EDITORIAL
Voters who participated in 2012 primary elections have two races that need special attention in the July 31 runoff – Paul Sadler in the Democratic Primary run-off for U.S. Senate and David Glickler in the Republican Primary runoff for District 22 Judge.
The runoff election is July 31, with early voting July 23-27. Buda and Kyle residents have the opportunity to vote early, but only in Kyle at city hall – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23-25, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July26-27. Only those who voted in the Democratic or Republican primaries, respectively, can participate in the runoff in each of these elections.
While we try to not editorialize specifically on elections or tell people how to vote in each and every race, these two races stand out as exceptions.
If you reside in Hays County and voted in the Republican Primary, there is a reason to vote for David Glickler – because he IS from Hays County and will represent Hays County on the bench. We urge each Hays County voting Republican to get out and do exactly that.
Hays County is represented by four different district judges – Dist. 22 Charles Ramsay (who is retiring), Dist. 207 Jack Robison, Dist. 274 Gary Steel and Dist. 428 Bill Henry. With Ramsay retiring, Glickler hopes to take the seat on the bench.
But why should Hays County residents support Glickler over former New Braunfels Mayor Bruce Boyer? Besides Glickler’s qualifications – working for John Cornyn and Greg Abbott, serving as assistant county attorney in Williamson County and graduating from Rutgers and SMU – he lives in Buda and is raising his family here.
Of the four district judges who represent Hays county – only Ramsay and Henry live in Hays County. When looking at the districts – all of which contain both Comal and Hays counties, more than half of the population resides in Hays County, more than half of the income from fines and court fees come from Hays County. Hays County deserves to have at least two of the four district judges from this county. With Ramsay stepping down, Glickler is the only chance for Hays County to have at least half of the local representation from Hays County.
It might seem ego-centric or rather “county”-centric, but a vote for Glickler means true local representation.
Vote for Hays County. Vote for Glickler.
For those who voted in the Democratic Primary, the race for the U.S. Senate means a race between someone who truly believes in the issues – and specializes in education – and someone who is just using his name as a stepping stone.
Former State Rep. Paul Sadler is dynamic. He is smart. He is impassioned.
On the other side is Grady Yarbrough.
Sadler served as state representative from Henderson for many terms and was named to Texas Monthly’s Ten Best list in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
But it is in listening to him speak about education that a voter gets a feel for his passion.
Sadler was the chairman of the Public Education Committee in the state House, and he knows a lot about education. He understands the financing, the tax problems, the testing problems. He knows what school districts need and what the federal government provides when it comes to education.
And Sadler presents solutions. He feels for the Latino students who hear the rhetoric that their parents don’t pay taxes – and thus the students shouldn’t get to go to school. Sadler, in a rare fiery speech at the state Democratic Convention, said these same parents pay property taxes, pay sales taxes, pay payroll taxes. Yes, Sadler will say emphatically – they DO pay taxes and their children should receive the same education that other Texans receive.
It is in these speeches that you get the real feel for Sadler’s passion.
As for Yarbrough? He seems to be playing on his name, hoping that some Democrats don’t see that his name is spelled differently from their beloved former U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough – a progressive fiery Senator in his own right.
Vote for Sadler. He knows his stuff and deserves his chance.
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And talking about good guys, this county lost one of its best and brightest citizens recently. Jim Pape was just about the finest lawyer in Hays since he moved to San Marcos with his wife Dianne and children back in 1979. He passed from our midst last month and his departure leaves a big void in our county’s day-to-day life.
He and Dianne’s community involvement was direct and powerful and Jim rapidly became one of the best and most competent members of the county legal profession. They were founding members of the San Marcos River Foundation and were always involved in just about every cause of justice and fairness that ever reared its head in Hays.
He was Hays County’s Atticus Finch, or at least a kindred spirit of Harper Lee’s character in her fabled “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Jim’s shoes can’t be filled immediately or adequately, of course, but it was a privilidge to call him friend.
