Democratic Texas House candidate Ericka Lomick has pulled the plug on her political campaign after questions arose about her previous federal felony conviction and whether she was still eligible to hold a public office. Lomick announced on September 21 that she was ending her campaign for the Tarrant County-based District 93 seat, saying she made the decision after “careful consideration.”
“Although this was not an easy decision, I am convinced that it was the right one for the people of HD 93,” Lomick went on to say. Lomick’s campaign confirmed that the decision to drop was made following questions about her eligibility to serve given the federal felony conviction. Those questions popped up after the Protect and Serve Texas PAC discovered Lomick’s federal criminal history.
“After questions arose about the candidate’s eligibility to serve as the district’s elected Representative, Ericka Lomick has chosen to step aside and allow the people of HD 93 to elect someone who can serve the district without the burden of defending against attacks that would threaten to derail the business of the people,” the campaign went on to say.
According to a report from Texas Score Card, federal court records reveal Lomick, known at the time as Ericka Flood, was charged back in 2010 as part of a federal mortgage fraud investigation in the state of North Carolina. A team of federal prosecutors identified Flood as both a mortgage broker and promoter in the scheme.
Lomick went on to plead guilty to the charges against her, which resulted in a 63-month prison sentence. She tried to have the sentence vacated, making all sorts of claims and allegations, such as ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with her plea and sentencing. A federal district judge slapped down the motion in 2012.
Once the conviction was uncovered by the Protect and Serve Texas PAC, it raised questions about Lomick’s eligibility to serve in a public office in Texas. Under state law, a person who has been finally convicted of a felony is considered to be ineligible to be a candidate in an official office, unless they have been previously pardoned or “otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.”
The Texas Secretary of State explains that simply serving a complete felony sentence does not restore an individual’s eligibility to run for office. The state’s constitution also requires the Legislature to exclude from office any people who have been convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, or “other high crimes.” Lomick had previously stated in an interview that she had never been convicted of a crime in “any state.”
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Lomick’s leaving the race all but guarantees GOP candidate Alan Blaylock, formerly a city councilman for Fort Worth, will win the seat, which was vacated by Nate Schatzline. Blaylock tore into Democrats for nominating Lomick despite her troubling background. “Like too many Democratic candidates this year, she was rushed to file and was not prepared to run,” Blaylock said to Texas Scorecard. “Our campaign continues forward with an unwavering focus on lowering the cost of living, providing real, permanent property tax relief, strong schools and safe neighborhoods.”