Aubrey R. Taylor Communications publishes Houston Business Connections Newspaper© to inform, empower, and mobilize our "OPEN-MINDED READERS" and assist them in making informed voting decisions. Aubrey R. Taylor is one of the top investigative reporters in the southwest region of the United States of America.
James "Smokie" Phillips, the newly-elected Constable for Precinct 7, Place 1, has Already Proven Himself to be Untrustworthy
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
Vivian King, a good friend of James "Smokie" Phillips, called him up one day and, according to one source, implicated another person from within the Harris County District Attorney's Office of doing something unethical. As a member of law enforcement, James "Smokie" Phillips has never come forward to rat out his close friend Vivian King, who serves as the chief of staff for Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
James "Smokie" Phillips was also called to a home a few years ago to address a domestic dispute involving Vivian King and her husband while serving as a captain in Constable May Walker's office. It is unclear if our boy "SMOKIE" was acting in his official capacity or as a friend. Still, either way, when a lawman knows about criminal activity or someone falsely accuses someone of a crime that they did not commit, they must report it to their superiors.
It is unclear if Constable May Walker knew about James "SMOKIE" Phillips intervening in private matters involving his friends. However, under "TEXA LAW," it is a crime to fail to report criminal activity, especially when personally observed. We have what's called a "FAIL TO REPORT" statute that provides that anyone who witnesses a crime and has reason to believe it has not been reported must immediately report it to law enforcement or a peace officer, but what happens when the peace officer, in the situation involving Vivian King, is the person who responds to a crime but does not report it.
"UNTRUSTWORTHY."
From what I understand, the video evidence of Vivian King acting like a fool has been viewed by Constable-elect James "SMOKIE" Phillips. I've also viewed the video and listened to the audio myself. But that's a story for another day. My concern with James "SMOKIE" Phillips is whether he will shield and protect his friends and comrades once he assumes office on January 1, 2025, as the newly elected Constable for Precinct 7, Place 1, in Harris County, Texas.
Will political rivals of "SMOKIE'S REGIME" have to constantly look over their shoulders? Will he report all of the evidence in criminal matters, or will he only report the evidence favorable to his allies?
It's vitally important for us to trust the police, but "SMOKIE," according to his checkered past, has already been seen as untrustworthy in the minds of many.
You've heard the stories before. Vivian King misused her Harris County email to assist a local non-profit to assist them while serving on their board. As for "SMOKIE," you heard the story of him getting arrested for, according to federal authorities, using his position with law enforcement to place himself in a position to protect drug smugglers and help them avoid detection and using a state computer that he had access to as part of his operation to run background checks on potential drug buyers.
What’s my point?
Somehow, “SMOKIE,” on his meager county salary, was able to retain the services of high-powered attorney Dick DeGerin, and the Fed’s got up off him – but that doesn’t mean that “SMOKIE” didn’t use his computer to find potential drug buyers.
Fast forward to today, and all these years later, “SMOKIE” appears to be trying to straddle the fence between the ‘GOOD SIDE” and the “BAD SIDE” and could find himself in a compromising position if he doesn’t straighten up his act, and distance himself from his unsavory allies.
I’m not calling “SMOKIE” a corrupt politician yet; after all, he doesn’t officially take office until New Year’s Day. However, It’s a fact that James “Smokie” Phillips, the Precinct 7 Constable-elect, got caught up in an FBI and DEA sting back in the day when he was working with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Remember Constable Perry Wooten, the elected “PRECINCT 7 CONSTABLE,” who was convicted of theft by a public servant back in the day? There's a running bet going right now that in less than one year, "SMOKIE" is going to be twisted up and entangled in a web of corruption, especially with his connections to people like Gary Wade, a career criminal, who is acting more like "A CRACKHEAD' than the businessman, community leader, and philanthropist he claims to be.
Remember Constable Perry Wooten, the elected “PRECINCT 7 CONSTABLE,” who was convicted of theft by a public servant back in the day? There's a running bet going right now that in less than one year, "SMOKIE" is going to be twisted up and entangled in a web of corruption, especially with his connections to people like Gary Wade, a career criminal, who is acting more like "A CRACKHEAD' than the businessman, community leader, and philanthropist he claims to be.
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Gary Wade, a career criminal, is 67 and still trying to muscle, intimidate, and play like a tough guy. His rap sheet is a mile long, and he's not rehabilitated or reformed in any way, shape, or form. That said, it is not clear why this henchman for Vivian King, the chief of staff for Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, and Gerald Womack, the owner of Womack Development & Investment Realtors, have turned to a potential former drug dealer or crackhead to muscle (ME) Investigative Reporter Aubrey R. Taylor.
On January 13, 2002, an investigator for Home Depot witnessed [GARY WADE] enter the store, go to the flooring department, load a lumber cart with nine boxes of Pergo flooring, take the cart to the refund registers, and exit the store, leaving the cart next to the refund register. [GARY WADE] reentered the store two or three minutes later with a shopping basket that contained store merchandise. [GARY WADE] took the cart he had left in the store with the Pergo flooring and the shopping basket to the refund register and obtained a store credit card for the merchandise and the Pergo flooring. After [GARY WADE] received the store credit gift card, [THE INVESTIGATOR] confronted him, took him to the manager's office, and notified the Houston Police Department, who came and arrested him. Ultimately, Wade was charged and convicted of stealing the merchandise.
Gary Wade's Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus was denied in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Under no circumstances should local "ELECTED OFFICIALS" be rubbing elbows with Gary Wade, who still isn't rehabilitated after his incarceration and conviction for this crime and many others. In one case, he was arrested for committing a felony theft between $100,000.00 and $200,000, according to his criminal rap sheet.
Judge Lashawn Williams, Judge Angela Graves Harrington, Judge Shannon Baldwin, Judge Tonya Jones, and Judge Toria J. Finch will be in the fight of their political lives as Democrats are already contemplating challenging the (26) twenty-six "AFRICAN AMERICAN JUDGES" who are up for re-election in the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election for Harris County, Texas. However, I'm not sure why so many potential candidates are seeking to run against the (26) twenty-six African American incumbent judges when there will be (68) sixty-eight local benches up for grabs in the 2026 Midterm Election in Harris County, Texas.
There are (68) Sixty-Eight Local Benches to Choose From in the 2026 Midterms
55th Civil District Court
Judge Latosha Lewis Payne (DEM)
Judge Latosha Lewis Payne (DEM)
113th Civil District Court
Judge Rabeea Collier (DEM)
Judge Rabeea Collier (DEM)
157th Civil District Court
Judge Tanya Garrison (DEM)
Judge Tanya Garrison (DEM)
180th Criminal District Court
Judge DaSean Jones (DEM)
Judge DaSean Jones (DEM)
182nd Criminal District Court
Judge Danilo "Danny" Lacayo (DEM)
183rd Criminal District Court
Kristin M. Guiney (REP)
Judge Kristin M. Guiney ran for the 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 8, and defeated Judge Richard Hightower and, therefore, will not be on the 2026 Midterm Election ballot.
184th Criminal District Court
Judge Katherine "Kat" Thomas (DEM)
Judge Katherine "Kat" Thomas (DEM)
185th Criminal District Court
Judge Andrea Beall (DEM)
Judge Andrea Beall (DEM)
189th Civil District Court
Katherine "Kat" Thomas (DEM)
Katherine "Kat" Thomas (DEM)
190th Civil District Court
Judge Beau Miller (DEM)
208th Criminal District Court
Judge Beverly Armstrong (DEM)
Judge Beverly Armstrong (DEM)
209th Criminal District Court
Judge Brian E. Warren (DEM)
Judge Brian E. Warren (DEM)
228th Criminal District Court
(Deceased) Judge Frank Aguilar (DEM)
230th Criminal District Court
Judge Chris Morton (DEM)
232nd Criminal District Court
Judge Josh Hill (Dem)
234th Civil District Court
Judge Lauren Reeder (DEM)
248th Criminal District Court
Judge Hilary Unger (DEM)
262nd Criminal District Court
Judge Lori Chambers Gray (DEM)
263rd Criminal District Court
Judge Melissa Marie Morris (DEM)
269th Civil District Court
Judge Cory Don Sepolio (DEM)
270th Civil District Court
Judge Dedra Davis (DEM)
281st Civil District Court
Judge Christine Weems (DEM
295th Civil District Court
Judge Donna Roth (DEM)
482nd Criminal District Court
Judge Veronica M. Nelson (DEM)
246th Family District Court
Judge Angela Graves Harrington (DEM)
247th Family District Court
Judge Janice Berg (DEM)
257th Family District Court
Judge Sandra Peake (DEM)
280th Family Protective Court
Judge Damiene Dianne Curvey (DEM)
308th Family District Court
Judge Gloria Lopez (DEM)
309th Family District Court
Judge Linda Marie Dunson (DEM)
310th Family District Court
Judge Sonya Leah Heath (DEM)
311th Family District Court
Judge Germaine Ja'net Tanner (DEM)
312th Family District Court
Judge Teresa J. Waldrop (DEM)
313th Juvenile District Court
Judge Natalia Cokinos Oakes (DEM)
314th Juvenile District Court
Judge Michelle Moore (DEM)
Judge Michelle Moore (DEM)
315th Juvenile District Court
Judge Leah Shapiro (DEM)
Harris County Judge
County Judge Lina Hidalgo (DEM)
County Civil Court at Law No. 1
Judge Audrie Lawton Evans (DEM)
Judge Audrie Lawton Evans (DEM)
County Civil Court at Law No. 2
Judge Jim F. Kovach (DEM)
County Civil Court at Law No. 3
Judge LaShawn A. Williams (DEM)
Judge LaShawn A. Williams (DEM)
County Civil Court at Law No. 4
Judge M.K. Monica Singh (DEM)
Judge M.K. Monica Singh (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 1
Judge Alex Salgado (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 2
Judge Paula Goodhart (REP)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 3
Judge Leslie Johnson (REP)
Judge Leslie Johnson (REP)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Judge Shannon Baldwin (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 5
Judge David Marcel Fleischer (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 6
Judge Kelly Andrews (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 7
Judge Andrew A. Wright (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 8
Judge Erika Ramirez (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 9
Judge Toria J. Finch (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 10
Judge Juanita Jackson (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 11
Judge Sedrick T. Walker, II (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 12
Judge Genesis E. Draper (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 13
Judge Raul Rodriguez (DEM)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 14
Judge Jessica N. Padilla (REP)
County Criminal Court at Law No. 15
Judge Tonya Jones (DEM)
County Probate Court No. 1
Judge Jerry Simoneaux (DEM)
County Probate Court No. 2
Judge Pamela Medina (DEM)
County Probate Court No. 3
Judge Jason Cox (DEM)
Judge Jason Cox (DEM)
County Probate Court No. 4
Judge James Horwitz (DEM)
Judge James Horwitz (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2
Judge Steve Duble (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2
Judge Delores Lozano (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2
Judge Lucia Bates (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2
Judge Laryssa Korduba (REP)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2
Judge Bob Wolfe (REP)
Judge Bob Wolfe (REP)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6, Place 2
Judge Angela D. Rodriguez (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Place 2
Judge Sharon M. Burney (DEM)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2
Judge Louie Ditta (REP)
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Judge LaShawn A. Williams is the presiding judge for the County Civil Court at Law No. 3 in Harris County, Texas. Judge LaShawn A. Williams will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election.
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Judge Lucia Bates is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, Place 2, in Harris County, Texas. Judge Lucia Bates will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election.