As always, these are my notes for myself. Feel free to use them to force your neighbors to vote the same way or whatever you like. Print them out and burn them to do your part to fight Global Cooling, maybe.
Travis County General and Special Election
November 8, 2022
Federal Offices
U.S. Representative, District 17
For the love of all that is wholesome, please PLEASE vote for Pete Sessions for Congress!
Pete Sessions(R) – A solid choice in his own right, who failed to fall for the gaslighting that Trump lost the 2020 election fair and square. He doesn’t miss many votes and is a solid Red voter in the House. We need more like this, so let’s keep this one!
Mary Jo Woods(D) – insane persons are automatically disqualified from holding any office. I don’t even want this guy bagging my groceries; he should be institutionalized. I clocked him immediately. Sessions wins by dint of not being . . . this guy.
State Offices
Governor
Re-elect Governor Abbott. The only serious contender here is Robert Francis O’Rourke and he’s a cracked pot. The rest are also-rans that you could vote for if you wanted to increase their parties’ chances of getting noticed next year. Besides which, Abbott has actually done a decent job and there’s no need to switch him out now.
Greg Abbott(R)
Beto O’Rourke(D)
Mark Tippetts(L) – a Libertarian for Governor is a bad, bad idea
Delilah Barrios (G) – Anyone on the Green ticket is a nutjob and should be in a loony bin.
Lieutenant Governor
Dan Patrick(R) – the things that make him controversial – not the attack politics but the actual politics, make him Our Guy.
Mike Collier(D) – Anyone who fits the bill of “Former Republican-turned-moderate Democrat” needs to keep the [expletive deleted] away from my government. The things he stands for, I stand against; this is an easy no from me.
Shanna Steele(L) – has a literal placeholder of a website, which is an upgrade from the usual ‘nothing’ of a Libertarian Party candidate. You gotta do better, sweety.
Attorney General
I’m voting for Paxton again. He’s done some things I agree with and we could talk about some others, but he’s decent and he’s neither of the others, so
Ken Paxton(R)
Rochelle Mercedes Garza (D) – The first line in her “why I’m running” blurb is a lie, and a vicious one designed to whip up partisan fervor against wholesome laws. Pass.
Mark Ash(L) – “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.”
Comptroller of Public Accounts
I’m voting for Hegar this time. He seems like a good man doing a good job, let’s keep him at it.
Glenn Hegar(R) I found some controversies in his recent past. He compared refugees to rattlesnakes, which is apt. His aides sometimes post outrageous things to facebook, but they take it down when people complain. It’s not great but it’s not disqualifying. And he knows somebody who was a crook. In government. What are the odds?
Janet T. Dudding(D) seems like maybe a nice lady. Let her be nice in retirement. Bonus warninghair. Bonus membership in sexist and racist organizations LOL. Preaches about muh climate change. Wants to expand medicare to poor poor pitiful, poor people but doesn’t understand how it would bankrupt the state. Pass.
V. Alonzo Echevarria-Garza (L) I’ve said it before: hyphenated last name is a giant waving red flag. City manager of a town small enough you never heard of it seems like not ready for prime time here anyway. Pro-babykilling. Wants queers to be able to adopt children, and wants more restrictions on the process of purchasing a gun. Three strikes and you’re out.
Commissioner of the General Land Office
No incumbent here so this is more interesting
Dawn Buckingham(R) – kinda looks like a bitch, ngl. I get the impression that she’s the Party Line candidate, which works for me as it’s my Party (!) so I’ll vote for her.
Jay Kleberg(D) – Most of his campaign website says he is concerned abot the non-entity known as Climate Change, which is disqualifying. But he cares about the land deeply – I kinda wonder what else would be over his head in this office though.
Alfred Molison, Jr.(G) Anyone who can get on the ballot as a Green is disqualified.
Commissioner of Agriculture
Sid Miller(R) – by default
Susan Hays(D) rides a party line that is opposed to what I believe in too many ways, while campaigning with the idiot, O’rourke.
Railroad Commissioner –
It’s Christian for Commissioner this year
Wayne Christian(R) – aside from the perennial vague allegations of corruption on the commission without much in the way of specifics, he seems to be doing the job okay
Luke Warford(D) – is shadowboxing. He wands a weatherization standard? We have one and it kicks in this Winter LOL one would hope he would know that
Jaime Andres Diez(L) – is never going to win. This is an R or D race and the D wants to crush our cheapest source of Energy with well-intended regulation, so it’s R.
Hunter Wayne Crow(G) – A Green for Railroad commissioner is a fox guarding the henhouse.
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3
It’s Lehrmann again this time.
Debra Lehrmann(R) – the incumbent gets heavy consideration for incombency as you know from memorizing all my previous voter guides. I disagree with her sometimes maybe ut…
Erin A. Nowell(D) – attorney is not the job I want the person in this job to have as their only qualification. No. Also she is appealing to racists by using her Blackness. No.
Thomas Edward Oxford(L) – managing attorney is not the job I want the person in this job to have as their only qualification. No.
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5
I’m for Huddle this time.
Rebeca Huddle(R) – The incumbent, even though the was elected. Appointed by a Governor I trusted repeatedly to re-elect him.
Amanda Reichek(D) – otherwise seems like an ok pick for the job
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9
Without a lot of details on either it looks like Maldonado for me this year.
Evan Young(R) – the incumbent for the past year, so less heavily weighted than some other longer-term incumbents. Yale law is a strike against somebody anymore, and so is Oxford. It definitely speaks to a life of rare privilege and I’m not sure I like how thin his resume is even on his campaign website.
Julia Maldonado(D) – call me silly but a Texan who went to Texas schools, I like better than a Yalie. And she’s already a Judge, an incumbent in Houston.
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Scott Walker(R) – I’m going with the incumbent over what would likely be an okay challenger here too.
Dana Huffman(D)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Jesse F. McClure, III(R) – I’m going with the incumbent over what would likely be an okay challenger here too.
Robert Johnson(D) – Born in New York but we try not to hold it against him LOL prominently endorsed by racist and queer pressure groups
Member, State Board of Education,District 5
Please join me voting for Hopkins to SBOE district 5.
Perla Muñoz Hopkins(R) – wants to get graphic porn and critical race theory out of the schools. Sign me up.
Rebecca Bell-Metereau(D) – again with a hyphenated name. Against parental choice in education vouchers.
State Senator, District 14
Join me in voting for Haskett this time.
Sarah Eckhardt(D) – honestly will probably win on name recognition. She was proud of the disastrous-for-us-all lockdowns she helped impose for covid. Buys the Blue Team party line all the way. Hard pass.
Steven E. Haskett(L) – Don’t tell anyone but this guy could be a closeted Republican. I kinda like most of what I was able to see about him.
State Representative, District 46
I’m for Kost, and will not be surprised when he loses.
Sam Strasser(R) – probably would do fine. Seems passionate about property taxes especially
Sheryl Cole(D) – Is a poster for what’s not great about Austin politics. I’d like to not be represented by her. Either other would be good and neither is likely to win. Neither has even 1% of her campaign war chest, nor is he a compelling candidate.
Thomas Kost(L) – we could use (a small number of) Libertarians in Congress. He’ll lose but I want to at least show support for such a message as his from the sidelines.
Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District,Place 4
Please elect Fitzpatrick to the court of appeals district
Lesli R. Fitzpatrick(R) – seems okay. There’s only so much opinionatin’ a judge candidate can do, and she’s on the Red Team so that’s my gal.
Rosa Lopez Theofanis(D) – the Blue Team candidate. Proud to have a picture of her next to Robert Francis O’Rourke. Pass.
District Judge, 455th Judicial District
Please keep Doty on the bench
Cleve W. Doty (R) – the incumbent yes, but a recent appointee, not elected. Went to all the big-name lawyer schools and firms, which for me is not a strong endorsement. seems okay. There’s only so much opinionatin’ a judge candidate can do, and he’s on the Red Team so that’s my guy.
Laurie Eiserloh (D) – the top thing on her website is “marriage equality” and that means she’s unfit for any office. There’s only one kind of marriage, Laurie. Not that a “married” muncher is going to recognize that.
County Offices
County Judge – I will not be voting in this race due to lack of a good candidate.
Rupal Chaudhari(R) – I can’t vote for a Hindu. Notsorry.
Andy Brown(D) – A senior advisor to Robert O’Rourke is not getting my vote either.
County Clerk
Please vote for Susan Haynes.
Susan Haynes(R) – Her campaign website “about” section was written to capture voters like me. She’ll probably lose in Travis but I wish she wouldn’t.
Dyana Limon-Mercado(D) – again with the hyphenated last names. A deathfat with pronouns in her bio. Literally a babykiller, works FOR planned parenthood! VERY hard pass!
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 – I’m not sure I’ll vote this time. I agree with David in theory that there’s nothing wrong with the way the office is run now and it’s good to get fresh blood in the office . . . but disagree that means he should be the one sitting in the chair instead of the incumbent. I don’t find a good reason to vote against Slagle, including his party affiliation!
Randall Slagle(D)
Christopher David(L)
A whole slew of unopposed candidates including the Mayor of Davesville!
Council Member, Place 1
Another race I almost don’t have an opinion about, but I’ll pull for Weiss in the election.
Doug Weiss
Nicole Kosich(write-in) – missed the filing deadline for the regular ballot, and barely made it on the list as a write-in. Honey, if you want to be taken seriously, file on time at a bare minimum.
Pflugerville ISD Special Election for Attendance Credit Purchase
Pflugerville ISD Proposition A
Authorizing the board oftrustees of PflugervilleIndependent School Districtto purchase attendance credit from the state with local taxrevenues.
I’m against this. The alternative is they have to pay more to debt repayment (a good thing by the way) and they may lose some students to an adjacent district but in the same schools (not terrible) or maybe they can ask the legislature to up the basic allowance per student, which by the way would also be a good thing.
Pflugerville ISD Special Election forTax Rate Ratification
Pflugerville ISD Proposition B
Ratifying the ad valorem taxrate of$1.2646 per$100 valuation in Pflugerville IndependentSchool Districtfor the current year, a rate that will resultin an increase of 21.37 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue forthe District for the current yearas compared tothe preceding year,which is an additional $38,146,329
I’m against this. They have to ask for permission for this rate because it’s HIGHER than what the State allows. Is it a low rate? Arguably yes. Do I want to pay MORE taxes than legally permitted without asking my permission? Ha, no.
Pflugerville ISD Bond Election(s)
This one is easy, all the way to the end of the ballot. Do you see how they all end with “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” down there? No. Stop it. VoteForDavid is now officially allergic to taking on new debts. They give me a nasty reaction in my bottom line. Pay off the old [expletive deleted] and use those revenues instead.
Pflugerville ISD Proposition C
THE ISSUANCEOF $190,280,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN,CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGSIN THE DISTRICT AND THE PURCHASE OF THE NECESSARY SITES THEREFOR ANDTHE PURCHASE OF NEW SCHOOL BUSES, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIEN TTOPAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THECOSTS OF ANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS. REQUIRED STATEMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 45.003,TEXAS EDUCATION CODE: THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
They want to spend $21M to buy land for future projects. I’m not keen on that, but otherwise most of this is likely to be pretty popular. I could do without a two and a half millon dollar weigh room in a single high school but the same district spent 60 million on a sportball stadium recently 😦
Pflugerville ISD Proposition D
THE ISSUANCE OF $54,000,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND UPGRADING OF TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INCLUDING NETWORK SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TOPAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THE COSTS OF ANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS.REQUIRED STATEMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANTTO SECTION 45.003, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE: THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
Necessary expenditures, doubtless. Don’t put it on our credit card.
Pflugerville ISD Proposition E
THE ISSUANCE OF $3,000,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIENTTO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THE COSTS OF ANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS. REQUIRED STATEMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 45.003, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE: THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
Probably a good thing to spend money on. Don’t put it on our credit card.
Pflugerville ISD Proposition F
THE ISSUANCE OF $400,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF STADIUM FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THE COSTS OF ANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS. REQUIRED STATEMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 45.003, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE:THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
I am skeptical a high school needs a $$$$$$ scoreboard at the sportball stadium.
Pflugerville ISD Proposition G
THE ISSUANCE OF$76,000,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF A DISTRICT-WIDE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THE COSTSOF ANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS. REQUIRED STATEMENTFOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANTTO SECTION 45.003, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE: THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
In the long run, this will probably pay for itself indirectly. Don’t put it on our credit card.
Pflugerville ISD Proposition H
THE ISSUANCE OF $43,924,000 SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF HOUSING FOR TEACHERS AND THE PURCHASE OF THE NECESSARY SITES THEREFOR, AND LEVYING AND IMPOSITION OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS AND THE COSTS OFANY CREDIT AGREEMENTS. REQUIRED STATEMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND PROPOSITIONS PURSUANTTO SECTION 45.003, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE: THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
Not just no. H-E-Double-Toothpicks no. If I could vote NO on this twice, I would. They are asking you to fork over $500 of your own dollars, plus interest for however many years, so probably a thousand bucks, to put someone ELSE up in affordable housing because we don’t pay teachers enough to live in-district? This proposition is a slap in the face to everyone who lives in the city.
Vote for David 