... Mr. Watkins is now trying to prove himself on a different court.
... After what many called an improbable victory, Mr. Watkins must sell and then implement his "smart on crime" approach to an area besieged by a high crime rate. Pockets of poverty, drug addiction and other social ills exacerbate the criminal activity.
It could be tough. Mr. Watkins, a former defense lawyer, never worked in the Dallas County district attorney's office, and his prosecutorial experience is limited to an internship and misdemeanor cases from when he worked as a municipal prosecutor one year.
... he's the first black district attorney elected in any county in Texas ? taking over a courthouse that has in the past been criticized for failing to put enough people of color on juries and for securing convictions for people later proved innocent.
... "I'm totally different than my opponents and predecessor," he said. "They look at the job as being a prosecutor. I don't look at it as simply being a prosecutor. Yeah, I'm going to put you in jail when you commit a crime, but at the same time I'm supposed to improve the quality of life for all the people of Dallas County."
... Describing his family as upper-middle class, Mr. Watkins said he strived to build upon the foundation they laid.
... In his office, he keeps a worn Bible given to him when he was 8 years old by a religious man he met at a Christ for the Nations service.
The man, who was white, told Mr. Watkins that he was called by God to preach.
"For the longest time, I thought that I was supposed to be a preacher," Mr. Watkins said. "I didn't want to be a preacher. I said, 'Preachers don't make no money. I'm just not cut out to be a preacher.' "
... But it was in 1986, when a brash young lawyer named Royce West made a historic run for district attorney, that Mr. Watkins found a religion of sorts.
... "You had all of these black and gold signs in South Dallas," he said of Mr. West's campaign. "You've got to go to law school to get into politics. I thought I would go to law school and then come back to Dallas and run for DA."
... After Carter High School, Mr. Watkins graduated from Prairie View A&M University and received his law degree at Texas Wesleyan University.
... Back in Dallas after law school, Mr. Watkins got a job in the city attorney's office. But he really wanted to work at the Dallas County district attorney's office.
He interviewed for a job, noticing that the office lacked diversity.
"I wanted to be a prosecutor," he said. "Unfortunately, they didn't hire me."
... After some time drawing a stable paycheck, he decided to go out on his own, first opening a title company and then a law practice.
... Mr. Watkins located his operation in the "hood" with politics in mind.
Few big-time lawyers called South Dallas home. And even fewer aspired to be district attorney.
... "They underestimated me in 2000. They did the same thing in 2006. They thought I was just some lawyer from South Dallas.
... Mr. Watkins is still bothered by coverage of the 2006 campaign, which he said singled him out for criticism and gave his opponent a free ride.
... The media and Mr. Shook took aim at Mr. Watkins' r?um?
Mr. Watkins said the media overplayed his problems with the Internal Revenue Service: One IRS lien is still active, but Mr. Watkins does not describe it as an unpaid debt because it is "in dispute."
In response to questions leading up to the election, he said numerous lawsuits and threats of lawsuits filed against him over financial disputes with the city of Dallas and other businesses were all resolved. He said that being sued goes along with being a small-business owner and is not a reflection on how he will manage the office's $29 million budget.
... He also criticized the media for writing stories about his law practice Web site, which stated that he would defend clients "by any means necessary" and added: "I enjoy manipulating the Government; most times the cases they bring against my clients are weak and unsubstantiated."
... Mr. Watkins also bristles at the notion that Mr. Shook was a more qualified candidate, telling a reporter that he won every debate with the Republican.
"They put the white horse on Toby, and he was wearing the white hat and sending people to death row," he said. "What you all didn't understand is that it's more than just standing in the courtroom, prosecuting people and sending them to death row."
... "They didn't put Hispanics or women on juries. They didn't question that, but they questioned my qualifications."
... Mr. Watkins is now managing more than 230 prosecutors and is under more public scrutiny than ever.
He's sticking by his assertion that the district attorney should take a broader approach to fighting crime.
From his office on Martin Luther King Boulevard, he can see the hopelessness that he says often leads people to crime. Crackheads, prostitutes and drug dealers are part of the scenery. He thinks he can help without the aid of the big house.
"You've got to think outside the box and look at everything that causes people to commit crimes," he said.
... Mr. Watkins said he plans to lobby Austin lawmakers to restore programs designed to help reform convicts who enter the state jail system.
... Mr. Watkins' supporters say it's important for him to develop a strong inner circle. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said Mr. Watkins should do his homework and listen. ...
... After what many called an improbable victory, Mr. Watkins must sell and then implement his "smart on crime" approach to an area besieged by a high crime rate. Pockets of poverty, drug addiction and other social ills exacerbate the criminal activity.
It could be tough. Mr. Watkins, a former defense lawyer, never worked in the Dallas County district attorney's office, and his prosecutorial experience is limited to an internship and misdemeanor cases from when he worked as a municipal prosecutor one year.
... he's the first black district attorney elected in any county in Texas ? taking over a courthouse that has in the past been criticized for failing to put enough people of color on juries and for securing convictions for people later proved innocent.
... "I'm totally different than my opponents and predecessor," he said. "They look at the job as being a prosecutor. I don't look at it as simply being a prosecutor. Yeah, I'm going to put you in jail when you commit a crime, but at the same time I'm supposed to improve the quality of life for all the people of Dallas County."
... Describing his family as upper-middle class, Mr. Watkins said he strived to build upon the foundation they laid.
... In his office, he keeps a worn Bible given to him when he was 8 years old by a religious man he met at a Christ for the Nations service.
The man, who was white, told Mr. Watkins that he was called by God to preach.
"For the longest time, I thought that I was supposed to be a preacher," Mr. Watkins said. "I didn't want to be a preacher. I said, 'Preachers don't make no money. I'm just not cut out to be a preacher.' "
... But it was in 1986, when a brash young lawyer named Royce West made a historic run for district attorney, that Mr. Watkins found a religion of sorts.
... "You had all of these black and gold signs in South Dallas," he said of Mr. West's campaign. "You've got to go to law school to get into politics. I thought I would go to law school and then come back to Dallas and run for DA."
... After Carter High School, Mr. Watkins graduated from Prairie View A&M University and received his law degree at Texas Wesleyan University.
... Back in Dallas after law school, Mr. Watkins got a job in the city attorney's office. But he really wanted to work at the Dallas County district attorney's office.
He interviewed for a job, noticing that the office lacked diversity.
"I wanted to be a prosecutor," he said. "Unfortunately, they didn't hire me."
... After some time drawing a stable paycheck, he decided to go out on his own, first opening a title company and then a law practice.
... Mr. Watkins located his operation in the "hood" with politics in mind.
Few big-time lawyers called South Dallas home. And even fewer aspired to be district attorney.
... "They underestimated me in 2000. They did the same thing in 2006. They thought I was just some lawyer from South Dallas.
... Mr. Watkins is still bothered by coverage of the 2006 campaign, which he said singled him out for criticism and gave his opponent a free ride.
... The media and Mr. Shook took aim at Mr. Watkins' r?um?
Mr. Watkins said the media overplayed his problems with the Internal Revenue Service: One IRS lien is still active, but Mr. Watkins does not describe it as an unpaid debt because it is "in dispute."
In response to questions leading up to the election, he said numerous lawsuits and threats of lawsuits filed against him over financial disputes with the city of Dallas and other businesses were all resolved. He said that being sued goes along with being a small-business owner and is not a reflection on how he will manage the office's $29 million budget.
... He also criticized the media for writing stories about his law practice Web site, which stated that he would defend clients "by any means necessary" and added: "I enjoy manipulating the Government; most times the cases they bring against my clients are weak and unsubstantiated."
... Mr. Watkins also bristles at the notion that Mr. Shook was a more qualified candidate, telling a reporter that he won every debate with the Republican.
"They put the white horse on Toby, and he was wearing the white hat and sending people to death row," he said. "What you all didn't understand is that it's more than just standing in the courtroom, prosecuting people and sending them to death row."
... "They didn't put Hispanics or women on juries. They didn't question that, but they questioned my qualifications."
... Mr. Watkins is now managing more than 230 prosecutors and is under more public scrutiny than ever.
He's sticking by his assertion that the district attorney should take a broader approach to fighting crime.
From his office on Martin Luther King Boulevard, he can see the hopelessness that he says often leads people to crime. Crackheads, prostitutes and drug dealers are part of the scenery. He thinks he can help without the aid of the big house.
"You've got to think outside the box and look at everything that causes people to commit crimes," he said.
... Mr. Watkins said he plans to lobby Austin lawmakers to restore programs designed to help reform convicts who enter the state jail system.
... Mr. Watkins' supporters say it's important for him to develop a strong inner circle. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said Mr. Watkins should do his homework and listen. ...
