Texas House District 20—Republicans

Patrick Brendel Community Impact Newspaper Central Austin market editor

Brendel is the lead state political reporter for all editions of Community Impact Newspaper. He has previously worked for the Houston Chronicle’s D.C. bureau, Texas Weekly, Odessa American and Victoria Advocate. In 2009, Brendel won a first-place award for Best Agricultural Story from the National Newspaper Association. Brendel studied English at the University of Notre Dame and journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

Texas House District 47—Republicans

Jenny Hoff KXAN Austin News political reporter

In 2009, Hoff hosted and produced a 30-minute show on Sunday mornings that concentrated on state politics. Live guests included the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House as well as numerous representatives and senators. Hoff also wrote a political blog and posted behind-the-scenes flip-cam videos to the web so KXAN viewers could get a much more in-depth view of their state legislature. In addition to covering state politics, Hoff has covered stories about the U.S. Congress and followed troops in Afghanistan. Hoff has been with KXAN for 5 years and graduated with degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

State Board of Education District 5—Democrats and Republicans

Nathan Bernier KUT 90.5 FM reporter

Bernier grew up in British Columbia, Canada, and worked at news radio stations in Ottawa, Montreal, and Boston before coming to Austin. Since coming to KUT, Bernier has won multiple awards, including an Edward R. Murrow award for his role in covering the raid on a West Texas religious sect. He lives downtown and enjoys live music and good food. He studied radio broadcasting at Algonquin College in Ottawa, and political science at Concordia University in Montreal.

Lieutenant Governor—Democrats

Ross Ramsey Texas Tribune managing editor

In addition to his position at the Texas Tribune, Ramsey continues as editor of Texas Weekly, the premier newsletter on government and politics in the Lone Star State, a role he’s had since September 1998. Before joining Texas Weekly, Ramsey was Associate Deputy Comptroller for Policy with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, also working as the agency’s Director of Communications. Prior to that 28-month stint, Ramsey spent 17 years in journalism, reporting for the Houston Chronicle from its Austin bureau and for the Dallas Times Herald, first on the business desk in Dallas and later as the paper’s Austin Bureau Chief. Prior to that, as a Dallas-based freelance business writer, he wrote for regional and national magazines and newspapers. Ramsey got his start in journalism in broadcasting, working for almost seven years covering news for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.

Texas House District 20

	Milton Rister (R) Consultant	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Charles Schwertner (R) Orthopedic surgeon	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Stephen Thomas (R) Executive	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Patsy Williams (R) Auditor/concealed handgun instructor	Texas Tribune directory

Texas House District 47

	David Sewell (R) Attorney	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Holly Turner (R) Attorney	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Paul Workman (R) General contractor	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Valinda Bolton (D) Incumbent state Rep.	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory

State Board of Education District 5

	Rebecca Bell-Metereau (D) University professor	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Robert Bohmfalk (D) Mental health case manager	Texas Tribune directory
	Daniel Boone (D) Psychologist	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Josiah James Ingalls (D) Machine operator	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Ken Mercer (R) Incumbent SBOE 5 member	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	Tim Tuggey (R) Attorney	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory

Lieutenant Governor

	Linda Chavez-Thompson (D) Former AFL-CIO executive vice president	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory Texas Tribune topic
	Ronnie Earle (D) Former Travis County District Attorney	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory Texas Tribune topic
	Marc Katz (D) Restaurateur	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory
	David Dewhurst (R) Incumbent Lt. Gov.	Campaign website Texas Tribune directory

Texas House District 20

GOP hopefuls vie for G’town House seat
KXAN, Feb. 3, 2010
AUSTIN — Four Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination for the Texas House District 20 seat in the primary March 2 – a Georgetown seat that is wide open after the current rep announced retirement.

*****

Texas House District 47

Lively fight for GOP nod in SW Austin
KXAN, Feb. 3, 2010
AUSTIN — Three Republicans – David Sewell, Holly Turner and Paul Workman – are vying for the chance to take on incumbent State Representative Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, in their Southwest Austin district.

*****

State Board of Education District 5—Democrats

Several hopefuls competing for SBOE 5 Democratic nomination
Community Impact Newspaper, Feb. 5, 2010
AUSTIN — Four Democrats are vying for the Texas State Board of Education District 5 seat, currently held by incumbent Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio).

*****

State Board of Education District 5—Republicans

SBOE 5 incumbent Mercer draws challenge from fellow Republican Tuggey
Community Impact Newspaper, Feb. 5, 2010
AUSTIN — Republican Tim Tuggey is challenging incumbent Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio) for his spot on the Texas State Board of Education in the March 2 GOP primary election.

Texas House District 20

By Jacob Cottingham, master’s candidate, UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

Demographics
Texas House District 20 is a quickly growing, relatively wealthy and educated, Republican-leaning district north of Austin. It encompasses all of Milam County and about half of Williamson County, west of IH 35 and north of Texas Hwy. 29.
The 2000 census reported 139,000 people living in the district, with nearly 3 people per household. Some 70 percent of the population lives in urban areas. The cities of Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown and Round Rock are all in the district. Per capita income was $23,908 in 2000 compared to a statewide average of $19,617. In addition, more than 58 percent of the households earn more than $50,000 a year. Most of the population, 60 percent, is between the ages of 18 and 60.

Historical Voting Analysis
Williamson County has traditionally had a more conservative voting base, and the 2008 election was no different. Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin pulled in 88,323 votes or 55.75 percent of those cast in the Presidential election. Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden garnered 42.73 percent.
John Cornyn did even better in his Senate race, with 91,115 votes in his favor, easily outstripping Democratic opponent Rick Noriega. Proportionally, Milam County was even more Republican, with 5,217 votes for McCain, (62.42 percent) and 3,044 for Obama (36.42 percent).

Campaign Finance Comparison
The current HD 20 incumbent, Republican Dan Gattis has held the seat since 2002 and is now retiring. Four Republican candidates are vying for his seat, although only two of them have reported any fund raising.
Milton Rister raised $1,940 in January and reported $5,277.48 cash on hand. Stephen Thomas raised $2,325 during that time period, leaving him with $8,935 in funds. Dr. Charles Schwertner has not raised any money, although he does have a website, and Patsy Williams has no online presence despite spending $3,341, without any reported donations.
No HD 20 candidates are competing in the Democratic Primary. However, at least one independent candidate has launched a write-in campaign to appear on the November ballot: Rockdale resident Kate Hjornevik Wedeikes.

Issues Analysis
There are several issues confronting District 20, and the most pressing have to do with the rapid growth of the region combining with the more conservative attitudes across the district. Taxes, specifically home appraisal taxes, are a key issue, with some of the candidates advocating for an overhaul of the system, and others simply wanting to lower individuals’ tax burden.
Transportation and mobility are also important to an area flush with commuting workers. Although Toll 183A has recently opened, residents are trying to find affordable ways to continue moving traffic in an era when state transportation funds are limited and toll roads unpopular.
Related to the expanding population are environmental issues and the long-term management of water resources. While all the candidates advocate for better management, some take a tougher stance on the role government regulations should play.
Finally, economic development, in the context of growth and taxes, is also an issue as the Republican candidates try to present themselves as the most business-friendly, while ensuring that successful efforts to lure dollars and citizens to the district doesn’t add to resource and traffic woes.

*****

Texas House District 47

By Leah Bojo, master’s candidate, UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

Demographics
Texas House District 47, located in southwest Travis County, including the cities of Briarcliff, Lakeway, The Hills, Bee Cave, Sunset Valley, San Leanna, and Austin, is home to more than 135,000 Texans. (map)
State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, represents the district. In the upcoming Republican primary, David Sewell, Paul Workman and Holly White Turner will be competing to challenge Bolton in November.
District 47 is 49.7 percent male and 50.3 percent female, with a median age between 30 and 34 years old. The district is 89 percent urban and primarily white, at 82 percent. The median household income in 1999 was $66,885.

Historical Voting Analysis
Republicans held this seat from 1992 until Democrat Bolton won it in 2006 and defended it in 2008. Terry Keel and current Texas Comptroller Susan Combs were its most recent Republican representatives.
Bolton defeated Bill Welch in 2006 by a margin of 4.71 percent and defended it in 2008 against Donna Keel, former Rep. Terry Keel’s sister-in-law, by a margin of 2.39 percent.
The district’s voter turnout is on par with the rest of the state—in the 2006 Republican primary 4,824 voters turned out, about 3.5 per cent of the voting-age population, compared with 3.94 per cent statewide.

Campaign Finance Comparison
As of Feb. 1, Sewell had $31,761.50 on hand. He had raised $37,575 and spent $9,732.50. He raised $26,125 in the month of January.
Turner had only $1,330 on hand Feb. 1. She had raised $9,463.29 and spent $9,375.79. She also reported a $70,000 loan.
Workman had $69,515.15 on hand as of Feb. 1. He had raised $75,464.92 and spent $22,834.85. Workman raised $2,550 in January, but also reported a $15,000 loan.
Incumbent Bolton reported having $53,512.33 on hand Dec. 31. She raised $48,700.74 in the last six months of 2009.

Issues Analysis
The issues of this race include reducing illegal immigration, protection of property rights and reduction of property taxes, repealing the franchise tax, encouraging job growth, and transportation needs.
Sewell, an attorney in Austin whose slogan is “Life. Liberty. Less Government.” additionally calls for the defense of tort reform laws, and the support of traditional marriage.
Workman, with a background in commercial construction, shares with Sewell the issues of improving public education and development and investment in accord with energy and natural resources.
Finally, Turner and Sewell share values in response to anti-abortion rights and support of the 2nd and 10th Amendments, while Turner, a small business owner, additionally lists her opposition to socialized medicine, state income tax and stimulus dollars, and her interest in reducing welfare dependency and capping government spending.
An issue that has not yet gained prominence in the GOP contest, but that is highly relevant for this rapidly growing and heavily populated district, much of which is outside of city limits, is county government control over land use and infrastructure. In the 2009 Texas legislative session, the incumbent Bolton authored several bills to give county commissioners more authority over development in their jurisdictions, but none were passed.

*****

State Board of Education District 5

By Kate Mason, master’s candidate, UT LBJ School of Public Affairs

Demographics
State Board of Education District 5—made up of Bell, Burnet, Llano, Gillespie, Blanco, Kendall, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and parts of Bexar and Travis counties—is home to more than 1,391,000 Texans.
SBOE 5 is 49.6 percent male and 49.4 percent female, with a median age between 35 and 39 years old. The district is 80 percent urban. The racial breakdown is 60 percent Anglo, 26.9 percent Hispanic, 8.3 percent Black and 4 percent other. 32 percent of the population graduated with a Bachelor’s or higher; 14 percent did not graduate High School. The median per capita income is $23,087.

Historical Voting Analysis
SBOE 5 Incumbent Ken Mercer (R) was elected to the State Board of Education in November 2006. Mercer beat Libertarian candidate Bill Oliver 71 percent to 29 percent in the 2006 election.
Mercer has filed for re-election and is opposed in the Republican primary by Tim Tuggey. Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Robert M. Bohmfalk, Daniel Boone and Josiah James Ingalls will face each other in the Democratic primary.
The 2006 down-ballot percentages for this district are 41.2 percent Democratic and 58.8 percent Republican. In 2006, 46 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the SBOE 5 race, for a total of 330,203 ballots.

Campaign Finance Comparison
Mercer raised $1,800 in January and has $3,511 on hand.
Tuggey raised $14,266 in January and has $25,339 on hand.
Bell-Metereau raised $10,614 in January and has $15,322 on hand.
Bohmfalk did not raise money in January and has no cash on hand.
Boone did not raise money in January and has $3,357 on hand.
Ingalls did not raise money in January and has $21 on hand.

Issue Analysis
The major issue is whether or not politics has a role to play at the SBOE. Curriculum decisions in science, math, English, and social studies led to controversial political debates at SBOE hearings and highlighted the deep political divisions and ideological positions among the 15-member body.
Furthermore, the SBOE’s management of the Permanent School Fund—at $23 billion, the state’s second-largest fund—has prompted criticism and questions about whether SBOE members, with little financial experience among them, are prepared to handle such a significant funding source for public education.
In the Republican primary, the contest between Mercer and Tuggey reflects the division between right-wing and moderate Republicans. Mercer, a businessman and former state Representative, has maintained a socially conservative stance on SBOE issues such as the need to include creationism in science textbooks. Tuggey has the backing of a number of San Antonio heavyweights, including businessmen Red McCombs.
Four Democrats have filed for the District 5 seat. Bell-Metereau is an English professor at Texas State University. Bohmfalk is a mental health case manager from Seguin. Boone is a retired career Air Force officer and a professional psychologist from Canyon Lake. Ingalls is a machine operator in Austin.

T-Squared: Kelly’s Knish
Texas Tribune, Jan. 5, 2010
AUSTIN — I didn’t know Kelly Fero hardly at all — we were face to face only twice or three times over the years, and each time I’m pretty sure he was mad about something Paul Burka had written about John Sharp — but I may be one of the last journalists at the Capitol to hear from him on official business. Well, semi-official business.

Video: Linda Chavez-Thompson Filing Day Remarks
Texas Tribune, Jan. 4, 2010
AUSTIN — The latest Democrat to enter the race for lieutenant governor makes her filing day speech in English, then Spanish.

2010: Ham on Wry
Texas Tribune, Dec. 30, 2009
AUSTIN — As he filed to run for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor today, Mark Katz described his potential Republican opponent as, well, something less than delicious.

2010: Running Lite
Texas Tribune, Dec. 30, 2009
AUSTIN — David Dewhurst will seek reelection on the Republican side, effectively ending that party’s primary for lieutenant governor.

2010: Earle Explains
Texas Tribune, Dec. 21, 2009
AUSTIN — In the attached audio clip, former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, explains his thought process in deciding to run for lieutenant governor.

2010: Ronnie Earle Files for Lite Guv
Texas Tribune, Dec. 18, 2009
AUSTIN — Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle was expected to file for some statewide race, though precisely which one has been something of a mystery.

Mapmaker, Mapmaker
Texas Tribune, Dec. 14, 2009
AUSTIN — The primary elections are just 79 days away, and the general election that’ll put the next Legislature, governor, and other state officials in place takes place in less than a year.

KBH won’t resign to run
Texas Tribune, Nov. 13, 2009
AUSTIN — Kay Bailey Hutchison won’t resign from the Senate to run for governor. Hutchison and her aides began calling other Republicans Friday afternoon to tell them to make other plans.

Street addresses:

Sid Richardson Hall — 2313 Red River St., Austin, TX 78705
Manor Garage — 2017 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78705 (GPS coordinates: N30 17.039, W97 44.275)

Getting to the Manor Garage:
Going north on IH 35, take exit 235A (toward University of Texas/15th Street/Martin Luther King Boulevard/State Capitol).
Stay on the IH 35 frontage road. Turn left at MLK Boulevard, go over the interstate and turn right at Red River Street.
Take the first left, at Robert Dedman Drive. The parking garage will be on the right-hand side of the road.

Going south on IH 35, stay to the left when IH 35 splits. (Follow the signs toward Dean Keeton/32nd Street.)
Take exit 235B (toward Manor Road). On the frontage road, turn right at Clyde Littlefield Drive. Turn left at Robert Dedman Drive. The parking garage will be on the left-hand side of the road.

Visit the Manor Garage website.

Getting to Sid Richardson Hall:
Visit the LBJ School’s website for a map of and directions to Sid Richardson Hall.
(On the LBJ School’s map, Bass Lecture Hall is located on the west side of Sid Richardson Hall, right next to the LBJ Library.)

Getting to Bass Lecture Hall:
Bass Lecture Hall is located in the basement of the northern half of Sid Richardson Hall. When entering Sid Richardson Hall, take the stairwell in the middle of the room. Bass Lecture Hall will be on the left as you reach the bottom of the stairs.

Ogden Will Seek Another Term
Texas Tribune, Dec. 3, 2009
AUSTIN — State Sen. Steve Ogden, who said earlier this year he would leave the Legislature after his current term, will seek another two years in office after all.

2010: The Ogden Show
Texas Tribune, Dec. 1, 2009
AUSTIN — Wednesday could be the day voters in SD-5 find out whether Steve Ogden has changed his mind about getting out of the Legislature. Maybe.

Gattis suspends campaign for Senate
Community Impact Newspaper, Nov. 30, 2009
GEORGETOWN — State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, announced Nov. 29 that he plans to bow out of the race for state Senate and will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives.

2010: Gattis Bows Out
Texas Tribune, Nov. 29, 2009
AUSTIN — Dan Gattis’ announcement that he won’t run for Senate or for reelection to the House next year:

Gattis is Out, says Ogden is In
Texas Tribune, Nov. 29, 2009
AUSTIN — State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, is dropping his bid for state Senate and won’t seek reelection to the Texas House next year, he said Sunday.

Gattis will seek Texas Senate seat when Ogden retires
Community Impact Newspaper, Sept. 14, 2009
GEORGETOWN—State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, formally announced that he is running for the Texas Senate seat currently held by state Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan.

At the Capitol • July 2009
Community Impact Newspaper, July 10, 2009
AUSTIN — A day with state representatives Dan Gattis and Diana Maldonado

Texas House of Representatives – District 20
Community Impact Newspaper, Aug. 8, 2008
GEORGETOWN— Q&A with state Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, during his 2008 campaign

School board delays curriculum vote
KXAN, Jan. 16, 2010
AUSTIN — After tackling hip-hop, McCarthyism and immigration, the State Board of Education abruptly ended consideration of new standards for teaching social studies today.

Board delays controversial school vote
KXAN, Jan. 15, 2010
AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education unanimously voted to delay vote on how to write social studies curriculum in textbooks. The history of Christianity in the United States is at the center of the debate.

Civil Civics
Texas Tribune, Jan. 15, 2010
AUSTIN — State Board of Education members, in seven hours of amending its social studies curriculum Thursday evening, mostly made nice with one another before stopping short of tackling high school history, the most contentious subject area to date.

Christmas stays in textbooks … so far
KXAN, Jan. 14, 2010
AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education will hear from dozens of Texas about how to write social studies curriculum in textbooks. The history of Christianity in the United States is at the center of the debate.

TribBlog: SBOE = State Board of Editors
Texas Tribune, Jan. 14, 2010
AUSTIN — After they finish revising the state social studies standards, a heretofore hotblooded process, the State Board of Education might well have to be rechristened the State Board of Editors.

The American History Wars
Texas Tribune, Jan. 14, 2010
AUSTIN — As the State Board of Education grinded through testimony on Wednesday over its controversial social studies standards, much of the debate teetered on two basic fulcrums: teaching vs. indoctrination and patriotism vs. realism.

Texas social studies curriculum stirs debate
Community Impact Newspaper, Jan. 13, 2010
AUSTIN — Public debate waged on Jan. 13 in downtown Austin as educators, parents and concerned citizens delivered testimony in response to the Texas State Board of Education’s newly proposed social studies curriculum.

Curriculum confrontation commences
KXAN, Jan. 13, 2010
AUSTIN — A bruising, ideological battle is coming to a climax over what Texas students should be taught in school about American history.

Christian history debate gets under way
KXAN, Jan. 12, 2010
AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education will hear from dozens of Texas about how to write social studies curriculum in textbooks. The history of Christianity in the United States is at the center of the debate.

Hijacking History
Texas Tribune, Jan. 12, 2010
AUSTIN — In three grueling sessions last year, a nine-member curriculum committee appointed by members of the State Board of Education met to hammer out which version of American history that 4.7 million Texas high schoolers, and maybe high schoolers everywhere, will learn for the next decade.

Texas State Board of Education to revise social studies curriculum
Community Impact Newspaper, Jan. 11, 2010
AUSTIN — On Wednesday, Jan. 13, the Texas State Board of Education will meet to revise and possibly vote on proposed social studies curriculum for public schools, a point of controversy among minority groups, historians, citizens and educators.

SBOE debates role of Christianity in history class
KUT, Jan. 11, 2010
AUSTIN — The State Board of Education will hold a public hearing on Wednesday as it continues developing social studies standards.

Textbooks and religion debate rages on
KXAN, Jan. 11, 2010
AUSTIN — The State Board of Education has raised a lot of eyebrows with their new suggestions for social studies textbooks. The 2009 recommendations include more emphasis on documents like the Mayflower Compact of 1620, which was written by Christian pilgrims.

Boad of Education race heats up
KXAN, Dec. 5, 2009
AUSTIN — Some people believe its the most important election coming up for Texans – the race for seats on the State Board of Education.

Darwin debate rages 150 years later
KXAN, Nov. 24, 2009
AUSTIN — This month marks the 150th anniversary of one of the most important and controversial books in science — Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”

TribBlog: State Board of Education and the ABCs
Texas Tribune, Nov. 23, 2009
AUSTIN — In a video, Ken Mercer finds a variety of opportunities for pointing out why lobbyists are not suitable candidates for the board.

Cesar Chavez and the State Board of Education
KUT, Nov. 18, 2009
AUSTIN — State Education Board members hear testimony about what public school student should learn in social studies.

Texas history books under fire
KXAN, Nov. 18, 2009
AUSTIN — According to a group of education specialists, Texas history books do not adequately tell the story of Tejano and Native American groups and how they helped build the state.

Trouble in the big tent
Texas Tribune, Nov. 3, 2009
AUSTIN — While political observers seem transfixed on the coming heavyweight brawl between Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the fight for the soul of the Texas GOP may be down the ballot in a race for State Board of Education.

Is the United States a Christian nation?
KUT, Oct. 16, 2009
AUSTIN — Some people who sit on the State Board of Education think so, and they want students to learn more about the influence of religion on U.S. history and government.

SBOE debates how to teach social studies
KUT, Sept. 17, 2009
AUSTIN — The Texas State Board of Education is hacking through a first draft of a social studies curriculum that will be used to guide instruction for the next ten years.

TX ed board tentatively OKs electives
KXAN, Sept. 17, 2009
AUSTIN — State Board of Education members tentatively agreed to increase the number of electives in two of the state’s three high school graduation plans.

Culture war claims social studies
KXAN, Sept. 17, 2009
AUSTIN — The debate over the state’s social studies curriculum — in front of a packed meeting of the State Board of Education — came down to who was in and who was out in the current curriculum proposal.

Perry names Lowe to head SBOE
KXAN, July 10, 2009
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry has named Gail Lowe to chair the State Board of Education, ending speculation over which conservative would take over the board after the Senate refused to confirm Don McLeroy.

Senate fight over SBOE
KXAN, May 29, 2009
AUSTIN — Senators rejected the nomination of Don McLeroy as chair of the State Board of Education. The Republican led Senate was two votes shorts of a confirmation of the Governor’s nominee.

Proposal creates council to manage fund
KXAN, April 28, 2009
AUSTIN — The Texas House passed a proposed constitutional amendment Monday that would strip oversight of a multi-billion state education fund from the State Board of Education.

Will mayoral candidates drive voters to polls?
Community Impact Newspaper, April 24, 2009
AUSTIN — Josiah Ingalls was among five candidates for Austin mayor in spring 2009.

Josiah Ingalls
KXAN, April 22, 2009
AUSTIN — Q&A with Josiah Ingalls during his run for Austin mayor in 2009

Area legislators lay out policy proposals
Community Impact Newspaper, April 17, 2009
AUSTIN — State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, proposed several reforms to the State Board of Education.

Evolution before State Board of Education
KUT, March 26, 2009
AUSTIN — Texas is a flashpoint this week in the national debate over how to teach evolution in public schools.

Fights break out over science debate
KXAN, March 26, 2009
AUSTIN — The State Board of Education listens to passionate debate from creationism and evolution supporters Wednesday and votes this week on new science curriculum for Texas public schools.

Fights break out over science debate
KXAN, March 25, 2009
AUSTIN — The State Board of Education expects to listen to passionate debate from more than 100 creationism and evolution supporters Wednesday before a votes this week on new science curriculum for Texas public schools.

Howard wants SBOE to webcast video
Community Impact Newspaper, Jan. 26, 2009
AUSTIN — State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, filed a bill that would require the State Board of Education to broadcast real-time video of its meetings online.

Conservatives lose first evolution vote
KXAN, Jan. 22, 2009
AUSTIN — The drama over the potential inclusion of creationism or intelligent design in Texas biology curriculum is over for now as a coalition of six Democrats and two Republicans defeated an amendment that would have maintained discussion of evolution’s “weaknesses.”

Money, politics and voting
Community Impact Newspaper, Jan. 15, 2010
AUSTIN — Going into the March primaries, political advertisements will fill television, radio and mailboxes, paid for with donations from individuals and organizations.

2010: The Old Carpetbagger Ploy
Texas Tribune, Dec. 20, 2010
AUSTIN — Holly Turner, running for the Texas House in Austin’s HD-47, got welcomed into the race by a fellow Republican’s press release with this headline: “Congratulations Candidate Turner: tomorrow you are eligible to vote in HD 47.”

White campaign swings through Austin
KXAN, Dec. 7, 2009
AUSTIN — State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, supports Houston Mayor Bill White for governor.

Students promised a safe walk to school
KXAN, Nov. 11, 2009
AUSTIN — TxDOT constructs crosswalk at dangerous intersection, with assistance from state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin.

Congestion in Oak Hill under review by city
Community Impact Newspaper, Sept. 25, 2009
AUSTIN — The Y, where Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 71 converge, ranks among the 100 most congested road segments in the state and causes an estimated 150,136 hours of delay each year, according to a Texas Department of Transportation report released in September.

Lawmakers discuss legislative session’s highs and lows
Community Impact Newspaper, Sept. 2, 2009
AUSTIN — Central Texas lawmakers gave their assessment on Monday of the recent legislative session, saying it had some positive moments but in large part was “a failure” because of the lack of bills supporting transportation and more county control that passed.

Crunch time at the Capitol
KXAN, May 11, 2009
AUSTIN — House members have until Thursday to get their bills voted off the House floor or their hard work becomes nothing more than a pile papers.

Father fights for a new youth camp law
KXAN, April 12, 2009
SPICEWOOD — State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, proposes state regulations for short-term youth camps.

Local legislators receive committee assignments
Community Impact Newspaper, March 27, 2009
AUSTIN — Southwest Austin’s representatives have garnered leadership positions on subjects including health and human services, higher education, counties’ powers and renewable energy.

Steroid testing providing few violators
KXAN, Feb. 20, 2009
AUSTIN — State steroid testing program draws comments from lawmakers, including state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin.

Capitol news — January 2009
Community Impact Newspaper, Jan. 30, 2009
AUSTIN — Southwest Austin’s state representatives are championing these issues during the 2009 Legislative Session, which began Jan. 13.

Texas House of Representatives – District 47
Community Impact Newspaper, Aug. 22, 2008
AUSTIN — Q&A with state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, during her 2008 campaign

University of Texas – Bass Lecture Hall
Thursday, February 11, 2010
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Stay tuned for more information.