 "Photo: Jon Huang")
UT law graduate Mindy Montford is the youngest candidate to run for Travis County District Attorney since the current district attorney was elected in 1976.
Ronnie Earle announced his retirement in December, and Montford is one of four candidates hoping to fill the vacancy.
Montford, 37, received endorsements from the oldest living former Texas Democratic Governors Dolph Briscoe and Mark White.
"When I found out Mindy was running, I asked what I could do to help," White said. "I have known her family for years and completely support her."
Montford has lived in Travis County since she was 6 years old and attended UT for her undergraduate and law degrees.
"My time at UT was great," Montford said. "The campus is so diverse, the faculty is great, and the classes I took allowed me to grow. It prepared me for what I'm doing today."
Montford began her career as the assistant district attorney in Harris County and became a prosecutor for the Travis County district attorney's office in 1999.
Montford kicked off her campaign Tuesday night at Nuevo Leon on East Sixth Street. Montford comes from a political background and would be the second district attorney in her family.
"In high school, some people wanted to be the student council president or on the dance team," said Montford's mother, Pam Jacobs. "But for Mindy, this was always what she wanted to do."
Montford said she wants to focus on Internet crime and create an Internet crime division if elected district attorney.
"There is just such an increased use of technology to commit crimes; it's like the criminal can always be one step ahead," she said. "I want to help people get rid of the red tape in fighting these crimes."
Montford said she wants investigators to work together to fight Internet crimes and focus on solicitation of minors and the elderly.
"I believe [governors White and Briscoe] support me because they believe in me as district attorney," Montford said. "But I appreciate anyone's support; they don't have to be a former governor."
Montford said she has been working her entire career toward her goal of becoming district attorney.
"It's weird because I've always worked to get to this point, and I think 'Wow, this happened fast,'" she said. "But I would be perfectly content staying in office as long as the public will let me."
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