Houston Chronicle Editorial: We recommend Alexandra Mealer for Harris County Judge

It was the first time they’d been in the same room debating the issues and during one particularly tense exchange in their interview before the editorial board, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo turned to her Republican challenger, Alexandra del Moral Mealer, and told her sternly, “if you want to be county judge, you need to be able to listen.” It’s true that Mealer, a West Point graduate and a former Army captain who commanded hundreds in Afghanistan — not to mention a mom of two toddlers — can come off as combative, talking over others and, during our 90-minute screening, interjecting numerous times as Hidalgo responded to questions. But where it counts, particularly on the issue of crime, Mealer seems to be listening to many in our community who otherwise feel unheard: crime victims and their families. Hidalgo would do well to follow her own advice.

We have always appreciated the dynamic mix of wonkishness and progressive optimism of Harris County’s first Latina judge. She’s an inspiration to many and, if given the choice, we’d rather live in Hidalgo’s vision of Harris County, where government is inclusive, transparent and ethical, policy isn’t tainted by politics, the air is cleaner, the streets are safer, more children can attend pre-K, and climate change is treated with the urgency it deserves. But vision isn’t always reality. On some of these issues, Hidalgo has made good on her promises, including fairness in distributing Harvey funding on a “worst-first” basis and investments in badly needed air monitors in polluted neighborhoods and early childhood education. She put the lives of residents first during the pandemic, standing up to bullying state leaders to implement mask requirements and other COVID-19 protocols. She handled disasters imperfectly but with poise and a clear head, calling Winter Storm Uri for what it was — “a Category 5 hurricane” — long before state leaders acknowledged its potential magnitude. She counts among her bipartisan accomplishments working with Land Commissioner George P. Bush to secure $750 million in Harvey funding after an initial snub.