'Why be like everyone else?'
By Tim Reeves
The Clanton Advertiser

Randall Houston is not your average, everyday district attorney. Then again, he asks, what exactly is an average district attorney?

For Houston, who was appointed to his post in March 2001 after Janice Clardy retired, his sense of humor, passion for the job and apparent clear-cut vision of the law just adds to his abilities as a district attorney.

'The best job": District Attorney Randall Houston claims being district attorney is the "best job a lawyer could ever have." Nearly done with his second year in the position, Houston admits the effort put forth in clearing his district of the adult arcade industry pailed in comparison to the work he and his assistant district attorneys have done in protecting this area's children. (By Jason Green)

"Why be like everyone else," Houston asked, "That's just boring. You have to be your own person, whether it's at work or away from the office."

Houston has never shied away from certain oddities, such as being the only person at the Governor Bob Riley's inaugural ball with a cowboy hat and bolo.

"Oh there were plenty of tuxedos, boots and bow ties," Houston said. "But I was the only one there with a bolo. Not bad, huh?"

Aside from his wardrobe selection for certain events, Houston has also helped lead his office into the headlines on more than one occasion since taking the post, most notably for taking on the adult arcade industry in his judicial district.

"It was black and white," Houston recalled. "Many things in law are gray and muddled, but that was absolutely clear. The machines were illegal and we did everything we could to get them out of here ... and we did."

Houston's work on that case drew both criticism and praise from his peers from across the state. Up until his actions, very few district attorneys had taken on the adult arcade industry, waiting for the Alabama Legislature to clear up the discussion on whether those machines were legal.

"I drew some heat for that," Houston recalled. "But it didn't bother me. We read the law, interpreted the law and acted upon it. That's it."

But for Houston, the arcade battle was not the most important work he and his office have done over the past two years.

"The work we have done is protecting children from these sickos who would molest and rape them, that has been our biggest fight," Houston said. "Anytime we prosecute a child molester or someone who takes advantage of our children, that is when I feel we are doing our best work."

Taking advantage of his days as an assistant district attorney, where he was assigned to ride with police officers on drug raids and arrests, has made him better understand the work performed by police authorities.

"I encourage every one of my assistant DAs to ride with officers and find out the things they face out in the field," Houston said. "It is hard when a suspect on trial, who has had a haircut, shaved and is wearing a nice suit for his trial, to explain to others how they were doped up, high on crack and slobbering at the mouth when they were arrested unless you were out there with them.

"It is amazing the restraint our officers and deputies show when they are out there," Houston said. "With the amount of stuff they face each night, I am not sure I would be as patient."

Early in his work with the DA's office, working as an assistant DA under Clardy, Houston was assigned to lead the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, which battles drugs in the Chilton, Elmore and Autauga county area.

As for his political career, Houston said he is not really looking forward to next year's campaign and election - his first.

"I am scared to death," Houston said. "But, I guess I have to go through it. It is sort of a necessary evil to keep this job and keep our work going on."

But for Houston, who admits being district attorney is the "best job a lawyer could have," when the job gets a little too much, he just hops on his "hog."

"We go out on a ride every year for two weeks," Houston said of his motorcycle trips around the country each year. "Those are great trips and it's a great chance to just getaway."

Houston also leads bike rides in his judicial district raising money for child advocacy groups and other organizations.

"It's a great release," Houston said. "My wife (Stacey) used to ride with me until we had our daughter. Then she just stopped saying that she didn't want to orphan our daughter.

"Now that I think about it that wasn't an approval of my driving abilities."
 

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