We were also impressed with Daniela Silva, who demonstrated a deep knowledge of Austin's housing issues and compassion for our unhoused neighbors. The $350 million bond would go to acquiring land and building new homes, as well as repairing existing homes that would likely be demolished but for the bond's assistance. Just because it is 2019, doesn't mean we can't still get into the swing of things in the election. It was a great parade for him to get in front of, and Watson's Green Machine era was the high point of Austin's 20th-century prosperity and influence. 4: Jose Orta Make sure your county's elections office receives your ballot on or before Election Day. Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion. District 8: Paige Ellis. ), What the $350 million housing bond entails, Get caught up on the big issues facing Austin and its neighbors, Applications to be on the ballot are open, Updated: While feds investigate border initiative, he goes all in. Laurie hosts the afternoon music show on KUTX from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is the producer and voice of the Austin Music Minute, which shines the spotlight on live music shows around town six days a week. Do you know who your Austin City Council member is? * Editors note, Thursday, Oct. 20, 10:31am: A previous version of these endorsements included a list of Round Rock ISD candidates, noting favorable incumbent[s] and horrible right-wing candidate[s].In a race where no party affiliation is listed on the ballot, we intended to simply identify the worst options and the incumbents who have proven sane ona disordered board.In error, we omitted candidates from the list and neglected to note non-incumbent candidates worthy of voters attention. Our progressive community has never really had this much power to lift the SBOE's heavily conservative (racist, homophobic) hand from the necks of Texas children, and we think the incumbent is best positioned to use it. The League of Women Voters has put together a detailed guide to voting by mail for Central Texas voters here. Mayor: Celia Israel. Make sure voters know what they're getting. Austin American-Statesman is the number one source for Austin and Texas breaking news, politics and business. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is Oct. 28. Key Dates Oct. 5 Last day to register to vote Oct. 13 First day of early voting Oct. 23 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Oct. 30 Last day of early voting Nov. 3. According to The Texas Tribune, the voter must designate a representative to submit the application and doctor's note in person to the countys early voting clerk before 5 p.m. on Election Day. Voters in Northeast Austin have two great choices in this race, as Roxanne Evans and Candace Hunter each have a robust understanding of the challenges the district faces. Six candidates are running to represent the district in Southeast Austin. That seat may be up for election in November. By. Austin Community College has a $770 million bond on the ballot this election. Legal documents to use in absence of an ID, Any other device that can record sound or capture images. The Chronicle regrets the error; more in the Oct. 28 edition of Austin at Large.. (Austin Westphal/News Staff) Last year, two-thirds of voters supported Proposition D, which moves the citys mayoral elections to the same year as presidential elections. The eight propositions (A-H) will be voted on by the residents of Austin during the May 1st 2021 special election that the Austin city council approved during the Feb. 9th council meeting. Also on the ballot: a $2.44 billion bond package for Austin schools, the largest in district history. Here on the criminal side of the docket, Livingston's counterpart and fellow courthouse titan Brenda Kennedy is also retiring, and we think Mueller the innovative Court at Law No. Information will continually be updated as we approach the 2021 Election. To find voting locations and sample ballots, visitvotetravis.com(Travis County),wilco.org/elections(Williamson County),hayscountytx.com/departments/elections(Hays County) orbastropvotes.org(Bastrop County). Georgia senators opposed a bill to allow Buckhead to break off from Atlanta, a controversial effort that top business . All rights reserved. We think Velsquez has more of the kind of experience that will serve a council member in good stead, and more credibility with the local powers on the ground in the heart of Tejano East Austin who have genuine power in a district where so many people dont vote unless theyre specifically asked to. In each case, she has demonstrated an admirable balance of determination and decorum. Supreme Court, P9: Julia Maldonado AUSTIN, Texas. Matt Worthington, Cody Arn, and Cynthia Valadez-Mata are also strong choices in this race. TX-35: Greg Casar Wilco JP Pct. See the complete list of winners in the Austin Music Awards. Singh championed a consent-centered revision of AISD's sex education curriculum that also sought to help LGBTQIA+ students, and led the board in developing accountability metrics for AISD police to reduce violence against Black and Hispanic students. Usually, Travis County voters are pretty good about taking seriously their responsibility to elect good judges at all levels. Heres what you need to know to vote in Travis County. The filing location is the Office of the City Clerk, 301 W. Second St., Suite 2030, Austin, Texas 78701; Fax number (512) 974-2374. Travis Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2: Randall Slagle, Williamson County Judge: Blane Conklin The city also held a special general election for the District 4 seat on the city council on January 25, 2022. Heres what we learned. A $71 million bond could help with overcrowding. Even though they're judges, the JPs in Travis County are more like specialized hyperlocal problem-solvers, being the courts of first instance for both truancy cases and evictions. Day one of early voting in Travis County was quite impressive. Born and raised in East Austin, Velsquez's pride in his community has shone throughout his campaign. Longtimer Doggett and Three Political Outsiders Vie to Represent the Newly Formed 37th Congressional District, Inside the Central Texas Congressional Map, The Gloves Come Off in Travis County Precinct 4 Race, Austin at Large: Seek, Matt, and Ye Shall Find, Local Candidates Launch Their 2022 Campaigns, Texas Primaries Loom as Redistricting Lawsuits Drop, County Commissioners Tout Successes, Face Challengers, Election Ticker: Race for Austin's Next Mayor Heats Up, Seven Candidates Vie for the Future of District 4. This is an interesting one. How is our attorney general being a dick this time? This seven-candidate field (we talked to six) to succeed retiring Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, now running for Congress, is amazingly qualified, and we thought this would be for sure a double or even triple endorsement. Combined with the 2,471 mail-in ballots received, that makes . Name: AJ Marino School: St. Charles East, senior Sport: Wrestling Why he was selected: St. Charles East senior AJ Marino, who won the final match at the Class 3A team state dual tournament Feb. 25 to vault the Saints to the first team title in program history, is the Kane County Chronicle Athlete of the Week. We offer detailed reasons behind our Editorial Board endorsements in the general election in this annotated version; this version is for. Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. In her first two terms, Zwiener has bloomed as a leader of the Dem caucus, co-founded the LGBTQ Caucus, staked a big claim in environmental legislation, and generally impressed the heck out of us. 4: Susan Cook Email address is elections@austintexas.gov. Celia Israel: This election is about who can afford to live here, and who gets to decide, A hospital-based pediatrician explains steps we can take to prevent the next tragedy, Nonprofit Texas Gun Sense responds to Uvalde, From Congress to land commissioner, here are our picks, Pro-legalization and pro-freedom folks see eye to eye on the May 7 ballot, Early Voting April 25-May 3 Election Day May 7, Yup. Texans will decide eight proposed amendments to the state Constitution on Nov. 2. The Austin Chronicle's Austin Music Awards honor the local music community by recognizing Austin artists and industry leaders. When we met with the candidates back in October, we invited her and Kirk Watson (and Jennifer Virden, who did not respond) in and had time to get answers from each to most of the questions that were going to steer our endorsement. . Land Commissioner: Jay Kleberg STAND ALONE NARRATIVE. District 9: Linda Guerrero. While her opponent Clint Small, whose father and grandfather both served on the school board, demonstrates an obvious love for and deep understanding of the district, Chu's grasp of the multifaceted issues pushing teachers out of AISD the biggest problem the district faces is invaluable. Contact Us Email: lwvaustin@lwvaustin.org Phone 512-451-6710 LWV Austin Area 3908 Avenue B, Austin, TX 78751 Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion. Day one of early voting in Travis County was quite impressive. We also took notice when Guerrero told us shes not Tovos clone and about her pretty good ideas for soft density that she thinks are common sense, but which some D9 homeowners clearly dont like. You can vote by mail if you: will be away from your county on Election Day and during the hours that early voting is conducted; are sick or have a disability; are 65 years of age or older on. We hope that facing a legit primary challenge from Bob Libal former head of Grassroots Leadership, running to Shea's left on criminal justice, economic development, and the built environment will help Shea take her service to the next level. District 3: Jos Velsquez. District 4: Kathryn Whitley Chu State Board of Education, District 5: Rebecca Bell-Metereau, 3rd Court of Appeals, P4: Rosa Lopez Theofanis, Travis County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2: Randall Slagle, Hays Commissioner Pct. Court of Criminal Appeals, P5: No Endorsement Lockhart ISD schools are bursting at the seams. Bottom (left to right): Lesley Briones (D), Jesse F. McClure . Two proposed amendments one regarding religious . Opinion: 19 Children Are Dead. Can't keep up with happenings around town? We backed Ben Leffler (who has endorsed Qadri) because we felt hed be the best all-around council member of the original eight. But there are many more! Go check yourselves and let Malhotra use her actual expertise on this bench. NRA, anti-Abbott groups spend big in the Texas governor race, Abortion emerges as key issue in Texas attorney general race for Ken Paxton, Rochelle Garza, Austin City Council incumbent Harper-Madison aims for second term, Runoff likely in District 3 election as six candidates battle for open seat, Austin City Council seat up for grabs with Ann Kitchen leaving office, Austin City Council incumbent Paige Ellis facing three challengers, Big field of Austin City Council candidates focused on city's housing policies, Grumet: Here's what Austin got from the 2018 affordable housing bond. Starting. Hear directly from the candidates as they make their case for why they should be the next councilmembers. We strongly recommend that RRISD voters vote for the Access Education slate: Place 1: Estevan Jesus Chuy Zrate. TX-37: Lloyd Doggett, Governor: Beto ORourke Here's what they're all about. The bond would also help the college expand training capacity for jobs in health care and advanced manufacturing and would fund new sites in southeastern and southwestern Travis County. Council District 5: Ryan Alter When filling out a mail-in ballot, use black or blue ink and follow the instructions to deliver it on time.