November 2nd, 2010 Travis County Election Voters Guide

For those lucky people living with me in District 222, here is a complete voting guide for next week's election. The rest of you will have most of your candidates represented here as well, but you'll have to do your own research on some of them. A good starting point is the candidates' own websites, happily provided for us by the Travis County Clerk, here. You might also want to consider using any of the available unbiased voters' guides/questionnaires out there (like this one). . . Vote For David is not to be considered an unbiased source!

And remember: Democrat party voters cast their ballots on Wednesday, November 3rd!

District 10, United States Representative

Michael McCaul - REP - Please vote for Representative McCaul again. I would like to see him go, but he won the primary and we need the Republican caucus to stand against President Obama in the next two years, and you don't get there by electing Democrats or Libertarians.

Ted Ankrum - DEM - Socialist, even if he doesn't know it. Totally unaware of the actual causes of current events, much less solutions for current problems. Plus he's a Democrat, and if they retain the house we can kiss the nation goodbye.

Jeremiah “JP” Perkins - LIB - Seriously, running for Congress in 2010 and you can't come up with a website? Fail.

Governor

Rick Perry - REP - Please vote for Governor Perry again. He may be the least-worst choice, but he's head-and-shoulders above the competition.

Bill White - DEM - My commentary on White is here. We need him to lose.

Kathie Glass - LIB - She has no chance of winning this year. Let her campaign for a year or two so someone outside the libertarian party knows her name. Her platform (what little of it there is) is mostly okay for a conservative, but she's an unknown. I might as well be in this slot on your ballot.

Deb Shafto - GRN - If you like President Obama, you'd love Deb Shafto. Bonus points for the name (we'll get the shaft - OH!)

Lieutenant Governor

David Dewhurst - REP - Please vote for LT Gov. Dewhurst again. He might be a bit heavy-handed in the capitol at times, but he's getting the job done. Let's keep him.

Linda Chavez-Thompson - DEM - A high-school dropout for Governess? Why not? We have a President that never ran a popsicle stand! If you like what Nancy Pelosi has to say, you'd like Linda Chavez-Thompson. P.S. What does it tell you when a woman has a hyphenated name?

Scott Jameson - LIB - This time the Libertarian manages a website, but only got ONE position statement on it. Not enough to get elected, spoiler!

Herb Gonzales, Jr. - GRN - You can find information about him but if he has his own website I didn't see it. Fail. The main reason he's running seems to be to maintain the Green Party's place on the ballot for the next election.

Attorney General

Greg Abbott - REP - Please vote for Attorney General Abbott again. He knows hand has been doing the job. Let's keep him.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky - DEM - A community organizer whose campaign consists of poking at the incumbent's perceived weakness . . . where have we seen this before?

Jon Roland - LIB - Wants to have a new State Constitution SRSLY? WHY not run for State Congress where he could make it happen?

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Susan Combs - REP - Of the three on the ballot, Combs is the one who knows what the position is about. Say what you will about the tax system, but she's not the one who writes the tax laws. What she does, she seems earnest about doing, and has saved us quite a bit by cutting out waste and, you know, otherwise doing this job

Mary J. Ruwart - LIB - Her campaign website says in a nutshell: She's a doctor and wrote a book, plus she's a Libertarian. This is insufficient.

Edward Lindsay - GRN - Yet another candidate with no easily-found website! I smell an aspiring politician looking to get a foot in the door during an election season that has us wanting to 'throw the bums out' But I don't see how he's better than Combs. That's not an endorsement of Combs, BTW.

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Jerry Patterson - REP - Please vote for Commissioner Patterson again. He knows and has been doing the job (and doing some of it quite well).

Hector Uribe - DEM - Grand promises he has no way to keep, and lies about the incumbent. Plus he looks slimy.

James L. Holdar - LIB - Another Libertarian without a campaign website I could find in a quick search! From his answers to voters guides, we might as well keep Patterson.

Commissioner of Agriculture

Todd Staples - REP - Please vote for Commissioner Staples again. He has earned another term by doing a good job.

Hank Gilbert - DEM - Has fallen for the false science of Glowbull Wormening. Basing your decisions on anything as Agriculture Commissioner on false science is bad, mmmkay?

Rick Donaldson - LIB - When the guy running for Commissioner of Agriculture starts talking about how he wants to abolish major federal agencies, it's time to vote for another candidate.

Railroad Commissioner

David Porter - REP - Please vote for David Porter. This guy has a clear vision of what needs done, let's let him do it. Believes we can grow in environmentally responsible way. Apparently NOT comfortable on camera.

Jeff Weems - DEM - Shines on camera, which is not a qualification for the office. Wants MOAR!!! Lets spend more money! More bureaucracy! More noses poked into private affairs! Plus, for those who care, this guy has "crazy eyes."

Roger Gary - LIB - Another Libertarian only nominally running for office, no website, not even responding to questionnaires. Fail.

Art Browning - Green - Wants to be the chief oil man in the State, but believes in Peak Oil myth!! Would like to have us cut back on our (currently sustainable) lifestyles (constant growth is impossible according to him) and stop drilling in populated areas making energy more expensive

Place 3, Justice, Supreme Court

Debra Lehrmann - REP - Please vote for Judge Lehrmann. She was my second pick in the primary, but my first pick now that we've come to the General Election.

Jim Sharp - DEM - one week from the election and his campaign website is one big bold print "under construction" message. If you can't be bothered to tell me why I should, I can't vote for you. Want to cut him some slack on the website? It's been the same "under construction" sentence since MARCH.

William Bryan Strange, III - LIB - Another Libertarian with no website and who does not respond to questionnaires.

Place 5, Justice, Supreme Court

Paul Green - REP - Please re-elect Justice Green! If you know what an Eagle Scout is, you know it's good to have a supreme Court Justice who is one. Also he's been doing the job and appears to be very knowledgeable at it. Looks like a square dealer.

Bill Moody - DEM - Continues to try to gain one judgeship while holding another. Let him keep his current job.

Tom Oxford - LIB - His heart may be in the right place, but he definitely is . . . another who can keep his current position.

Place 9, Justice, Supreme Court,

Eva Guzman - REP - Please re-elect Justice Guzman. She was my pick in the primary also.

Blake Bailey - DEM - Let him keep his current job. Reminds me of V.P. Biden for some reason.

Jack Armstrong - LIB - His main argument seems to be that he is a Libertarian. While that may be good enough for the fellow Libertarians out there, it takes more than party loyalty for me to elect a realtor to the supreme Court of Texas!

Place 2, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Lawrence “Larry” Meyers - REP - Please re-elect Judge Meyers.

J. Randell Stevens - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

Place 5, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Cheryl Johnson - REP - Please re-elect Judge Johnson.

Dave Howard - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

Place 6, Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael E. Keasler - REP Re-elect Judge Keasler. He knows and is doing the job. Why interrupt his cases in progress?

Keith Hampton - DEM - His responses to questionnaires are wordy versions of the same responses given by Judge Keasler. Why change to get the same thing?

Robert Ravee Virasin - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

District 10, Member State Board of Education

Marsha Farney - REP - Not my pick in the primary, but considering the alternative, far and away the better choice!

Judy Jennings - DEM - Calling normal-thinking average people "Ultra conservatives" is hardly a way to endear yourself with the voters eh. Texans influence other states . . . and?

Jessica Dreesen - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

District 14, State Senator

Mary Lou Serafine - REP - Please elect Mary Lou Serafine. Reading her campaign website is a breath of fresh air. She talks the talk, let's see if she will walk the walk for Texas.

Kirk Watson - DEM - Part of the problem. It's time to send Senator Watson packing.

Kent Phillips - LIB - Another candidate with a website "under construction" one week out from the election. Fail.

District 50, State Representative

Pat McGuinness - REP - A classic Republican, I'd vote for him if Cowan were not on the ticket.

Mark Strama - DEM - A classic Democrat

Emily Cowan - LIB - I'll be voting for Emily Cowan, because we need more Libertarian thought in the capitol. She may not get there, but not for want of my support . . . what about yours?

Place 4, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District

Melissa Goodwin - REP - Please vote for Melissa Goodwin for Justice. She was my pick in the primary election, and she's the only one running for the seat with any experience as a judge. One of the most important courts in the State (if not the most important) is not the place to learn to be a judge.

Kurt Kuhn - DEM - Not a judge? Not qualified!

The Democrats have candidates running unopposed in all the following races:
District Judge, 147th Judicial District
District Judge, 201st Judicial District
District Judge, 250th Judicial District
District Judge, 261st Judicial District
District Judge, 299th Judicial District
District Judge, 331st Judicial District
District Judge, 403rd Judicial District
District Judge, 419th Judicial District
County Court at Law 1, Judge
County Court at Law 2, Judge
County Court at Law 3, Judge
County Court at Law 4, Judge
County Court at Law 5, Judge
County Court at Law 6, Judge
County Court at Law 7, Judge
County Probate Court, Judge

District Judge, 353rd Judicial District, Unexpired Term

Jeff Rose - REP - Please re-elect Judge Rose.

Tim Sulak - DEM - Supported by the racist groups, the union groups, the Statesman . . . and not by me.

County Judge

Mike McNamara - REP - Here is someone who wants the office and thinks he could better serve the people of the county than Judge Biscoe. Biscoe has been there plenty long enough (almost a record length of service!), time for fresh blood on the court.

Sam Biscoe - DEM - Was going to retire, but decided to run again. Let's allow him to retire.

Mark Tippetts - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

District Clerk

Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza - DEM - Please re-elect Clerk Rodriguez-Mendoza. VFD endorses a Democrat?!! Sure, why not? She's been there since before I joined the Navy and I haven't heard any complaints. Let her stay.

Arlo J. Pignotti - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

County Clerk

Dana DeBeauvoir - DEM In light of the alternative, re-elect Clerk DeBeauvoir. I don't understand why we have to wait until AFTER 2012 to have a paper trail on our voting machines, but this is a woman who is passionate about doing a good job - let her do it.

Gillian Dreesen - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for her.

County Treasurer

Dolores Ortega Carter - DEM - if she weren't on the ballot, you would never know she's running. If you don't want to campaign, don't expect to be voted for by me.

Mike Burris - LIB - Vote for Burris for Treasurer. For once, a Libertarian with a campaign website.

Precinct 2, County Commissioner

David A. Buttross II - REP -Vote for Buttross for Commissioner. Here's a person who knows how to run a business. Let's have him run the county.

Sarah Eckhardt - DEM - Social Justice: low on my priority list, high on hers.

Matthew Finkel - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for him.

Precinct 2, Justice of the Peace

Glenn Bass - REP - Vote for Bass for Justice.

Karin Crump - DEM - endorsed by public unions, lawyers, and Democrat lawmakers . . . and not by VFD.

Jaclyn Finkel - LIB - Another Libertarian who can't be bothered with a website to tell us why we should vote for her.

Races I can't vote in, but here's how I would if I could:

CITY OF AUSTIN BOND ELECTION
PROP. 1 CITY OF AUSTIN THE ISSUANCE OF $90,000,000 IN TAX SUPPORTED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES FOR [....] AND THE LEVY OF TAX SUFFICIENT TO PAY FOR THE BONDS AND NOTES.
Vote AGAINST City of Austin Bond Election Prop. 1! They want you to shell out $90M to REMOVE lanes of car traffic to put in bikeways, add a bridge where it makes them feel politically correct to have a bridge, and generally piss away the rest.


AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION ELGIN ISD ANNEXATION
ACC PROPOSITION ELGIN ISD ANNEXATION
ANNEXATION OF THE FOLLOWING TERRITORY FOR JUNIOR COLLEGE PURPOSES: ALL OF THE TERRITORY IN THE ELGIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Against. The people in Elgin don't need to pay Austin Community College taxes any more than the people of Pflugerville or Georgetown do. Moreover, I'd bet most of them would be just as happy to keep that money in their family coffers putting food in the bellies of their children, rather than feeding the independent small school-crushing ACC any more tax dollars.

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION HAYS CISD ANNEXATION
ACC PROPOSITION HAYS CISD ANNEXATION
ANNEXATION OF THE FOLLOWING TERRITORY FOR JUNIOR COLLEGE PURPOSES: ALL OF THE TERRITORY IN HAYS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
AGAINST! Hays: yet another county that could do without ACC tax bills on everybody's houses.

EANES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND ELECTION
PROP. 1, EANES ISD
THE ISSUANCE OF $72,000,000 OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR [...] ACQUIRING SCHOOL BUSES, AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT OF THE BONDS [....]
Vote AGAINST Prop. 1

PROP. 2, EANES ISD
THE ISSUANCE OF $57,000,000 OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR [...] AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT OF THE BONDS [....]
Vote AGAINST Prop. 2

PROP. 3, EANES ISD
THE ISSUANCE OF $20,500,000 OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR [...] INCLUDING A SWIM CENTER, STUDENT FITNESS AND ACTIVITY FACILITIES AND PARKING FACILITIES, AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT OF THE BONDS [....]
Vote AGAINST Prop. 3

Eanes ISD has fewer than 7,400 students. For those few thousands of children, they want to issue $149,500,000 worth of bonds. Sorry, it doesn't fly. They need to replace functioning school buses and replace currently-used facilities? They NEED (at the point of a gun to your taxpaying head) a new 8-lane heated swimming pool? For a couple thousand kids? SRSLY? NO!!!

TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 4 LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX ELECTION
PROP. 1, TCESD NO. 4
THE INCREASE IN THE RATE OF THE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX [...] FROM ONE PERCENT (1.0%) TO TWO PERCENT (2.0%) [....]
Vote AGAINST TCESD No. 4 Prop. 1!

TRAVIS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 5 ALSO KNOWN AS MANCHACA FIRE / RESCUE LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX ELECTION
PROP. 1, TCESD NO. 5
THE ADOPTION OF AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX [...] FROM ONE PERCENT (1.0%) TO TWO PERCENT (2.0%) [....]
Vote AGAINST TCESD No. 5 Prop. 1!

Stop spending.
Stop spending.
STOP SPENDING STOP SPENDING STOP SPENDING!!!
The State is a few BILLION dollars in the hole, so we want to increase your taxes a full percent at the cash register? No, how about: you make do with what you currently take in just like my family has to do. It's OUR money, not the government's money . . . let's vote to keep it.

Prediction/Analysis:
The bond and annexation measures -having made it onto the ballots- are almost sure to pass, unfortunately. The Libertarians will continue to lose huge in this election cycle, but they have done an admirable job of getting somebody on the ballot for most of the positions this time, except for the judgeship races. The judges look more like a Democrat primary ballot. I guess next time (if there is one) we'll need to have more emphasis on the importance of judgin' and get some Good Conservatives on the ballot. Oh, and: somebody needs to tell the Losertarian party to get a clue and put up web pages for all their candidates. Even a cookie-cutter website is better than an address and a phone number to your mom's basement.

And remember: Democrat party voters cast their ballots on Wednesday, November 3rd!