Montford: Taking no prisoners over whether Earle let prisoners go

Is Mindy Montford running for DA against Rosemary Lehmberg or against Ronnie Earle? It’s getting hard to tell.

According to her campaign website, Montford has released a TV spot “accusing Ronnie Earle’s office of allowing a burglar to go free after he left Texas.” By extension, she seems to be arguing, Earle’s lieutenant Lehmberg loves burglars (or something along those lines.) Seems like a dangerous stance to take, running against the record of one’s own boss and one of the most high-profile DA’s in America.

Meanwhile, former GOP state rep-turned-Craddick knee-brea … parliamentarian Terry Keel has reportedly lodged a criminal complaint over whether Lehmberg’s campaign violated state campaign finance rules by quoting an allegation that Keel is secretly boosting Montford. His problem is that the quote came from Austin Political Report, which he says is run by local political operative and Lehmberg campaign staffer Kelly Fero. While Lehmberg’s people are in damage control mode over this ‘snake eats its own tail’ incident, Fero stands by his claim that Keel is in the weeds on the Montford campaign. “Please be advised that the source on the Keel post is reliable,” he emailed us (without actually confirming that he is the anonymous blogger.)

This article appears in April 4 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.