President: Barack Obama* et al.
Three Obama opponents – Darcy G. Richardson (historian and consumer advocate), Bob Ely (an independent who promises to “spend like a Republican and tax like a Democrat”), and attorney John Wolfe, who actually picked up three delegates in Louisiana – are each challenging the president roughly from “the left” for not aggressively pushing a progressive agenda. They’re available for your protest vote.
U.S. Senate: Addie Dainell Allen, Grady Yarbrough, Paul Sadler, Sean Hubbard
Of these four, only Paul Sadler has the political experience (primarily as a state representative) and the fundraising ability to hope to make a dent in the November Dewhurst juggernaut. Allen and Yarbrough appear to be campaign hobbyists, and Hubbard is an earnest young man looking to start his political career at the top.
U.S. Rep., CD 10: Tawana L. Cadien, William E. Miller Jr.
Cadien is a Jefferson County Democratic activist and registered nurse who emphasizes job security and health care as campaign priorities. Miller, a Wells Branch attorney, says he filed to provide an opponent to incumbent Republican Michael McCaul – “he is the 1 percent, the top of the 1 percent” – but health problems prevent his campaigning and he’ll defer to Cadien.
U.S. Rep., CD 21: Daniel Boone, Candace E. Duvál
Boone is a perennial candidate who originally filed for the senate seat, then switched. Duvál is a longtime Democratic activist (she has worked for both Bob Bullock and John Sharp) who’s picked up numerous endorsements from Dem clubs, hoping to take a hard shot at incumbent Republican Lamar Smith.
Travis County Sheriff: John Sisson, Greg Hamilton*
Challenger Sisson has based his campaign primarily on his opposition to Hamilton’s insistence that he is required by law to “hold” undocumented immigrant arrestees at the request of federal immigration authorities; he also advocates greater diversity in staffing decisions. Hamilton rejects Sisson’s interpretation of federal law, says he works diligently to broaden personnel decisions, and cites his efficient and progressive administration. For more, see “Sheriff Over ICE,” March 23.
County Commissioner, Precinct 1: Richard Franklin III, Ron Davis*, Victor Gonzales, Arthur Sampson
Incumbent Davis points to his 14-year record of fighting for equity and the development of eastern county infrastructure, including roads and parks; he has also fought landfills and advocated greater county land-use controls. Franklin runs a youth mentoring nonprofit and is a Del Valle ISD board member; he pledges greater public outreach and to support social services and transportation. Pflugerville Mayor Pro Tem Gonzales notes his broad record of public (including county) and private jobs, civic engagement, and involvement in county matters, especially northeast; he says he’ll bring “new leadership” and renewed energy to Precinct 1 and Commissioners Court. Sampson is a former peace officer and a longtime city of Austin employee in various managerial (project coordinator) positions; he says he will be “responsive, respectful, and resourceful” and emphasizes financial efficiency, improving transportation, public safety, and environmental protection.
County Commissioner, Precinct 3: Karen Huber*, Albert Gonzales
Huber faces a campaign tune-up against Southwest Democratic chair and Oak Hill resident Gonzales, who says he’s “pro-citizen” and emphasizes addressing traffic problems in the precinct; when he lost in the last primary, he endorsed Huber’s Libertarian opponent. Huber likely faces a much tougher fight in November in a redistricted precinct that might flip again.
Democratic Referendums
There are three referendum propositions on the Democratic ballot: 1) supporting in-state tuition for all Texas high school graduates and enabling such graduates to earn legal status through higher education or military service; 2) asking the Legislature to support higher education enough to make it affordable for all Texans; 3) supporting a state vote on casino gambling, with proceeds dedicated to education. Only the latter looks to be controversial among Dems, and whatever your position on gambling, it’s hard to oppose a public vote.
This article appears in May 11 • 2012.