Excerpts from Express-News article on Barbie

Barbie Scharf-Zeldes (photo)
Probate Court #2 candidate

Express-News, Sunday, Nov. 5th
Metro Section

By Elizabeth Allen
Express-News Staffer

Barbara Scharf-Zeldes is waging her campaign for judge of Bexar County Probate Court on a principle.....

Scharf-Zeldes, the Democratic challenger contends that (her opponent) leaves the courthouse early, rules from emotion rather than the law and plays favorites in his court. But the principle that spurred her to challenge (her opponent) was an experience in his court involving a guardianship dispute and a divorce.....

Scharf-Zeldes also complained to the Texas Ethics Commission that (her opponent) used campaign money for a $1,000 contribution to (a Republican) campaign for the County Court-at-Law No. 6 seat. The limit from political accounts is $100....

Scharf-Zeldes has handled family and probate matters for the San Antonio police and firefighters unions for 14 years. She bristles at (her opponent's) accusations that she only handles uncontested divorces...

"I've been in jury trials--it's been a long time," she said, adding, "probate court handles mainly hearings and bench trials with no jury," proceedings she said she has handled many times.

Scharf-Zeldes regularly begins her pitch with, "I'm running because of a little boy."

The story she tells is a 6-year-old boy neglected by an alcoholic mother in another state.The child's San Antonio grandfather applied for guardianship, and (her opponent) appointed Scharf-Zeldes as the child's lawyer....

A legal puzzle arose arose when the mother filed for divorce in the other state and Scharf-Zeldes argued that probate court law gave (her opponent's) court jurisdiction, (her opponent) declared he didn't want a family case in his court, that it belonged in a district court...

But the incident symbolized, "all problems that attorneys have been having with him since he took office in 2002."...

Scharf-Zeldes said she was hurt by the (Police) unions endorsement of (her opponent). "It seemed like my work hadn't been worth it."...

But she said she's been pleased by the supportive feedback she's received.

"This is the one court that touches everybody," she said.

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