Hampton Branch Library
What About Us?
RECEIVED Fri., Oct. 21, 2022
Dear Editor,
I usually peruse the political endorsements. The endorsements claim to be for Central Texas and for the most part are but there is an exception. The race for Texas House 19 is not even mentioned. TXHD 19 is a new district covering Western Travis County, the county where Austin is located, but it is not covered. The district split off some of Bee Cave, Spicewood, Lakeway, and others into the new district which goes out to Johnson City and Marble Falls. We used to be in TXHD 47 with Vikki Goodwin who has really tried to represent us. Because of the evil of gerrymandering and the huge population increase, 47 was split up down the middle of 620 and down 71.
There should be some interest because Ellen Troxclair (R and former Austin City Council person) and Pam Baggett (D) are on the ballot. But you showed none. This disenfranchises voters in Western Travis, adding to the fact that we are in new U.S. House District and new Texas Senate District. It also perpetuates the thought that we just don’t matter to this county – in 2016 the [League of Women Voters] omitted Precinct 3 from the voter guide. We only matter when Austin politicians want $$.
I also doubt that there was much analysis put into this since all of the candidates endorsed are Democrats, even ones who have done nothing to campaign in the population centers of their district.
Another piece of poor journalism to cross off the list.
I usually peruse the political endorsements. The endorsements claim to be for Central Texas and for the most part are but there is an exception. The race for Texas House 19 is not even mentioned. TXHD 19 is a new district covering Western Travis County, the county where Austin is located, but it is not covered. The district split off some of Bee Cave, Spicewood, Lakeway, and others into the new district which goes out to Johnson City and Marble Falls. We used to be in TXHD 47 with Vikki Goodwin who has really tried to represent us. Because of the evil of gerrymandering and the huge population increase, 47 was split up down the middle of 620 and down 71.
There should be some interest because Ellen Troxclair (R and former Austin City Council person) and Pam Baggett (D) are on the ballot. But you showed none. This disenfranchises voters in Western Travis, adding to the fact that we are in new U.S. House District and new Texas Senate District. It also perpetuates the thought that we just don’t matter to this county – in 2016 the [League of Women Voters] omitted Precinct 3 from the voter guide. We only matter when Austin politicians want $$.
I also doubt that there was much analysis put into this since all of the candidates endorsed are Democrats, even ones who have done nothing to campaign in the population centers of their district.
Another piece of poor journalism to cross off the list.
Connie Sheldon