Democratic AG candidate tells Abilene audience he's not under indictment like Ken Paxton

Scott Kirk | Special to the Reporter-News

Justin Nelson, Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, was introduced to a small group of supporters Thursday at McKay’s Bakery with a pithy comment.

“He’s not under indictment,” said Sam Hatton, Democratic candidate for Texas House District 71, in an unveiled jab at current Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is under indictment for securities fraud in Collin County.

Nelson not only appreciated the introduction, but piled on his own criticisms of his opponent during his nearly one hour appearance, particularly blasting Paxton for failing to go after alleged fraud involving entities that had contributed to Paxton’s campaign, an action Nelson described as “rank corruption.”

“The only time my opponent has appeared in court was to say ‘Not guilty,’” he said.

Nelson also made a joke about an incident in the Collin County Courthouse when Paxton, then the incoming attorney general, was caught on videotape taking a $1,000 pen that belonged to another lawyer from a tray at a security checkpoint (Paxton has called the incident an honest mistake).

“I thought about making that my campaign slogan,” said Nelson. “Justin Nelson — he won’t steal your $1,000 pen.”

Nelson, a Houston attorney and law professor at the University of Texas School of Law and a one-time clerk for former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, did more than riff on his opponent’s integrity. He said, as attorney general, he would take politics out of the office.

“We need an attorney general who will fight for all Texans regardless of party,” he said. “That’s what the Texas attorney general should be fighting for. I’m trying to take the politics out of the law.”

Nelson also highlighted where he differed from his opponent in the areas of public education, health care and in voting.

Calling himself a product of the Houston public school system, Nelson accused Paxton of being opposed to public education.

“As attorney general, he’s targeted teachers and public education and he wants to de-fund public education,” said Nelson. “I believe in Article 7 of the state constitution (which calls for the Legislature to provide for an efficient system of free public education).

Nelson said Paxton hadn’t gone after corporate Medicaid fraud because he received donations from those companies and he said Paxton wanted to return to the times where people with pre-existing medical conditions could be denied coverage.

"He wants to return to lifetime caps (on health insurance coverage) and that will create poverty,” said Nelson, adding, “We cannot discriminate against someone just because they’re a woman.”

Nelson also talked about ending the gerrymandering of districts.

“It’s wrong whoever does it,” he said. “People need to choose their elected officials. Elected officials don’t need to choose their voters.”

After his remarks, Nelson said that he would make the redistricting process non-partisan and make the process transparent.

Although the group was small, around 20 people, it was enthusiastic, frequently applauding Nelson’s remarks.

Paxton has been indicted on two first-degree felony counts of securities fraud for soliciting investors for Servergy Inc. without disclosing that the McKinney tech company was paying him to do so. Paxton also was charged with a third-degree felony, failure to register as an investment adviser representative with state securities regulators.