On November 2, 2004 Lupe Valdez, won the job as Dallas Count
y (TX) sheriff with 51% of the vote. She became Texas's only elected female sheriff, as well as being the only openly lesbian sheriff in TX.
One of eight children born to migrant farm worker parents, she grew up in San Antonio, TX. She started working in the fields, paid her way through college, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration going on to earn a Master's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.
She served in the United States Army rising to the rank of Captain. She then pursued her civilian career in law enforcement beginning as a corrections officer, first in a county jail and then federal prison. She stayed in the federal system becoming an agent for the General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and, finally, the U.S. Customs Service where she was a leader in the federal Counter Smuggling Initiative. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, she was made a Senior Agent, serving in that role until her retirement in January 2004. Her retirement was for her pursue the office of Dallas County Sheriff. 
On January 2, 2004, Lupe Valdez announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Dallas County Sheriff. During the primary election, she faced three opponents, and finished as the highest vote-getter with 13,867 votes. She subsequently won a run-off election against future Dallas County Judge Jim Foster. Valdez won 73% of the vote in the run-off.
Going into the general election, Valdez was considered the underdog against Republican Danny Chandler. Chandler, a 30-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, had defeated incumbent Sheriff Jim Bowles in the Republican primary. Bowles, who was tainted by corruption allegations, had held the office for 20 years.
During her first four years in office Sheriff Valdez has fought for the people of Dallas County by aggressively reforming her Department and working to restore the Dallas County Jail.
Sheriff Valdez was reelected in March 2008 although her tenure is not without its own controversies about her job performance. The criticism includes poor communication within and outside the department; Dallas County jails still failing state inspections, like her during her predecessor; declining arrest rates for driving while intoxicated and alleged disproportionate DWI arrests of Hispanics; taking 2 years to successfully pass her Texas Peace Officer Certification examination after being elected; engaging in campaign activities while in uniform and violating "long-standing policy" in Dallas County; authorizing the Discovery Channel to film a documentary without gaining required Commissioner Court permission.
This prompted the Commissioners Court to unanimously seek(and ultimately get) a restraining order against the Sheriff. The Dallas Morning News editorial board criticized the Sheriff's handling of the matter: "the positive publicity from finally meeting state standards would have been superior to that of a cable documentary and an unnecessary fight with those who hold her purse strings. The legal costs to the county could be as high as $11,000.
This month it came from the behind the thin blue line, a news conference where the National Latino Peace Officers Association, Dallas County Peace Officers Association, Dallas County Sheriff's Association and Fraternal Order of Police, frustrated because Sheriff Valdez "repeatedly refused to meet" with them over labor issues, "blasted [Sheriff Valdez] for lack of leadership and inaction during [Dallas County's fiscal year 2009] budget crisis," further alleging that Valdez's leadership has "led to a historic low in morale and an 'overwhelming view of no confidence within our ranks.'
The 28-year law enforcement veteran said her sexuality was not much of an issue during her campaign. Valdez, who received an endorsement by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said her election is proof of progress in the law enforcement profession. "As more of us are upfront about our sexuality, the attitudes change," she said, adding that her election also proves that Dallas is an accepting place.
43 comments:
Kacie, just wanted to respond to your question about Ted making up the TT BI. I think he would not make up a BI and then point all the clues so clearly and conclusively to a specific person, as he has done with TT. I think if Ted were going to make up a BI, he would leave the clues vague enough that it could be any one of several people.
Austin was photographed standing awkwardly beside Adrienne at the ESPYs once. Nothing else has been seen or heard about them. Nothing before, nothing after, not even an obscure blog sighting.
Please tell me how does that translate into the double A's moving into a house next to Reeke?
See? All it took was one crappy, uncomfortable picture and Austin's got a GF. PR working it's voodoo again. Worked for Jake, why not Austin as well.
Good morning, everyone! Think it's going to be another hot one today; outside, I mean. I'm still bummed I missed out on Priscilla discussion. Sounds like a good movie. You know, even Borders didn't have it last night - I looked. Giminy's!
JerseyTom, when you said you hated the Mets, that brought back memories of my being a staunch Cubbie fan years ago, before Harry died & Stoney left the booth. Cub fans hated the Mets, too!! Have you been to Wrigley? I've been there a couple times - now they've messed it up with their advertising around the park.
LOL, you cracked me up yesterday with your checking out the wrong movie!! Maybe we ought to discuss Too Wong Foo next - you'll be all set & ready, won't ya? lol.
And Kacie, you must be in Australia or something, you were up so late! Or you're a night owl. Did you hear me chuckling @ you? You said "Well, I'm going off to bed, night everyone!" and then you kept posting!lol!! Sounds like something I'd do. If I had been up, I'd've (double contraction!!)conversed with you. I'm teasing you. I like your posts; you rattle off questions like a machine gun. And I don't know answers to any of them. : ) But I don't think Ted is making up TT at all. He's posted way too much about it. And why would he keep it up after all this time?
I'm a long post-er myself. As in longwinded, can you tell?
Wicked,
I just said what was in the comments on Ted's BI on Friday. There was 30 or more. No, I do not
think Ted would make up something.
The house next to Jake and Reese
was just my imagination working
overtime. It will be interesting
to see in the months ahead on how
Jake comments on his relationship
with Reese.
Prairie Girl,
Actually I suffer from insomnia
and the prescription medicine that
I take does not always work! I will end off with it will be very
interesting in the next few months
what Jake's comments are on Reese.
I am glad Austin's movie career is
picking up as is Jake's!
Prairie Girl,
Actually I suffer from insomnia
and the prescription medicine that
I take does not always work! I will end off with it will be very
interesting in the next few months
what Jake's comments are on Reese.
I am glad Austin's movie career is
picking up as is Jake's!
Frenchy said:
Terence Stamp's Ralf/Bernadette disillusioned search for that real gentleman who will treat her like a lady is so bittersweet. You're just happy when Bob shows up and you wish these two will settle down and live happily thereafter.
Now, who doesn't want that, I ask you? :)
I'm so sorry I wasn't able to see Pricilla this weekend - I really wanted to, but I had plans to see TDK (again!), and it's been all about TDK for me this past week. I still cannot get over just how good Heath is in it - the best Joker I have ever seen, in the best Batman movie I have ever seen, and I enjoyed Tim Burton's vision of Batman a lot. The costumes and music sound wonderful in Pricilla and I can't wait to see it.
Another great Out Spotlight this weekend, I think I remember reading about Sheriff Valdez. Another very accomplished human being. Hooray for Texas! Gotta love 'em sometimes. Dallas also had an openly gay city councilman who ran for Mayor, and whose sexuality was also a non-issue at the time. :) Public service is such a thankless job sometimes; you can't please everyone, complaints, you've got to work within the constraints and limits inherent in the system, which can tie your hands, cronies and established networks, and before you might be able to do any good, they can boot your a$$ out! Maybe filming a documentary was the only way to draw attention to the problem? I don't know. Anyway, hooray for Sheriff Valdez! Whatever problems she may or may not be having fulfilling her duties as Sheriff, at least her sexuality wasn't an issue. :)
^^^Sorry for the double post. I hit the button twice. Take care of
yourselves everybody.
Sorry for the double post. I hit the button twice.
We've all been there, done that, kacie! no cause for alarm. I'm sorry to hear about your insomnia. That's a drag. I hope it doesn't last too long for you. And don't stay away from posting just cause you think you do it too much. Heck, I don't expect people to pay attention to 1/2 of what I say but I do it anyway. It's kind of therapeutic like I said before. And there certainly isn't anyone @ work or friends I hang out with who give a flip about Jake & Austin, and idiotic Reeke. It's nice to have this community to come to and talk to everyone.
Well, gotta go. Niece & nephew are @ the local indoor inflatable jungle jim (See, Reese & Jake, that's what kids that age really like to do, not go to art museums for gosh sakes) and I've got to go watch. Note, not participate, just watch! lol
And more importantly, this is a really interesting spotlight today. I say hooray for her vault into politics. Sounds like there's problems to work out, but when are there not problems in politics? And especially in the judicial system. I don't know about the DUI situation; not sure what that's all about. Are they saying there aren't enough DUI arrests lately? Is attention being focused elsewhere? Maybe there's a shortage of officers. Anyway, hope it all works out. I don't envy cops and prison guards at all.
One last thing before gone for the day - Looking at a few of the rags @ Borders last night(but why do I torture myself like that when I know what I'm going to see? It's like gawking at a bad carwreck, I know) People, US Weekly, and can't remember, In Touch, I think, had the ol' Paris pictures, pushing the nuptials, etc. That picture of Jake, Reese, & Ava walking hand in hand was gaggy. But you know what, there's like a carlength of space between J & R. In fact, all 3 look like they're about ready to play Red Rover, Red Rover. Sidewalk hogs, that's what they were being. All joking aside, talk about body language. Jake & Reese don't stand, walk, or sit close to each other like a couple in love & dying to get hitched. Plain & simple.
Have a great Sunday, everyone!
Interesting Spotlight. Regardless of what happened afterwards Im glad that her sexuality wasnt an issue with her getting in the job. Like everyone else said there will always be problems in politics unfortunately.
Great song - havent heard that one in awhile.
Im going to try to see TDK today.
Niece & nephew are @ the local indoor inflatable jungle jim
Adults ARE allowed, right? I would be all over that!
At my pool there is a water slide that we ask the lifeguards to turn in the morning. ALL the adults go down. :)
^^Sounds like fun! I just realized I left out the name of the Dallas city councilman/mayoral candidate of a top-ten US city I mentioned in my above post. How rude! His name is Ed Oakley.
Have a great day, all! :)
I wish I had a pool and a water slide to go to today.
Very interesting Spotlight today. It's so rare to see women in positions like this, let alone a gay hispanic woman. It's too bad that she hasn't lived up to expectations. I wonder if she wasn't voted in in part because people thought she would be different than her straight white male predecessors, and maybe as a result people had unrealistic expectations? Or of course it could just be a case of not being qualified.
Finally saw TDK, Heath really is something to see, especially in the nurse scenes. I also thought Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldman were very good, and I liked Maggie too. Christian Bale on the other hand does nothing for me, I thought he was is a bit stiff and bland, and I hate the voice he uses for Batman.
Yes, her predessor had 30 years in the Sheriff's department, and he replaced someone who held the position for 20 years and left amidst allegations of corruption. Surprise, surprise. Sheriff Valdez has just been elected to another term in March, so someone thinks she's doing a decent job. She's a 28-year veteran of law enforcement, that sounds like plenty of qualifications, plus her life experiences. She's done a lot of good for the office, it appears, including a commendation from the Justice Department. Her tenure may not be without its problems, but it sounds like it was worse before she got there! No politician is without his/her detractors. Change doesn't happen overnight, plus there's always the twin hand-tiers of understaffing and budget cuts.
Finally saw TDK, Heath really is something to see, especially in the nurse scenes.
Heath is strangely attractive in that outfit, and apparently I'm not alone in thinking this - I've read quite a few comments remarking on his sex appeal in that scene ;)
I wanted to include her criticism to show that had nothing to do with sexuality, which I think many people would jump to the conclusion that would be the main reason. That is such a non issue, she is being scrutinized for her job and her office's performance. There is no free pass for her being a women either, she is being held accountable for what the department is doing.
And you're right just saying, it takes time. And it looks like the sheriff's office is also an old boys club. Tough nut to crack. A little about the jail issues. The city has increase their funding for increase medical services to the Dallas County jail one of the major issues regard the jail failing inspection. It will be interesting to see what happens during Sheriff Valdez's current term.
By the way, I loved your Red Rover comment PG, that's exactly what it looked like.
A poster on FCC pointed out something I missed about the new TT Blind Vice item; Ted's mention of the actress and her cat litter boxes ties back to a letter to Ted giving him kudos for his comical clues as to why Jake and Reese are not real. Ted answered by asking "Was that when I was cleaning out the cat litter"
You're right about that point on the criticism the Sheriff has gotten Special. Part of being accepted as an equal is being treated like everyone else in all aspects of life. I agree with Just Saying that she may've not had enough time on the job to change things, and change can be difficult when it is so entrenched in the system. But it sounds like the criticism is about big issues, and not the kind of petty remarks that often seem to be directed at women, particularly, who get into positions of power.
Ted's second video about Jake(Dude Shafter) he put a man pan in the oven and a cat jumped out.
Oh yes, guys, I think it's great that Sheriff Valdez' sexuality is such a non-issue, and that as a woman and a lesbian she's treated as an equal, that's wonderful. She may have inherited a mess, and as usual, the public complains but never wants to pay increased taxes and fees that might accomplish what they'd like to. Not a criticism of today's post, nor argument. Just sayin', is all. Thanks for another great OutSpotlight.
And as for Heath, that whole scene in the nurse's uniform and his dialogue was great! His entire performance was great, but my fave is the "Hello Beautiful" one, where he's fixing his hair before approaching Rachel. He's incredibly good. :)
The way he says "hello beautiful" is worth the admission alone.
Isn't it? I'm lost to him from then on. The "I'm not a schemer, I just do things without a plan" scene in Harvey's hospital room (in the nurse's uniform) I love too. His gender fluidity is awesome. He's as sexy as hell. I love how he always wants to tell someone how he got his scars "Do you know how I got these?" :)
It's his twisted seduction line, changed with each new person.
"A friend commented seeing early Heath picture 'omg he's gay as a goose'"
Interesting. I've always thought Heath had quite a fem side, which I loved.
"Of COURSE The Joker is gender fluid."
I agree and love that you said this as I thought I was the only one who saw that.
I agree with everyone that the 'hello beautiful" and "do you know how i got my scars" lines are also seductive and sexy in the oddest way, lol.
Looks like TDK is on its way to breaking all box office records. It is now possible that TDK could replace Titanic as the all time box office money maker. Unbelievable.
Unbelievable indeed,Jersey Tom. If only Heath were here to see what a stir his amazing Joker is causing! :-(
And Orchid,you're right, Heath did have a fem side,sometimes he had the most gorgeous androgyny about him. Even as the Joker he just oozed sex!
Having seen TDK twice now, I will say Heath's performance is even more breathtaking the 2nd time. I kept waiting for him to appear the first time through, but on the 2nd viewing, I concentrated on the plot, his mannerisms, dialogue, manner of speech, body language, the look in his eyes. Mesmerizing. Brilliant. He raises the movie to a new plane.
At his point I believe that Heath is the one to beat for Best Supporting Actor. It looks like his main competition will be Josh Brolin and RDJ. It will take one hell of a performance to beat Heath's Joker. He has a real shot at an Oscar. He has a golden Globe wrapped up for Best Suporting role in a musical or comedy. Since I believe Batman will be placed in this category as was Pirates of the Caribbean. My bet he win the Bafta also.
^^ Sorry Anon 9:07 was me
We won't see the real Oscar contenders until November and December. I agree that Heath has a great chance but it's much too early to make any predictions.
Even as the Joker he just oozed sex!
Oh, giminiy's, you all are giving me a slow coronary describing Heath in TDK. I have seen a picture of Heath in the nurse's uniform and he actually looks quite fantastic in it. The more pictures I see (ha! and download onto my desktop) of him, the more I see how unbelievably fantastic looking he was. He did. He had sexuality to the bone. I can't wait to see the movie. I am so happy for his memory that he did so well in it.
Adults ARE allowed, right? I would be all over that!
Well, Wicked, I see adults sometimes get in there, but it's to help their really little ones move along. This place is something; it's in a local mall and it's nothing but those big inflatable moonwalks, obstacle courses, slides, etc. The kids can really blow off steam & energy. And, um, no, I don't see myself doing those. Heck, I can't even do the TiltAWhirl anymore, I get dizzy in my ears! Hate rollercoasters (1st & only one was a traumatic experience on that wooden one in Colorado when I was little), and kind of like those big slides that you go down on in a burlap bag, but uh, that's about my limit. Afraid I'm a big scaredy cat!! Like to keep both feet on the ground anymore.
Can I say on here how I got my ennis/jack.com newsletter today?
Anyway, I did. Curiously, I opened it right away and they have posted reactions to Ted & Lisa's interview/lunch thing with Jake. I think they give a link to it. I didn't open it; I just started reading some of the blogs about it because people were copy/pasting excerpts from it. There was one that caught my eye about when Jake was talking about people's reactions to BBM and he referred to a moment on a NY street with his girlfriend and a Spanish-speaking guy came up and was trying to express how affected he was by BBM. Jake couldn't understand but his girlfriend could translate a little bit of it. Now who would that have been? It says that Jake didn't mention a name so no time frame could be given. Hmm...wonder if Reese knows a little Spanish? And has he disillusioned himself so much that he does refer to her as his girlfriend?
Funny how he would talk about how much doing BBM meant and how he is still affected by people's reactions. Because his actions today don't reflect that sentiment at all anymore.
I don't know if I'll go back and read that interview because I just don't know how to take it.
pg, i read the whole thing and i thought 'girlfriend' mighta been a cover for austin. austins from texas where alot of spanish is used. its possible he said 'girl friend' aslo.
great spolight today! i dunno if i woulda chose 'i shot the sheriff' for the song of the day tho. LOL!! a better one mighta been 'all my exes live in texas' :*
hola! said LOL!!! that's a good name.
Jake could have meant the girl he was seen around town (NY) with, I think late 2006. Someone claims that she is the daughter of the guy who played the detective in NYpdBlue. I think Curuso is his name. Don't know though.
ot but funny. today my puter froze, i couldn't get on any sites, the #@&^% hourglass got stuck and it wouldn't even shut down! nothing was working.. except for the omg music coming thru the speakers loud and clear! shoot the sheriff hell i was ready to shoot the puter!
^^ :)
All I will say is that I wish Jake
the very best. If Reese is who he
chooses, that it is his choice. I
do think that he truly looked very
happy with Austin. It will be very
interesting to see if Jake releases a comment about whether
he and Reese are living together.
My feeling is if he lets Austin go
completely out of his life, he may
regret it one day. If Reese and he
are together, I often wonder why
he is not photographed with some
of his other friends besides Chris. Maybe that's the way they
want it though. Everybody take care and have a good week. I have
to get ready to go to work. I will
catch you later on in the week. To
me, it is such a shame that people
cannot just be what they truly are
and have to pretend to be something else.
I think Curuso is his name.
David Caruso’s daughter, Greta Caruso.
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