Update, Friday April 2 – This from the online Hays Free Press by reporter Brad Rollins, edited for length: "Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton sustained a bloody lip Tuesday afternoon when his campaign manager threw a cell phone at him during an argument outside his Kyle office. “This involves a good person who was dealing with some health issues and is now getting help,” Barton said. A deputy constable who happened to be driving by on Front Street saw the immediate aftermath of the incident and called for backup. Kara Bishop, who was campaign manager for Barton’s successful primary challenge to County Judge Elizabeth Sumter, is on medical leave from Barton’s office where she worked as his assistant."
Jeff Barton
Earlier, from the RoundUp – A Hays County Sheriff's Department spokesman confirmed this morning that Pct. 2 County Commissioner Jeff Barton was "assaulted" in his office late Tuesday afternoon. "I was told his lip was bloodied," the spokesman said.A report of the incident has been filed with the sheriff's department. According to the spokesman, the report was filed in the typical manner and is a matter of public record.
Asked if the "assaultee" was an assistant of Barton's, the spokesman declined to release a name. "She's a suspect. We don't release names of suspects until they're charged and as I understand it there won't be any charges . . . Mr. Barton really didn't want any publicity . . . he didn't want anything made of it."
Mr. Barton was unavailable this morning to comment on the incident. His office said the commissioner's assistant, Kara Bishop, was on a leave of absence.
We won't go into the rumors that are circulating as to the motive for the assault, but we would suggest that Commissioner Barton owes the public an honest explanation. He is, after all, the Democratic nominee for Hays County Judge, a position requiring a high standard of public trust and personal integrity. Barton's Republican opponent in next fall's election is Dr. Bert Cobb, a San Marcos medical doctor and allergist.
31 comments:
It will interesting to see if Barton's family newspaper, the Hays Free Press over on the east side, publishes this report. They've always got Barton on the front page talking about all the fantastic things he does for the county. Time to call in the damage control team.
A real “Who done it” versus personal integrity –
So do we know motives or anything else on this? Is there a pattern here of his or her past behavior for the assaulted or assailant? Do you (The Hays County RoundUp) have a copy of the police report? Be nice to see it on the website.
I can assume that it wasn’t a reporter or a political foe as none of those would take the time to hit the little guy.
Back to motive – personal integrity or lack of it is probably the root to the bludgeoning. Most acts of violence are of the domestic type between family members or would be family members.
Again it’s back to the personal integrity issue….
www.chacha.com says personal integrity is defined as:
“A strongly held sense of commitment to openness, honesty, inclusiveness and high standards”
The Hays County RoundUp has erred in use the term “personal integrity” in the same sentence with that commissioner’s name. The name is best associated with the word "arrogance" as defined per www.merriam-webster.com :
Arrogance is “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions”.
Note to editor: Please don’t make this mistake again….
So, interesting turn of events. A Democrat (Jeff Barton) is assaulted, the Roundup reports it, blog commenters (and the editor it seems by inference) seems to think that this is okay depending on whether or not the "rumors" are true or not, which I take to mean that its okay to resort to violence when someone does something to you that is perhaps unethical, or even deemed unethical.
Now, let's see, there's also this scenario going on in Washington where the Democrats were upset because violence was supposedly threatened against them, no rumors, facts (they did approve the Health care bill) which some have taken to be unethical, illegal, unconstitutional, etc. Personal harm is believed to have been done, and will be done. Threats were made, Democrats were irate that violence would be suggested (with Barton violence HAPPENED!) for what they did.
Do you fools see the dissonance here? You are giddy that someone actually assaulted someone. Yet, your political heroes in DC are threatened with violence and you are up in arms suggesting that it is dangerous to resort to violence (though also conveniently forgetting 1968 and the Democratic Party Convention and other events of the 60's that were Democratic party related that were violent events or that were supported by the liberals in the Party as justified).
Can you seriously justify your hypocrisy?
This entire blog is a joke...Doesn't this author have anything better to do other than stalk Jeff Barton...
Domestic violence is no joke and the causes are many. The relationships between the parties involved will surface and the event will be swept under the rug but the causes and effects will remain. I would assume that since there are no charges desired against the assailant that there are undisclosed details. A good newspaper hound does report these events especially when they occur to public officials. The RoundUp crossed no lines and I commend and respect the information reported. Thanks Roundup.
Talk about your slow news day! This is a non-event until charges are filled, if any. Come on Bob, we expect better from you. I hope you aren’t trying to be a poor man’s Geraldo Rivera.
First I question why this is reported on the RoundUp blog -- I comprehend the politics of it, but not the "news" reporting of it. Where are the facts?
Secondly, now that it leaked, why is it being kept so hush-hush? Wouldn't it be smarter for the Barton group to release a comment on this issue?
I had hoped that when the "new blood" was voted into office the politics in Hays County would have eased a bit from the Powers, Molenaar group that had us entrenched in it. But the politics still is a big game here played by Democrats and Republicans.
I have to give Barton "the benefit of the doubt" until the facts are provided. I hope others in Hays County will do the same. Violence seems to be "permitted" in the county, as may be seen by this incident and that previously by former Rep. Rick Green when he punched Rep. Patrick Rose. Green actually is running for a position here and has a good chance to win the run-off. Makes no sense to me that we would have a Judge who cannot control himself and uses poor judgment in his personal life, but is okay to make judgments on others.
More and more we need to focus on the issues and to vote in qualified candidates instead of voting-in and pushing for Parties. The is especially true when we review the past 10 years and note that for the most part both parties have failed the people. We just cannot seem to get past this at the local or state levels (also true at the national level)
We are told that confirmation and facts were sought by Editor Ochoa, who was unsuccessful in that endeavor, but I am sorry that the blog here would print this sort of "sensationalism" without first obtaining some the confirmation and/or factual data, rather than printing with only hear-say.
People need to reign-in their emotional reactions and deal with reality. I'm not a fan of Barton, but even I dislike this knee-jerk practice.
Peter Stern and I normally don't agree on politics but his post is right on. This is sensationalism at it's worst.
Unfortunately, this is a case of an individual with an illness who is now seeking treatment. Commissioner Barton has already spoken with numerous legitimate press. You can read his comments on the Statesman, Hays Free Press, and Mercury.
Peter Stern, I notice that in your usual verbose style, your whining and faux impressions of what constitutes news takes up about ten times the length of the news article itself.
You may have a lot of experience as a writer, but your editing skills and 'nose for news' are sorely lacking. I rather enjoy the feisty content of the RoundUp and hope it continues on.
You should stick to your sleepy political generalization columns and leave the news reporting to real editors and reporters.
Anon 1: "Is there a pattern here of his or her past behavior... " Yes, I think so. I have witnessed 2 unprovoked occasions where Barton "went off" loudly on people; 1 at a polling place in S.M., and a late night tirade outside a restaurant/bar in Kyle, and your wry sarcasm is noted.
Anon 2: Nobody is giddy. This story is not a rumor, obviously, and Reporter George with the Statesman is trying hard (so far unsuccessfully) to get more facts so he can do a followup on his story in yesterday's Statesman.
Anon 3, Anon 5: A story about a public figure is legitimate news. Public figures adore good news.
Hi, Peter. Law enforcement was called. "Where are the facts"? Two incidents, bloody lip, there's not much more we know at this moment. Let's find out more. A public figure has to deal with the so-called "sensationalism" (your words, not mine). Perhaps if you had seen what I've seen, or gone to CC (you can pull up CC sessions on the archived videos), you might be less inclined to give "this bully" (my words) the benefit of the doubt.
I'm hearing a broad cross spectrum of voters are looking closely at Barton's opponent. If they both get in their pickups and visit voters all over the county, well, may the better judge win.
2 of those media outlets mentioned, the Free Press and Mercury, are Barton's house media organs. Not sure if the Stateman's Patrick George has been totally assimilated yet.
To Indiana Jones, whoever wimp you are, at least I don't hide behind a mask on this blog and am willing to take verbal abuse from refuse like you. Show yourself.
BTY, You took more time and space to criticize me than to respond to the article. Sorry I wrote too long for your obvious limited attention span.
Next time you want to criticize me let's go face to face. Whatdaya say?
You are no "Indiana Jones". More like a wimpy fish floundering on land.
Was that short enough for you?
Good idea Stern: People need to reign-in their emotional reactions and deal with reality. Now that's self-help.
People need to reign-in their emotional reactions and deal with reality. Self-help Stern.
I think the problem here is that Brad Rollins took us on a round about tour of what actually happened.
Facts:
Evidently Barton and the employee have had a few bouts before until it escalated into the employee punching Barton in the mouth, causing swelling and bleeding.
The Sheriff's department arrived as it had escalated outside the building.
No arrest was made because Barton didn't want the publicity and also because he didn't want to file charges on what he referred to as a "usually good person".
So that's it. Two guys being guys.
Let's not make more of it that it was.
People need to reign-in their emotional reactions and deal with reality. Self-help for some.
Peter Stern wrote:"People need to reign-in their emotional reactions and deal with reality." Self-help no doubt.
A public official is assaulted and should be a concern of the public - your tax dollars at work.
Again, conservatives & liberals alike attack Stern for moderation and issues.
Some of us understand your voice, Stern. Keep writing.
Seems to me that Stern is dealing with the reality of a nameless bully.
Way to go, Stern!
It's a concern of the public only if the official who was assaulted files a complaint, otherwise, it remains the concern of the official and his employee.
Go, Stern!!! Go away, Indiana!!!
Lot of windbags here in the comments section. If this were Stern's blog he wouldn't have published the story and we wouldn't be having this fun discussion.
Stern knows little to nothing about the inner workings of local political dynamics, much less who the players, and the players behind the players, are. It is clear he gets his news and forms his opinions only from what he reads, from the work of other hard working journalists.
It is near impossible to find a journalist in this county who is not compromised. Stern seems not to be among those very few.
Only the ignorant and sellouts would suggest this is not a legit story. Whatever the motive for the assault, Barton is a high public official in Hays County and the Democratic nominee for county judge. His every step and misstep should be scrutinized, as should the actions of all public officials who take an oath of office and live off the taxpayers money.
Now that the story is being reported by other news organizations, perhaps Mr. Stern would join in on the investigation and share what facts he might uncover. We could sure could use more courageous reporting in this county. Maybe that's just not his cup of tea.
Hey Indy, this an opinion blog, not an investigative journal. You need to take you own advice: Don't say anything unless it means something.
Indy, once again you are sandbagging your response. You are NOT adding anything worthwhile to this discussion. But nothing new there.
Glad you have the time to practice what you preach, or is it just more BS from you?
Do YOU really watch EVERY politician's actions and who guides them to do their bidding under veil of semi-secrecy?
If so, you are so gifted and must have a lot of time on your hands.
Hopefully you are better skilled at that than trying to find fault with people on this and other blogs.
You always seem to try to bully people and try to create upheaval. You are no better than our leaders. You, too, fail.
Are you sure you are not just jealous of the abilities of others?
Mr. Stern has much more on the ball than you do.
He is a good writer and he is grounded. Unlike you and so many others. You are a turd in a field of flowers.
I'm with Mr. Stern. He knows more in his thumbnail than you have knowledge in your pea brain.
Mr. Stern, keep up the good work. I read most of your posts and while I do not always agree with you, I do so 85 percent of the time.
Don't listen to this nut and others like him.
Oh great genius, Indy, please tell us more of your great wisdom re: our politicians and the true nature of their way.
We are listening to great Yoda.
So far, you have stated NOTHING!
Either say something significant or shut up. Someone else said it as well. "You offer nothing worthwhile." Only ongoing attacks.
You even blast the ones on this blog who call your BS bluff. Just idle words "with nothing worthwhile"
"A wise man knows when he is a fool."
Why can't you learn from your liberal heart breaking under the stress of those who know you better than you do?
Windbags? Are you looking into a mirror? Ha-ha!
I'm curious, Indiana, since you hide your ID and we couldn't know anything about you other than your blather...
What have you written or accomplished that gives you the right to be so condescending to all these people on this blog?
Just curious if you're just shooting blanks here because that's all you can do?
Another loud-mouth liberal know it all. Just what we needed in Texas.
Hi back, BJ,
I agree with you, BJ, re: Barton being a bully, but still, the facts don't tell us, e.g., who started, what led up to the final altercations, etc., etc.
I said before I am not a Barton fan and I know that I and many of my neighbors will be voting for Bert Cobb come November.
I read the minutes of the CC and I have friends who attend, who then let me know what juiced the meetings. Being a disabled veteran makes it difficult to get around so I rely on other means for collecting info.
After the election, the County Judge position for Barton will be nothing more than his wet dream.
There are many more Republicans along with Democrats on the west side in Hays County who will side with Cobb. It will be a fun November.
Indy, so you're a nag in addition to being a site bully?
I never said the altercation didn't happen. Who said "this story is not legit story"?
I simply stated we need the facts.
Right now we have some of the facts, but not all.
Apparently, from the police report and the news articles around, we may never find out the truth.
We can't expect someone in Barton's office to speak up as to the circumstances, since Barton obviously won't.
Why don't you do something besides chastise people?
You are correct regarding one thing, I am not an investigative reporter. I admit it. That's a special skill that I don't have. Do you?
So why don't you just put up or shut up.
It's no secret that Jeff Barton is a provocative son-of-a-bitch. Eventually, what goes around comes around.
Sorry I wasn't the one who nailed him. He might be in a coma and I'd be incarcerated --- but it might have been worth it.
29 coments! and this is a non-story! Looks like a lot of interest to me.
It may take some time, but this onion will peel.
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