail, opined that the $5 million Shamsie and the Commissioners Court wanted to give to Texas A&M Kingsville Pharmacy School earlier this year should have been used to fix the jail.
"Don't go there," growled Banales, who is married to County Commissioner Peggy Banales.
Brewster's was spot for pre-concert party
The party before Wednesday night's Sheryl Crow concert was at Brewster's, with Regional Transportation Authority board member John Buckley and businessman Dusty Durrill playing host to a big crowd at their table. Across the room, District Judge Jana Whatley, who presides over San Patricio, Aransas and Bee counties, was hanging out with friends.
Strayhorn says race between her, Perry
Now that Carole Keeton Strayhorn is on the ballot, she had one message for Gov. Rick Perry on Friday: Let the race begin!
"It does not matter what games they play, I had 250,000 people sign the petition and Texas knows it's a two person race," she said. "I have the resources and I can get people to the polls. I can and will end Rick Perry's regime."Both Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman are on the ballot as independents.
Political Pulse is compiled and written by Caller-Times politics reporter Jaime Powell.
This week's contributors include Powell and Denise Malan.
Have a tip? Contact Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@ caller.com