Houston, TEXAS – In an exclusive sit-down with KPRC 2, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo discussed her challenges, successes, and plans for the future.
Hidalgo strongly criticized recent political actions targeting her, calling them a “desire to distract” and “helping those folks that are trying to violate the will of the voters.”
She referred to Commissioner Ramsey’s announcement seeking her removal following a censure vote as “a torpedo into the heart of democracy in the state of Texas” and “an affront to democratic principles writ large.”
Hidalgo said, “I do acknowledge I curse a little too much, but people know that I’m not a well-manicured talking points politician, just myself, and I’m not going to change that.”
She expressed deep disappointment that these political maneuvers are diverting attention from the real issues.
“So disappointing that we’re talking about this instead of the programs that will end and the many families and children that will not be served because of these votes,” she said.
When asked about whether she plans to run for re-election, Hidalgo said she wasn’t ready to comment but stressed that anyone who qualifies is free to run. She also challenged her critics, including Commissioner Ramsey, to put their support to the test in the upcoming election rather than seeking to remove her through other means.
The judge also raised concerns about a possible state takeover of the Harris County flood control district, calling it “nothing more than a distraction.” She criticized colleagues for refusing to put critical funding decisions to a public vote, calling that “disenfranchisement” driven by “political personal interests.”
Hidalgo stressed her commitment to standing up for the community despite attacks, saying, “I was elected to serve twice… if Commissioner Ramsey or anybody would like to change that... election season’s ramping up and I invite them to run against me.”
She pushed back on claims that her removal would be justified, calling the efforts “anti-democratic” and a misuse of new laws allowing judges from neighboring counties to oust elected officials. “You don’t get to violate the rights of voters who want to see this on the ballot,” she said.
Hidalgo warns of early education cuts
Hidalgo said that thousands of families could lose access to early childhood education programs following a recent vote by the commissioners’ court.
“These tough decisions that are attacking families and children in Harris County are going to continue for the next few weeks, and I want to make sure the community is aware,” Hidalgo told KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun.
Contrary to some reports, Hidalgo clarified that while some programs will continue for about a year, they will ultimately end.
“Colleagues killed these programs for children and families that were already enrolled,” she said.
Hidalgo also pushed back on claims from other commissioners that there wasn’t enough time to move the issue forward.
“I know some of the things we’ve heard from other commissioners is that there wasn’t enough time, that there was just two weeks for all of this to be rolled out. And they said that’s not effective or efficient,” KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun noted in the interview.
Hidalgo called those arguments misleading.
“Reasons that my colleagues gave to not put this on the ballot, to disenfranchise the voters and kill these programs, are alternative facts, to put it kindly,” she said. “They have known for four years that these programs… in fact they helped design them. And all the other arguments are… I could call it something else, but I’ll just leave it at ‘alternative facts.’”
She said the harm to Harris County families will continue as a result of the court’s decision.
The county’s early childhood initiatives were designed to help prepare children ages zero to four for school.
“A 2019 children at risk study found 40% of kids are not ready to learn,” Hidalgo said. “Those are the kids we want to reach… to make sure they come into Pre-K and kindergarten prepared.”
Hidalgo said ending the programs will leave families without vital support and disrupt child care providers who built capacity for the initiative.
“Colleagues killed these programs for children and families that were already enrolled… that enrollment is going to end before a lot of the children would have aged out,” she said. “Childcare centers that built up that capacity and the instructors that trained… will now have to figure out what else to do.”
Hidalgo criticized commissioners for refusing to let voters decide on early childhood education funding, calling the move a “disenfranchisement” that forces cuts across county services.
She highlighted the widespread impact, pointing to cuts in public health, mosquito control, libraries, juvenile justice programs, and more, all tied to budget decisions influenced by this vote.
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