Experience Matters...Experience Counts

When I was seventeen years old, I wanted to change a major engine component on my car. I went to my dad to ask him for assistance and his first question was, "What's wrong with the one that is on the car?" My response was, "Nothing that I know of." Dad responded, "Then why change it? I answered, "I have one that has been rebuilt and it looks better." Dad's final words were, "Son, if it's not broke, don't fix it!"

Well, I didn't listen and changed out the part anyway. The car never ran the same!

Since taking office in January 2007, I have been successfully running the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Court. The programs I have implemented have taken root and are now reaping success. Your vote in the November 2010 Election is a vote to continue the momentum I have started. In the words of my father, "If it's not broke, don't fix it!"

These last three and a half years, as your Justice of the Peace, have been challenging and rewarding. Learning and applying the law in the Justice of the Peace Court is not an easy task. However, I dedicated many hours, both business and personal, during the first two years in office to learn what was necessary to be successful. That work has paid off! I have completed the educational requirements to be inducted into the 2009 and 2010 College of Justice Court Judges. Of the approximately 850 justices of the peace in the State of Texas, only 105 were inducted into the 2009 college. In 2009 the college also added an new level, Distinguished Member, for those judges who complete 50 plus hours of continuing education. There were 8 judges given that honor in 2009. I was one of them. I have also completed those requirements for 2010. With that additional education, I fulfilled one of my original campaign promises: To quickly learn and properly apply the law, ensuring you have the best qualified Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2.

As a constituent and taxpayer, you have a financial investment in that education. Electing a new Justice of the Peace not only stops the momentum that has been started, but it also wastes the investment that taxpayers paid in my judicial training.

Of my greatest successes, since taking office, are the programs I've established for our Failure to Attend School (Truancy) cases. Through December 2009, over 1,200 Failure to Attend School cases have been filed. The recidivism rate during that period is 10.84 percent, which is 2-percent below the Denton County average and less than one-half percent from the court with lowest rate.

Immediately upon taking office, The Colony High School began filing cases back in the JP2 Court and with a low 6.2% recividism, continues to do so. Frisco ISD began filing cases in the JP2 Court in the Fall of 2007. Since that time, they have added additional schools to those filings due to the success of my sanctions. Starting with a 93% attendance rate in 2007, Little Elm High School's attendance rate has been increasing year over year.

Truancy is a gateway crime! 60% of Texas inmates were truants and 66% of male juveniles taken into custody while truant tested positive for drug use. With new programs launched in 2010, your support and vote will help me to continue, and increase, this success in holding the students, and parents, in the JP2 precinct accountable for unexcused school absences.

My character and integrity have not wavered since taking office. Because these principles are built on my faith and devotion to our Creator, you can be assured they never will! My belief isn't that "Rank has its privileges," but that "Rank has its responsibilities!" As a community leader, I know I answer to you and will always conduct myself in a manner that brings honor and respect to the office I hold. You can be assured that I will continue to live the message of strong, conservative leadership.

Please visit the links at the top of the page for additional information about myself, my successes in office, and what those who have come through this Court have said about me. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for putting your trust in me in 2006 and I ask for your vote in November, 2010!

Sincerely,

Judge James DePiazza Re-Election Campaign, Precinct 2, Denton, Texas