We feel Hernandez is the best prepared to take on that role and even expand it beyond Mueller's already admirable achievements. This is an especially important election for RRISD. Friday, Feb. 18 will be the last day to apply for mail-in ballots. Last year, two-thirds of voters supported Proposition D, which moves the citys mayoral elections to the same year as presidential elections. Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. Lockhart ISD schools are bursting at the seams. Craig, who has worked in Kitchen's office for five years, would move much more deliberately but would champion and, most likely, bring to fruition the small-area planning that Kitchen's side of the Code Wars has sought for decades opening the door for a mapless code scenario that can fix problems with Austin's regulatory regime in general without provoking protests from angry property owners. Email address is elections@austintexas.gov. Austin ISD Prop A, B, C: FOR. Confronting a long list of races at the polls can be daunting. 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. Can't keep up with happenings around town? Guerrero may be the better all-around option of these two. Sure, its 2019 and the Constitution is still relevant, but I do think we need . We talk to our reps about their priorities going into the new session, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. Got something to say? January 2022 Election Calendar / Enero 2022 Calendario Electoral BURBANK, Calif. (AP) Tom Sizemore, the "Saving Private Ryan" actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own . You cannot, however, use your cellphone or another electronic device at the polling site. Austin is now working to house 3,000 people over the next three years. (Austin Westphal/News Staff) Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Austin Community College has a $770 million bond on the ballot this election. LOVE, POVERTY, WAR AND Also by Christopher Hitchens BLOOD, CLASS AND EMPIRE: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship A LONG SHORT WAR: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq WHY ORWELL MATTERS LEFT HOOKS, RIGHT CROSSES: A Decade of Political Writing (edited with Christopher Caldwell) LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN THE TRIAL OF HENRY KISSINGER BLAMING THE VICTIMS: Spurious Scholarship and the . To qualify for the emergency ballot, the sickness or disability must originate on or after Oct. 27. 866-462-8784 or 512-474-5171. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. Watson was mayor of the city from 1997 to 2001 and is focused on tackling the rising cost of living, homelessness, public safety and transportation. Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Heres what you need to know to vote in Travis County. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Opinion: 19 Children Are Dead. Chu has quite simply reinvented what JP 5 the precinct that covers the central city and, by extension, the Capitol does and can do as a front-line defender of justice in Travis County. Go here to verify your registration. austin chronicle voting guide 2021 endorsements Posted at May 21, 2021 Chronicle Endorsements for the May 1 City of Austin Special Election. The most important reason to vote, however, is the protection of the Constitution of the United States. Since she and Ryan Alter also largely agree on goals, we asked them about change and influence how do you intend to get more housing and child care and climate action or whichever priorities you want to champion? Six people are vying to be the next mayor of Austin. There is no currently active politician whose career has been more interwoven with the Chronicle's advocacy journalism than Brigid Shea, the hero of the Save Our Springs movement and a highly productive disruptor at City Hall in the 1990s. 2021 May Election Calendar / Calendario Electoral de Mayo 2021 And we have to admit that in the last two years incumbent Margaret Gmez has done more to reflect the Chronicle's values on important issues than ever before in her extremely long career. This time, her opponents simply do not have the range to think about succeeding her. We normally just say, "Vote for the Democrats," when, as has been the case for the last 25 years, there has not been a Republican worth voting for, or a Dem who needed voting against. Travis County Clerk: Dyana Limon-Mercado It's currently held by Council Member Ann Kitchen. In a Feb. 20 post on the Council message board, Watson wrote, "I . Voters can submit ballots by mail or vote in person early or come to the polls on Election Day.. For more information, including polling locations, visit the Travis County Clerk's website. Subsidizing income-restricted housing at the $350 million level of this (third) bond in the last decade is just something we must do, and/but it's only about a third of what we and the new Council need to initiate. For this new civil court, we will go through the usual exercise of electing a Democrat to replace the appointed Republican Cleve Doty and we wish Eiserloh, who is now a familiar face and name all over town from her 2020 campaign for county attorney (where we endorsed her and then co-endorsed in the run-off), the best of success on this bench. Hays Commissioner Pct. We'd love to hear from you too! Copyright 1981-2023 Austin Chronicle Corp. All rights reserved. 2023 Legislative Session. The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. Below is your Republican guide: So that's good, and she's right that DWI is an area that hasn't yet been impacted that much by justice reform. Many counties have voting centers that allow early in-person voting, and ballot drop-off, in the month before election day. We backed Ben Leffler (who has endorsed Qadri) because we felt hed be the best all-around council member of the original eight. 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. Election Day is Nov. 8. Curbside voting is available for people with disabilities including hearing, vision and mobility impairments. In the mayors race, that reconsideration was internal and brief; nothing about how the Nov. 8 election turned out, nor about the campaign thats unfolded since, made us rethink our support for Israel and for the reasons we laid out before. OK, y'all are starting to tick us off, defense bar, for continuing to go after Malhotra for being an advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence, the focus of this misdemeanor specialty court. That seat may be up for election in November. Branscum and Zapata have made the best impression on us as the Democratic choice for this likely doomed contest against incumbent Rep. Chip Roy, R-Dripping Springs, in November. District 5 (dual): Ryan Alter, Ken Craig. An Old Austin survivor who's also lived in D9 her whole life, Guerrero has put in decades of volunteer service in leadership roles on city boards and commissions and with a broad array of community causes, and would walk into City Hall with all that knowledge and a powerful coalition already behind her. The incumbent has provoked some folks with her ideas and exasperated some others with her approach to governing, but she has also risen to the occasion and shouldered the several burdens that City Hall and Austin at large felt a need to place upon the one Black Council member, and the most prominent Black woman in local politics, over a term made chaotic by pandemics and police racism and violence. 2: Michelle Gutierrez Cohen. Can't keep up with happenings around town? The top four vote-getters citywide win the seats. Round Rock ISDCandidates to participate in election forum at Kalahari Resorts. This is the court that Brandy Mueller is yielding after 12 years to run for the 403rd, but it will likely remain focused on youthful offenders (17- to 21-year-olds) of whom there are currently more than 1,000 in the Travis County system to help them avoid being damaged for life by a permanent record. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin's independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community's political and environmental concerns and . Her opponent Andrew Hairston is also very qualified and credible, and if this is Williams' last campaign, as she has suggested it might be, we encourage him to run for this seat again in the future. We can help. We blew this call four years ago, thinking Ellis couldn't possibly go the distance against the seasoned Southwest activists in the race. HD45: Erin Zwiener 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. It may indeed take two A.G.s to undo all the damage done by the worst villain in Texas state government, incumbent Ken Paxton, and either of these two super-lawyers former ACLU legal champion Garza or former Galveston Mayor Jaworski would be our pick for first chair. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. Sharon Navarro, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the messages Republicans are using to target Latino voters about immigration and the economy seem to be working. The May 7 local election and the May 24 primary run-off, Tiny landslides in Travis County and beyond, Nail-Biters, needles moved, and a successor for Dana DeBeauvoir, Texas primary first out the starting gate, Wild punches, campaign cash, and early voting insights, Elizabeth Warren stumps for Casar, a growing progressive coalition in D.C., and affordable housing, Priorities include economic incentives for small farms, rural health care, and internet access, Blue team candidates want a greener land office, Limon-Mercado, Lockhart vying to be countys next elections official, Progressive star stumps for Casar, Cisneros campaigns, Here are the local, state, and national Dems we picked to represent us, In this week's issue: March primary coverage, Endorsements, and what to do for Valentine's Day, A lively crowd seeks the open House District 51 seat, Talarico, Alcorta Lay Out Progressive Agendas for HD 50, Bluer district creates opportunity to push board leftward, Congressional candidate requests Austin DSA withdraws endorsement over Casar's views on Israel, This compact new district encompasses almost all of Austin west of I-35. 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. 2021 New Mexico. The Austin Chronicle: Chronicle Endorsements for the May 7 State and Local Election; The Austin-American Statesman: Austin voters should relax pot laws, outlaw no-knock raids; Guides (as they become available) League of Women Voters Austin Area Voters Guide; Why should I vote? She devoted herself to helping D3 residents during Winter Storm Uri and no doubt has bright prospects as a leader in Austin elected or otherwise. The city also held a special general election for the District 4 seat on the city council on January 25, 2022. But it's time for a change out here, and Del Valle ISD Trustee Ledesma-Woody is the most credible advocate for the people and places in outer Southeast Travis County now ground zero for the next decade's chapter of Austin's endless boom that's run for this seat in a while. and More Reproductive FAQs, Its Official: Some People (Including Kirk Watson) Will Be on the Ballot, Gov. 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. Starting. Filing in the Republican or Democratic 2020 primary. Do we really understand why anyone is running against Lloyd in this late-career race to finally represent his lifelong neighbors in Austin? Wilco County Clerk: Erica Smith Got something to say? Reform Advocates Are Wary, Few Election Surprises as Texas Finally Finishes Its Primaries, Nobody Wants to Stop Voters From Approving Prop A, In Leander and Cedar Park, Backlash Is on the Ballot, Deep-Pocket Donors Fund Right-Wing School Board Candidates in the Austin Suburbs, The Ultra-Low-Turnout Primary Election (Almost) Devoid of Drama, Texas Voters Prove Once Again They Don't Always Know Who They're Voting For, Greg Casars Landslide Win Virtually Ensures TX-35 Seat, Travis County Races See Wins for Incumbents, a Possible Recount, March Primary Election Coverage Live Blog, Election Ticker: The Calm in the Eye of the Storm, Dems Vie to Oust Sid Miller, Take Back Texas Agriculture, Both Candidates For Land Commissioner Want to Use the Office to Implement Green Policies in the GLO, Clerk Contenders Look to Build on DeBeauvoirs Legacy, Nearly a Dozen Contested Races on the Election Docket, March 1 Democratic Primary Endorsements (No Filler), We Have an Issue: Political Hopefuls Put Their Heart Into It, A Lively Crowd Seeks the Open House District 51 Seat, James Talarico and David Alcorta Lay Out Progressive Agendas for HD 50, Grassroots Organizers Take on Erin Zwiener in Redrawn HD 45, A Race to the Right in Austin's Affluent Suburbs, Judge vs. Judge in the 419th District Court Primary, State Board of Education: Bell-Metereau Faces Two Challengers. So, did y'all see that NBC is now turning old Dateline stories into scripted black comedies starring people like Rene Zellweger? Coupled with the long, hard hours he has put in meeting with organizers, business owners, and advocates inside and outside the district, we feel Velsquez is best positioned to navigate the complex challenges facing D3, the vanguard of gentrification in Austin both north and south of the river. Instead, he's moving down the street (and across the Travis County line) to represent the somewhat less suburban (and less Anglo) North Austin neighborhoods in the seat held by retiring Rep. Celia Israel, now running for mayor. This guide details all propositions to provide general summaries for additional context as well as Chamber Board positions on the items. For his trouble, he attracted a risible vanity challenge from Bush-era talking head Matthew Dowd, then a less risible but still issue-free challenge from Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair Carla Brailey and state Rep. Michelle Beckley either of whom would be credible alternatives if they'd begun running eight years ago rather than eight weeks. Your Complete Guide for Voting in the Primaries- Reform Austin Elections Your Complete Guide for Voting in the Primaries By Staff - February 17, 2022 Early voting started on Feb. 14 and will continue until Friday, Feb. 25 for the March primaries in Texas. From city proposals to city council members, voters have the opportunity to determine the fate of several local races in just under a month. To see wait times at these locations, go here. Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion. Velsquez will bring to the dais a robust vision for increasing housing supply in a rapidly growing part of the city, while working to protect his lifelong neighbors from displacement. The governor is up for election, Austinites are choosing a new mayor, and there are some notable bonds on the ballot, including one to fund affordable housing projects in Austin. Information is power. Just input your address below and youll see a list of candidates and propositions that will appear on your ballot, along with information about each of them. During the 60-minute event, the candidates stuck to the talking points that have so far dominated this election season. . One of those people is Celia Israel, who got noticed as she worked in the movements that would eventually make Watson's mayoralty possible. What you can and cant bring to the polls. Shes also your go-to pick if youre looking for a young millennial activist to fill the Greg Casar slot, rather than providing Chito Vela with a natural ally. Many of her peers have no doubt helped Watson fill his campaign purse to bursting. Starting near the top is the marquee race of this election cycle: Republican Gov. Jinny Suh, director of Immunize Texas, is also a strong choice. Incumbent Trustees Danielle Weston and Mary Bone and their supporters have wreaked havoc on a board that otherwise reflects the diverse mixed-income school district that includes a large chunk of North Austin. But Silva probably has more credibility with more of the southside portion of D3, which is largely East Riverside and Oltorf west to St. Eds lots of young people, lots of diversity, lots of renters. Implicit in all of our endorsements is our general presumption that unseating an incumbent is a higher bar to clear than staking a claim for an open seat. Hays County? Note we said "new" rather than "next" we envision the trio of Casar, Lloyd Doggett, and Joaquin Castro superheroically strafing their bumbling GOP colleagues daily while also leading toward better workers' rights and wages, and health care for all. * 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.