Eckels will become lobbyist for Fulbright

Now we know what the blockbuster private-sector job is that's pulling Robert Eckels away from his post as Harris County judge: Eckels said yesterday that he will be a partner with law firm Fulbright & Jaworski. His position, according to the firm, will draw on his government contacts:

At Fulbright, Eckels intends to develop an administrative, regulatory and government relations practice serving clients who seek to be heard with respect to legislation, local ordinances or other government action. He will draw on his positive relationships with elected officials from both parties in Texas and Washington, D.C., and his experience in the Texas Legislature.

In short, Eckels will be a lobbyist. The Chronicle reports that Fulbright had tried to get Eckels on board before, but the two didn't start talking seriously until January, two months after Eckels was elected to a fourth four-year term. "This is a new stage for me to play on. It's an international firm, and it has a broad range of expertise," Eckels told the Chronicle. "I could have jumped last year if I was ready to go. But I wasn't. Now, mentally, I'm ready, and operationally, the county is ready."

Off the Kuff still bristles at Eckels' timing, saying if he really could have "jumped last year," he should have, so that Harris County voters could have elected his successor. As it is, the four county commissioners will pick the new judge; two of the commissioners are Republicans and two are Democrats and Eckels, a Republican, will break the tie. A vote will be held next November for someone to finish out Eckels' current term, and the next full-term election will be held in 2010.