The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 48

8-D THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 18, 1990 Election preview Williams eulogizes associates Associated Press MIDLAND Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams, clutching the hand of his wife Modesta, gave a tearful eulogy at memorial service Friday for five business associates killed in a plane crash. Five white candles were lit in honor of Aaron Giebel, Ken Mardis, Randy Kidwell, Robert Smith and Jamie Winkel. More than 1,500 people filled the First Baptist Church in Midland to remember the five men killed in the crash near Putnam Wednesday. "They were part of my family," Williams said. "We weren't related by blood.

We weren't related by marriage. But we were bound by love, by respect, by achievements and by some battle scars. We no longer share that life, that hunt, that campfire song." Williams said the men helped him build business empires, watched them slip away and built them anew. Frank Carmona Susan Baker Olsen Roy Engelke Mark Ward Beninati throws support to Olsen ByAMYCOUVILLON The Daily News LEAGUE CITY Galveston County District Clerk V.J. Beninati Jr.

endorsed Susan Baker Olsen for 306th Family District Court judge at a Thursday political rally. Citing statistics compiled from the district clerk's office, Beninati said Olsen has been a more productive attorney than her opponent, County Commissioner Frank Carmona. Beninati spoke at a political forum hosted by the North County Democrats. The candidates in the 212th District Court race also spoke at the forum. Beninati said he has supported Carmona in all his other endeavors, but he chose to support Olsen for judge because public records show that in the last five years, Olsen has handled 492 percent more family law cases in the 306th District Court than Carmona.

In the last five years, Beninati said, Olsen has handled 841 percent more criminal cases and 200 percent more civil cases than Carmona. "As district clerk, I am placed in a unique position," Beninaiti said. "I can observe all the lawsuits filed, and the way the lawyers act in court and treat their clients, their general demeanor." Beninati said Olsen, daughter of departing 306th District Judge Andrew Z. Baker, is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, while Carmona is not. Olsen has kept up with the many recent changes in the Family Law Code, he said.

Olsen, who had a prior commitment Thursday, arrived at the forum as Beninati was speaking. Carmona, Olsen's opponent, emphasized his 29 years of experience as an attorney and 19 years as a county commissioner. His campaign has pointed out that Olsen has only been a practicing attorney since 1982, while he began his practice in 1961. Carmona said he has not been a part-time lawyer. He said he has had a successful practice in both prosecution and defense, representing mothers, fathers, children and grandparents in family courts here and elsewhere in Texas.

He said being a county commissioner involves more than just roads and bridges it involves making decisions that affect public health, the judicial system and people's lives and property. Family district court is normally the last resort for bitter, emotional disputes, Carmona said. The judge of the 306th should have a mature, balanced and rational disposition. District Judge Roy Engelke, up for re-election in 212th District Court, told forum participants that he has worked hard to keep his promise to be fair and impartial, and he has tried to do justice. "Four years ago, you elected me to the judge of the 212th District Court, and I like the job," Engelke said.

Engelke was elected in May 1986. Before that, he was a longtime local attorney and served for six years as trustee and president of the board at College of the Mainland. Galveston attorney Mark Ward, who is running against Engelke, disagreed with Engelke's past statement that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," which implied that nothing is wrong with the 212th District Court. "It is broke, and I want the opportunity to fix it," Ward said. "I'm not a politician.

I just see a job that needs to be done. The present judge, in my opinion, is not doing it." Ward, whose campaign slogan is "Give the courts back to the people," has practiced law in Galveston since 1983. Before that he was a criminal district attorney in Walker County. Ward calls himself liberal on some issues and conservative on others. He has been endorsed by the Galveston Municipal Police Association.

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Food Stamp Issuance Bidders Meeting Those interested in conducting with (he Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) Tor over- thc-couliter loot! stamp issuance are invited to a public meeting on Feb. 26 10 a.m. in Conference Room of the DHS office, 2520 N. Closner in Edinburg. The procurement process and service requirements for issuing food stumps in Hidalgo Coimly will be discussed.

For more information, contacl Margarcttc Kaylor at (512) 450-3459. Texas Women's Political Caucus endorses mostly Democratic slate Associated Press AUSTIN The Texas Women's Political Caucus on Friday reiterated its backing of Ann Richards for governor and announced its support for an almost all Democratic slate of candidates in the March 13 primary. The caucus overwhelmingly chose Ms. Richards, currently the state treasurer, over her opponents State Attorney General Jim Mattox and former Gov. Mark White.

"Ann Richards has just been over the years very supportive of women's issues," said Patricia Smothers, chairwoman of the group's political action committee. Responding to questions concerning Mattox's support of issues backed by the caucus, Ms. Smothers said, "It's not just because he is not a woman that he's not endorsed. But electing more women to office is a part of the caucus." Ms. Smothers of San Antonio said the caucus has raised approximately $40,000 for Ms.

Richards' campaign. The caucus supports a woman's right to an abortion, passage of an Equal Rights Amendment and increased funding of child care programs. The caucus endorsed State Comptroller Bob Bullock for lieutenant governor; State Rep. Dan Morales, D-San Antonio, for attorney general and the re-election efforts of Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. The group also endorsed Bob Krueger in the race for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission and State Sen.

Hugh Parmer, D- Fort Worth, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to chal- lenge U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, R- Texas. In court races, the caucus endorsed Supreme Court Justice Oscar Mauzy for chief justice; Fred Biery of San Antonio in Place 1 and Lamar McCorkle of Houston in Place 2. McCorkle is the only Republican candidate endorsed by the caucus in a statewide race, but the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 5-4 that he is ineligible for the 1990 election because he falls short of having the 10 years legal experience required by the Texas Constitution.

In the Court of Criminal Appeals races, the group supports Morris Overstreet of Amarillo in Place Pat Barber of Colorado City in Place 3 and Charlie Baird of Houston in Place 4. In other political developments: Ms. Richards said both White and Mattox told the Baptist Standard newspaper' in 1986 that they opposed a state lottery. Now both say they favor it, and Mattox has made creation of a lottery a focal point of his campaign. "Election-year conversions are nothing new for politicians who put personal ambition above policy, but these born-again lottery supporters have reached a new level of hypocrisy," said Glenn Smith, Ms.

Richards' campaign manager. Krueger said if elected to the Railroad Commission he would press Congress to pass an oil drill- ing tax incentive that would allow drillers to deduct 65 cents per dollar on the cost of drilling a dry hole. The tax break could not be recovered until after the driller hit a producing well. "This is not a tax dodge. It is activity driven," Krueger said.

Krueger, of New Braunfels, said his former experience as a congressman would help him shepherd such a plan through Congress. BANKCRQ VISTA EXPECT JHE BEST ROM RANDY WRIGHT when buying or selling a home. PHONE 740-4040 TREASURE BALL ASSOCIATION OF O'CONNELL SCHOOL 341 Annual MARDI GRAS PAGEANT "TURNING POINTS IN HISTORY" Thursday, February 22 pm MOODY CIVIC CENTER Children (Under 12) EIBAND'S TICKET CIHTER O'CONNELL SENIOR CAMPUS AT THE DOOR THE GRAND BALL PAGEANT Friday, Feb. 23rd, MOODY CIVIC CENTER ED SULLIVAN ORCHESTRA AND MACK HAYES $50.00 CtupU, $25.00 ATTENTION ROSE CROWELL ALCEEDCROWELL ROBERT CROWELL Please Contact Dot Beltz 735-3845 In Orange, Texas. I was a friend of Mrs.

Bush. STEP INTO YOUR CHILD'S LIFE with Systematic Training for Effective Parenting Mainland Center Institute for Living will offer a special STEP program this spring to help you develop a better communication and compromisiag skills that are helpful in dealing with adolescent children. Even though most- adolescents prefer parents to respect their privacy and grant them this program shows you how to step lightly into your child's life to help them through those traumatic teenage years. Mainland Center Hospital in Texas beginning March 7. A nominal $15 fee is charged for class materials.

For more information about STEP call: (409)938-5474 or STEP classes will be held Wednesdays (713)337-2469 at 7:00 p.m. at extension 5474. MAINLAND CENTER HOSPITAL INSTITUTE FOR LIVING FM 1764 AT HIGHWAY 3 TEXAS CITY, TEXAS BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE. 1. Tradition of Excellence.

For 38 years Trinity School has been a beacon of educational excellence for Galveston County. With an enrollment of 300 students in classes ranging from the nursery school for 3 year olds to the 8th grade of middle school, Trinity continues to educate children to the highest level of their individual abilities. 2. A Great All-around Education. Trinity is only one of 20 Texas schools to reach its level of accreditation.

That means your child's education starts with the basics and grows to include a wide range of learning experiences inside, and outside, the classroom. It's the sort of education all children should have, but few ever get. 3. The Teachers. Think about the people who've helped shape your life.

Crunches arc there will be several teachers in those memories. They were special. Sure, they had the right degrees, but there was more. They not only taught you how to find a square root or diagram a sentence, they also taught you about life. They were probably tough, concerned, intelligent and maybe even funny.

They were probably a lot like the teachers at Trinity. 4. A Wonderful Education At A Reasonable Cost. Trinity has one of the lowest tuition rates of any private school of its calibre in the nation. There arc even a limited number of scholarships available.

Trinity accepts students regardless of race, sex, or religion. Open Registration for the 1990-91 School Year. Begins Monday February 19, 1990 National Norm Trinily Avcrngc Trinity Episcopal School 720 Tremont Doesn't your child deserve the Trinity advantage 765-9391.