Pursuing Jerry

While others may count him out, Lindeman isn't willing to give up on getting a conviction at the polls this time around. "I don't think the precinct is redistricted safe for any politician that isn't attending to business," he preaches, almost as much to himself as to the listener. "If the voters feel like you're not doing the job, you can't consider yourself safe, no matter how the district is set. In this district last election, only 19 percent of the voters voted straight Republican. Nine percent voted straight Democratic. So most of the voters do pick and choose down the ballot. And believe me, we're down the ballot."

Shortly after he resigned from the D.A.'s office, Lindeman told a prospective employer, attorney Tom Alexander, that he was likely to run for county commissioner. Alexander, who has the reputation of being the meanest lawyer in Houston, just glared. "He looked at me like I was crazy," laughs Lindeman, and said, "The only place to go from the county commissioner's court is the penitentiary."

But hey, Tom, you gotta get there first.