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I decided to share my research with y'all. First I got a list of candidates from The Austin Chronicle and confirmed which ones would be on my ballot at Vote411. Below are the results, minus unopposed races (I do not promise perfect accuracy). I've added an asterisk to anyone I already know I want removed from office. Then I added the results of my research on issues and other factors I think might be relevant. My sources for those are spelled out at the bottom. (See my next post for issues.)
Arg, I still don't know enough but I'm tired and about out of time. This thing is way too long--I recommend searching for candidates of interest to you and/or scrolling to the bottom for some interesting links.
Federal
U.S. Senator
R: Ted Cruz* (incumbent) - No response to LWV.
Geraldine Sam - No response to LWV.
Mary Miller - Pro advanced federal budgeting for disaster relief - emergency bills risk pork; any balance should carry over. (LWV) Health - The minimum employee level for required insurance should be raised from 50 to 100 to not be a burden to small business; a prosperous middle class will help. (LWV) Immigration - pro DACA, wants to centralize overlapping duties of Customs and Border Patrol in order "to curb an alarming number of terminations." (LWV) Need to create a new branch of the military to fight cyber threats from Russian, China, North Korea. (LWV)
Bruce Jacobson Jr. - No response to LWV.
D: Beto O'Rourke - Platform "calls for universal health care; support for the DREAM Act; closure of for-profit prisons; increases in infrastructure spending; curbing corporate money in politics; expanding family planning services; and marijuana legalization." (AC2) He "has a reputation for reaching across the aisle to get what he wants. As the congressman for the city that's home to Fort Bliss, O'Rourke has used his post on the House Committee for Armed Services and Veterans Affairs to secure bipartisan support for legislation to expand mental health care. O'Rourke is refusing to accept PAC money." (HC) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (strong) (AC2) "We are impressed with Rep. O’Rourke’s dynamic campaign. However, he voted for a budget that did not include protections for Dreamers and seems to lack any reasonable strategy for protecting immigrant youth moving forward. As such, the Board declined to endorse at this time." [No endorsement for this race.] (AI) No response to LWV. "He is smart, experienced, and was one of the first to put himself out there and run statewide at a time when many other entrenched Democrats flinched at the notion. He is knowledgeable on the issues and, rather than speaking in soundbites, he speaks to subjects with an intelligent and an informed opinion." (PT)
Edward Kimbrough - "a retired postal worker whose website emphasizes his life story and a series of Bible-based principles for federal elected officials." (HC) No response to LWV.
Sema Hernandez - "a self-described "Berniecrat" with a crowd funding drive that's raised a little more than $7,000" (HC) Pro advanced federal budgeting for disaster relief - prefers grants over loans. (LWV) Health care - prefers single-payer health care for all to take profit-driven insurance companies out of the picture; sees healthcare as a human right. (LWV) Immigration - clear pathway to citizenship, simplify immigration, end waitlists, no second-class treatment. (LWV)
U.S. Rep., District 25
R: Roger Williams* (incumbent)
D: Chetan Panda - Immigration - Clean DACA, path to citizenship, prtner to fight crime in countries south of us. (LWV) Healthcare - Pro Medicare-for-all transitioning via government-subsidized healthcare, lower drug prices, mandate price/quality transparency by healthcare providers. (LWV) Gun violence - Comprehensive and accurate background checks, expand mental health resources (60% of gun deaths are suicides), end the sale of bump stocks etc.. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - improved access to capital/training, Paycheck Fairness Act, expand parental leave, improve access to health services and resources, reduce maternal mortality rate, criminal justic reform, legalize marijuana, consent-based education. (LWV) Student debt - shift to incom-based payment, longer repayment periods, increase funding for Pell Grants, hold colleges accountable for graduating students on time and with good paying jobs, allow refinancing, allow debt to be discharged via bankruptcy. (LWV) Climate change - Build solar and wind farms, increase tax incentives for solar panels, invest in R&D, tax greenhouse gasses, weatherize buildings, improve efficiency and fuel efficiency standards, fund EPA and enforcement. (LWV) Invest in education, universal pre-K, increased funding, expand vocational education. (LWV)
Chris Perri - Immigration - Clean DREAM, timely pathway to citizenship; mobile surveillance is better than a wall. (LWV) Healthcare - Medicare-for-all to encourace preventative care and insure all and remove for-profit insurance companies from the picture. (LWV) Gun violence - Allow research, rmove boyfriend, gun show loopholes--background checks can be done very quickly now. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Medicare for all, education, pay equality via auditing companies, criminal justice reform, reduce mass incarceration. (LWV) Student debt - subsidize and forgive loans. (LWV) Climate change - Carbon tax and dividend, revive PWA for renewable energy infrastructure, rejoin Paris Accord and strengthen our commitment, subsidize solar installation. (LWV)Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (tough choice; all five are strong candidates) (AC2) Also pro campaign finance reform, gerrymandering, prevent mega-mergers and trusts.
Julie Oliver - Immigration - End family detention, close private immigration detention centers, prevent ICE from contracting with for-profit prison corporations, deport only violent threats, allow refugees to tell their stories, pro DACA and TPS with expanded categories and a route to citizenship via employment. (LWV) Healthcare - stabilize ACA with individual mandate and reestablished cost-sharing, universal healthcare. (LWV) Gun violence - Allow the funding of firearm research, require background checks/licensing, cose boyfriend loophole. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Preventative education for black women, end ideologically motivated attacks on women and Planned Parenthood, amend Equal Pay Act to make it enforceable, end prohibition on marijuana, institute agressive bail reform. (LWV) Student debt - free tuition for middle/low-income students of public colleges, allow refinancing at low rates, allow tax-free tuition remission to working grad studnets. (LWV) Climate change - Fund EPA and NOAA, rejoin Paris Accord, Impose a carbon-fee-and-dividend, innvest in clean energy infrastructure, innovation, manufacturing and workforce development, tax breaks for renewable energy. (LWV) Fight corrupt dark money: disclose funding, keep tax-deductible organizations apolitical. (LWV) (I like her issues best.)
Kathi Thomas - Immigration - Clean DACA, DREAM, no wall, pathway to citizenship, pass CIR, workers' permits, legal worker crossing, modernize drug laws to reduce illegal drug profit for cartels. (LWV) Healthcare - Transition from ACA to medicare-for-all with opt-in methodology. (LWV) Gun violence - Fight suicides with trigger locks, lock boxes, gun safes, etc., ban weapons of war, better enforcement of gun laws, disallow guns from domestic violence restraining order folks. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Make it easier for woment or ujn for office, recruit more minority police, stop voter suppression, increase diversity education in schools, translators for government and hospitals. (LWV) Student debt - repay based on income, no profit, forgiveness. (LWV) Climate change - Move fossil fuel subsidies to renewables and add more, mandate new govt blds have solar panels and rainwater harvesting, educationon reduce/reuse/recycle, R&D for thorium reactors. (LWV) Redistricting and overturning citizens united are important.
West Hansen - Immigration - pro civil rights, DACA, decriminalization; "A border is more than a barrier. It's also a shared space." (LWV) Healthcare - Medicare for all, added for new groups gradually, starting with rural veterans, then teachers (already drafted); expand Medicaid. (LWV) Gun violence - Eliminate gun show loophole and "boyfriend loophole" to restrict possession as well as purchase; give confiscation power to judges from persons in custody; overhaul the national database to include violent offenders and gun ownership. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Eliminate unconstitutional mandatory arbitration and non-disclosure agreements, don't exempt elected officials from laws designed to protect sexual predators and discrimination; eliminate barriers to opportunity. (LWV) Student debt - pro tuition regulation and investigation of anti-trust violations; colleges should not cooperate with predatory lending practices.. (LWV) Climate change - Pro Paris agreement, financial and tax incentis to companies reducing our carbon footprint, restore the environmental agencies. (LWV) Opposes medically unnecessary procedures, delays, and diatribes. (LWV)
Governor
R: Greg Abbott* (incumbent) - "Both Abbott and Patrick face relatively weak primary opponents." (TT2) "cynical" (HC) no response to LWV.
Secede Kilgore - no response to LWV. One person told me he changed his name to say it all.
Barbara Krueger (?) - no response to LWV.
D: Adrian Ocegueda - "If not for his fuzzy answer to [flood control], we might have thrown our support to ... Adrian Ocegueda [who] runs a private equity firm in Dallas, and he was an economic policy adviser to the mayor of El Paso. Beyond his views on priorities like education and health care, Ocegueda brings up big issues that aren't on any other candidate's radar. He's concerned Texas isn't doing enough to train workers who are about to lose their jobs as technology displaces human labor. He even has the courage to touch the third rail of Texas politics, suggesting we need to seriously discuss introducing a state income tax." (HC) no response to LWV.
Andrew White - Conservative Democrat, son of former governor Mark White, "focused heavily on reforming health care and education, ... supports a Medicaid expansion, ... promises a $5,000 pay increase for teachers without raising taxes through closing a $5 billion property tax loophole that benefits commercial property owners, ... plans to redirect the $800 million in state border security funding to education" though he's been known to state that our weak borders "read like an 'Open for Business' sign to millions of undocumented immigrants and the criminals who take advantage of them." (AC1) Personally pro-life, but supports Roe v. Wade and the separation of church and state. (AC1) He has a "business-friendly milquetoast centrism." (AC2) "His top priority is improving public education ... but White ultimately won our endorsement with his answer to one obvious question. He's the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate who seems to have given serious thought to the state government's role in protecting Gulf Coast residents from flooding. While the other candidates who spoke to our editorial board offered only vague thoughts about this critical issue, White specifically discussed the need for a third reservoir in west Harris County and the importance of leveraging federal funds to build a coastal barrier system." (HC) [And from somewhere I lost track of: and he's campaigning on a pledge to give every public school teacher a $5,000 a year raise. White proposes to fund his teacher pay hike by closing loopholes under which big businesses routinely dodge paying billions of dollars in commercial property taxes. My favorite thing from LWV is he supports the bullet train. I also like his answers on voter registration and question #3.
Cedric Davis Sr. - I liked his healthcare answer in LWV: pro Medicaid expansion, anti lawsuit over woments reproductive rights, restoring CHIP funding, pro Planned Parenthood.
Demetria Smith
Grady Yarbrough - no response to LWV.
James Jolly Clark - no response to LWV.
Jeffrey Payne - I liked several of his answers in LWV: pro easy voting, pro renewable energy, pro accepting Medicaid funds. "The current state sponsored clinics are a sham and do not provide adequate care or information."
Joe Mumbach - I'm unimpressed by his background as described by LWV.
Lupe Valdez - "against the death penalty and open carry, supports increased background checks on gun purchases, and diverting border security funds to local law enforcement. Her platform seeks to boost the blue- collar worker, by raising minimum wage to $15 per hour and expanding Medicaid. She's secured the endorsement of Texas AFL-CIO's political arm." (AC1) "She says the bigotry and divisiveness over last session's bathroom bill motivated her to run. As for immigration, ... [she refused] to comply with ICE detainers unless inmates were charged with violent crimes." (AC1) Also pro-choice. (AC1) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2) I really like some of her LWV answers: pro auto voter registration, independent redistricting, modernizing elections, Medicaid expansion, state mental health facility funding, "ending the medical deserts in urban and rural Texas, where maternal mortality rates are unacceptable", pro renewable energy.
Tom Wakely - Not annoyed or impressed by positions in LWV, but intrigued by his idea that Texas "needs to join Oregon, Washington & Colorado and conduct all elections by mail." I wonder what the advantages and disadvantages of that are.
Lt. Governor
R: Dan Patrick* (incumbent) - "strongly endorsing the anti-trans bathroom bill, the sanctuary cities bill, barriers to abortion access, open carry, school vouchers" (AC5) "Both Abbott and Patrick face relatively weak primary opponents" (TT2) "Longtime Republicans are understandably frustrated at how the Legislature has underfunded public schools and shifted the financial burden onto local taxpayers." (HC) He's an ass in LWV--he answered every question with "I stand by my record. Please visit my campaign website..."
Scott Milder - 'a local public school activist who's against the bathroom bill and called Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick a "jackass"' (AC2) "has seized on the backlash Patrick faced from the fiscally conservative business community over his zealous support of the bathroom bill. While Milder isn't quite an LGBTQ supporter, he stands firm against the anti-trans legislation based on its potential to hurt the state's bottom line, ... [and has] founded advocacy group Friends of Texas Public Schools to fight against the (Patrick-backed) push for school vouchers and privatization of public schools." (AC5) "aligned with the schools, business interests and pastors who are hoping to restore the conservative values of local control and pro-growth that for decades sat at the core of Texas politics. It is a movement that wants to put an end to the potty-bill politics that have dominated our state Legislature under Patrick." (HC) I'm not a fan of the policies he described in LWV, but at least he doesn't seem extremist.
D: Michael Collier - "education reform and living wages" (AC5) "political novice" (HC) no response to LWV.
Mike Collier - "Collier's platform diverges in all the best ways from the current right-wing overload in the Texas Senate, from immigration to LGBTQ rights to women's health. On education, he hopes to adequately fund public schools by closing corporate tax loopholes that solely benefit large corporations, and will fight to make tuition affordable for the working class. He's supportive of labor unions, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring access to affordable health care." (AC2) "His platform proposals include raising the minimum wage and ensuring access to affordable health care, reforming school finance by restructuring the business margins tax, closing corporate loopholes, and returning to a "rational" state highway funding mechanism." (AC5) "Collier wants to see more state money directed to public schools, arguing that overtaxed homeowners cannot afford to carry what ought to be the state's share of education funding. An accountant by training, Collier held high-level positions in auditing and finance during his career at a global accounting firm, giving weight to his proposal to close a corporate tax loophole as a means of raising revenue for public education and property tax relief. Collier, 56, is well-versed in this region's need for storm surge protection and Harvey recovery, and he's ready to tap the state's substantial rainy day fund to pay for it. "Let's crack it open and stimulate recovery as fast as we can," he told the editorial board. Collier supports expanding Medicaid to improve health for poor children, and he wants to improve care for rural Texans dealing with local hospital closures and few physicians wanting to practice outside large cities." (HC) He "supports comprehensive finance reform, opposes gerrymandering and voter disenfranchisement, and supports policies that promote closing the income inequality gap. His commitment to affordable health care for Texans, a top priority for Indivisible Austin, was a deciding factor in our endorsement." (IA) "a retired accountant who has positioned himself as the "education finance" candidate. Public education is a critical issue in Texas as are the property taxes which fund them, Collier's background is well-suited to tackle this issue. Education finance may be the single biggest bipartisan issue in Texas." (PT) I like some answers in LWV: pro franchisement, anti gerrymandering, pro civics and history in schools, pro optimizing ACA, pro reversing cuts to the margin tax, pro Planned Parenthood, anti corruption. I also find it interesting that he says "Texas should expand Medicaid (the business community is with me)." Is that true?
Attorney General
R: Ken Paxton - "named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, Paxton has spent the bulk of his first term battling securities fraud charges (a trial date has been pushed for the third time) and wasting taxpayer dollars on frivolous suits, including one lodged – and eventually dismissed for pettiness – against Austin officials last year over the sanctuary cities law. Carrying the legacy of former A.G. Abbott with even more fervor, Paxton and his minions have led an anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice crusade in the courts, battling for expanded religious freedom (read: state-sanctioned discrimination) and the demise of abortion access." (AC6) Negatives: "his attempt to undermine the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality and his support for witch hunts of Planned Parenthood." (PT)
D: Justin Nelson - He 'founded One Nation One Vote, a nonprofit that pushes for electing the president by popular vote ... [and] pointedly assures voters he'll protect Texans against "special interests, corruption, and fraud."' (AC6)
Comptroller
R: Glenn Hegar - "waste[s] our money on bathroom bills, further militarizing our border, and breaking up families" (IA) Endorsed by Trump (TT4)
D: Joi Chevalier - He "is founder of the Cook's Nook, a shared commercial kitchen for Austin-area food entrepreneurs. Chevalier would diversify state revenue sources, adopt a more equitable revenue mix with the aim of lessening pressure on residential property owners, and pressure legislators to close tax loopholes." (AC7) "small-business owner Joi Chevalier would bring experience and humanity to the important role of managing the state budget.... Joi Chevalier will focus on the role the state budget can play in fostering more, not less, opportunity in the state. For example, her commitment to diversifying revenue sources suggests Chevalier will bring new creativity and life into the Comptroller role, an energy that is sorely needed." (IA) "immensely qualified for the position. An entrepreneur who currently manages a business in the food industry, she has an intricate knowledge of finance and an impressive understanding of how the Texas Comptroller's office can be more engaged in proactively making Texas a better state. ... demonstrated an impressive understanding of the state's challenges ... listing, for example, nearly a dozen ways that she would improve Texas' tax system." (PT) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (better qualified) (AC2), Indivisible Austin (IA) Sounds reasonable in LWV.
Tim Mahoney - He's "a longtime activist in Travis County politics, an attorney and former ACC board trustee who made news in 2016 for suing Austin Community College after the school banned a pro-Bernie Sanders student group from leading voter registration events." (AC7) Sounds reasonable in LWV.
Land Commissioner
R: George P. Bush (incumbent) - Per LWV, I don't know what he means by "The restoration of McFaddin National Wiildlife Refuge in Jefferson county is one example of what we are trying to do on the coast." Endorsed by Trump: "Texas LC George P. Bush backed me when it wasn’t the politically correct thing to do, and I back him now." (TT4).
Davey Edwards - Per LWV, I like that he wants to bring back "experienced and knowledgeable staff that was eliminated" earlier, but don't like that he thinks that it's developers who deal with the risk of building in flood plains.
Jerry Patterson (Bush's predecessor) - Per LWV, pro conservation and restoring the Disaster Recovery division of the GLO.
Rick Range - Per LWV, I like that he's against building in floodplains but don't like that he's very focused on the Alamo restoration; he has interesting experience (as a first-responder, a teacher, and with oil and gas).
D: Miguel Suazo - "most every notch on energy attorney Miguel Suazo's resume corresponds with the experience necessary to run the Texas General Land Office" (PT) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (best suited) (AC2) Per LWV, pro conservation as well as developers and homeowners.
Tex Morgan - "a smart guy with a heart for service, but he is no match for Suazo in this race." (PT) From LWV, I like his idea to "Adopt & enforce clear best-practice standards to guide building & rebuilding ... Limit types of structures de, development in protected careas. Publicize global warming effects." Pro bi-partisan redistricting board. I don't know what he means by "abate destroying & reclaim wetlands, marshes, prairielands & floodplains."
Agriculture Commissioner
R: Sid Miller (incumbent) - Tenure "includes a Texas Rangers-led investigation into taxpayer-funded trips, a Twitter account that referred to Hillary Clinton as a "cunt" days before the 2016 election, and a Facebook post that called for the atomic bombing of the Muslim world." (AC8) Wants to build a wall, no amnesty on DACA. Disgusted by Nutella (which he has never tasted). Hiked fees dramatically to cover a budget shortfall he inherited. "A report by the State Auditor's Office, actually showed the fees generated $27.3 million during the 2016 calendar year, while programs that rely on such fees cost just $20.8 million to operate — which means Miller's agency collected $6.5 million more than necessary. Miller has since said he plans to reduce fees and that the commission will begin issuing rebates to producers as soon as this summer." Is that just because this "irked farmers, ranchers and his former colleagues in the Texas House" or because Blocker called out his ethics? (TT3) Endorsed by Trump: 'Sid Miller has been with me from the beginning, he is “Trump’s Man in Texas.”' (TT4)
Trey Blocker - wants to reduce legal immigration. Fears Nutella (which he has never tasted). Seems defensive and reactive. (TT3)
Jim Hogan(?) - no response to LWV.
D: Kim Olson - She has "pledged to hit every Texas county to spread her message of regenerative agriculture, farmland preservation, and water policies that protect farmers' rights. ... Olson owns and operates a bee ranch and family farm where she raises fruits and veggies." (AC8) "a retired Air Force pilot and an organic farmer who is listening to the concerns of Texans in all of our 254 counties. Her campaign has demonstrated she is eager to listen to the concerns of both those who grow our food as well as the families that purchase it. Her life has been one of service—often in a trailblazing manner—both during her military career and afterwards, as she worked in education and on behalf of veterans. In 2014, she was rightly inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame" (IA)
Railroad Commissioner
R: Christi Craddick - endorsed by Trump (TT4)
Weston Martinez (?) - "a conservative San Antonio oil and gas industry water supplier who proudly touts his endorsements of Ted Cruz and Trump." (AC9)
D: Chris Spellmon - "criticizes fracking and air pollution" (AC9) no response to LWV.
Roman McAllen - "calls for anti-cronyism, greater public transparency and accountability, and water protection measures" (AC2) "calls for eliminating freshwater for fracking; cronyism controls at the RRC; and a commission name change to, you know, actually reflect what the agency does." (AC9) 'The best thing any candidate can do with this office is changing the name to "Energy Commission." We believe that Roman McAllen is the stronger choice in the field. In his announcement video, he detailed his plans for the job, and his website offers a statement we can wholeheartedly agree with: "Commissioners of the Texas Railroad Commission are protecting industry, not the public. Let's change that."' (PT) Endorsements - Austin Chronicle (AC2), Houston Chronicle (HC)
State Rep., District 46
D: Dawnna Dukes* (incumbent) - "Dukes drew widespread criticism after posting poor attendance during the previous legislative session and facing criminal corruption charges, but the Travis County District Attorney's office dropped those charges last year after admitting it had bungled the case." (TT1) [Also has had very poor attendance during the current session. She had promised to resign, but has not resigned and is instead running again.] "Vocally/clearly anti-bathroom regulation" (ET1)
Ana Cortez - 'Cortez says she is a survivor of sexual assault and has made that a focus of her campaign, vowing to support legislation "that will end sexual assaults and handle sexual assault cases quickly and fairly."' (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (EQ1)
Casey L. McKinney - "McKinney has made slowing gentrification in East Austin a focus of her campaign." (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1) ENDORSEMENTS: Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus (per AC3)
Jose "Chito" Vela - often unprepared as Austin Planning Commissioner. (AC2) "vows to be a vocal fighter (or "brawler," as he put it) in defense against the zealous discrimination and right-wing culture wars. At the same time, he promises to work with Republicans and the business community to find common ground on mutual interests." (AC2) "He advocates strongly for Medicaid expansion and tighter rules when it comes to letting legislators lobby to win government contracts from the cities, school districts, and counties they represent to ensure conflicts of interest don't arise – a not so subtle jab at Dukes' consulting firm's questionable contracts with AISD. He proposes the legalization and taxation of marijuana (to fund education) and the reduction of drug possession to a misdemeanor. A believer in multimodal transportation, he would support raising a "modest" local gas tax (by public vote) dedicated to urban transportation needs and would move to add more Cap Metro board members, including someone who uses the system as their main means of transport." (AC4) "Vela is billing himself as the "real progressive" in the race as he attempts to run to the left of Cole. Among other proposals, he supports legalizing and taxing marijuana to fund public schools." (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1)
Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (AC2), per AC3: Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Teamsters Joint Council 58, Austin AFSCME, Left Up to US, Austin Tejano Democrats
Sheryl Cole - affordable housing, pay equity, the revitalization of Waller Creek, marriage equality, Medicaid expansion, LGBTQ rights, a living wage, and marijuana legalization with tax funds going toward education (AC2) She "got her start on the PTA and worked her way up to mayor pro tem, after first getting elected to City Council in 2006. She's an accountant and attorney, and touts her push to get an affordable housing package on the ballot in 2013; leading the re-envisioning of Waller Creek; and her early support for marriage equality with a Council resolution that made Austin the first city in the state to support same-sex marriage. On the campaign trail, she's promising to fight for affordability, living wages, and Medicaid expansion. Cole says she'll take a proactive approach to defending LGBTQ and civil rights and, like Vela, supports marijuana legalization, with tax revenue flowing toward education, health care, and infrastructure." (AC4) "Cole, a former Austin City Council member, has the backing of several prominent local Democrats, including state Sen. Kirk Watson, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt." (TT1) [I love Lloyd Doggett; he used to be my Rep.] "Vocally/clearly anti-bathroom regulation" (ET1)
ENDORSEMENTS: Austin Area AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Austin Progressive Coalition, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Firefighters Association, Black Austin Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats,Education Austin, NxNW Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas REALTORS, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats (per AC3)
Warren Baker - "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1)
R: Gabriel Nila
Travis County
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3
D: Susan Steeg (incumbent) - "a distinguished career as an activist attorney, counsel for the state Dept. of Health, and a decade as Justice of the Peace, where she's done good reform work. ... A testy campaign has included indirect feedback from Steeg's courtroom and staff that she's become punitive to her staff and inflexible to those who appear before her" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS: Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Circle C Area Democrats (AC3)
Sylvia Holmes - "The less experienced Holmes has done dedicated legal work for those who find themselves in JP Court – students in legal trouble or in conflict with landlords." Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2), per AC3: ENDORSEMENTS: Austin Area AFL-CIO, AFSCME Local 1624, University Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Austin Progressive Coalition, Our Revolution Central Texas, Liberal Austin Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Black Austin Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats, Austin Environmental Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, Left Up To US
R: Martin Harry
Court of Criminal Appeals, Pl. 8
R: Dib Waldrip
Michelle Slaughter - no response to LWV.
3rd Court of Appeals, Pl. 6
R: Donna Davidson
Jennifer S. Freel
Mike Toth(?-endorced by people I disagree with) - no response to LWV.
Kristofer Monson(?) - no response to LWV.
D: Gisela D. Triana
331st District Judge
D: David Crain (incumbent) - "He carries an establishment opinion of how to be a judge, which at the district level to him means putting an unfettered focus on trials. He's unapologetic about not running specialty dockets" (AC2) Per LWV, "I initiated a mental health docket to stabilize and treat those who are arrested because of a mental health crisis. Also, the therapeutic DWI docket I helped initiate keeps people out of jail and from re-offending." [I remember reading good things about a program to divert some DWI folks into reasonable options other than jail. But then:] "he's spent time at all three levels of the local criminal system, including a lengthy stint in CCL 3, where he played a considerable role in developing the misdemeanor court's mental health docket. Crain brought that docket to the district level when he took over Bob Perkins' court, but no longer does much with it." And so this election asks whether the person in this position has time to do more--Crain says no, Eldridge, yes. (AC10) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Stonewall Democrats of Austin, University Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrats, Black Austin Democrats
Chantal Melissa Eldridge - An "indigent defense attorney who sees diversion programs and pretrial services as being just as vital with felonies as they are with misdemeanors." (AC2) "has pledged not only to bring the mental health docket up to the felony level, but also the Phoenix Court program, for people with a history of prostitution or trafficking." (AC10) Per the LWV: pro-diversion (from jail) and rehabilitation programs for thos suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness. Endorsement - Austin Chronicle (AC2); per AC3: Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Austin Democratic Veterans
403rd District Judge
D: Brenda P. Kennedy, Charles Popper
459th District Judge (a new court)
D: Aurora Martinez Jones - Family litigation and fraud attorney, "fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Austin Central Labor Council, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Austin AFSCME, Our Revolution Central Texas, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Black Austin Democrats, Austin Young Democrats, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Austin Democratic Veterans
Greg Hitt - Family litigation and fraud attorney, "fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) "Greg Hitt is the only board certified who has practiced the law that is required by this court." (commenter in AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Central Austin Democrats, Liberal Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, West Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, South Austin Democrats
Maya Guerra Gamble - "the only one with judicial experience, ... fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) Endorsement: Austin Chronicle (mild, best fit) (AC2); per AC3: Our Revolution Central Texas, University Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Austin Tejano Democrats, Left Up to US
County Court-at-Law No. 3
D: John Lipscombe - "The county courts-at-law see misdemeanor cases, and often bear witness to plea bargains and creative terms of adjudication. John Lipscombe has prided himself on those during his seven-year tenure in CCL, particularly his specialty court on Wednesday nights, wherein low-level offenders meet with him sans attorney. ... boast[s] liberal ideals about first offenses and nonviolent offenders." (AC2) "Is the Chronicle Editorial Board aware of the fact that Judge Lipscombe requires defendants to pass a urine test before he signs any dismissal for Possession of Marijuana? Regardless of the circumstances of use? No other judge does this because it is unnecessary, inconvenient, and downright stupid." (commenter in AC2) "I cannot believe that John Lipscombe would be endorsed over Paul Quinzi. Anyone who has ever practiced in front of Lipscombe knows that the judge is known for his inconsistency, his flagrant disregard of the law, and his prosecutorial favoritism." (commenter in AC2) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2); per AC3: Central Austin Democrats, Circle C Area Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Liberal Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrats, Black Austin Democrats
Paul Quinzi - He's "a defense attorney who cares deeply about expunctions and nondisclosures, has made that Wednesday docket a primary target of his campaign, but we were dismayed to learn he had never attended a session nor talked to a defendant who's been through one. ... boast[s] liberal ideals about first offenses and nonviolent offenders" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): University Democrats, Our Revolution Central Texas, Austin Democratic Veterans, Austin Young Democrats, Left Up to US
County Court-at-Law No. 5
D: Nancy Hohengarten (incumbent) - She "may not be the most stoic of CCL judges, and ... her years as a prosecutor sometimes put her at odds with defense attorneys. But her efforts toward criminal justice reform are real." (AC2) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (AC2); per AC3: AFSCME Local 1624, Austin Area AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Austin Environmental Democrats, Austin Progressive Coalition, Austin Young Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats, Black Austin Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Circle C Area Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women’s Political Caucus, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, Liberal Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Travis County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association, Travis County Sheriff Officers Association, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats
McKinley Melancon - "running because of a perceived personal slight by the incumbent" (AC2)
Mario Flores - also running because of a perceived personal slight by the incumbent (AC2)
Travis County Democratic Party (added per AC2)
Anne Wynne - "seems both a sure bet as an executive and a progressive voice on local issues." ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): AFSCME 1624, Austin Progressive Coalition, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Communications Workers of America 6132, Education Austin, Iron Workers Union 482, Liberal Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats, South Austin Democrats
Dyana Limon-Mercado - "connection to Austin's activist network and commitment to grassroots fundraising ... will bring perennially underrepresented (and sorely needed) voices to" the party (AC2). Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2); per AC3: Austin Tejano Democrats, Austin Young Democrats, Our Revolution Central Texas
AC1 - Tuma, Mary. "The Tides of March." The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC2 - The Chronicle Editorial Board. "Chronicle Endorsements." The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC3 - Club Endorsements. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/15/18.
AC4 - Tuma, Mary. HD46: Ready for the Main Event. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC5 - Tuma, Mary. Lt. Governor. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC6 - Tuma, Mary. Attorney General. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC7 - Tuma, Mary. Controller. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC8 - Tuma, Mary. Agriculture Commissioner. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC10 - . 331st Judge: A Matter of Opinion. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC9 - Tuma, Mary. Railroad Commissioner. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
ET1 - Bathroom Regulation Stances: Texas House, Equality Texas (pro LGBTQ Texans), read 2/22/18.
HC - Houston Chronicle Endorsements and the linked articles. Houston Chronicle (appears left-wing), read on 2/24/18.
IA - Indivisible Austin 2018 Primary Endorsements (left wing, "We declined to endorse in every race, instead only endorsing those candidates that received unanimous approval by Indivisible Austin’s Board of Directors."), 2/17/18.
LWV - League of Women Voters, Voters' Guide (non partisan; asks questions of all candidates who are not unopposed).
PT - Espinoza, Ed. Statewide Endorsements. Progress Texas (left-wing). 2/16/18.
TT1 - Texas Tribune staff. 38 Texas legislative primary races to watch. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit."), 2/20/18.
TT2 - Ramsey, Ross. Analysis: Texans won’t have to wait for November to know who’s winning, Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit."), 2/16/18.
TT3 - Rocha, Alana, + Split Decision: Sid Miller and Trey Blocker debate agriculture, ethics and Nutella. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit.") 2/23/18.
TT4 - Watkins, Matthew. President Donald Trump tweets endorsements of eight leading Texas elected officials. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit.") 2/27/18.
Arg, I still don't know enough but I'm tired and about out of time. This thing is way too long--I recommend searching for candidates of interest to you and/or scrolling to the bottom for some interesting links.
Federal
U.S. Senator
R: Ted Cruz* (incumbent) - No response to LWV.
Geraldine Sam - No response to LWV.
Mary Miller - Pro advanced federal budgeting for disaster relief - emergency bills risk pork; any balance should carry over. (LWV) Health - The minimum employee level for required insurance should be raised from 50 to 100 to not be a burden to small business; a prosperous middle class will help. (LWV) Immigration - pro DACA, wants to centralize overlapping duties of Customs and Border Patrol in order "to curb an alarming number of terminations." (LWV) Need to create a new branch of the military to fight cyber threats from Russian, China, North Korea. (LWV)
Bruce Jacobson Jr. - No response to LWV.
D: Beto O'Rourke - Platform "calls for universal health care; support for the DREAM Act; closure of for-profit prisons; increases in infrastructure spending; curbing corporate money in politics; expanding family planning services; and marijuana legalization." (AC2) He "has a reputation for reaching across the aisle to get what he wants. As the congressman for the city that's home to Fort Bliss, O'Rourke has used his post on the House Committee for Armed Services and Veterans Affairs to secure bipartisan support for legislation to expand mental health care. O'Rourke is refusing to accept PAC money." (HC) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (strong) (AC2) "We are impressed with Rep. O’Rourke’s dynamic campaign. However, he voted for a budget that did not include protections for Dreamers and seems to lack any reasonable strategy for protecting immigrant youth moving forward. As such, the Board declined to endorse at this time." [No endorsement for this race.] (AI) No response to LWV. "He is smart, experienced, and was one of the first to put himself out there and run statewide at a time when many other entrenched Democrats flinched at the notion. He is knowledgeable on the issues and, rather than speaking in soundbites, he speaks to subjects with an intelligent and an informed opinion." (PT)
Edward Kimbrough - "a retired postal worker whose website emphasizes his life story and a series of Bible-based principles for federal elected officials." (HC) No response to LWV.
Sema Hernandez - "a self-described "Berniecrat" with a crowd funding drive that's raised a little more than $7,000" (HC) Pro advanced federal budgeting for disaster relief - prefers grants over loans. (LWV) Health care - prefers single-payer health care for all to take profit-driven insurance companies out of the picture; sees healthcare as a human right. (LWV) Immigration - clear pathway to citizenship, simplify immigration, end waitlists, no second-class treatment. (LWV)
U.S. Rep., District 25
R: Roger Williams* (incumbent)
D: Chetan Panda - Immigration - Clean DACA, path to citizenship, prtner to fight crime in countries south of us. (LWV) Healthcare - Pro Medicare-for-all transitioning via government-subsidized healthcare, lower drug prices, mandate price/quality transparency by healthcare providers. (LWV) Gun violence - Comprehensive and accurate background checks, expand mental health resources (60% of gun deaths are suicides), end the sale of bump stocks etc.. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - improved access to capital/training, Paycheck Fairness Act, expand parental leave, improve access to health services and resources, reduce maternal mortality rate, criminal justic reform, legalize marijuana, consent-based education. (LWV) Student debt - shift to incom-based payment, longer repayment periods, increase funding for Pell Grants, hold colleges accountable for graduating students on time and with good paying jobs, allow refinancing, allow debt to be discharged via bankruptcy. (LWV) Climate change - Build solar and wind farms, increase tax incentives for solar panels, invest in R&D, tax greenhouse gasses, weatherize buildings, improve efficiency and fuel efficiency standards, fund EPA and enforcement. (LWV) Invest in education, universal pre-K, increased funding, expand vocational education. (LWV)
Chris Perri - Immigration - Clean DREAM, timely pathway to citizenship; mobile surveillance is better than a wall. (LWV) Healthcare - Medicare-for-all to encourace preventative care and insure all and remove for-profit insurance companies from the picture. (LWV) Gun violence - Allow research, rmove boyfriend, gun show loopholes--background checks can be done very quickly now. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Medicare for all, education, pay equality via auditing companies, criminal justice reform, reduce mass incarceration. (LWV) Student debt - subsidize and forgive loans. (LWV) Climate change - Carbon tax and dividend, revive PWA for renewable energy infrastructure, rejoin Paris Accord and strengthen our commitment, subsidize solar installation. (LWV)Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (tough choice; all five are strong candidates) (AC2) Also pro campaign finance reform, gerrymandering, prevent mega-mergers and trusts.
Julie Oliver - Immigration - End family detention, close private immigration detention centers, prevent ICE from contracting with for-profit prison corporations, deport only violent threats, allow refugees to tell their stories, pro DACA and TPS with expanded categories and a route to citizenship via employment. (LWV) Healthcare - stabilize ACA with individual mandate and reestablished cost-sharing, universal healthcare. (LWV) Gun violence - Allow the funding of firearm research, require background checks/licensing, cose boyfriend loophole. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Preventative education for black women, end ideologically motivated attacks on women and Planned Parenthood, amend Equal Pay Act to make it enforceable, end prohibition on marijuana, institute agressive bail reform. (LWV) Student debt - free tuition for middle/low-income students of public colleges, allow refinancing at low rates, allow tax-free tuition remission to working grad studnets. (LWV) Climate change - Fund EPA and NOAA, rejoin Paris Accord, Impose a carbon-fee-and-dividend, innvest in clean energy infrastructure, innovation, manufacturing and workforce development, tax breaks for renewable energy. (LWV) Fight corrupt dark money: disclose funding, keep tax-deductible organizations apolitical. (LWV) (I like her issues best.)
Kathi Thomas - Immigration - Clean DACA, DREAM, no wall, pathway to citizenship, pass CIR, workers' permits, legal worker crossing, modernize drug laws to reduce illegal drug profit for cartels. (LWV) Healthcare - Transition from ACA to medicare-for-all with opt-in methodology. (LWV) Gun violence - Fight suicides with trigger locks, lock boxes, gun safes, etc., ban weapons of war, better enforcement of gun laws, disallow guns from domestic violence restraining order folks. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Make it easier for woment or ujn for office, recruit more minority police, stop voter suppression, increase diversity education in schools, translators for government and hospitals. (LWV) Student debt - repay based on income, no profit, forgiveness. (LWV) Climate change - Move fossil fuel subsidies to renewables and add more, mandate new govt blds have solar panels and rainwater harvesting, educationon reduce/reuse/recycle, R&D for thorium reactors. (LWV) Redistricting and overturning citizens united are important.
West Hansen - Immigration - pro civil rights, DACA, decriminalization; "A border is more than a barrier. It's also a shared space." (LWV) Healthcare - Medicare for all, added for new groups gradually, starting with rural veterans, then teachers (already drafted); expand Medicaid. (LWV) Gun violence - Eliminate gun show loophole and "boyfriend loophole" to restrict possession as well as purchase; give confiscation power to judges from persons in custody; overhaul the national database to include violent offenders and gun ownership. (LWV) Safety/inequalities for women, POC - Eliminate unconstitutional mandatory arbitration and non-disclosure agreements, don't exempt elected officials from laws designed to protect sexual predators and discrimination; eliminate barriers to opportunity. (LWV) Student debt - pro tuition regulation and investigation of anti-trust violations; colleges should not cooperate with predatory lending practices.. (LWV) Climate change - Pro Paris agreement, financial and tax incentis to companies reducing our carbon footprint, restore the environmental agencies. (LWV) Opposes medically unnecessary procedures, delays, and diatribes. (LWV)
Governor
R: Greg Abbott* (incumbent) - "Both Abbott and Patrick face relatively weak primary opponents." (TT2) "cynical" (HC) no response to LWV.
Secede Kilgore - no response to LWV. One person told me he changed his name to say it all.
Barbara Krueger (?) - no response to LWV.
D: Adrian Ocegueda - "If not for his fuzzy answer to [flood control], we might have thrown our support to ... Adrian Ocegueda [who] runs a private equity firm in Dallas, and he was an economic policy adviser to the mayor of El Paso. Beyond his views on priorities like education and health care, Ocegueda brings up big issues that aren't on any other candidate's radar. He's concerned Texas isn't doing enough to train workers who are about to lose their jobs as technology displaces human labor. He even has the courage to touch the third rail of Texas politics, suggesting we need to seriously discuss introducing a state income tax." (HC) no response to LWV.
Andrew White - Conservative Democrat, son of former governor Mark White, "focused heavily on reforming health care and education, ... supports a Medicaid expansion, ... promises a $5,000 pay increase for teachers without raising taxes through closing a $5 billion property tax loophole that benefits commercial property owners, ... plans to redirect the $800 million in state border security funding to education" though he's been known to state that our weak borders "read like an 'Open for Business' sign to millions of undocumented immigrants and the criminals who take advantage of them." (AC1) Personally pro-life, but supports Roe v. Wade and the separation of church and state. (AC1) He has a "business-friendly milquetoast centrism." (AC2) "His top priority is improving public education ... but White ultimately won our endorsement with his answer to one obvious question. He's the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate who seems to have given serious thought to the state government's role in protecting Gulf Coast residents from flooding. While the other candidates who spoke to our editorial board offered only vague thoughts about this critical issue, White specifically discussed the need for a third reservoir in west Harris County and the importance of leveraging federal funds to build a coastal barrier system." (HC) [And from somewhere I lost track of: and he's campaigning on a pledge to give every public school teacher a $5,000 a year raise. White proposes to fund his teacher pay hike by closing loopholes under which big businesses routinely dodge paying billions of dollars in commercial property taxes. My favorite thing from LWV is he supports the bullet train. I also like his answers on voter registration and question #3.
Cedric Davis Sr. - I liked his healthcare answer in LWV: pro Medicaid expansion, anti lawsuit over woments reproductive rights, restoring CHIP funding, pro Planned Parenthood.
Demetria Smith
Grady Yarbrough - no response to LWV.
James Jolly Clark - no response to LWV.
Jeffrey Payne - I liked several of his answers in LWV: pro easy voting, pro renewable energy, pro accepting Medicaid funds. "The current state sponsored clinics are a sham and do not provide adequate care or information."
Joe Mumbach - I'm unimpressed by his background as described by LWV.
Lupe Valdez - "against the death penalty and open carry, supports increased background checks on gun purchases, and diverting border security funds to local law enforcement. Her platform seeks to boost the blue- collar worker, by raising minimum wage to $15 per hour and expanding Medicaid. She's secured the endorsement of Texas AFL-CIO's political arm." (AC1) "She says the bigotry and divisiveness over last session's bathroom bill motivated her to run. As for immigration, ... [she refused] to comply with ICE detainers unless inmates were charged with violent crimes." (AC1) Also pro-choice. (AC1) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2) I really like some of her LWV answers: pro auto voter registration, independent redistricting, modernizing elections, Medicaid expansion, state mental health facility funding, "ending the medical deserts in urban and rural Texas, where maternal mortality rates are unacceptable", pro renewable energy.
Tom Wakely - Not annoyed or impressed by positions in LWV, but intrigued by his idea that Texas "needs to join Oregon, Washington & Colorado and conduct all elections by mail." I wonder what the advantages and disadvantages of that are.
Lt. Governor
R: Dan Patrick* (incumbent) - "strongly endorsing the anti-trans bathroom bill, the sanctuary cities bill, barriers to abortion access, open carry, school vouchers" (AC5) "Both Abbott and Patrick face relatively weak primary opponents" (TT2) "Longtime Republicans are understandably frustrated at how the Legislature has underfunded public schools and shifted the financial burden onto local taxpayers." (HC) He's an ass in LWV--he answered every question with "I stand by my record. Please visit my campaign website..."
Scott Milder - 'a local public school activist who's against the bathroom bill and called Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick a "jackass"' (AC2) "has seized on the backlash Patrick faced from the fiscally conservative business community over his zealous support of the bathroom bill. While Milder isn't quite an LGBTQ supporter, he stands firm against the anti-trans legislation based on its potential to hurt the state's bottom line, ... [and has] founded advocacy group Friends of Texas Public Schools to fight against the (Patrick-backed) push for school vouchers and privatization of public schools." (AC5) "aligned with the schools, business interests and pastors who are hoping to restore the conservative values of local control and pro-growth that for decades sat at the core of Texas politics. It is a movement that wants to put an end to the potty-bill politics that have dominated our state Legislature under Patrick." (HC) I'm not a fan of the policies he described in LWV, but at least he doesn't seem extremist.
D: Michael Collier - "education reform and living wages" (AC5) "political novice" (HC) no response to LWV.
Mike Collier - "Collier's platform diverges in all the best ways from the current right-wing overload in the Texas Senate, from immigration to LGBTQ rights to women's health. On education, he hopes to adequately fund public schools by closing corporate tax loopholes that solely benefit large corporations, and will fight to make tuition affordable for the working class. He's supportive of labor unions, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring access to affordable health care." (AC2) "His platform proposals include raising the minimum wage and ensuring access to affordable health care, reforming school finance by restructuring the business margins tax, closing corporate loopholes, and returning to a "rational" state highway funding mechanism." (AC5) "Collier wants to see more state money directed to public schools, arguing that overtaxed homeowners cannot afford to carry what ought to be the state's share of education funding. An accountant by training, Collier held high-level positions in auditing and finance during his career at a global accounting firm, giving weight to his proposal to close a corporate tax loophole as a means of raising revenue for public education and property tax relief. Collier, 56, is well-versed in this region's need for storm surge protection and Harvey recovery, and he's ready to tap the state's substantial rainy day fund to pay for it. "Let's crack it open and stimulate recovery as fast as we can," he told the editorial board. Collier supports expanding Medicaid to improve health for poor children, and he wants to improve care for rural Texans dealing with local hospital closures and few physicians wanting to practice outside large cities." (HC) He "supports comprehensive finance reform, opposes gerrymandering and voter disenfranchisement, and supports policies that promote closing the income inequality gap. His commitment to affordable health care for Texans, a top priority for Indivisible Austin, was a deciding factor in our endorsement." (IA) "a retired accountant who has positioned himself as the "education finance" candidate. Public education is a critical issue in Texas as are the property taxes which fund them, Collier's background is well-suited to tackle this issue. Education finance may be the single biggest bipartisan issue in Texas." (PT) I like some answers in LWV: pro franchisement, anti gerrymandering, pro civics and history in schools, pro optimizing ACA, pro reversing cuts to the margin tax, pro Planned Parenthood, anti corruption. I also find it interesting that he says "Texas should expand Medicaid (the business community is with me)." Is that true?
Attorney General
R: Ken Paxton - "named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, Paxton has spent the bulk of his first term battling securities fraud charges (a trial date has been pushed for the third time) and wasting taxpayer dollars on frivolous suits, including one lodged – and eventually dismissed for pettiness – against Austin officials last year over the sanctuary cities law. Carrying the legacy of former A.G. Abbott with even more fervor, Paxton and his minions have led an anti-LGBTQ and anti-choice crusade in the courts, battling for expanded religious freedom (read: state-sanctioned discrimination) and the demise of abortion access." (AC6) Negatives: "his attempt to undermine the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality and his support for witch hunts of Planned Parenthood." (PT)
D: Justin Nelson - He 'founded One Nation One Vote, a nonprofit that pushes for electing the president by popular vote ... [and] pointedly assures voters he'll protect Texans against "special interests, corruption, and fraud."' (AC6)
Comptroller
R: Glenn Hegar - "waste[s] our money on bathroom bills, further militarizing our border, and breaking up families" (IA) Endorsed by Trump (TT4)
D: Joi Chevalier - He "is founder of the Cook's Nook, a shared commercial kitchen for Austin-area food entrepreneurs. Chevalier would diversify state revenue sources, adopt a more equitable revenue mix with the aim of lessening pressure on residential property owners, and pressure legislators to close tax loopholes." (AC7) "small-business owner Joi Chevalier would bring experience and humanity to the important role of managing the state budget.... Joi Chevalier will focus on the role the state budget can play in fostering more, not less, opportunity in the state. For example, her commitment to diversifying revenue sources suggests Chevalier will bring new creativity and life into the Comptroller role, an energy that is sorely needed." (IA) "immensely qualified for the position. An entrepreneur who currently manages a business in the food industry, she has an intricate knowledge of finance and an impressive understanding of how the Texas Comptroller's office can be more engaged in proactively making Texas a better state. ... demonstrated an impressive understanding of the state's challenges ... listing, for example, nearly a dozen ways that she would improve Texas' tax system." (PT) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (better qualified) (AC2), Indivisible Austin (IA) Sounds reasonable in LWV.
Tim Mahoney - He's "a longtime activist in Travis County politics, an attorney and former ACC board trustee who made news in 2016 for suing Austin Community College after the school banned a pro-Bernie Sanders student group from leading voter registration events." (AC7) Sounds reasonable in LWV.
Land Commissioner
R: George P. Bush (incumbent) - Per LWV, I don't know what he means by "The restoration of McFaddin National Wiildlife Refuge in Jefferson county is one example of what we are trying to do on the coast." Endorsed by Trump: "Texas LC George P. Bush backed me when it wasn’t the politically correct thing to do, and I back him now." (TT4).
Davey Edwards - Per LWV, I like that he wants to bring back "experienced and knowledgeable staff that was eliminated" earlier, but don't like that he thinks that it's developers who deal with the risk of building in flood plains.
Jerry Patterson (Bush's predecessor) - Per LWV, pro conservation and restoring the Disaster Recovery division of the GLO.
Rick Range - Per LWV, I like that he's against building in floodplains but don't like that he's very focused on the Alamo restoration; he has interesting experience (as a first-responder, a teacher, and with oil and gas).
D: Miguel Suazo - "most every notch on energy attorney Miguel Suazo's resume corresponds with the experience necessary to run the Texas General Land Office" (PT) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (best suited) (AC2) Per LWV, pro conservation as well as developers and homeowners.
Tex Morgan - "a smart guy with a heart for service, but he is no match for Suazo in this race." (PT) From LWV, I like his idea to "Adopt & enforce clear best-practice standards to guide building & rebuilding ... Limit types of structures de, development in protected careas. Publicize global warming effects." Pro bi-partisan redistricting board. I don't know what he means by "abate destroying & reclaim wetlands, marshes, prairielands & floodplains."
Agriculture Commissioner
R: Sid Miller (incumbent) - Tenure "includes a Texas Rangers-led investigation into taxpayer-funded trips, a Twitter account that referred to Hillary Clinton as a "cunt" days before the 2016 election, and a Facebook post that called for the atomic bombing of the Muslim world." (AC8) Wants to build a wall, no amnesty on DACA. Disgusted by Nutella (which he has never tasted). Hiked fees dramatically to cover a budget shortfall he inherited. "A report by the State Auditor's Office, actually showed the fees generated $27.3 million during the 2016 calendar year, while programs that rely on such fees cost just $20.8 million to operate — which means Miller's agency collected $6.5 million more than necessary. Miller has since said he plans to reduce fees and that the commission will begin issuing rebates to producers as soon as this summer." Is that just because this "irked farmers, ranchers and his former colleagues in the Texas House" or because Blocker called out his ethics? (TT3) Endorsed by Trump: 'Sid Miller has been with me from the beginning, he is “Trump’s Man in Texas.”' (TT4)
Trey Blocker - wants to reduce legal immigration. Fears Nutella (which he has never tasted). Seems defensive and reactive. (TT3)
Jim Hogan(?) - no response to LWV.
D: Kim Olson - She has "pledged to hit every Texas county to spread her message of regenerative agriculture, farmland preservation, and water policies that protect farmers' rights. ... Olson owns and operates a bee ranch and family farm where she raises fruits and veggies." (AC8) "a retired Air Force pilot and an organic farmer who is listening to the concerns of Texans in all of our 254 counties. Her campaign has demonstrated she is eager to listen to the concerns of both those who grow our food as well as the families that purchase it. Her life has been one of service—often in a trailblazing manner—both during her military career and afterwards, as she worked in education and on behalf of veterans. In 2014, she was rightly inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame" (IA)
Railroad Commissioner
R: Christi Craddick - endorsed by Trump (TT4)
Weston Martinez (?) - "a conservative San Antonio oil and gas industry water supplier who proudly touts his endorsements of Ted Cruz and Trump." (AC9)
D: Chris Spellmon - "criticizes fracking and air pollution" (AC9) no response to LWV.
Roman McAllen - "calls for anti-cronyism, greater public transparency and accountability, and water protection measures" (AC2) "calls for eliminating freshwater for fracking; cronyism controls at the RRC; and a commission name change to, you know, actually reflect what the agency does." (AC9) 'The best thing any candidate can do with this office is changing the name to "Energy Commission." We believe that Roman McAllen is the stronger choice in the field. In his announcement video, he detailed his plans for the job, and his website offers a statement we can wholeheartedly agree with: "Commissioners of the Texas Railroad Commission are protecting industry, not the public. Let's change that."' (PT) Endorsements - Austin Chronicle (AC2), Houston Chronicle (HC)
State Rep., District 46
D: Dawnna Dukes* (incumbent) - "Dukes drew widespread criticism after posting poor attendance during the previous legislative session and facing criminal corruption charges, but the Travis County District Attorney's office dropped those charges last year after admitting it had bungled the case." (TT1) [Also has had very poor attendance during the current session. She had promised to resign, but has not resigned and is instead running again.] "Vocally/clearly anti-bathroom regulation" (ET1)
Ana Cortez - 'Cortez says she is a survivor of sexual assault and has made that a focus of her campaign, vowing to support legislation "that will end sexual assaults and handle sexual assault cases quickly and fairly."' (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (EQ1)
Casey L. McKinney - "McKinney has made slowing gentrification in East Austin a focus of her campaign." (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1) ENDORSEMENTS: Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus (per AC3)
Jose "Chito" Vela - often unprepared as Austin Planning Commissioner. (AC2) "vows to be a vocal fighter (or "brawler," as he put it) in defense against the zealous discrimination and right-wing culture wars. At the same time, he promises to work with Republicans and the business community to find common ground on mutual interests." (AC2) "He advocates strongly for Medicaid expansion and tighter rules when it comes to letting legislators lobby to win government contracts from the cities, school districts, and counties they represent to ensure conflicts of interest don't arise – a not so subtle jab at Dukes' consulting firm's questionable contracts with AISD. He proposes the legalization and taxation of marijuana (to fund education) and the reduction of drug possession to a misdemeanor. A believer in multimodal transportation, he would support raising a "modest" local gas tax (by public vote) dedicated to urban transportation needs and would move to add more Cap Metro board members, including someone who uses the system as their main means of transport." (AC4) "Vela is billing himself as the "real progressive" in the race as he attempts to run to the left of Cole. Among other proposals, he supports legalizing and taxing marijuana to fund public schools." (TT1) "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1)
Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (AC2), per AC3: Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Teamsters Joint Council 58, Austin AFSCME, Left Up to US, Austin Tejano Democrats
Sheryl Cole - affordable housing, pay equity, the revitalization of Waller Creek, marriage equality, Medicaid expansion, LGBTQ rights, a living wage, and marijuana legalization with tax funds going toward education (AC2) She "got her start on the PTA and worked her way up to mayor pro tem, after first getting elected to City Council in 2006. She's an accountant and attorney, and touts her push to get an affordable housing package on the ballot in 2013; leading the re-envisioning of Waller Creek; and her early support for marriage equality with a Council resolution that made Austin the first city in the state to support same-sex marriage. On the campaign trail, she's promising to fight for affordability, living wages, and Medicaid expansion. Cole says she'll take a proactive approach to defending LGBTQ and civil rights and, like Vela, supports marijuana legalization, with tax revenue flowing toward education, health care, and infrastructure." (AC4) "Cole, a former Austin City Council member, has the backing of several prominent local Democrats, including state Sen. Kirk Watson, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt." (TT1) [I love Lloyd Doggett; he used to be my Rep.] "Vocally/clearly anti-bathroom regulation" (ET1)
ENDORSEMENTS: Austin Area AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Austin Progressive Coalition, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Firefighters Association, Black Austin Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats,Education Austin, NxNW Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas REALTORS, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats (per AC3)
Warren Baker - "Equivocal / unclear / no comments on bathroom regulation OR Unable to determine bathroom regulation stance" (ET1)
R: Gabriel Nila
Travis County
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3
D: Susan Steeg (incumbent) - "a distinguished career as an activist attorney, counsel for the state Dept. of Health, and a decade as Justice of the Peace, where she's done good reform work. ... A testy campaign has included indirect feedback from Steeg's courtroom and staff that she's become punitive to her staff and inflexible to those who appear before her" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS: Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Circle C Area Democrats (AC3)
Sylvia Holmes - "The less experienced Holmes has done dedicated legal work for those who find themselves in JP Court – students in legal trouble or in conflict with landlords." Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2), per AC3: ENDORSEMENTS: Austin Area AFL-CIO, AFSCME Local 1624, University Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Austin Progressive Coalition, Our Revolution Central Texas, Liberal Austin Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Black Austin Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats, Austin Environmental Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, Left Up To US
R: Martin Harry
Court of Criminal Appeals, Pl. 8
R: Dib Waldrip
Michelle Slaughter - no response to LWV.
3rd Court of Appeals, Pl. 6
R: Donna Davidson
Jennifer S. Freel
Mike Toth(?-endorced by people I disagree with) - no response to LWV.
Kristofer Monson(?) - no response to LWV.
D: Gisela D. Triana
331st District Judge
D: David Crain (incumbent) - "He carries an establishment opinion of how to be a judge, which at the district level to him means putting an unfettered focus on trials. He's unapologetic about not running specialty dockets" (AC2) Per LWV, "I initiated a mental health docket to stabilize and treat those who are arrested because of a mental health crisis. Also, the therapeutic DWI docket I helped initiate keeps people out of jail and from re-offending." [I remember reading good things about a program to divert some DWI folks into reasonable options other than jail. But then:] "he's spent time at all three levels of the local criminal system, including a lengthy stint in CCL 3, where he played a considerable role in developing the misdemeanor court's mental health docket. Crain brought that docket to the district level when he took over Bob Perkins' court, but no longer does much with it." And so this election asks whether the person in this position has time to do more--Crain says no, Eldridge, yes. (AC10) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Stonewall Democrats of Austin, University Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrats, Black Austin Democrats
Chantal Melissa Eldridge - An "indigent defense attorney who sees diversion programs and pretrial services as being just as vital with felonies as they are with misdemeanors." (AC2) "has pledged not only to bring the mental health docket up to the felony level, but also the Phoenix Court program, for people with a history of prostitution or trafficking." (AC10) Per the LWV: pro-diversion (from jail) and rehabilitation programs for thos suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness. Endorsement - Austin Chronicle (AC2); per AC3: Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Austin Democratic Veterans
403rd District Judge
D: Brenda P. Kennedy, Charles Popper
459th District Judge (a new court)
D: Aurora Martinez Jones - Family litigation and fraud attorney, "fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Austin Central Labor Council, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Austin AFSCME, Our Revolution Central Texas, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Black Austin Democrats, Austin Young Democrats, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Austin Democratic Veterans
Greg Hitt - Family litigation and fraud attorney, "fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) "Greg Hitt is the only board certified who has practiced the law that is required by this court." (commenter in AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): Central Austin Democrats, Liberal Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, West Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, South Austin Democrats
Maya Guerra Gamble - "the only one with judicial experience, ... fair, progressive, and thoughtful" (AC2) Endorsement: Austin Chronicle (mild, best fit) (AC2); per AC3: Our Revolution Central Texas, University Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women's Political Caucus, Austin Tejano Democrats, Left Up to US
County Court-at-Law No. 3
D: John Lipscombe - "The county courts-at-law see misdemeanor cases, and often bear witness to plea bargains and creative terms of adjudication. John Lipscombe has prided himself on those during his seven-year tenure in CCL, particularly his specialty court on Wednesday nights, wherein low-level offenders meet with him sans attorney. ... boast[s] liberal ideals about first offenses and nonviolent offenders." (AC2) "Is the Chronicle Editorial Board aware of the fact that Judge Lipscombe requires defendants to pass a urine test before he signs any dismissal for Possession of Marijuana? Regardless of the circumstances of use? No other judge does this because it is unnecessary, inconvenient, and downright stupid." (commenter in AC2) "I cannot believe that John Lipscombe would be endorsed over Paul Quinzi. Anyone who has ever practiced in front of Lipscombe knows that the judge is known for his inconsistency, his flagrant disregard of the law, and his prosecutorial favoritism." (commenter in AC2) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2); per AC3: Central Austin Democrats, Circle C Area Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Liberal Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrats, Black Austin Democrats
Paul Quinzi - He's "a defense attorney who cares deeply about expunctions and nondisclosures, has made that Wednesday docket a primary target of his campaign, but we were dismayed to learn he had never attended a session nor talked to a defendant who's been through one. ... boast[s] liberal ideals about first offenses and nonviolent offenders" (AC2) ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): University Democrats, Our Revolution Central Texas, Austin Democratic Veterans, Austin Young Democrats, Left Up to US
County Court-at-Law No. 5
D: Nancy Hohengarten (incumbent) - She "may not be the most stoic of CCL judges, and ... her years as a prosecutor sometimes put her at odds with defense attorneys. But her efforts toward criminal justice reform are real." (AC2) Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (AC2); per AC3: AFSCME Local 1624, Austin Area AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Austin Environmental Democrats, Austin Progressive Coalition, Austin Young Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats, Black Austin Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Circle C Area Democrats, Greater ATX – National Women’s Political Caucus, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, Liberal Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Travis County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association, Travis County Sheriff Officers Association, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats
McKinley Melancon - "running because of a perceived personal slight by the incumbent" (AC2)
Mario Flores - also running because of a perceived personal slight by the incumbent (AC2)
Travis County Democratic Party (added per AC2)
Anne Wynne - "seems both a sure bet as an executive and a progressive voice on local issues." ENDORSEMENTS (per AC3): AFSCME 1624, Austin Progressive Coalition, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, Communications Workers of America 6132, Education Austin, Iron Workers Union 482, Liberal Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, University Democrats, West Austin Democrats, South Austin Democrats
Dyana Limon-Mercado - "connection to Austin's activist network and commitment to grassroots fundraising ... will bring perennially underrepresented (and sorely needed) voices to" the party (AC2). Endorsements: Austin Chronicle (mild) (AC2); per AC3: Austin Tejano Democrats, Austin Young Democrats, Our Revolution Central Texas
AC1 - Tuma, Mary. "The Tides of March." The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC2 - The Chronicle Editorial Board. "Chronicle Endorsements." The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC3 - Club Endorsements. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/15/18.
AC4 - Tuma, Mary. HD46: Ready for the Main Event. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC5 - Tuma, Mary. Lt. Governor. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC6 - Tuma, Mary. Attorney General. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC7 - Tuma, Mary. Controller. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC8 - Tuma, Mary. Agriculture Commissioner. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
AC10 - . 331st Judge: A Matter of Opinion. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/16/18.
AC9 - Tuma, Mary. Railroad Commissioner. The Austin Chronicle (left-wing), 2/9/18.
ET1 - Bathroom Regulation Stances: Texas House, Equality Texas (pro LGBTQ Texans), read 2/22/18.
HC - Houston Chronicle Endorsements and the linked articles. Houston Chronicle (appears left-wing), read on 2/24/18.
IA - Indivisible Austin 2018 Primary Endorsements (left wing, "We declined to endorse in every race, instead only endorsing those candidates that received unanimous approval by Indivisible Austin’s Board of Directors."), 2/17/18.
LWV - League of Women Voters, Voters' Guide (non partisan; asks questions of all candidates who are not unopposed).
PT - Espinoza, Ed. Statewide Endorsements. Progress Texas (left-wing). 2/16/18.
TT1 - Texas Tribune staff. 38 Texas legislative primary races to watch. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit."), 2/20/18.
TT2 - Ramsey, Ross. Analysis: Texans won’t have to wait for November to know who’s winning, Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit."), 2/16/18.
TT3 - Rocha, Alana, + Split Decision: Sid Miller and Trey Blocker debate agriculture, ethics and Nutella. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit.") 2/23/18.
TT4 - Watkins, Matthew. President Donald Trump tweets endorsements of eight leading Texas elected officials. Texas Tribune ("Nonpartisan. Nonprofit.") 2/27/18.