JUSTICE KRISTIN GUINEY

Rest in Peace

1975-2026

It is with profound sadness that TCR reports that Justice Kristin Guiney, 51, a justice on Texas’s First Court of Appeals, died on October 2. The First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals called her passing untimely.

She gave her career to the Harris County courts. A graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, she began as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, later serving as chief in the 185th District Court. District Attorney Sean Teare, who worked under her as a young prosecutor, said he would be “forever grateful for her mentorship and guidance in seeking justice.” She later defended the accused with the same conviction, then took the bench.

As a state district judge she presided over more than 120 jury trials in the 183rd, 232nd, and 179th Criminal District Courts. She was especially proud of her work as a STAR Court judge, helping people in recovery toward what the court called “a better person for a better life.” She also led Angela House, the reentry program that helps women rebuild after incarceration. Teare said it is hard to think of anyone who did more for the office and the community.

Elected in November 2024 to Place 8 on the First Court of Appeals, she had served there since 2025. Colleagues remembered her fairness, tenacity, judgment, humility, and what the court called her brilliant smile and unwavering love of the law. Justice David Gunn said she enriched the court with her experience and humanity.

She leaves her husband, Ed McClees, two daughters, and a Houston legal community that knew her as both a tough lawyer and someone who believed a second chance was part of justice.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church located at 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079.

HARRIS COUNTY TREASURER CARLA WYATT
ENDANGERS PUBLIC…AGAIN

Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt just can’t stay out of trouble. This time her reckless behavior caused a four-car pile-up on I-45. In widely available video, Wyatt can be seen rear-ending one vehicle and then appears to flee the scene of that accident before plowing into two other vehicles. Worse yet, it has been reported that Wyatt was driving without valid insurance, which is highly possible since the embattled county treasurer has been arrested twice previously for DWI. Can you blame the insurance companies for not wanting to continue taking that risk? In addition to the two DWI arrests, one in 2023 and one earlier this year, Wyatt was also arrested late in 2025 for burglary of a vehicle. Remember folks, Wyatt is the chief custodian of Harris County’s funds and responsible for the deposit and disbursement of those funds. Do you really want a person who was suspected of burglary handling the billions of dollars that flow through Harris County’s coffers? If you don’t think this is a good idea, you have one more reason to get to the polls this November because Wyatt is on the ballot. The common-sense conservative alternative is Republican Marc Cowart. Be sure you go all the way to the end of the ballot, vote for Orlando Sanchez and then keep going to vote against Wyatt and for Cowart.  To volunteer or donate to Cowart, visit www.MarcCowart.com

EARLY VOTING STARTS IN TWO WEEKS

Are you ready to get out and vote? In just two weeks, you will have your chance during early voting which runs October 19-30. Election Day is November 3^rd. For times and locations, visit www.HarrisVotes.com

SALINAS AND WHITMIRE BUTT HEADS
AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

At last week’s City Council meeting, At-Large Council Member Alejandra Salinas turned a discussion of former Controller Chris Brown’s $127,000 adviser role into a cross-examination, citing badge-in records and email counts and trying to pin him to a 15-hour week. Mayor John Whitmire cut it off. He told Salinas she was putting misleading questions to a man the city hired for experience and judgment, not by the hour, and refused to let a council session become a deposition. Salinas insisted she had “no politics to play.” The exchange looked like the grandstanding it was: a newly elected progressive using a staffing dispute, already being pressed by Controller Chris Hollins, to score points against a mayor who has kept the focus on running the city rather than on camera-ready interrogations. Whitmire’s point was the practical one. Advisers are paid for what they know, and council time is better spent on the city’s business than on a show trial. Bill King on the latest  episode of Fox 26’s “What’s Your Point” pointed out that Brown’s fee was well within the range of consultant’s with Brown’s expertise.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Tuesday, October 6

• Greater Houston Pachyderm Club, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., King Ranch Texas Kitchen, 1605 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, TX 77056.
• HCRP Election Law Class, 6:30–8:30 p.m., HCRP Headquarters, 8588 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. Register at luma.com/harriscountygop.
• National Night Out—various times and locations. Visit https://www.harriscountyso.org/HCSO_National_Night_Out_2026_Public_List.html

Wednesday, October 7

• HCRP Election Closing Class, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Vertical Web, 2316 Timber Shadows Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339. Register at luma.com/harriscountygop.
• Harris County Hard Truths, 7:00 p.m., live on X Spaces (Harris County GOP).

Thursday, October 8

• Cypress Republicans, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 15235 Spring Cypress Road, Cypress, TX 77429. Speakers include Congressman Morgan Luttrell, Don Huffines, Nate Sheets, and Dawn Buckingham. Register at events.kleverreach.com/cypress-republicans.
• Cy-Fair Republican Women, honoring Congressman Morgan Luttrell, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Jersey Village. Register by October 5 at cfrw.net/rsvp-october-evening-2026.
• HCRP Election Closing Class, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Spring Creek Barbeque, 25831 Northwest Freeway, Cypress, TX 77429. Register at luma.com/harriscountygop.
• Moms for Liberty Summit begins (through October 11), Sheraton Downtown Dallas, 400 Olive Street, Dallas. RSVP: momsforliberty.org/summit26.

Friday, October 9

• Funeral services for Justice Kristin Guiney, 10:30 a.m., St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079.
• Rally with Rep. Brandon Gill and Alex Mealer, 12:00–1:00 p.m., Lake Houston Brewery, 10614 FM 1960, Huffman, TX 77336.
• Laura Garcia de Leon candidate meet and greet, 6:00–7:30 p.m., Manny’s Mexican Grill & Seafood, 11703 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039. RSVP to Lucille Ramos, [email protected].
• Texas Youth Summit opens (through October 10), The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380. Ages 26 and under are $1 with code LONESTARYOUTH. texasyouthsummit.com.

Saturday, October 10

• HCRP Election Closing Class, 9:30–11:30 a.m., two sites: San Jacinto Conservatives, 6323 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX 77505, and HCRP Headquarters, 8588 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024.
• Texas Youth Summit, second day, Woodlands Marriott.
• League of Women Voters Cy-Fair civic and voter workshops, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Steve Radack Community Center, 18650 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084. Free, open to Harris County residents.

Monday, October 19

• Early voting begins for the November 3 election and runs through October 30. Countywide locations are posted at harrisvotes.com.

The full Harris County GOP calendar is at harriscountygop.com/latest-events.