As the last day to register to vote has passed, early voting and election day are nearing. It’s time to study who and what is on the ballot and come to a decision on your vote. Hopefully, this article will help narrow your choices.

 

Senator

Democrat Beto O’Rourke is running for U.S. Senator. His competition is Republican Ted Cruz. The following presents the candidates’ stances on controversial topics, which will be a key factor in making your voting decision:

• Gun Regulations:

O’Rourke: Pushes for gun control: “…we should be able to do things like have universal background checks…”

Cruz: Doesn’t support gun-control legislation: ”… this is not a gun control issue, this is a terrorism issue…”

• Immigration:

O’Rourke: Opposes the border wall, supports the DREAM Act: “…we don’t need walls, we can have smart security solutions and we can free dreamers from the fear of deportation by making them US citizens today…”

Cruz: Wants to build a border wall, opposes DREAM Act: “When it comes to the border wall, this is a common sense issue.”

• Abortion:

O’Rourke: Pro-Choice: “…we ensure that they (women) can make their own decisions about their own bodies…”

Cruz: Pro-Life: “… we don’t want to see taxpayer-funded, Medicaid funded abortions…”

• Environment:

O’Rourke: Believes EPA should be funded and empowered

Cruz: Believes climate change is a myth: “…there has been no significant global warming for the past 18 years…”

 

Governor

Democrat Lupe Valdez is running for Governor. Her competition is Republican Greg Abbott. The following presents the candidates’ stances on controversial topics, which will be a key factor in making your voting decision:

• Gun Regulations:

Valdez: Against open carry and campus carry but supports concealed carry: “There’s nothing wrong with a weapon…”

Abbott: Opposes gun control legislation: “The answer to gun violence is not to take guns away, the answer is to strengthen the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,”

• Immigration:

Valdez: Is fighting against anti-immigration laws: “I’m going to fight for as much immigration as I can, but immigration is a federal issue.”

Abbott: Signed the toughest border security law of any state: “My top priority is protecting Texans. That’s why I extended National Guard deployments to US-Mexico border.”

• Abortion:

Valdez: Pro-Choice: “I’m not about to tell you what to do with your body, so why should I tell other people?”

Abbott: Pro-Life: “..I will ensure that every child in Texas has a chance at life.”

• Healthcare:

Valdez: Wants Medicaid expansion: “…your zip code or your income shouldn’t determine if you have the ability to see the doctor…”

Abbott: Believes ObamaCare was a bad law from the beginning

• Death Penalty:

Valdez: Against the death penalty: “We cannot be in a situation where we risk killing an innocent person.”

Abbott: Supports the death penalty: “In just over three years as Governor, I have allowed 30 executions.”

 

U.S. Representative District 10

Democrat Mike Segal is running for 10th Congressional District of Texas. His competition is Republican incumbent, Michael McCaul. The following presents the candidates’ stances on controversial topics, which will be a key factor in making your voting decision:

• Gun Regulations:

Segal: Supports common-sense regulations

McCaul: Doesn’t support gun-control legislation

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily that we need more laws. … We need to treat mental illness…”

• Immigration:

Segal: Wishes to preserve DACA and similar programs, but wants to impose limitations and restrictions on the ability of people to enter our country.

McCaul: Voted yes to building a fence along the border

• Abortion:

Segal: Wants to reduce unsafe abortions

McCaul: Voted yes on banning federal health coverage that includes abortions: “Not one single dime of taxpayer money should be given to fund an organization that has zero regard for human life.”

 

U.S. Representative District 31

M.J. Hegar is the Democrat candidate running for the 31st Congressional District of Texas. Her competition is Republican incumbent John Carter and Libertarian candidate Jason Hope. The following presents the candidates’ stances on controversial topics, which will be a key factor in making your voting decision:

• Gun Regulations:

Hegar: In favor of common sense gun legislation

Carter: Doesn’t support gun-control legislation

Hope: “If a gun is your property, and you have the right to own property then you have the right to own a gun.”

• Healthcare:

Hegar: Wants to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs

Carter: Believes in repealing Obamacare

Hope: Supports veterans healthcare

• Abortion:

Hegar: Pro-Choice

Carter: Pro-Life

Hope: N/A

 

State Senator, District 5

Democrat Meg Walsh is running for Texas Senate, District 5. Walsh has priorities in supporting public schools, restoring funding to family planning clinics, promoting common-sense gun safety, and expanding Texas’ economy.

Her competition is Republican incumbent Charles Schwertner. Schwertner has held his position as State Senator since 2012. In his first term, he implemented the state’s 50-year water plan and fought the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. He believes in securing our border from “drug cartels, terrorists, and human smugglers,” and the Second Amendment.

 

Williamson County Judge

Republican incumbent Judge Dan Gattis is retiring.

Blane Conklin is the Democratic candidate running for Williamson County Judge. Conklin’s priorities include the management of the growth of the county and mental health.

Bill Gravell is the Republican candidate running for Williamson County Judge. Gravell’s priorities includes the safety of the community and the protection of veterans.

William (Bill) Kelberlau is the Independent Republican candidate running for Williamson County Judge. Kelberlau’s priorities includes health (both fiscal and mental), and safety.

 

Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3

Democrat Katherine Kerr Kubatzky is running for Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3. Kubatzky’s priorities include reducing the taxpayer costs, improving access to the Justice of the Peace court, and account for how justice is dispensed.

Her competition is a Republican retired police captain, Evelyn McLean. McLean’s priorities include maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the current office, continuing the current Teen Court program, and creating a volunteer program.

 

Williamson County Treasurer

Omar Kadir is a Democrat running for Williamson County Treasurer. According to Community Impact, Kadir’s priorities include simplifying the Treasurer’s office through community outreach programs, providing better financial reporting for County Commissioners, and investigate why our county agency has their budget slashed while our county is growing.

His competition is Republican incumbent Scott Heselmeyer. Heselmeyer has been the Williamson County Treasurer since March 1, 2017. Since then, Heselmeyer has more than doubled the rate of return on the county’s assets.

 

Georgetown ISD Bond Package

The following information can also be found on the Georgetown ISD website.

Georgetown ISD is expecting a growth of 2300 students over the next 5 years. According to their growth projection, the district will reach or exceed their capacity of students in multiple schools in 5 years or less. It is also important to note that the following bond proposals can be done without an increase in taxes.

Proposition 1:

A total of $150.5 million to be issued for:

• Growth
  • 2 new elementary schools and expansion of Ford elementary
  • Land acquisition for future facilities
  • Buses
• Safety and Security
  • Electronic access for exterior campus doors
  • Security cameras and radios
  • Construction of an enclosed walkway from Georgetown High School to the Annex
• Renovation/ Infrastructure
  • Replace aging roofs, heating and A/C systems
  • Renovation of lighting and sound system at the Performing Arts Center
  • Middle School/High School Athletics
  • Technology infrastructure, WiFi access points, district network equipment
• Classroom Experience
  • Furniture and equipment
  • Student and staff technology/devices
  • Classroom display technology
  • Flexible learning spaces at Forbes Middle School and EVHS

Proposition 2:

A total of $15.5 million to be issued for the construction of a swim facility which will be available for students who participate in aquatic sports and students who want to learn to swim.

 

Early Voting will be held on campus in the Robertson Courts Lobby on Oct. 22 from 10AM to 7PM.

Early Voting everywhere begin Oct. 22 and continue until Nov. 2.

Election Day will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

 

EDIT 10/19/18, 8:45 A.M.: Previously, the Megaphone mistakenly omitted Independent Republican candidate William (Bill) Kelberlau for the seat as Williamson County Judge. In that same section, we failed to explain Judge Dan Gattis was retiring, which is why the seat was open in the first place.