SUNNYVALE (WBAP/KLIF) – A candidate in the race for Texas State Representative District 113 said Wednesday that he will file a criminal complaint with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office against a Dallas County Justice of the Peace.
Republican Jim Phaup’s campaign said that in the early hours of Tuesday, February 27 hidden cameras caught Dallas County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace, Judge Bill Metzger, damaging one of Phaup’s campaign signs. Phaup is one of two candidates running against Jonathan Boos in the Republican primary to fill the Texas House seat vacated by Cindy Burkett. She is running against Bob Hall for Texas Senate. Phaup said Judge Metzger is a supporter of Boos.
“I have known Judge Metzger for many years,” said Phaup. “While I respect his decision to actively campaign on behalf of my opponent, I am amazed that he would take such childish and illegal actions for political benefit. I know he is better than this.”
Phaup called on Boos to put an immediate stop to what he called dirty political tricks.
“Boos may be new to House District 113, but surely he understands our community has no tolerance for such childish antics,” Phaup said.
Boos has distanced himself from the dispute.
“This looks like a dispute between Mr. Metzger and Jim Phaup that his campaign is trying to pull us into.” Boos said. “I, nor any other member of my campaign team, have ever vandalized a single sign and we will continue to run a positive, issue oriented campaign.”
Workers for the Phaup campaign decided to place multiple hidden cameras near several campaign signs after they say the signs were damaged on an almost nightly basis since Friday, February 16. For the sign damaged by Judge Metzger in the video, the Phaup campaign said it had written permission to place a sign on private property next door to Metzger’s home. Metzger said the sign was placed on his property.
“The reason I have to remove a sign on my property is because as a Judge I can’t endorse any candidates,” said Metzger.
He said his wife has affiliated herself with Boos’ campaign but denied that he had. Phaup said Judge Metzger’s actions could violate the Texas’ Code of Judicial Conduct.
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