Saenz, 3 others being considered for U.S. attorney in south district

By Deborah Tedford
Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle

Mayoral hopeful Gracie Saenz is among four top candidates being considered
for U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

Saenz and others who submitted their names for consideration were asked to
be in Washington, D.C., today for interviews with the fiveperson
congressional committee that will make the selection. However, Saenz said
she would not be there.

A source said the frontrunner for the post is Nueces County District
Attorney Carlos Valdez, a veteran prosecutor in the drug "hot zone" that is
South Texas.

Valdez, 43, has wide experience in both civil and criminal law. In 1988, as
Nueces County attorney, he took the lead in suing the state of Texas to
force convicted felons out of county jails and into state facilities or
pay the counties for housing them.

And in 1995, he prosecuted Yolanda Saldivar, the killer of Tejano music
superstar Selena.

But Saenz, U.S. Magistrate Calvin Botley and federal prosecutor Cedric
Joubert also are considered top candidates for the post vacated last month
by Gaynelle Griffin Jones.

With immigration and drug crimes at the core of prosecutions in the
district, carrying on a dialogue with Mexican officials has become an
increasingly important part of the U.S. attorney's job.

For that reason, many party insiders have said replacing Jones with a
Hispanic is the best choice.

But U.S. Rep. Gene Green, DHouston, said qualifications, not race, are the
most important factors especially since Hispanics are on the road to
gaining two plum jobs in the Southern District.

Former state District Judge Ruben Guerrero has been nominated to the
federal bench and Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Art Contreras
is on track to become the U.S. marshal.

However, Saenz's experience as a former assistant Harris County district
attorney may make her a candidate who represents the best of both worlds,
Green said.

As dean of the Texas Democratic delegation in Congress, it will be up to
U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio to make a recommendation to
Clinton. The task is considered urgent because courts in the Southern
District, which spans the Texas.Mexico border, handle numerous drug cases
that crowd their dockets.

Gonzalez will depend upon the recommendation of the five person committee
comprised of Democratic members of Congress from the southern judicial
district. They are Houstonians Green, Sheila Jackson Lee and Ken Bentsen;
Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi; and Ruben Hinojosa of Mercedes.

After Gonzalez makes his recommendation to Clinton, a background check will
be done and the name of the candidate will be forwarded to the Senate for
confirmation.

Though not a member of the selection committee, state Sen. Mario Gallegos,
DHouston, has backed Houston attorneys Berta Mejia and Roland Garcia Jr.
for the post.

Others who submitted their names for consideration are: James S. Dougherty,
Thomas Hagemann and Philip Hilder.