Pilots.

Judges are like airline pilots. They need to know in which direction they're heading, and they need to know how to fly the plane.

Hi. I'm W. David Friesenhahn, I'm a Democrat, and I'm running for Judge of Hays County Court-at-Law No. 2.

Our campaign's slogan is "Let's Get Real -- Real Democrat, Real Experience, Real Change." But before I get to all that, I'd like you to imagine something with me.

Imagine that you are taking a trip on a plane. You take your seat and, then, the pilot's voice comes over the speaker. "Howdy. This is your pilot speaking. You know, I've been flying this route the same way for years now, but this morning, I walked outside, stuck my finger in the wind and decided I would go in a completely different direction, just to see what would happen."

I'm guessing you're probably getting off of that plane.

You switch flights to plane Number Two. Again, you take your seat, and the pilot's voice comes over the speaker (He sounds kind of young.): "Hi guys. I'm your pilot today. You know I haven't really flown this particular type of plane too much, but I know lots of important people in the aviation industry, and I have plenty of great ideas about how this type of plane can be flown better."

Are you getting off the plane? Probably.

You get on plane Number Three: "Good morning. Your captain here. I've flown this route for decades, in all kinds of conditions. We might have to make some adjustments along the way, depending on the weather, but we should get to our destination just fine."

This sounds like your flight, right?

Now, instead of imagining planes and pilots, imagine courts and judges. Imagine that one of your loved ones has been wrongfully accused of some crime, say, Assault. If your loved one is convicted, they could go to jail, have a permanent criminal record, lose their job, have trouble finding a place to work, or, if they're not a U.S. citizen, get deported.

What kind of judge do you want presiding over your loved one's case? Someone whose core values change with the wind? Do you want someone who is brimming with ideas, but has little experience dealing with your loved one's type of case? Or do you want someone who has held the same core values his entire adult life and has decades of experience dealing with criminal cases -- someone who knows how to fly the plane?

I'm asking you to let me fly the plane..

First, I'm a real Democrat. I volunteered for LLoyd Doggett's U.S. Senate campaign back in college at Rice University in the 1980s, I worked for Jim Mattox's Attorney General's Office while I attended law school at the University of Texas at Austin, and I've supported the Democratic Party ever since. I'm a former Hays County Democratic Party Precinct Chair and proud member of the San Marcos Area Democrats.

Secondly, I have real experience. Hays County Court-at-Law No. 2 handles serious criminal cases, and I've been a criminal trial lawyer for over 35 years. I began my career as a prosecutor, and for the last 30 years, have been a criminal defense lawyer. I'm board certified as a specialist in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I've handled literally thousands of criminal cases, tried over 150 jury trials to a verdict, and presented oral argument to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. I handle cases in Hays County Court-at-Law No. 2 on a regular basis and understand the workings of the court inside and out.

I also have experience on the civil side. As a young prosecutor, two of my first jobs were representing Child Protective Services in child abuse cases, as well as obtaining family violence protective orders for victims of domestic assault.

Third, I want to bring about real change. Real change doesn't come from empty promises. It happens when leaders know how to use the tools already at hand to get results right now. Over the next few months, I want to have a conversation with voters about changes we can make immediately:

*Being available to law enforcement on busy holiday weekends so that our county can have a "no refusal" policy for DWI cases;

*Using better scheduling to clear the current backlog of cases that delays justice;

*Making better use of bail bonds to make sure defendants who may have alcohol and drug abuse problems get the help they need while their cases are pending;

*Using bail bonds to help ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence while cases are working towards resolution;

*Providing continuing education to defense lawyers so that the can properly advise their clients concering the immigration consequences of their cases;

*Helping eligible criminal defendants get the information they need in order to clear their records.

The most important trait of a trial court judge, though, is the ability to listen. Over the years, I've learned far more about practicing law by listening to those who work in, and pass through, the criminal justice system than I've ever learned from any law book. I've spend the last 35 plus years listening -- to jurors, victims, defendants and their families, witnesses, cops, lawyers, probation officers, case workers, all sorts of experts, court staff and judges.

Now I want to listen to you. I genuinely want to hear your questions and concerns regarding the criminal justice system in Hays County. I want to hear your suggestions about how to make it work better for all of us.

And remember, Real Values, Real Experience and Real Change never fail.