Note: Anah Menjares did not respond to our questions. The winner will face Democrat Nellie Hopson in November in the general election.
Susan Rowley
What are your three priorities and if elected, what will you do about them?
First priority is truancy and Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance cases. I want to get these kids back in school! These cases are unique because the schools can choose to file their cases in any of the courts within the county not just certain precincts. I have almost every Lubbock County school filing truancy cases in my court. The truancy officers for are seeing a difference. As one of the truancy officers said, “I have never observed such effective results in my 14 years in this role. Judge Rowley also holds parents accountable for their actions while maintaining fairness in her rulings, ensuring that every voice is heard.”
Eviction laws are becoming more complicated. I’ve been a licensed attorney for nearly 30 years. A justice of the peace must have a deep understanding of the law so they can explain it simply. I believe in the importance of letting people be heard. I give all parties a chance to tell their side of the story. Even when the laws are very straightforward, such as eviction laws, it’s important to hear both sides of the story.
Last, civil debt claim and small claim cases. As an attorney and trained mediator, I had an idea of something new for debt collection cases. Many cases involving money could be settled when the parties sit down and negotiate. My idea was to mediate these kinds of cases before we set them for a stressful trial. We started implementing a free mediation program. It’s been a tremendous success and first of its kind in Texas. Lubbock County received an award from the National Association of Counties for this “innovative” program, which is being duplicated across the state. The program resulted in the clearance of 80-to-90 percent of the debt collection cases filed in Lubbock County.
What do you wish the public knew about Justices of the Peace?
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a legal background. Because our criminal cases are “fine only” there are rarely attorneys in our court. Whether someone is in court for a traffic ticket, small claims case or Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance of the child, everyone can choose to have a trial, even a jury trial. I’ve been a trial attorney for my entire career which helps when giving instructions to regular people. This is a stressful situation, particularly if the opposing side has an attorney. I try to put people at ease.
How will new eviction procedures from the Texas Supreme Court impact local tenants and landlords?
Eviction laws have a lot of changes this year. These laws are becoming very complicated. New standards for giving notice of evictions have been implemented. For example, email in most cases is now an acceptable form of giving notice. For those who have never been late on their rent in the past, now there is a chance for them to get the rent paid before the evictions can be filed. The constables have a shorter time frame in which to serve papers and to get the move outs completed.
Outside the office you are seeking, what are the ways you have participated in the community, for example: boards, volunteer positions, or other offices you previously held?
I have been a resident of Lubbock County for 50 years. I love this community and the people here. I have worked tirelessly to give back to Lubbock. I worked for Lubbock County as an assistant district attorney under the supervision of Hon. Bill Sowder. As a defense attorney I was a member of the Lubbock Criminal Defense Attorney Association and the Lubbock Bar Association. I’ve been an active member of the Republican Party and interned for former Congressman Larry Combest. I’m active with Hospice of Lubbock, Meals on Wheels and a longtime member of the Lubbock Lions Club.
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