Endorsements
May 12 Joint and Special Election
Fri., April 27, 2007
The 'Chronicle' Endorsements
It's been low-key, but there is actually an election coming up on May 12, with early voting starting April 30. The constitutional amendment election will be on every Travis Co. ballot; some combination of the following also may be on your ballot, depending on where you vote. For a full sample ballot, go to www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/20070512/sample.asp.
Texas Constitutional Amendment (reducing property taxes for elderly and disabled)
Austin: ISD Board, District 2
Briarcliff: Mayor, Board of Aldermen
Cedar Park: City Council
Del Valle: ISD Board, ISD Bond Proposition
Lago Vista: Mayor, City Council, ISD Board
Lake Travis: ISD Board
Lakeway: Mayor, City Council, Sales Tax Proposition
Leander: City Council, ISD Board
Manor: Mayor, City Council, ISD Board, ISD Bond Propositions
Pflugerville: Mayor, City Council
Rollingwood: City Board of Aldermen
Round Rock: City Council
Sunset Valley: City Council
Village of the Hills: Mayor, Board of Aldermen
Volente: Village Council
West Lake Hills: City Council
Bastrop/Travis Co. Emergency Service District 1: Commissioner
Travis Co. Bee Caves Road District: Bond Proposition
Proposition 1: Yes
The constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to provide for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public-school purposes on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction in the rate of those taxes for the 2006 and 2007 tax years.
We routinely advise rejecting state constitutional amendments (with predictably little success), as we believe the Texas Constitution has become a gargoyle of legislative dodges and regulatory adjustments. Far too often legislators would rather pass the buck to the voters (in loaded and obscure language) than make a decision (presumably their constitutional duty). In this instance, the likelihood of Texas voters rejecting a proposition so sympathetic on its face – who's going to oppose an equity tax cut for the elderly and disabled? – is virtually nil, and we won't argue with them ... much.
However, this proposition might also be called "the $10 Million Screwup," as that's the estimated cost to counties saddled with make-up legislation from the last Lege session, a proposition that should have landed on the November ballot rather than May. (Travis Co. estimate: $600,000.) Add in the estimated $774 million (over five years) in lost local tax revenue for schools (supposedly to be made up by the state), and you're starting to talk real money. But if we're all intended to get a tax break from the Lege's dubious and shortsighted "generosity" to everyone but schoolchildren, who are we to say the old and the halt shouldn't get a taste? Although their taxes are already capped, and the more property you own, the bigger your cut will be, we advise voters to count your change, consider your aging ancestors, and vote yes.
Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, District 2: Sam Guzman
This is an unusual election, to complete the remaining year in resigning trustee Rudy Montoya Jr.'s four-year term, for the heavily Hispanic District 2. The early favorites were accountant and district volunteer Gerald Guerra, who was nearly appointed by the board for the expiring term (a step short-circuited by public opposition), and businessman Sam Guzman, recruited to run by local Hispanic leaders (e.g., Gonzalo Barrientos and Gus Garcia) who now appear prominently among his list of endorsers. Also running are Fred L. McGhee, an applied archeologist and community housing consultant with a broad range of experience (including substitute teaching in AISD), and Gary Johnson, secretary of the Travis Co. Libertarian Party.
We believe Guerra is earnestly committed to improving the schools. But by his own acknowledgment, his family responsibilities have often had to take priority over his district involvement, and the trusteeship would mean an enormous additional commitment. So we're glad the board decided to hold the election, because Guzman and McGhee have emerged as two intriguing candidates who have much to offer the district. Guzman has extensive experience, both in local business groups and as a community volunteer and administrator of various nonprofits, and has demonstrated his knowledge of District 2 and current challenges facing AISD. The younger McGhee has had an interesting career as a consultant on community projects in Austin, Houston, and Hawaii, and a fresh perspective on the district as someone who has worked as a substitute teacher in addition to a whole range of other work. (Indeed, it's not immediately clear how he hopes to add the heavy burden of AISD trusteeship to his myriad pursuits, here and elsewhere.) Both appear fully qualified, and while Guzman has the longer local experience and demonstrated public involvement, McGhee offers both a unique perspective and fresh energy to a board that sometimes seems overwhelmed by its responsibilities.
It will be a tough choice for the few voters likely to turn out for an off-year election, but we urge Austinites to take the time to familiarize themselves with the candidates and get out and vote. On balance, we believe Guzman has earned the voters' support, through his solid credentials and his record of long service to the community (recognized in his extensive list of prominent supporters). But we also urge McGhee to stay involved in the school district and its policy choices and perhaps run again.
Travis Co. Early Voting (April 30-May 8)
Travis Co. voters may vote at any early-voting location. On election day, voters must vote in their precinct. For a list of precinct locations, call 238-VOTE or go to www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election.
Polls are open Monday-Saturday, 7am-7pm, and Sunday, noon-6pm, for all locations, except malls, Howson Public Library, and mobile voting sites.
Central
Travis County Offices, 5501 Airport
Fiesta Mart, 3909 N. I-35
Flawn Academic Center (UGL) Lobby, West Mall, UT campus
Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe
Howson Public Library, 2500 Exposition (Mon.-Fri., 10am-8pm; Sat., 10am-5pm)
East
HEB, 2701 E. Seventh*
Northeast Health Center, 7112 Ed Bluestein (Springdale Shopping Center)
North
Northcross Mall, 2525 W. Anderson (Mon.-Sat., 9am-8pm; Sun., noon-6pm)
Highland Mall, 6001 Airport (lower level near Fun Zone; Mon.-Sat., 9am-8pm; Sun., noon-6pm)
Northeast
HEB, 9414 N. Lamar*
County Tax Office, 15822 Foothill Farms Loop (just off Pecan Street), Pflugerville
Northwest
Randalls, 10900-D Research
HEB, 7301 FM 620 N.*
South
Randalls, 2025 W. Ben White
HEB, 2400 S. Congress*
Southeast
Albertsons, 1819 S. Pleasant Valley*
HEB, 6607 S. I-35*
Southwest
Randalls, 6600 S. MoPac
Randalls, 9911 Brodie
West
Randalls, 2303 RR 620 S.
Randalls, 3300 Bee Caves Rd.
* Temporary building in parking lot
MOBILE VOTING
Monday, April 30
Rollingwood City Hall, 403 Nixon Dr., 8am-4pm
Lago Vista City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird St., 8am-4pm
Bee Cave City Hall, 13333-A Hwy. 71 W., 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Manor Middle School, 12900 Gregg Manor Rd., 11am-7pm
Baty Elementary, 2101 Faro, Del Valle, 11am-7pm
Tuesday, May 1
Rollingwood City Hall, 403 Nixon Dr., 8am-4pm
Lago Vista City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird St., 8am-4pm
Bee Cave City Hall, 13333-A Hwy. 71 W., 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Conley-Guerrero Senior Center, 808 Nile, 9am-noon
Creedmoor Elementary, 5604 FM 1327, 11am-7pm
Heatherwilde Assisted Living, 401 S. Heatherwilde Blvd., Pflugerville, 2-5pm
Wednesday, May 2
Rollingwood City Hall, 403 Nixon Dr., 8am-4pm
Lago Vista City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird St., 8am-4pm
Bee Cave City Hall, 13333-A Hwy. 71 W., 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Bluebonnet Elementary, 11316 Farmhaven, 11am-7pm
Del Valle Elementary, 5400 Ross Rd., 11am-7pm
Thursday, May 3
Rollingwood City Hall, 403 Nixon Dr., 8am-4pm
Bee Cave City Hall, 13333-A Hwy. 71 W., 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Manor Elementary, 12904 Gregg Manor Rd., 11am-7pm
Loyalton of Austin, 5310 Duval Rd., 9am-noon
Popham Elementary, 7014 Elroy Rd., 11am-7pm
Westminster Manor, 4100 Jackson Ave., 2-5pm
Friday, May 4
Rollingwood City Hall, 403 Nixon Dr., 8am-4pm
Lago Vista City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird St., 8am-4pm
Bee Cave City Hall, 13333-A Hwy. 71 W., 8am-noon, 1-5pm
Govalle Care Center, 3101 Govalle Ave., 9am-noon
Brighton Gardens, 4401 Spicewood Springs, 2-5pm
Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary, 13901 FM 969, 11am-7pm
Saturday, May 5
Lago Vista City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird St., 8am-4pm
Del Valle ISD Admin. Bldg., 5301 Ross, 8am-4pm
Crystal Falls Golf Course, 3400 Crystal Falls, 9am-5pm
Volente Fire Department & City Hall, 15406 FM 2769, 9am-5pm
Briarcliff Property Owners Community Building, 22801 Briarcliff, 8am-4pm
Sunday, May 6
Crystal Falls Golf Course, 3400 Crystal Falls, noon-6pm
Briarcliff Property Owners Community Building, 22801 Briarcliff Dr., noon-6pm
Northwest Rural Community Center, 18649 FM 1431 Ste. 6-A, Jonestown, noon-6pm
Englewood Estates, 2603 Jones Rd., 4-6pm
Lakeside Senior Center, 85 Trinity, noon-2pm
Parsons House, 1130 Camino La Costa, noon-4pm
Monday, May 7
Briarcliff Property Owners Community Building, 22801 Briarcliff Dr., 8am-4pm
Blake Manor Elementary, 18010 Blake Manor Rd., 11am-7pm
LBJ Building, 111 E. 17th, 8am-6pm
Heritage Park Center, 2806 Real, 9am-noon
Hillcrest Elementary, 6910 E. William Cannon, 11am-7pm
Heartland Health Care Center, 11406 Rustic Rock Dr., 2-5pm
Tuesday, May 8
Travis Building, 1701 Congress, 8am-6pm
RBJ Residential Tower, 21 Waller, 8-11am
Summit at Lakeway, 1915 Lohmans Crossing, noon-5pm
Decker Elementary, 8500 Decker, 11am-7pm
Smith Elementary, 4209 Smith School Rd., 11am-7pm
Grace House, 11825 Bee Caves Rd., 2-5pm
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