Reprint from the Progress Times - October 17, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved
Early voting begins Monday
By Ricky Reynoso
While the upcoming presidential election has been grabbing headlines, local voters will also be given the opportunity to cast their votes for congressional elections during the upcoming early voting period beginning October 20.
In the race for the Senate, Republican incumbent John Cornyn will face opposition from Democrat Richard Noriega and Libertarian Yvonne Adams Schick. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Cornyn has raised $16.4 million compared to Noriega’s $2.4 million.
Incumbent Ruben Hinojosa, Democrat, is also facing opposition as he tries to keep his post as U.S. Representative for District 15. Republican Eddie Zamora and Libertarian Gricha Raether are running for office against Hinojosa.
Democratic incumbent Veronica Gonzales is set to defend her post as District 41 State Representative against Republican Javier Villalobos and Libertarian Charles W. Snelling.
Gonzales said one of the main issues facing residents is rising property taxes. She said she voted twice to reduce property taxes by one-third, but bond elections and rising appraisals have negated any savings.
“Despite a state surplus and the fact that our schools continue to grow, the state has been paying less and less for schools and voters have been asked to pay more via their property taxes,” Gonzales said. “I am working to increase the state’s share to what it was 10 years ago so we can take some of the burden off of homeowners to fund our schools.”
Villalobos refutes her statement, claiming she voted against a bill that would provide property tax relief. He said he wants to help the economy by stimulating small businesses, something he says Gonzales didn’t do by voting for a margins tax.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of District 41,” Villalobos said. “Small businesses employ and insure thousands of people and without their success, the Valley would falter. We must provide incentives to small businesses to employ and insure more people.”
Congressman Henry Cuellar, Democrat, is also defending his seat as District 28 Representative. Battling for the seat are Republican Jim Fish and Libertarian Rosa Lynn Leone.
Dori Contreras Garza, Democrat, will be defending her incumbency as Justice of the 13th Court of Appeals against Republican Caroline Bertuzzi. Republican Danny Rios will also be defending his post as District Judge of the 449th Judicial District Court against Democrat Jesse Contreras.
District 39 State Representative Kino Flores will be running unopposed, as are District Judges Ricardo Rodriguez, Rudy Delgado and Bobby Flores. Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño and County Tax Assessor-Collector Armando Barrera are also unopposed. Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores and Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy will not be facing opposition either.
MCISD Tax Rollback Election
Voters residing within the Mission Consolidated Independent School District will also be voting on a proposed rollback Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax of $1.17 per $100 of assessed value. The M&O tax rate is currently $1.04. Property owners in the district already face a six cent increase in the Interest and Sinking (I&S) Fund, due to recent bond issues for school construction projects. The 13 cent proposed M&O increase combined with the six cent I&S increase would mean that the MCISD tax rate would increase by 19 cents this year to $1.37, if voters approve the higher rate.
Early voting will take place from October 20 through October 31. Mission residents can vote at Mission City Hall on 1201 East 8th Street or the Shary Fire Station, Located at 1804 North Shary Road. Alton residents can vote at the Alton City Hall at 509 South Alton Boulevard. La Joya residents can vote at the Housing Authority at 945 South Leo Avenue. Palmview voting will be at the Precinct 3 County Commissioners Office at 724 North Breyfogle Road. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except October 26, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.