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Election 2006
Posted September 13, 2006, 6:10 p.m.
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BUDA - Two months from the November election, local political candidates made their first high profile appearances before voters on Sept. 7 at a debate put on by the Hays County Fraternal Order of Police.
Incumbents came out in defense of their records and experience. Challengers brought proposals ranging from moratoria on residential development dependent on groundwater to the elimination of property taxes on homesteads.
Interested politicians and voters filled the auditorium at Hays High School's Career and Technology Center as candidates handled questions mostly dealing with law enforcement issues. Following are highlights from the bigger races along the highway.
District 45 state representative: The incumbent, 27-year-old Democrat Patrick Rose of Dripping Springs, came out with a long and detailed list of his achievements and plans for the next term. Rose, who defeated doctrinaire conservatives Rick Green and Allan Askew in 2002 and 2004, respectively, now faces a challenge from an older and less ideological candidate, San Marcos Republican Jim Neuhaus.
The difference between the two candidates might be summarized by verbal style. On two occasions, after Rose outlined issues and proposals with swift command, Neuhaus caught his breath and gave a "Whew!"
Rose is running on his ideas, involvement and record of constituent service. He made sure to pitch his work against the KBDJ rock crushing plant next to the Ruby Ranch subdivision, saying, "I will continue to use every last ounce of our office to put them out of business."
Neuhaus wants voters to consider his life experience as a Vietnam veteran, San Marcos business owner and one-time San Marcos school board leader who made tough budget cuts during scary financial times.
"Property taxes and property rights are my focus," he said.
Both candidates hit heavily on property taxes for homeowners.
Rose said he will work for appraisal caps, adding that caps are the best mechanism for assuring that homeowners will receive the full benefit from school finance reform passed earlier this year in the legislature. Rose added that mandatory sales price disclosure on properties would certify that everyone pays a fair share.
Neuhaus fretted that home foreclosures in the Austin-San Marcos area run at 2½ times the national average, much because of high property taxes. Neuhaus said he would work to abolish property taxes for homesteads.
Hays County Judge: Two-term incumbent Jim Powers, who turned back an ideological challenge from right-wing opponent Ernest Murry in the March primary, now faces Dripping Springs Democrat Liz Sumter.
The main difference of opinion between Sumter and Powers, a Dripping Springs Republican, concerns property rights and infrastructure, especially as they pertain to water. Powers re-iterated his support for property rights, while Sumter indicated that other values should be taken into more account.
For example, Sumter proposed a moratorium on development that relies on ground water until the county re-writes its subdivision rules. Especially in the western half of Hays County, residents have complained that growth has created water shortages.
"Let's take care of who is here now," Sumter said.
Power countered that Texas courts have shot down at least one effort by a county to restrict such development.
"It's important to balance growth with property rights," Powers said. "People have a right to develop their property."
Hays County Precinct 2 Commissioner: Former Commissioner Jeff Barton, a Buda Democrat, is trying to regain the seat he lost from Uhland Republican Susie Carter during the 1998 Republican sweep.
Carter declined to attend the debate, leaving Barton to speak without challenge. Barton seized upon Carter's absence as a characteristic of her performance during two terms on the commissioners court.
"I think that's been a problem on court, too, (her) not showing up when there are tough questions to answer," Barton said.
Barton added that commissioners from the western half of the county are taking the lead on transportation development in Buda and Kyle because Carter seems to lack interest.
"Our current commissioner seems to have never met a bridge she didn't want to burn," Barton said.
In addition, said Barton, Carter's well-known conflicts with the other three Republicans on the court indicate that a change would enable the court to run more smoothly.
"At this point, I'm the only alternative we've got," he said.
Hays County District Attorney: San Marcos Republican Wesley Mau, presently a Hays County prosecutor, is running against Buda Democrat Sherri Tibbe to replace the retiring Mike Wenk.
Mau proposed that his experience in the office makes him the best-qualified candidate, adding that he would reduce court backlogs by concentrating on high-risk offenders. Tibbe, who runs a domestic violence court in Travis County, said change is needed in the DA's office because the county lost more felony cases than it won in 2004 and broke about even in 2005.
428th Judicial District Judge: San Marcos Republican Bill Henry, who helped create the court and then was named judge by Gov. Rick Perry's office, is trying to keep the seat against a challenge from San Marcos Democrat Anna Boling.
Henry said his performance with the court has enabled the county to cut its backlog to 1,426 cases from 2,800 in the last year. Boling, apparently digging at Henry's recent decision to allow a well-connected inmate a controversial pregnancy furlough, said she will apply the law evenly, regardless of the political circumstances.
