Melder's Musings

Dallas County District Attorney Bill Hill won't seek another term. (Dallas Morning News photo)

Let me say at the outset that this blog post is fueled by rank speculation. It's speculation that I think deserves attention and discussion. With that said, let's lay out the facts.

The Dallas Morning News reported late last week that Republican District Attorney Bill Hill won't seek a third term. According to the paper, this came as a shock to everyone who knows anything about politics in north Texas. Hill's announcement came without warning and after he had publicly began raising funds and support for a third term.

Hill's bombshell has also left Dallas County Republican Party leaders scrambling to find his replacement on the ballot. It's also left potential Democratic challengers scratching their heads.

Hill's shocking announcement was followed by another bombshell earlier this week. In a stunning defeat for Hill's office, a Dallas County grand jury refused to indict the driver involved in a tragic bus fire. It's a defeat that was covered by media outlets around the world.


Juan Roblez Gutierrez will face no criminal charges after driving the bus that killed 23. (Dallas Morning News photo)

That driver is none other than Juan Roblez Gutierrez. Gutierrez is the man many hold responsible for the deaths of 23 nursing home patients. Those patients were killed when the bus they were riding in during Hurricane Rita evacuations burst into flames on Interstate 45 near Dallas. Dallas County Sheriff's officials say Gutierrez had no Texas Driver's License, that his Mexican Driver's License did not have commercial vehicle status, and that he'd been cited for some 11 safety violations during the past year. Sheriff's officials were pursuing negligent homicide charges.

In other words, it should have been a slam dunk case. As Republicans are fond of saying (especially in Tom DeLay's case), a good prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich.

As reported by the San Antonio Express-News, the case against Mr. Gutierrez has not proceeded smoothly. For nearly a month now, officials with the District Attorney's office and the Sheriff's office have accused each other of botching steps in the legal process.

Does the failure to secure an indictment of Gutierrez have anything to do with Hill's decision not to run again? I don't know, but I think it could. Hill made his surprise announcement nearly a week ago. Hill's office disclosed the shocking grand jury's decision two days ago. It's certainly bad timing, if nothing else.