After a pretty good first term in office, looks like State Rep. Armando Walle is ready to continue his good works in Austin.
HOUSTON– Representative Armando Walle (D-Houston) announced today that he has filed for re-election for the 2010 election. Rep. Walle hopes to continue representing House District 140, including the Northside and Aldine areas, for another two-year term.
“It continues to be a great honor for me to represent our community in the Texas House of Representatives,” said Rep. Walle. “If re-elected, I will continue working to improve our community and our state.”
Since taking the oath of office nearly one year ago, Rep. Walle has focused on the issues that matter most to the people of District 140. Rep. Walle supported proposals to improve quality of life in the Aldine and Northside communities, increase safety in local neighborhoods, and encourage local economic development. He also passed a comprehensive graffiti reform bill aimed at protecting victims of graffiti crime and increasing penalties for graffiti offenders.
“Since the Legislature wrapped up in June, I’ve been visiting with my constituents and working around the clock, ensuring that the needs of our community are being met,” said Rep. Walle. “Now I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work earning the support of voters in our community, so that I can continue advocating on their behalf in Austin.”
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Rep. Armando Walle represents House District 140, which includes portions of unincorporated North Harris County and the City of Houston. He serves as Deputy Floor Leader for the House Democratic Caucus and is a member of the House Committees on Human Services, Urban Affairs and Rules and Resolutions. Rep. Walle was selected “Freshman of the Year” by the members of the Women’s Health Caucus. He was first elected in 2008.
Will you support decriminalizing SOME graffiti acts?
Graffiti persists like a weed because there is no certainty of punishment. Punishment is rare because the criminal law requires an eye witness to convict. So, catching the culprit is a game of Hide-n-Seek.
The solution is simple: decriminalize the act, thereby eliminating the need for eye-witness testimony.
To solve the graffiti problem, the legislature must allow SOME graffiti acts to be treated not as a crime but as a civil case, much like a parking ticket. In other words, begin with equal justice for graffiti vandals.
Next, a police investigator who is not an eye-witness may then offer credible testimony to identify in an informal hearing who is responsible for the graffiti. If a judge accepts the evidence, accountability for bad behavior follows.
Like a parking ticket, proven guilt brings a fixed fine. Restorative Justice is, however, an option. Certainty of punishment is its own deterrent.