Caller-Times 2012 Election Guide by Allison Ehrlich

VOTE NOV. 6

ELECTION GUIDE 2012 CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES

FEDERAL · President and Vice President · Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan (R) · Barack Obama and Joe Biden (D) · Gary Johnson and Jim Gray (L) · Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala (G) · U.S. Senator · Ted Cruz (R) · Paul Sadler (D) · John Jay Myers (L) · David B. Collins (G) · U.S. Representative, District 27 · Blake Farenthold (R) · Rose Meza Harrison (D) · Corrie Byrd (L) · Bret Baldwin (I) · STATE AND JUDICIAL · Railroad Commissioner · Christi Craddick (R) · Dale Henry (D) · Chris Kennedy (G) · Vivekananda (Vik) Wall (L) Railroad Commissioner, Unexpired Term · Barry Smitherman (R) · Jaime O. Perez (L) · Josh Wendel (G) · Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 · Don Willett (R) · RS Roberto Koelsch (L) · Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4 · John Devine (R) · Tom Oxford (L) · Charles E. Waterbury (G) · Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 · Nathan L. Hecht (R) · Michele Petty (D) · Mark Ash (L) · Jim Chisolm (G) · Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals · Sharon Keller (R) · Keith Hampton (D) · Lance Stott (L) · Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 · Barbara Parker Hervey (R) · Mark W. Bennett (L) · Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8 · Elsa Alcala (R) · William Bryan Strange, III (L) · Member, State Board of Education, District 2 · Laurie J. Turner (R) · Ruben Cortez Jr. (D) · Lenard Nelson (L) · State Senator, District 18 · Glenn Hegar (R) · State Senator, District 20 · Raul Torres (R) Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D) · State Representative, District 32 · Todd Hunter (R) · State Representative, District 34 · Connie Scott (R) · Abel Herrero (D) · Chief Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District · Roy Valdez (D) · Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 2 · Tom Greenwell (R) · Nora Longoria (D) · Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 4 · Bradford M. Condit (R) · Nelda Vidaurri Rodriguez (D) · Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 5 · Doug Norman (R) · Gina M. Benavides (D) · Nueces County · District Judge, 28th Judicial District · Doug Mann (R) · Nanette Hasette (D) · District Judge, 214th Judicial District · Jack W. Pulcher (R) · José Longoria (D) · District Judge, 347th Judicial District · Missy Medary (R) · René C. Flores (D) · District Attorney, 105th Judicial District · James Sales (R) · Mark Skurka (D) · Judge, County Court-at-Law No. 3, Unexpired Term · David Stith (R) · Deeanne Galvan (D) · County Attorney · Laura Garza Jiménez (D) · Sheriff · Jim Kaelin (R) · Isaac Valencia (D) · Tax Assessor-Collector · Kevin Kieschnick (R) · Alex Garcia Jr. (D) · County Commissioner, Precinct 1 · Mike Pusley (R) · David Torres (D) · County Commissioner, Precinct 3 · Richard H. Mitchell (R) · Oscar O. Ortiz (D) · Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1 · Amanda Torres (R) · Joe Benavides (D) · Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1 · Janice Stoner (R) · Joel Stanley Mumphord (D) · Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 1 · Robert “Bobby” Gonzalez (D) · Constable, Precinct 1 · David Garcia (R) · Robert “Bobby” Cisneros (D) · Constable, Precinct 2 · Jerry C. Boucher (R) · Constable, Precinct 3 · Jack E. Caughman (R) · Jimmy Rivera (D) · Constable, Precinct 4 · Robert W. Sherwood (R) · Constable, Precinct 5 · Frank Flores, III (D) · CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI · Mayor · Nelda Martinez · Chris N. Adler · Josey Wales · Ray

OCTOBER 21, 2012 Madrigal · City Council, At-Large (three positions) · John A. Sendejar · Lillian Riojas Alicia G. Benavides · David Loeb · John Garcia · Mark Scott · City Council, District 1 · Kelley Allen · City Council, District 2 · Chad Magill · Brian Rosas · City Council, District 3 · Priscilla Leal · Jesse Noyola · City Council, District 4 · Colleen McIntyre · Jano Andrasik Webster Pell · City Council, District 5 · Rudy Garza Jr. · John Valls · Proposition No. 1 · $55 million for streets · For · Against · Proposition No. 2 · $1.75 million for City Hall improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 3 · $4.75 million for City Service Center improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 4 · $16 million for parks and recreation · For · Against · Proposition No. 5 · $2.34 million for museum and library improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 6 · $820,000 for public health improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 7 · $700,000 for public safety improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 8 · $8.4 million for economic development projects · For · Against · DEL MAR COLLEGE · Regent, At Large Ramiro “Gambi” Gamboa · Larry White Sandra Longoria Messbarger · Herbert Schueneman · Regent, District 1 · Gabe Rivas · Abel E. Pérez Sr. · Regent, District 3 · Elva Estrada · BANQUETE ISD · Trustee, At Large (four positions) Lilly Nash · Tracy N. Wright · Missy Chambless · Nanie Chapa · Jose “Angel” Arce · Ofelia T. Pena · Aaron Ramon CORPUS CHRISTI ISD · Trustee, AtLarge (three positions) · Guillermo “Willie” Perez · Jane D. Bell · Tony C. Diaz · Patty Harris · Bill Clark · Marcus Sorenson · John Marez · Drusilla KnightVillarreal · Hector “Coach” Salinas · Joe Cavazos Jr. · Trustee, District 2 · Lucy Rubio · FLOUR BLUFF ISD · Trustee, Place 1 · Steve Ellis · Trustee, Place 3 · Dan Suckley · Trustee, Place 6 · Richard Pittman · William (Bill) Prather Trustee, Place 7 · Wade Chapman LONDON ISD · Trustee, At Large · Gayle Neessen · Carter Green · Trent Hoffman · Javier Huerta · ROBSTOWN ISD · Trustee, Place 1 · Rene Vela Jr. · Jesse Rojas III · Oscar M. Lopez · Diana Castro Rubio · Trustee, Place 2 · Ronnie Salinas Pablo Avila · Eva Elizondo Orona · Trustee, Place 3 · Richard Gonzalez · Jessica Lynn Esquivel · Victor C. Hernandez · Trustee, Place 4 · Marcos Alaniz · Heath Garcia · Smiley (May) Gonzalez · Proposition No. 1 · $12.5 million for building improvements · For · Against · TULOSO-MIDWAY ISD · School Trustee, Place 1 · Kimberly Johnson · Zulema Samaniego · School Trustee, Place 3 · Paul Mostella · School Trustee, Place 4 · Felix Landin Jr. · WEST OSO ISD · Trustee, At-Large (four positions) · Liz Gutierrez · Martha Ruiz · Velma Rodriguez · Cella Boyd Shirley Jordon · Trustee, At-Large, Unexpired Term · Lucas C. Jasso · SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY BOND ELECTION · Proposition No. 1 · $1.9 million for relocation of water line · For · Against · Proposition No. 2 · $2.925 million for Kingsville pump station improvements · For · Against · Proposition No. 3 · $375,000 for Bishop pump station improvements · For · Against · NUECES COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2 · Commissioners (three positions) · Ernest Gallegos · Pete Maldonado · Daniel Trevino Mario Gracia · Sam Santos · Rosie Ruiz · Carlos Pena · Jesse Rojas · Celestino “Pingo” Ramos · Donald Havelka

DECISIONS LOCATIONS See inset map

E McK

inzie

9 33 24

Leopard

16 I

31 17

Holly

37 4040 Greenw 13 ood Drive G AH E. Hilltop Comm K 8 25 unity Center 11 11425 Leopar 30 d St. Shoreline * Johnny S. Calderon County Buildin 710 E. Main g St. 1 * Nueces County Bishop Community Center MOBILE EARL 102 W. Joyce Y VOTING LOCA St. Monday TIONS F. Padre Isles Country Club 1. Christus Spohn Laguna Room 11. Trinity Towers Hospital Shoreline 14353 Comm 101 N. Upper odores Drive Broadway St. 600 Elizabeth 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. St. * Port Aransa 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. s * Banquete Center Compl Civic Senior Citizen ex 2. YWCA Center s Council chamb ers 4601 Corona 4359 4th St. 710 W. Ave. Drive A 9 a.m. -5 p.m. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. * Banquete ISD 3. Lindale Senior tration buildin adminisg Center Thursday 3135 Swant 4339 Fourth ner Drive St. 12. Corpus Christi 9 a.m. - 2 p Medical G Corp m C

27 3 5 28

21 Saratoga

Crosstown

Voters face a big task in the booth, and it’s not just a choice about who will lead the country for the next four years. Page 3

Voting early? Find out when and where ballots can be cast before Election Day. Page 21

RLY VOTIN G

Sta p 22 les 38 SPID B 34 2 19 1 36 29 20 35 15 23

Everhart

NUECES CO UNTY EA

Hours Oct. 22-26 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oct. 27 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Oct. 28 Oct. 29-Nov Noon - 5 p.m. . 2 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. A. Nueces County Courthouse 901 Leopard St. B. Corpus Christi Area Council for 4 the Deaf 5151 McArd le Road C. Ethel Eyerly Senior Center 654 Graham Road D. Greenwood Citizens CenterSenior

Rodd Field

INSIDE

665 2444

Agua Dulce 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday 18. Nueces County Comm Center unity 415 Mainer Road Robstown 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

1521 S. Staple s 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 25. Tower II ofﬁ 555 N. Caranc ah 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 26. Zavala Senio 510 Osage St. 9

Nueces County has 127 polling places on Nov. 6. Locate your voting booth. Page 24

Check out the candidates throughout the Coastal Bend. Page 42

2 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

Section offers glance at issues, candidates

ELECTION

2012 INSIDE THIS SECTION COVER STORY

MAYOR

4-5

CITY COUNCIL

6-10

CITY PROPOSITIONS

U.S. SENATE

12-14

U.S. HOUSE

16-17

SENATE DISTRICT 20

HOUSE DISTRICT 32

EARLY VOTING

SAMPLE BALLOT

POLLING LOCATIONS

HOUSE DISTRICT 34

TAX ASSESSOR

HOUSE DISTRICT 43

COMMISSIONER PCT. 1

COMMISSIONER PCT. 3

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

SHERIFF

COURT OF APPEALS

DISTRICT COURTS

COURT-AT-LAW NO. 3

EDUCATION BOARD

SCHOOL BONDS

CCISD BOARD DEL MAR REGENTS AREA BALLOTS

C A L L E R -T I M E S

38-40 41 42-43

When we were preparing for the start of our general election coverage that started Sept. 16, what was most obvious was that this election is a lot for readers to digest. Just the fact we had to start on Sept. 16 to cover just a fraction of the important races out there was indicative what faces Coastal Bend residents, starting with early voting Monday. That realization was the birth of this 44-page election section in your hands. The Caller-Times produced election sections long ago but has not done them in recent years. But this year even we were having trouble digesting all this. And we know not everyone is going to be able to read everything every day and retain it when they get to the ballot box. What we tried to pro-

SHANE FITZGERALD EDITOR

vide you in this section is a straightforward, quick-glance view of as many races as we could. There are no endorsements in this section. We reserved that for our editorial pages where they belong. If you care what we think, we will wrap them up in Monday’s edition, and if you want more detail, previously run endorsements are available on Caller.com. We challenged candidates to get across their message in 50 words or fewer without giv-

ing them a speciﬁc topic. We have found insight into how well candidates communicate in a small amount of space and hope you ﬁnd that, too. We hope the comprehensive ballot on the center spread of this section will allow you to mark for whom you would like to vote so you can take it to the polls with you and help you more quickly get through the ballot. We also have included polling locations in Corpus Christi. There are some advertisements in the section but by no means are they an endorsement by the Caller-Times. Those candidates paid for those ads as part of their campaign message, and those of us who worked on the section didn’t know who would advertise. This section, led by City Edi-

tor Bro Krift and Data/Investigative Editor Denise Malan, has been months in the planning, since the primary elections and runoffs ended. Also playing a major factor in our coverage here are our Central copy/design desk, led by News Editor Jacque Petersell and designer Gary Smith. Every one of our news reporters also has contributed to the reporting for this section. And all of this also is available on Caller.com, on our tablet app and available on our mobile site. We hope we’ve provided you with a broad overview of one of the area’s most important elections ever. Most of all, we hope you all get out and vote. It matters. Shane Fitzgerald is vice president and editor of the Caller-Times.

A voter casts her ballot during the primary’s early voting at the Nueces County Courthouse. RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLERTIMES FILE

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Go to Caller.com/data to search for campaign contributions to candidates for: ■ Corpus Christi City Council ■ Nueces County commissioners, sheriff, district attorney and tax assessor ■ State House and Senate ■ Congress ■ President

CHECK OUT CALLER.COM/ELECTION ■ Before heading to the polls, check out sample ballots from around the Coastal Bend. ■ Get voting locations for the Coastal Bend. ■ Find biographical information on candidates running for state ofﬁce. ■ Ask questions or get our projections with our live chat that starts at 7 p.m. Nov. 6.

■ Get updated results on all the Coastal Bend races throughout the night at Caller.com/election. ■ Check out the latest political news from the Caller.com political team on Facebook at Caller Politics or Twitter at CallerPolitics. ■ Read the Political Pulse blog for Coastal Bend political news from Caller-Times reporters.

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 3

Overview

Voters to have say on many key issues ■ Combined

We’re really pushing early voting.”

ballot to be a first for some cities

Rochelle Limón, county election manager

By Mark Collette collettem@caller.com 361-886-3678

It’s hard enough to get voters to the polls for any election, but this year brings a doublewhammy as Coastal Bend residents will see some of the longest ballots they’ve ever had, raising the likelihood of another bane of the democratic process: voter fatigue. A voter in Corpus Christi could have 37 choices on up to 13 electronic pages. So the election — combining for the ﬁrst time in many cities the municipal, county, school, state and federal ballots into one — already has a built-in deterrent for busy folks who might be tempted to mark an ‘X’ for Mitt Romney or Barack Obama and then break for the door. Yet the stakes could not be higher all the way down the ballot. The future — of national health care, local roads, school buildings, education funding, city parks, and the people who will make decisions about all of this and more — gets decided in the next 16 days. Bob Bezdek, a political scientist who for years has collected reams of data on Coastal Bend elections and a former Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi professor, said even he sympathizes with the overwhelmed voter. “What do I even know?” he confessed. “I don’t know who to vote for in those Supreme Court places or Court of Criminal Appeals places.” One of the great dangers, Bezdek said, is that the long ballot will tempt hurried voters into marking straight Democratic or Republican tickets

RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

Voters cast their ballots during early voting at the Nueces County Courthouse earlier this year. The ballot will be long on Election Day for voters in Corpus Christi, where as many as 37 choices, up to 13 electronic pages, will be made.

and then submitting the ballot, not realizing this means they won’t cast a vote in the nonpartisan city and school elections. In Corpus Christi, those voters will miss out on deciding the mayoral race and $90 million in bond elections for city facilities, the bulk of which, $55 million, would rebuild heavily traveled roads in the oldest areas of town. In Gregory-Portland and Robstown school districts, straight-ticket voters would miss a chance to decide on funds for school construction. Nueces County poll workers will have sample ballots for people waiting in line, giving them a chance to review all of the choices during what could be a much longer wait than usual. “We’re really pushing early voting,” said Rochelle Limón,

county election manager. Sample ballots tailored to each voting precinct are available for download on the county’s website so voters can see exactly what their ballot will look like ahead of time. Corpus Christi voters have seven contested city council races plus the mayor to choose. In any given council district, a voter could choose the council member for that district, plus three at-large council members and the mayor. This comes at a pivotal juncture for the city as it embarks on what will likely be a 22-year, nearly $1 billion program to restore streets neglected for decades, and as the city formulates new policies to perform regular maintenance and prevent streets and buildings from ever getting that bad again.

“It keeps me awake at night because I don’t know how to ﬁx it yet and it is so big,” City Manager Ron Olson said. “It’s like if this were the federal government, we’d be looking at $16 trillion in debt.” Yet, for many local voters, the presidential election will remain the largest draw, even though Texas has been left behind on the campaign trail. Four years ago, Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy each made stops in the Coastal Bend in a hotly contested Democratic primary. This year, the candidates have concentrated on a handful of swing states. To some extent, it will be a referendum on national health care. “That will probably be the largest policy implication of the electors’ choice,” said Jo-

seph Jozwiak, professor of political science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. While voters could get overwhelmed this year, there are arguments in favor of the combined federal, state and local elections. It can save cash-strapped governments — especially small towns — a big expense on staff time, equipment and supplies. And pairing small local races with a big presidential election could entice voters who might not otherwise show up just for a school board or city council race. “I hope they vote on the city races,” Bezdek said. “I hope they vote on everything. We keep piling different elections onto the general election. As a political analyst we don’t know what the impact of that is. At some point, we’ve just got too much on the ballot.” The predicament is a vestige of post-Reconstruction changes in the structure of Texas government, Bezdek said. While the nation votes for a commander-in-chief who then selects a cabinet and periodically appoints judges, Texans vote on multiple “cabinet” positions — comptroller, railroad commissioners, agriculture commissioner, attorney general — plus the judiciary and more. Though not all are on this November’s ballot, it is still one of the longest ballots in Nueces County history, if not the longest, Bezdek said. “A lot of people are going to say, ‘Wow, I voted on enough races. This is it. I’m outta here,’” he said. “Because I suspect we’re going to have long lines.”

4 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Corpus Christi mayor

Adler working to create teamwork to lead to future By Jessica Savage savagej@caller.com 361-886-4316

Building relationships and support among fellow board members as a longtime educator are what Chris Adler does best to get the input needed so she can make the right decision, she said. “I like to include a diverse group because you get buy-in if they are part of the solution,” she said. It’s that kind of leadership Adler can bring to be Corpus Christi’s next mayor. She will move Corpus Christi forward, she said. There still are many more tough questions that need to be asked and work to be done, including street maintenance, building mainte-

nance and making sure fair contracts are in place. One of the things she’s not convinced of is the $967 million price tag city staff said is needed for needed street maintenance. That ﬁgure has been revised from $1.2 billion — an early estimate given for the repairs. Adler believes it’s less and says she will work to make sure those numbers are accurate as the city moves forward with a street maintenance plan. Adler, 72, has extensive business experience as vice president of her family’s scrap metal company, Atlas Iron and Metal. She knows how to balance a budget and make tough decisions to meet the bottom line, she said. She currently is serving her second

term on the council in a District 4 seat, which represents neighborhoods along Ocean Drive, Padre Island and Flour Bluff. During her time on the council, she said she is most proud of her work to help bring Schlitterbahn to Padre Island and will continue to support a project to build a bridge along Park Road 22. A $72.5 million plan to redevelop public land on the bayfront led by a group called Destination Bayfront needs private money behind it — at least half privately funded — before Adler is willing to pledge any public money, she said. “It’s both a need and a want,” she said. “I think they’re going to have to prove to themselves the need to raise more private funds for it.”

Madrigal wants businesses to help revive downtown By Jessica Savage savagej@caller.com 361-886-4316

A city that remembers what it has and needs to restore a bustling downtown area is the direction Ray Madrigal would take Corpus Christi as its mayor. Madrigal, a longtime activist and retired photographer, believes city government should promote from within to build local talent that’s vested in the community. Incentives should be earmarked to grow local businesses ahead of projects pitched by out-of-town businesses, namely Schlitterbahn owners with plans to build a water park on Padre Island.

Madrigal, 70, remembers the city’s heyday when downtown and North Beach were so busy it was difficult to find a parking spot. He wants to restore those areas of the city to their peak years, he said. Instead of promising $117 million in mostly hotel occupancy tax revenue to business owners, Madrigal would have given $1 million each to 117 local businesses to improve the downtown area. “Downtown should be the focus because it’s the heart of the city,” he said. He disagrees with a recent City Council decision to scale back the design for a two-block Chaparral Street improvement project that lured investors to purchase downtown build-

ings with plans of their own. The full design for the 2008 voter-approved project, including a $1.8 million upscale lighting system, should have been realized, Madrigal said. City streets need to be repaired, but the funding solution should be more equitable, Madrigal said. He thinks the city should limit heavy truck traffic to highways and certain arterial streets. Residents and businesses should be charged, via a registration fee, based on number of cars they have. Also, the Regional Transportation Authority needs to spend more on street repairs because the buses are “somewhat responsible for the damage to our streets,” he said.

CHRIS ADLER AGE: 72 OCCUPATION: Vice president of Atlas Iron and Metal POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: City councilwoman District 4, 2009-present; former Del Mar College regent; former Corpus Christi Independent School District trustee I have a record of proven leadership. My experience includes CCISD for eight years, Del Mar College Board of Regents for 11 years and City Council for two terms. I bring diverse members of the community together to better our community. I can make tough decisions. I have nothing to gain.”

REYNALDO ‘RAY’ MADRIGAL AGE: 70 OCCUPATION: Retired photographer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Transportation Advisory Committee and Sister City Committee Our city needs new direction and the demands of our community must be heard by a change in leadership. I have the business experience, military training, leadership and education necessary to lead our city. The streets, downtown and our beaches need immediate attention. It’s time we listen to the people.”

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 5

Corpus Christi mayor

Martinez focuses on street, building maintenance By Jessica Savage savagej@caller.com 361-886-4316

Corpus Christi should play to its strengths in industry and nature tourism and needs the right leadership to tackle years of deferred maintenance for buildings and streets. That’s the kind of future Nelda Martinez wants to bring as the city’s next mayor. Martinez, 51, has served on the City Council for three terms in a seat that represents the city at large. During that time, she relied on her real estate background, and ability to filter complex information down to the facts, to help her

make the right decision based on merit not personal gain. “I really believe that I have the vision to move our city forward because of business experience and a long history of successful leadership roles in the community,” she said. She comes from a large family and is one of nine siblings. At a young age, she learned to be financially independent, she said, which helped her build four businesses from the ground up; most recently a title company she sold. She is the president of Alden Enterprises, a company that manages and leases office space. Her business background and fiscally conservative nature is what will help guide the city to-

ward a plan so it can maintain its aging buildings — many of which, just like the city streets, have years of deferred maintenance. The city is in the process of taking inventory to figure out what it owns, the purpose of use and the maintenance needed. A $72.5 million plan to redevelop 32 acres of public bayfront land, known as Destination Bayfront, is something she wants to see happen and will work to come up with a creative financial solution so the lion’s share of the cost doesn’t end up burdening the taxpayers, she said. “I know it will be something we look back in time and say ‘I’m so glad we invested in ourselves,’ ” she said.

Wales advocates strong mayor form of government By Jessica Savage savagej@caller.com 361-886-4316

Josey Wales wants to lead Corpus Christi and shake the status quo at City Hall with a new form of city government — one that puts him in charge. He doesn’t like the direction the city is headed or the type of government in place. If elected, the ﬁrst thing he would do is ﬁre City Manager Ron Olson and his four assistant city managers to establish a strong mayor form of government with him at the helm, he said. A change in the city’s form of government would require a City Charter

election and voter support. The collective salaries of the city’s ﬁve top managers is about $857,000 per year and could pay for pothole repairs in the streets or whatever residents believe the needs of the city are, Wales said. Also, he plans to ﬁre SMG — the company hired by the city to manage events at American Bank Center. Wales said he would get the convention center and arena to bring indoor women’s volleyball, ballroom dancing and professional wrestling and boxing events to Corpus Christi. He’s against a proposed street user fee to pay for the city’s long neglected street maintenance — a $967 million problem. Instead he

would ask voters to decide whether to support the user fee, a new tax estimated to cost between $5 and $10 per month. Wales, 65, moved to Corpus Christi three years ago and runs a promotions group called Corpus Christi Wrestling Association. He’s twice run for mayor in Houston and legally changed his name from Michael Wyzga Jr. to Outlaw Josey Wales IV for recognition in politics, he said. He’s a retired engineer from the oil and gas industry in Houston, which makes him uniquely qualiﬁed to build on Corpus Christi’s relationship with industry, he said. “If elected, I’m going to do everything I say I’m going to do,” he said.

NELDA MARTINEZ AGE: 51 OCCUPATION: President, Adlen Enterprises POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: At-large city councilwoman, 2007-present; Apoointed to I-69 Alliance Board; State Board Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition; Corpus Christi International Airport Advisory Board, Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. My extensive leadership and business experience make me the best choice as your next mayor to ensure that our families and businesses prosper with good streets and safe neighborhoods. You deserve a strong leader who understands ﬁscal accountability, complex issues and has a clear vision to move our city forward.”

JOSEY WALES AGE: 65 OCCUPATION: Owner of Corpus Christi Wrestling Association and retired contract engineer from the oil and gas industry POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None I’m going to ﬁre everyone.”

6 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

City Council District 4

3 seek council seat of departing Adler CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4

ple

Sta rat o

Airline

361

358

Laguna Madre

COLLEEN MCINTYRE

WEBSTER PELL

AGE: 30 OCCUPATION: Owner of Gold Exchange, precious metals company POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 46 OCCUPATION: Teacher, Seashore Middle Academy; spokeswoman for Drs. McIntyre, Garza, Avila & Jurica POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 65 OCCUPATION: Retired, ﬂeet operations, management and maintenance for multiple facilities POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Fire commissioner, Nueces County Emergency Services District No. 2, current

I have the drive and energy to be your hands-on councilman. I refuse to become just another complacent member on council that has plagued District 4, and the city for that matter, for far too long. I bring a fresh, motivated, analytical approach that you can count on.”

Corpus Christi Bay

JANO ANDRASIK

Gulf of Mexico

P22

Now is the time to build recent management improvements and economic growth into long-lasting prosperity. Growing up and raising a family here, I know what a special place Corpus Christi is. I have the experience, know-how and commitment to make it even better, and ask for your support.”

Drive our roads. Look at our public buildings. It is painfully clear that the city has no idea about maintenance. All they have done is assure citizens will pay more taxes to repair the damage caused by their failure to maintain and improve our city. We need a maintenance pro.”

2 miles

Corpus Christi City Council District 4 stretches from the edge of downtown to the Gulf of Mexico. The district’s boundary hugs Corpus Christi Bay along

Ocean Drive and gradually widens as it sweeps toward the Gulf, taking in most of the area lining Oso Bay, all of Flour Bluff, everyone within the city limits on Padre and Mustang

islands and a portion of the Southside bounded on the west by Rodd Field Road. District 4 is home to the Schlitterbahn project, the 65acre, $41 million water park

resort project under construction at the end of Park Road 22. Three candidates — Jano Andrasik, Colleen McIntyre and Webster Pell — are running to ﬁll the seat, which is held by

mayoral candidate Chris Adler. City Council members serve two-year terms and are paid $6,000 annually. Mike D. Smith

City Council District 1

KELLEY ALLEN

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1

AGE: 43 OCCUPATION: Partner/general manager, File Pro record management POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed District 1 city councilman, January to present; Corpus Christi Housing Finance Corp.; Corpus Christi Audit Committee 37

We must take care of our local businesses ﬁrst. Born and raised in Corpus Christi and as a Calallen and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi graduate, I believe we must enhance infrastructure with the foresight to attract companies to our city. We accomplish this through ﬁscal responsibility, transparency and vision to think outside the box.”

Leo par d

44 1 mile

ldw

Ocean

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 7

Nueces County

Combined Law Enforcement

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE — UNA STAMUS —

•••

PROUDLY Serving Nueces County

We proudly endorse these Candidates

Political endorsement paid for by The Nueces County Combined Law Enforcement - NCSOA PAC#00066217

CAL103020

Sheriff - Isaac Valencia County Commissioner Pct. 1 - Mike Pusley Constable Pct. 1 - David Garcia 214 District Court - Jose Longoria 28th District Court - Douglas Mann 347th District Court - Missy Medary District Attorney - Mark Skurka Judge County Court #3 - Deanne Galvan Justice of the Peace Pct. 1-1 - Amanda Torres Justice of the Peace Pct. 4-2 - Janice Stoner

8 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

City Council District 2

Newcomers to compete CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 1 mile

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BRIAN ROSAS

AGE: 37 OCCUPATION: Business development officer, Stewart Title POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 38 OCCUPATION: Production supervisor, L3 Vertex Communications, Corpus Christi Army Depot POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

Our potential is a gift from God. What we do with it is our gift back to him. I pledge to you to continue my long history of listening, team building, research and planning that embody vision, integrity and commitment for the good people of District 2 and our community.”

I envision a prosperous Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is on the cusp of becoming a big venue for both tourism and economic development. It is imperative this vision be accomplished by electing me as your councilman. I will advocate for revitalizing roads and making Corpus Christi more communal.”

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District 2 occupies several neighborhoods in the center of the city. The area stretches roughly from the edge of downtown toward the southeast, including where major thoroughfares such as Ayers Street, Holly, Weber, Carroll and Everhart intersect with Gollihar Road and Staples Street. The District 2 seat is held by John Marez, who termed out after serving four consecutive terms. Political newcomers Chad Magill and Brian Rosas are vying to take Marez’s place. Council members serve two-year terms and are paid $6,000 annually.

CHAD MAGILL

City Council District 3

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District 3 should have a choice in their representation. I have the experience and knowledge to understand the budget process. I am capable of researching information that would help me ask the right questions and formulate the best decision for District 3. Experience and leadership is needed in District 3.”

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3

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Citizens should vote for me because I am doing what’s expected by the people that elected me to office. Not politics or what’s popular in politics, making the tough decisions and not being afraid to ask or demand open government and accountability with the taxpayer’s money at every corner, regardless.”

The City Council seat for District 3 is up for grabs between a longtime incumbent and a former city councilman. The district covers most of the Westside and Southside. City Councilwoman Priscilla Leal is seeking her fourth term to the seat, which she took over in 2007 after defeating Jesse Noyola, who held the seat since 2001. Now Noyola is challenging Leal to reclaim his former district. Major issues in the campaign include street repair, with most of the district covering the city’s Westside neighborhoods. Both candidates have said they are in favor of working to repair area streets, though both said there needs to be

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AGE: 50 OCCUPATION: Southwest Airlines ground operations POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi City Council, District 3, 2001-07

AGE: 66 OCCUPATION: Retired city worker POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi City Council, District 3, 2007-present

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two-year terms and are paid $6,000 annually. Steven Alford

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 9

City Council District 5

I’m a small-business owner who understands how to manage a budget and make difficult decisions on priorities. I believe that our future is bright in spite of the infrastructure challenges we face. I humbly ask for the support of District 5 voters to represent you in determining solutions.”

I have a demonstrated track record of civic involvement and leadership in numerous economic and community development initiatives beneﬁcial to Corpus Christi. My experience in public administration and an in-depth knowledge of District 5 positions me as the most qualiﬁed and capable candidate.”

2 seek Elizondo’s seat The Corpus Christi City Council District 5 position represents much of the city’s Southside, an area running along South Padre Island Drive from South Staples Street to Oso Bay. Councilman Larry Elizondo is not seeking re-election to District 5, leaving the seat open for challengers Rudy Garza Jr. and John Valls. The seat is one of nine on the council, which includes ﬁve district seats, three at-large seats and a mayor. A council member’s duties include setting public policy in the form of resolutions and ordinances, adopting tax rates, deciding contracts valued more than $50,000 and advising the city manager about public business. Council members serve two-year terms and are paid $6,000 annually.

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AGE: 48 OCCUPATION: Owner, Valls Consulting Group POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority board; Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau board

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AGE: 57 OCCUPATION: Real estate investor POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Planning Commission, Nueces County Tax Appraisal District board, Corpus Christi Building Standards board

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JOHN VALLS

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Jessica Savage

City Council at-large

TODD YATES/CALLER-TIMES FILE

At-large City Council candidates Alicia G. Benavidez (from left), John Garcia, David Loeb, Lillian Riojas, Mark Scott and John A. Sendejar hold a lively debate during the League of Women Voters Corpus Christi candidates forum program at City Hall in September. Voters approved a change to the City Charter in 2010 to move the city elections to November.

6 candidates pursue 3 spots ■ 2 incumbents

seek re-election

Three at-large seats on the Corpus Christi City Council represent the entire city. They are among nine seats on the council, including the mayor and ﬁve district seats that represent sections of the city.

Candidates this year include incumbents David Loeb and Mark Scott, and challengers Alicia Benavidez, John Garcia, Lillian Riojas and John Sendejar. The three candidates who garner the most votes will be elected to the council. A council member’s duties

include setting public policy, adopting tax rates, deciding contracts valued more than $50,000 and advising the city manager about public business. Council members serve two-year terms and are paid $6,000 annually. Mark Collette

ALICIA BENAVIDEZ

JOHN GARCIA

AGE: 76 OCCUPATION: Retired state employee POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 36 OCCUPATION: Director of sales and marketing, Comfort Suites near Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

People should vote for me because I still see a lot of potential for the city to grow and become viable. I have no self interests or special interests that would clog my resolve to work in the best interest of our community. Your concerns are mine. I hear you!”

I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, and I am proud that it is the only place I want to call home. I’m not running for City Council at-large to beneﬁt me; I’m running to be a voice for our citizens of Corpus Christi. It’s time for a change.”

More at-large council candidates are on Page 10

10 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

City Council at-large

DAVID LOEB

LILLIAN RIOJAS

MARK SCOTT

JOHN SENDEJAR

AGE: 31 OCCUPATION: Commercial property management company owner POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: City councilman at-large, 2011-present; city planning commissioner, 2007-09; Downtown Management District chairman, 2009-11 (member, 2007-11), Board of Adjustment (2005-07).

AGE: 40 OCCUPATION: Senior manager for public affairs, Valero Energy Corp. POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend board

AGE: 52 OCCUPATION: President, San Jacinto Title Services POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi City Council District 4, 1999-2007; at-large, 2009-present

AGE: 48 OCCUPATION: Retired city employee POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: London school district trustee, 14 years; Nueces County Appraisal District board, 10 years.

My commitment is simple. One, ensure my actions result in safe, quality neighborhoods, excellent basic services and responsible stewardship of your taxes. Two, continue providing real solutions to community issues and make sure we are accountable to you. Three, to keep implementing changes, which positively impact our citizens and economy.”

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I bring new energy, ideas, fresh perspectives and am pro-business. I have a new type of leadership to help our city face its challenges and keep our city growing, moving forward. I want to build on the success the city has had and to help unleash the still untapped potential.”

Experience: I have a depth of knowledge in the issues unmatched by any other council member or candidate. Leadership: I listen, gather input from a variety of sources but then decide and act on those decisions. I ﬁnd solutions to problems and move issues forward.”

I want to represent our community, especially the working-class citizens who day in and day out work hard Monday through Friday and are just trying to get ahead in life and enjoy living here in Corpus Christi. I promise I will work hard for you and move this city forward.”

More at-large City Council candidates are on Page 9

DISTRICT COURT

Served the community as a Municipal Court Judge for nine years. Endorsed by Corpus Christi Police Officers’ Association GPAC. Endorsed by the Nueces County Combined Law Enforcement Officers’ Association. Former Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted violent criminals to make our community a safer place to live. Received Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service on behalf of Crime Victims from the Coalition of Crime Victim’s Rights.

Please vote for JUDGE MISSY MEDARY Political ad paid for by the committee to elect Judge Missy Medary.

CAL103980

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 11

City propositions

Money sought for roadwork, projects The city is asking voters to approve about $90 million in debt for streets, public building improvements and economic development projects. The eight bond propositions will be listed individually on the ballot. Any propositions totaling more than $55 million

will require a property tax increase because the city has reached its debt capacity. Proposition 1 is the largest of the issues, proposing $55 million in street work, which has been a priority for the city this year. The street work in Proposi-

tions 1 and 8 does not take into account underground utility work to replace old storm drain pipes or add new ones. That cost, about $1.79 a month, would be added to the monthly water and wastewater rates. The total bill if all bond projects are approved: The average

residential water bill would increase about $21.48 per year, and city property taxes would increase about $19.27 for a $100,000 house. The 2012 bond is smaller than the 2008 and 2004 bonds. In 2008, voters approved $153 million in proj-

PROPOSITION NO. 2

The issuance of bonds for the design, construction, renovation, improvement and

Staff reports

■ Central Library roof replacement ■ Northwest Library and Garcia Library roof replacement ■ ADA improvements to the Art Museum of South Texas building and barge dock parking lot and other museum and library improvements

PROPOSITION NO. 1

The issuance of bonds for designing, constructing, renovating, and making permanent street improvements in the aggregate principal amount of $55 million including: ■ Navigation Boulevard, generally from Up River Road to Leopard Street ■ South Alameda Street, generally from Ayers Street to Louisiana Avenue ■ Greenwood Drive, generally from Gollihar Road to Horne Road ■ Ocean Drive, generally from Buford Street to Louisiana Avenue ■ Tuloso Road, generally from Interstate 37 to Leopard Street ■ South Staples Street, generally from Brawner Parkway to Kostoryz Road ■ South Staples Street, generally from Morgan Avenue to Interstate 37 ■ McArdle Road, generally from Nile Drive to Ennis Joslin Road ■ McArdle Road, generally from Whitaker Drive to Nile Drive ■ Kostoryz Road, generally from Brawner Parkway to Staples Street ■ Horne Road, generally from Ayers Street to Port Avenue ■ Morgan Avenue, generally from Staples Street to Crosstown Expressway ■ Twigg Street, generally from Shoreline Boulevard to Lower Broadway ■ Leopard Street, generally from Crosstown Expressway to Palm Drive ■ Holly Road, generally from Crosstown Expressway to Greenwood Drive (contingent upon receipt of federal leveraging funds) ■ Williams Drive, generally from Staples Street to Airline Road (contingent upon receipt of federal leveraging funds) ■ Yorktown Boulevard, generally from Rodd Field Road to Cimarron Boulevard ■ JFK Causeway area improvements ■ ADA Master Plan improvements citywide ■ Signal improvements and street lighting citywide ■ Texas Department of Transportation participation projects and other street improvements

ects, including $105 million in roadwork. The 2004 bond was $95 million, $68 million of it for streets. In both of those elections, voters approved all projects proposed by the city by wide margins.

PROPOSITION NO. 6

The issuance of bonds for designing, constructing, renovating, improving and equipping public health facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $820,000 including: ■ Health Department east rear restroom repair and WIC building roof ■ Health Department building parking lot and other improvements PROPOSITION NO. 7 RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

Without a shoulder, pedestrians must either walk in the road, or on a sometimes muddy path on this stretch of McArdle Road between Niles Drive and Ennis Joslin Road. One of the proposed 2012 bond street projects is to improve public safety and widen this stretch of road, which is where a woman was killed in February while walking to church. The $3.1 million bond project includes widening the road from two lanes to three lanes, adding sidewalks, bike lanes, curb and gutter. equipment of City Hall improvements in the aggregate principal amount of $1.75 million including: ■ City Hall fire suppression and fire alarm upgrades ■ City Hall roof repair and waterproofing (exterior) and other City Hall improvements PROPOSITION NO. 3

The issuance of bonds for the design, construction, renovation, expansion, improvement, and equipment of the City Service Center Complex in the aggregate principal amount of $4.75 million including: ■ Streets and Solid Waste administration building roof replacement ■ Signs/signal operations — new shop and ofﬁce facility ■ Animal Control remodel/improvements ■ Fleet maintenance heavy equipment shop roof ■ Streets & Solid Waste storage building structure with slab (new facility) and other Service Center Complex improvements

PROPOSITION NO. 4

The issuance of bonds for designing, constructing, renovating, improving, and equipping city parks and recreational facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $16 million including: ■ Community park development and improvements ■ Hike & bike trail development ■ Aquatic Facility upgrades and improvements ■ Tennis Center repairs and upgrades (H-EB and Al Kruse Centers) ■ Ocean Drive park improvements and other Park & Recreation Department improvements PROPOSITION NO. 5

The issuance of bonds for designing, constructing, renovating, improving and equipping museum and library facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $2.34 million including: ■ Museum of Science and History roof replacement

The issuance of bonds for designing, constructing, renovating, improving, and equipping public safety improvements in the aggregate principal amount of $700,000 including: ■ Vehicle impound yard and garage phase 2 and other improvements. PROPOSITION NO. 8

The issuance of bonds for the design, construction, renovating, improvement, and equipment of city streets, sidewalks, and related facilities that are expected to promote and expand business activities, in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8.4 million, including: ■ Seatown pedestrian improvements ■ North Beach area road improvements and area beautiﬁcation ■ North Beach breakwater, Plaza, North Shoreline repair and enhancement (contingent upon receipt of leveraging funds) ■ County Road 52 extension, generally County Road 69 to Farm-to-Market Road 1889 (contingent upon receipt of leveraging funds) ■ International Boulevard (contingent upon receipt of leveraging funds) ■ Other street and utility construction projects for which the city receives developer participation and other economic development projects

12 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

U.S. Senate

Cruz reconciling with former GOP foes ■ Earlier bashed

party regulars as too moderate By Will Weissert Associated Press

AUSTIN — Ted Cruz won the Republican nomination for Texas’ open U.S. Senate seat as a Tea Party insurgent and major underdog. Now he heads into the general election the prohibitive favorite and is busy reconciling with a state GOP establishment he long bashed as too moderate. Cruz argues that there’s nothing unusual about his making nice with former foes. “Typically, after a primary, one hopes to see Republicans unite,” he said in an interview. “That’s what’s supposed to happen.” Still, Cruz became a national symbol of Tea Party might when he upset Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a 14-year veteran of Texas politics endorsed by Gov. Rick Perry and much of the state GOP mainstream. The lieutenant governor won the Texas primary in May by 10 percentage points, but failed to capture a majority in a nine-Republican ﬁeld. Cruz then painted Dewhurst as a closet moderate beholden to the party establishment and whipped him by nearly 14 points in a July runoff. Cruz’s new opponent, former Democratic state Rep. Paul Sadler, says Cruz is a political novice who is too extreme for even a state as conservative as Texas — where no Democrat has won statewide elected office in nearly 20 years. But Cruz responded that Sadler’s 12 years in the Texas House ended in 2003, adding: “I don’t agree with him that the only people that deserve a public office are those who have held elected office for many, many years.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz appears at the Northwest Forest Republican Women luncheon on Oct. 8 in Houston. After winning a runoff for the Republican nomination, Cruz is favored to defeat Democratic candidate Paul Sadler for the seat held by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is retiring.

Cruz continues to campaign across Texas, striking a decidedly populist tone while pledging to reign in federal spending and get “government’s boot off the necks of small businesses.” But Cruz also has appeared at fundraisers lately with both Dewhurst and Perry. He’s similarly raised money with the woman he’s vying to replace, retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney

General Greg Abbott. And all this comes after Cruz spoke at the Republican National Convention. Asked if he’s still an insurgent, Cruz said, “Sure I am.” “We just came through a $50 million primary, the most expensive primary in the country,” he said, “and we were outspent 3 to 1.” Indeed, GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak said Cruz has to replenish his campaign coffers since his primary con-

tributions can’t be spent campaigning for the Nov. 6 general election — and party veterans have a broader donor base than a relative newcomer like Cruz. “Once you get through a primary, everybody’s establishment,” Mackowiak said. Cruz was a virtual unknown when he mulled a run for attorney general in 2010 but chose not to challenge Abbott. Instead, he announced he would campaign for U.S. Sen-

ate — defying Dewhurst, who has overseen the powerful Texas Senate since 2003. The owner of an energy company, Dewhurst spent $20 million of his own money on the campaign. Cruz countered with large donations from national Tea Party groups. The Washington-based, free-market advocacy organization Club for Growth spent $5.5 million supporting Cruz — but See CRUZ, Page 15

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 13

Re-Elect to the 28th

DISTRICT COURT EDUCATION:

EXPERIENCE:

Del Mar College

ENDORSED BY:

University of Texas at El Paso

The Doctors of Corpus Christi Political Action Committee

South Texas College of Law

Corpus Christi Police Officers Association GPAC

National Judicial College

Coastal Bend Central Labor Council

24 years practicing law 16 years as a state district judge Disposed of more than 19,000 cases

Voted “Most Qualified” by Corpus Christi Bar Association

FACEBOOK: Find and “Like” Judge Nanette Hasette Pol. Ad Pd. for by the Campaign to Re-elect Judge Nanette Hasette, Connie Munoz, Treasurer, in voluntary compliance with the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act. P.O. Box 316, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

CAL103970

14 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

U.S. Senate

Sadler touts a record of bipartisanship ■ The far right

is undermining system, he says By Will Weissert Associated Press

TEMPLE — U.S. Senate Democratic candidate and decidedlongshot Paul Sadler likes to point to his record of bipartisanship as an influential member of the Texas House for 12 years. But he left the Legislature nine years ago, and in today’s political climate, many see a willingness to work with the other side as a liability. Still, Sadler says that obstructionism by conservative officeholders, who so mistrust government that they try to undermine it, is the reason for gridlock in Congress. He insists that’s not what voters want — even in Texas, where a Democrat hasn’t won statewide office since 1994. “I’ve always been able to find that center point between two people,” Sadler said. “When you do good things together, good things happen.” That’s a far cry from Sadler’s opponent, Ted Cruz, the former Texas solicitor general who is a Tea Party darling and has called for a great conservative awakening. The forum ended with Sadler autographing an Obama campaign yard sign for a supporter and shaking hands. During an interview a few minutes later, he said, “It’s very hard to get along if you have your fist clinched and your arms folded.” “That’s what these people do when they push for more radicalism, more extremism,” Sadler said of the Tea Party. Cruz upset Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the choice of mainstream Texas Republicans, to secure his party’s

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Texas state Rep. Paul Sadler, running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, addresses a Democratic forum at Temple College on Oct. 4. Sadler is a major underdog in the race against Tea Party-backed Republican and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz but says his past record of working with both parties shows he can ﬁnd pragmatic solutions to the gridlock ailing Washington.

Senate nomination. He says he’ll work with both parties on Capitol Hill, but Cruz bested Dewhurst by running hard

to his right and painting him as a closet moderate. Unlike Cruz, Sadler says he’s not interested in “lead-

ing a national movement, just winning a Senate seat.” A native Texan, Sadler moved frequently as a young-

ster, even spending a year of high school in Ventura, Calif., where he was friends with actor Kevin Costner. He graduated from Baylor University and Law School before settling in the East Texas town of Henderson with his wife, Sherri. Sadler says the national Democratic Party hasn’t backed him ﬁnancially, and Texas Democratic donors are giving more to out-ofstate candidates whose races look winnable. He has therefore struggled to stay relevant against Cruz. In the Texas House, Sadler chaired the powerful Public Education Committee where he helped approve a property tax cut while securing three straight pay increases for teachers. Sadler worked with Republican state Sen. Bill Ratliff to pass an overhaul of the Texas education system in 1995, which reduced regulations and returned more control to local school districts. As a demonstration of bipartisanship, then-Gov. George W. Bush signed the measure into law in Henderson, declaring that it was “not a Republican bill or a Democrat bill. This is a Texas bill.” Such an event likely wouldn’t f ly today. Said Ratliff: “Those were different times, before the extremists got in control of at least the primary process, if not the entire process.” Nonetheless, Sadler routinely praises the woman he’d like to replace, Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, for championing responsible public works projects and protecting Texas military bases. He hasn’t always been so cordial with his opponents, though. Longtime Texas See SADLER, Page 15

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 15

U.S. Senate

CRUZ

from Page 12 says it doesn’t feel shortchanged now that he’s mending Republican fences. “Grass-roots conservatives don’t care about words, they care about actions. Ted Cruz has changed neither,” said club spokesman Barney Keller. “He will vote to limit government and to increase economic liberty when he’s in the Senate. I don’t think anyone has any doubt about that and his rhetoric hasn’t changed.” Julie Turner, president of the Texas Patriots PAC in suburban Houston, said of Cruz, “He does have to represent all of Texas now, so we want him to work with other people but still stay principled.” “It’s not Cruz becoming establishment,” Turner said. “It’s Dewhurst and others becoming friendlier to him.” A former Ivy League debating champion with degrees from Princeton and Harvard, Cruz wouldn’t appear to cut much of anti-establishment ﬁgure. He even fell in love with his wife, Heidi, while both were working on the 2000

presidential campaign of George W. Bush — now often a target of Tea Party ire for running up large federal deficits. Cruz argued cases on behalf of Texas as the state’s solicitor general between 2003 and 2008, but he was appointed by Abbott, meaning he’s never held political office. The son of a Cuban-American who fled the island before Fidel Castro took power, Cruz was born while his parents were in Alberta during a Canadian energy boom, though he grew up mostly in Houston. That likely makes Cruz eligible for dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship — ironic given that his native country has a nationalized health care system and Cruz has been a fierce critic of the Obama administration’s health care overhaul. “I am a U.S. citizen,” Cruz said. “I have only ever had one passport and that is a U.S. passport.” He refused to elaborate, and Canadian consular officials won’t comment, citing privacy concerns. “I was born in Calgary,” Cruz quipped, borrowing an old line from Bush, “because I wanted to be near my mother at the time.”

SADLER

from Page 14 Monthly columnist Paul Burka remembers a 1997 hearing when Sadler unleashed such a tongue lashing on former Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune that some called him “Gordon Buffoon” afterward. “Sadler just ambushed him, and he’s very smart so it was awful for Bethune,” Burka said. Ratliff said Sadler wasn’t above occasional legislative arm-twisting of both Republicans and Democrats to get his way: “He did it with a lot of skill and sometimes a lot of intimidation.” Now 57, Sadler says he has mellowed with age. “There are times in the process when you’ve got to get in people’s face and say ‘That’s enough,’ ” he said. “But that really comes with respect. You can’t stand up and say ‘Enough’ unless you’ve been fair up to that point.’ ” Still, some of the old ﬁre emerged during a debate last week, when

Sadler dismissed Cruz as a “troll.” Sadler now says regrets saying that. He admits to having to reintroduce himself to voters who have forgotten — or aren’t old enough to remember — his record. In 2001, a car wreck left Sadler’s then 10-year-old son Sam in a coma for 64 hours. Sadler announced the following year that he wasn’t running again. “I knew the minute that Sam got hurt, it was over,” he said. “But even before then, I used to tell my friends that the hardest part of serving in the Legislature was backing out of the driveway and saying goodbye to my children and my family.” Now that his five kids are grown, Sadler says he has no such concerns. He ran unsuccessfully in 2004 to replace Ratliff after he resigned from the Texas Senate and acknowledges that another defeat is likely this time. “It’s worth the ﬁght,” Sadler said. “I think we have serious issues that we need to resolve, and I don’t think sticking your head in the sand resolves them.”

Elect

DAVID GARCIA • Nueces County Law Enforcement Officer 27 Year Veteran • Vice President Sheriff Officers Association “CLEAT” Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas • Board Member Trustee “ FOP” - Fraternal Order of Police • Special Deputation Appointment U.S. Dept. of Justice U.S. Marshals Service • Original Nueces County Sheriff Honor Guard Team Member Since 1990 • Purple Heart Recipient (Shot in the line of duty)

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITEE TO ELECT DAVID GARCIA. DR. STUART ELOVITZ, TREASURER P.O. BOX 5025 C. C. TX. 78465-5025

CONSTABLE PCT. 1 Endorsed By

Nueces County Sheriff Officers Association / PAC “CLEAT” Fraternal Order of Police / FOP

www.ElectDavidGarcia.com

CAL100483

Current Positions

16 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

U.S. House District 27

Farenthold working to keep his position ■ Incumbent

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 27

has been rated as a moderate

Bastrop

AGE: 50 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: U.S. representative POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: U.S. representative, District 27, 2011- present

Caldwell

By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold is taking nothing for granted in the 2012 election cycle, despite the Republican-friendly layout of his new congressional district. Anything can happen in politics, just as it did for him in 2010, when the former computer technology consultant and conservative talk radio host with a law degree beat 14-term incumbent Democrat Solomon P. Ortiz. Born of political stock that includes Sissy Farenthold, an iconic Texas Democrat, Farenthold has shown resiliency, weathering criticism of everything from his appearance — his shoes are untied as often as not — to his policies and even his family mishaps. A product of Tea Party support that drove people to the polls in 2010, Farenthold is rated by most Washington po-

Gonzales Lavaca Wharton

Jackson

Calhoun Refugio Aransas

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold smiles alongside wife Debbie during primary night as he thanks supporters during a watch party at Brewster Street Ice House. Farenthold easily won the Republican nomination that night.

litical watchdogs as a moderate Republican, most likely because he broke from the ranks to vote to raise the debt ceiling in 2011 and thus avoid a credit-crushing government default. As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and

says parties are polarizing

By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

Independent congressional candidate Bret Baldwin is challenging U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold for the Congressional District 27 seat because he is tired of watching the U.S. teeter on a ﬁnancial cliff and believes he can do a better job. “Congressional approval

ratings are down into the single digits, and neither of my opponents representing the two major parties have large followings like our departing public servant, the Hon. Ron Paul of the late District 14,” Baldwin said in an email. Paul is retiring after representing District 14 for 24 years. That district was parsed out in redistricting this year, and Baldwin’s hometown of Victoria was added to District 27. Baldwin, 48, said he was spurred to run by watching the U.S. credit rating in late 2011 get downgraded for the ﬁrst

Gulf of Mexico

San Patricio Nueces

Government Reform, Farenthold has hit the airwaves in the wake of the federal Fast and Furious scandal that recently led to a shake-up at the U.S. Department of Justice. He has written a couple of bills, but his signature freshman

Baldwin pushes independent run ■ Consultant

Matagorda

Victoria

MICHAEL ZAMORA/CALLER-TIMES FILE

time in history. “A year later, it has been conﬁrmed — Congress has failed us, both in the House and the Senate,” he said. The small-business development consultant said he shades to the conservative side of politics, but Republican and Democratic policies are too self-seeking and polarizing to be effective. “They are willing to walk away from their responsibilities and duties as our representatives to our country’s detriment,” he said. “This has to change, and it has to change now.”

BLAKE FARENTHOLD

Corpus Christi 20 miles

legislation appears likely to be the REEFS Act, a bill calling for a moratorium on the removal of underwater oil and gas rigs that, once abandoned, make good ﬁsh habitats. The bill is in the House Subcommittee on Energy and Natural Resources.

As a ﬁscal conservative, I have helped lead the ﬁght against outof-control spending and government over-regulation that is threatening our nation. I have listened to my constituents, worked hard to encourage businesses to locate in District 27 and stood for Texas values in Washington, D.C.”

BRET BALDWIN AGE: 48 PARTY: Independent OCCUPATION: Small-business development consultant POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None I will put our country’s priorities ﬁrst, such as passing a balanced budget. I will use my global business experiences to strengthen our economy and bring private sector efficiencies to our government. As an independent, I have no political party affiliation or agenda. I bring true bold change to Washington.”

Baldwin said if elected he will use his small-business background to push for streamlined processes in

Washington, D.C. “This is a concept that is highly needed in Washington,” he said.

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 17

U.S. House District 27

Harrison’s work earns Democratic spot ■ Education

ROSE MEZA HARRISON

touted as her No. 1 priority

AGE: 59 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Chairwoman, Nueces County Democratic Party; chairwoman, San Patricio County Democratic Party

By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

Rose Meza Harrison this year resigned as Nueces County assistant attorney to devote all of her time and energy in winning the crowded Democratic primary for Congressional District 27. The hard work paid off for Harrison, who eked into a runoff with local attorney Jerry J. Trevino, then turned around and beat him by 20 percent. Now, Harrison faces incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold in a race for a new district drawn by Republican lawmakers in Austin. But Harrison has not backed down from the challenge. She has fashioned herself as the anti-Farenthold: a South Texas Latina whose father worked the oil ﬁelds and taught her the sort of work ethic that helped her balance single motherhood with law school. If elected, she said, she will

I am a former assistant Nueces

CALLER-TIMES FILE

Rose Meza Harrison was all smiles when she learned she won the Democratic nomination in a runoff. She now faces three opponents for the District 27 congressional seat.

fight to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security from cuts and go on the offensive to champion education programs tailored to South Texans’ needs.

“The 27th District needs more educational opportunities for its young people,” she said in a recent interview. “That will be my No. 1 priority.” Harrison said for too long,

Libertarian not afraid of risks

■ Byrd, 27,

currently has Wal-Mart post

By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

At least 21 voters may want to give Congressional District 27 the Byrd. As of last week, 21 Facebook users had given Libertarian candidate Corrie Byrd a thumbs-up in his bid to go from assistant store manager

at a Corpus Christi Wal-Mart to Blake Farenthold’s office in Washington, D.C. Byrd, 27, said he is running for Farenthold’s seat because he believes he will bring a nostrings-attached approach to Congress. “I’m an average citizen that understands our concerns,” Byrd said in an email. “I won’t bow down to power or money.” The Texas A&M University-Commerce graduate, while without political experience, is not afraid to take risks. He recently put together a de-

tailed business plan hoping to raise about $430,000 to open a bar and grill featuring virtual golf simulators. He said he has abandoned the effort. Byrd follows a long line of Libertarian candidates to have tried, and failed, to win the Congressional District 27 seat. Ed Mishou in 2010 garnered a little more than 5 percent of the vote, and Robert E. Powell pulled in, on average, 3.6 percent of the vote in the 2008 and 2006 elections. Libertarians have been a constant presence on the

young people have been pigeonholed by a system that lacks vocational skills training. In a region so rich in opportunities for skilled workers, Harrison said she will work to

County attorney who is dedicated to putting people first. As the first Latina in history to represent Texas in Congress, I will fight to better education, protect Medicare and Social Security, honor our veterans, and deal with our debt responsibly.”

give educators the incentives they need to foster those opportunities in South Texas schools.

CORRIE BYRD AGE: 27 PARTY: Libertarian OCCUPATION: Assistant store manager, Wal-Mart POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None I’m an average citizen that understands our concerns. I won’t bow down to power or money. My vote will not be swayed by anyone. Last, but not least, let’s give Congress the Byrd!”

ballot as far back as 1998. Mishou’s 2010 bid represents the high water mark for voter support. But for Byrd, his ultimate

motive may be no more complex than the closing statement in his candidate proﬁle: “Last but not least, let’s give Congress the Byrd!”

C A L L E R -T I M E S

EXPERIENCE

ACTION

Because of my time on boards, such as the Corpus Christi Planning Commission, I understand the city budget, how to find answers to tough questions and how to stay on task.

Political Ad Paid for by the Rudy Garza Jr. Campaign. TreasurerWayne Lundquist, PO Box 4525, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-4525

TRANSPARENCY

CAL103645

18 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 19

State Senate District 20

Race spurs jabs over attendance By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

The state Senate District 20 race this year features something the Democratic incumbent, Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, has not seen in years. An opponent. For the ﬁrst time since Hino-

josa took office in 2003, general election voters in the polarized district — Corpus Christi sits at one end, McAllen the other — will see another name on the ballot: state Rep. Raul Torres. Torres, who chose to run for state Senate after redistricting maps eliminated his House district in Corpus Christi, is gunning for Hinojosa as a self-en-

Hinojosa counts on evenhanded approach By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa is in his third term, but his service extends far beyond his time in the upper chamber. The McAllen Democrat arrived in the state House of Representatives in 1981 and served until 1991. Then he took a six-year break, returned in 1997 and stayed until 2003, when he entered the Senate. “My philosophy is to take a balanced approach to the issues and be bipartisan,” he said during an interview at the Caller-Times. “There is a push from the far right and far left to make the Texas Legislature into a Washington, D.C.,-type of partisanship. I’m opposed to that. We need to do what’s best for Texas.” Hinojosa said he wants to work to restore education cuts made in the 2012-13 budget by using the estimated $8 billion Rainy Day Fund lawmakers expect for the 2014-15 education budget. “We are growing by 80,000 new students each year, and education is key to the future of our state,” he said. He said he is for a constitutional amendment that would allow an income tax on business but that the state should consider all revenue generators, not just raising taxes and fees and pushing expenses off

riching bureaucrat who cannot be trusted to work for the poor and needy communities in South Texas. But Torres must be prepared for attacks from Hinojosa, who went for the jugular in a Sept. 24 forum in Corpus Christi by saying Torres missed more roll call votes than nearly every other representative in the 150-mem-

JUAN ‘CHUY’ HINOJOSA AGE: 66 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State senator, 2003 to present; State representative, 19811991, 1997-2003; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 1994-1996; Special investigator, Texas National Guard I’m a Vietnam Marine veteran and your state senator. Education is my No. 1 priority — education is the great equalizer. I fought to eliminate waste and mismanagement in government and cut taxes for small businesses. I put people ahead of politics, and I ﬁght for our families in Austin.”

on local governments that are dependent on property tax revenues. “When the state fails to fund services to Texans, the cost doesn’t go away; it is just shifted to cities and counties,” he said. “We cannot continue kicking the can down the road.” Hinojosa criticized Gov. Rick Perry’s intention to reject Medicaid expansion dollars as a political, knee-jerk reaction to a problem that is not going away. “Twenty-ﬁve percent of Texans are uninsured,” he said. “That’s 6.2 million Texans. Somebody has to pay for that.” He said the burden on county governments that must set aside 8 percent of their annual budgets for indigent care is not sustainable.

ber House and pointing out he later was saddled with the dreaded “furniture” designation in Texas Monthly magazine. Hinojosa has continued to attack Torres on his attendance record. During an interview at the Caller-Times, he took a jab at Torres when saying the

SENATE DISTRICT 20 Jim m Wee ells Corpus Christi B Brooks

Gulf of Mexico

Hidalgo

See DISTRICT 20, PAGE 20

Torres pushes for slashing more waste By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

Republican state Rep. Raul Torres won a seat in the state House in 2010 only to have it disappear under a redistricting plan that paired his District 33 with Connie Scott’s District 34. Rather than run against Scott in the District 34 Republican primary, Torres chose to challenge Democratic state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa for the Senate District 20 seat. In his freshman session, Torres passed an amendment to test a private sector management technique in the federally-funded Texas Work Opportunity Tax Credit program managed by the Texas Workforce Commission. The results, published in August, showed the pilot helped the commission process more applications for less cost, giving employers access to an additional $97 million in tax credits in 2012. The study did not quantify the savings to the commission. Torres is running as a candidate who wants to continue cutting waste in Austin while ﬁghting to ensure poor South Texans are given their fair share of education and, to a lesser extent, federal health care funding and infrastructure dollars.

RAUL TORRES AGE: 58 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Certiﬁed public accountant POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State representative, 2011 to present; Corpus Christi Loan Review Committee; Corpus Christi Transportation Advisory Committee As state senator, I will work to create good paying jobs, stop wasteful government spending and get South Texas our fair share of public school funding. I voted against cuts to our schools, and with your vote I will represent your values and be your voice in the Texas Senate.”

He said lawmakers lack the political will to scrap the Texas franchise tax, also referred to as the margins tax — the foundation for education funding in Texas — but that businesses are in favor of expanding it within certain limits. “They don’t mind paying the tax,” he said. “What makes it a problem for business owners is when one business pays but not another.” He said he would favor expanding it to include all businesses, large and small. He said he was not sure Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to reject Medicaid expansion dollars available through the federal Affordable Care Act was the right move for South Texas. He said a large percentage of the uneducated people in South Texas will not understand the effect of Perry’s decision.

20 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

State Senate District 20

DISTRICT 20 from Page 19

Coastal Bend delegation works well together. “I worked well with Connie Scott — I work very well with all members,” Hinojosa said. “I could tell you I work well with Raul, but he was never around.” Torres skipped or missed 110 votes on the House floor, more than all but two lawmakers, during the 82nd legislative session, based on data from Telicon, a legislative tracking service. He had perfect attendance in committee hearings, according to a 2011 CallerTimes analysis. Torres has said he missed floor votes because he was busy in committee hearings and meeting with constituents and lobbyists. “You can’t be on the floor voting 100 percent of the time,” Torres said during an

interview at the Caller-Times. “It’s not possible.” Now often seen with a “21” button on his lapel, Torres is banking on support for something larger than himself: the opportunity for Republicans to ﬁll 21 of 31 Senate seats, a two-thirds majority that, given the Republican stronghold in the House, would push all the chips to the GOP side of the legislative branch. Republicans hold 19 seats, and all 31 are up for election this year. As in 2010, Torres has the backing of the Hispanic Republicans of Texas and has campaigned hard in Hinojosa’s backyard of Hidalgo County, a Democratic stronghold. State senators typically serve four-year terms except following reapportionment, when they are required by law to draw lots for two-year terms. They are paid $7,200 per year plus a per diem during the legislative session.

State House District 32

TODD HUNTER AGE: 59 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State representative, 19891997 and 2009-present

CALLER-TIMES FILE

State Rep.Todd Hunter likely will feel as happy on Election Day. The Republican doesn’t have an opponent on the ballot.

I ask people to vote for me because my experience in the legislative process — from the Appropriations Committee all the way to the Calendars Committee — has helped our region and can get things done. In January, I will be about thirty-seventh of 150 in seniority in the House.”

CAL103503

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 21

NUECES COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

K 8

Crosstown

H G A 25

4. Lone Star Country Store 14342 Northwest Blvd. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

L. Tuloso-Midway ISD administration building 9768 La Branch St. M. West Oso ISD administration building 5050 Rockford Drive *Not mapped

C F J

665

Monday 1. Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline 600 Elizabeth St. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

G. Corpus Christi City Hall First ﬂoor utility section 1201 Leopard St.

K. Robstown ISD administration building 801 N. First St.

Shoreline

MOBILE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

3. Lindale Senior Center 3135 Swantner Drive 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

* London ISD Middle School 1306 Farm-to-Market Road 43

20 35 15 23

1 mile

* Banquete ISD administration building 4339 Fourth St.

J. Flour Bluff ISD maintenance building 2505 Waldron Road

SPID B 34 2 19 36 29

2. YWCA 4601 Corona Drive 9 a.m. -5 p.m.

I. Del Mar College administration building 101 Baldwin Blvd.

Sta p 22 les

10 37

2444

* Port Aransas Civic Center Complex Council chambers 710 W. Ave. A

H. Corpus Christi ISD administration building 801 Leopard St.

* Johnny S. Calderon County Building 710 E. Main St.

F. Padre Isles Country Club Laguna Room 14353 Commodores Drive

27 3 5 28

Saratoga

E. Hilltop Community Center 11425 Leopard St.

* Nueces County Bishop Community Center 102 W. Joyce St.

Holly

C. Ethel Eyerly Senior Center 654 Graham Road D. Greenwood Senior Citizens Center 4040 Greenwood Drive

Leopard

zie Kin Mc

9 33 24

Waldron

Flour Bluff

A. Nueces County Courthouse 901 Leopard St. B. Corpus Christi Area Council for the Deaf 5151 McArdle Road

See inset map

Rodd Field

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Noon - 5 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Everhart

Hours Oct. 22-26 Oct. 27 Oct. 28 Oct. 29-Nov. 2

Tuesday 5. Driscoll Children’s Hospital 3533 S. Alameda St. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi University Center 6300 Ocean Drive 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 7. Wooldridge Place 7352 Wooldridge Road 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 8. Driscoll ISD Cafetorium 410 W. Ave. D 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday 9. Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial 2606 Hospital Blvd. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 10. Corpus Christi Army Depot Subway lobby 308 Crecy St. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

11. Trinity Towers 101 N. Upper Broadway St. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. * Banquete Senior Citizens Center 4359 4th St. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday 12. Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area 7101 S. Padre Island Drive 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 13. One Shoreline Plaza 800 N. Shoreline Blvd. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 14. Oveal Williams Senior Center 1414 Martin Luther King Drive 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. * Petronila Elementary Cafeteria 2391 County Road 67 Robstown Friday 15. Christus Spohn Hospital South 5950 Saratoga Blvd. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 16. La Michoacana Bakery 3829 Crosstown Expressway 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. 17. Trisun Care Center Corpus Christi 202 Fortune Drive 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. * David Berlanga Community Center 1513 Second St.

Agua Dulce 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday 18. Nueces County Community Center 415 Mainer Road Robstown 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 19. Half Price Books 5425 S. Padre Island Drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 20. Corpus Christi Athletic Club 2101 Airline Road 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 21. Corpus Christi Trade Center 2833 S. Padre Island Drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

1521 S. Staples St. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 25. Tower II ofﬁce building 555 N. Carancahua St. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 26. Zavala Senior Center 510 Osage St. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 4. Lone Star Country Store 14342 Northwest Blvd. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Oct. 30 27. Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional 3315 S. Alameda St. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 28. Del Mar College Center for Economic Development 3209 S. Staples St. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Oct. 28 22. Sutherlands 4041 S. Staples St. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

29. Legacy Home Health Center 5633 S. Staples St. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

19. Half Price Books 5425 S. Padre Island Drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

* Petronila Elementary Cafeteria 2391 County Road 67 Robstown 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

23. Garden Estates Retirement Center 2709 Cimarron Blvd. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 21. Corpus Christi Trade Center 2833 S. Padre Island Drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Oct. 31 30. South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind 1421 Agnes St. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Oct. 29 24. Corpus Christi Medical Tower

31. Del Mar College West Coleman Center 4101 Old Brownsville Road 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

32. Harbor Place Retirement Center 5518 Lipes Blvd. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. * Banquete Senior Citizens Center 4359 Fourth St. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 1 33. MHMR of Nueces County 1610 S. Brownlee St. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 34. Sprouts Farmers Market 1440 Airline Road 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. 35. Homewood Residence Retirement Center 6410 Meadowvista Drive 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 8. Driscoll ISD (Cafetorium) 410 W. Ave. D 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 2 36. Kiko’s Mexican Food Restaurant 5514 Everhart Road 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 37. Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Commissary 10801 D St., Building 337 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 41. Garden Senior Center 5325 Greely Drive 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. * Berlanga Community Center 1513 Second St. Agua Dulce 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

2012

Get ready to vote

Use this sample ballot to mark your choices, speeding up your voting time on Election Day. NUECES COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE, 28TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

❑ Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan (R) ❑ Barack Obama and Joe Biden (D) ❑ Gary Johnson and Jim Gray (L) ❑ Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala (G) U.S. SENATOR

❑ Ted Cruz (R) ❑ Paul Sadler (D) ❑ John Jay Myers (L) ❑ David B. Collins (G) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 27

❑ Blake Farenthold (R) ❑ Rose Meza Harrison (D) ❑ Corrie Byrd (L) ❑ Bret Baldwin (I)

❑ Doug Mann (R) ❑ Nanette Hasette (D) DISTRICT JUDGE, 214TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

❑ Jack W. Pulcher (R) ❑ José Longoria (D) DISTRICT JUDGE, 347TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

❑ Missy Medary (R) ❑ René C. Flores (D) DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 105TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

❑ James Sales (R) ❑ Mark Skurka (D) JUDGE, COUNTY COURT-AT-LAW NO. 3, UNEXPIRED TERM

STATE AND JUDICIAL RAILROAD COMMISSIONER

❑ Christi Craddick (R) ❑ Dale Henry (D) ❑ Chris Kennedy (G) ❑ Vivekananda (Vik) Wall (L) RAILROAD COMMISSIONER, UNEXPIRED TERM

❑ Barry Smitherman (R) ❑ Jaime O. Perez (L) ❑ Josh Wendel (G) JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 2

❑ Don Willett (R) ❑ RS Roberto Koelsch (L) JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 4

❑ John Devine (R) ❑ Tom Oxford (L) ❑ Charles E. Waterbury (G)

❑ David Stith (R) ❑ Deeanne Galvan (D) COUNTY ATTORNEY

❑ Laura Garza Jiménez (D) SHERIFF

❑ Jim Kaelin (R) ❑ Isaac Valencia (D) TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

❑ Kevin Kieschnick (R) ❑ Alex Garcia Jr. (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 1

❑ Mike Pusley (R) ❑ David Torres (D)

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT 1, PLACE 1

❑ Amanda Torres (R) ❑ Joe Benavides (D) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT 2, PLACE 1

PRESIDING JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

❑ Sharon Keller (R) ❑ Keith Hampton (D) ❑ Lance Stott (L) JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 7

❑ Barbara Parker Hervey (R) ❑ Mark W. Bennett (L) JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 8

❑ Elsa Alcala (R) ❑ William Bryan Strange, III (L) MEMBER, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 2

❑ Laurie J. Turner (R) ❑ Ruben Cortez, Jr. (D) ❑ Lenard Nelson (L) STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 18

❑ Glenn Hegar (R) STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 20

❑ Raul Torres (R) ❑ Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D) STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 32

❑ Todd Hunter (R) STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 34

❑ Connie Scott (R) ❑ Abel Herrero (D) CHIEF JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

❑ Roy Valdez (D) JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 2

❑ Tom Greenwell (R) ❑ Nora Longoria (D) JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 4

❑ Bradford M. Condit (R) ❑ Nelda Vidaurri Rodriguez (D) JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 5

❑ Doug Norman (R) ❑ Gina M. Benavides (D)

PROPOSITION NO. 1

$55 million for streets ❑ For ❑ Against PROPOSITION NO. 2

$1.75 million for City Hall improvements ❑ For ❑ Against

❑ Janice Stoner (R) ❑ Joel Stanley Mumphord (D)

PROPOSITION NO. 4

$16 million for Parks & Recreation Department ❑ For ❑ Against PROPOSITION NO. 5

$2.34 million for museum and library improvements ❑ For ❑ Against

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 1

❑ David Garcia (R) ❑ Robert “Bobby” Cisneros (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 2

❑ Jerry C. Boucher (R) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 3

❑ Jack E. Caughman (R) ❑ Jimmy Rivera (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 4

❑ Robert W. Sherwood (R) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 5

❑ Frank Flores III (D) CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI MAYOR

❑ Nelda Martinez ❑ Chris N. Adler ❑ Josey Wales ❑ Ray Madrigal CITY COUNCIL, AT-LARGE (THREE POSITIONS)

❑ John A. Sendejar ❑ Lillian Riojas ❑ Alicia G. Benavides ❑ David Loeb ❑ John Garcia ❑ Mark Scott CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1

❑ Kelley Allen CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 2

❑ Chad Magill ❑ Brian Rosas CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3

❑ Priscilla Leal ❑ Jesse Noyola CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 4

❑ Colleen McIntyre ❑ Jano Andrasik ❑ Webster Pell

❑ Richard Pittman ❑ William (Bill) Prather TRUSTEE, PLACE 7

❑ Wade Chapman LONDON ISD TRUSTEE, AT-LARGE

❑ Gayle Neessen ❑ Carter Green ❑ Trent Hoffman ❑ Javier Huerta ROBSTOWN ISD TRUSTEE, PLACE 1

❑ Rene Vela, Jr. ❑ Jesse Rojas III ❑ Oscar M. Lopez ❑ Diana Castro Rubio TRUSTEE, PLACE 2

❑ Ronnie Salinas ❑ Pablo Avila ❑ Eva Elizondo Orona TRUSTEE, PLACE 3

❑ Richard Gonzalez ❑ Jessica Lynn Esquivel ❑ Victor C. Hernandez

PROPOSITION NO. 6

TRUSTEE, PLACE 4

$820,000 for public health improvements ❑ For ❑ Against

❑ Marcos Alaniz ❑ Heath Garcia ❑ Smiley (May) Gonzalez

PROPOSITION NO. 7

$700,000 for public safety improvements ❑ For ❑ Against PROPOSITION NO. 8

$8.4 million for economic development projects ❑ For ❑ Against

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT 5, PLACE 1

❑ Robert “Bobby” Gonzalez (D)

TRUSTEE, PLACE 6

PROPOSITION NO. 3

$4.75 million for City Service Center improvements ❑ For ❑ Against

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 3

❑ Richard H. Mitchell (R) ❑ Oscar O. Ortiz (D)

JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 6

❑ Nathan L. Hecht (R) ❑ Michele Petty (D) ❑ Mark Ash (L) ❑ Jim Chisolm (G)

CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 5

❑ Rudy Garza Jr. ❑ John Valls

DEL MAR COLLEGE REGENT, AT LARGE

❑ Ramiro “Gambi” Gamboa ❑ Larry White ❑ Sandra Longoria Messbarger ❑ Herbert Schueneman REGENT, DISTRICT 1

❑ Gabe Rivas ❑ Abel E. Pérez Sr. REGENT, DISTRICT 3

❑ Elva Estrada BANQUETE ISD

TRUSTEE, AT-LARGE (FOUR POSITIONS)

❑ Lilly Nash ❑ Tracy N. Wright ❑ Missy Chambless ❑ Nanie Chapa ❑ Jose “Angel” Arce ❑ Ofelia T. Pena ❑ Aaron Ramon CORPUS CHRISTI ISD

TRUSTEE, AT-LARGE (THREE POSITIONS)

❑ Guillermo “Willie” Perez ❑ Jane D. Bell ❑ Tony C. Diaz ❑ Patty Harris ❑ Bill Clark ❑ Marcus Sorenson ❑ John Marez ❑ Drusilla Knight-Villarreal ❑ Hector “Coach” Salinas ❑ Joe Cavazos Jr. TRUSTEE, DISTRICT 2

❑ Lucy Rubio FLOUR BLUFF ISD TRUSTEE, PLACE 1

❑ Steve Ellis TRUSTEE, PLACE 3

❑ Dan Suckley

PROPOSITION NO. 1

$12.5 million for building improvements ❑ For ❑ Against TULOSO-MIDWAY ISD SCHOOL TRUSTEE, PLACE 1

❑ Kimberly Johnson ❑ Zulema Samaniego SCHOOL TRUSTEE, PLACE 3

❑ Paul Mostella SCHOOL TRUSTEE, PLACE 4

❑ Felix Landin Jr. WEST OSO ISD TRUSTEE, AT-LARGE (FOUR POSITIONS)

❑ Liz Gutierrez ❑ Martha Ruiz ❑ Velma Rodriguez ❑ Cella Boyd ❑ Shirley Jordon TRUSTEE, AT-LARGE, UNEXPIRED TERM

❑ Lucas C. Jasso SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY BOND ELECTION PROPOSITION NO. 1

$1.9 million for relocation of water line ❑ For ❑ Against PROPOSITION NO. 2

$2.925 million for Kingsville pump station improvements ❑ For ❑ Against PROPOSITION NO. 3

$375,000 for Bishop pump station

improvements ❑ For ❑ Against NUECES COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2 COMMISSIONERS (THREE POSITIONS)

❑ Ernest Gallegos ❑ Pete Maldonado ❑ Daniel Trevino ❑ Mario Gracia ❑ Sam Santos ❑ Rosie Ruiz ❑ Carlos Pena ❑ Jesse Rojas ❑ Celestino “Pingo” Ramos ❑ Donald Havelka

Nueces County election administrators are encouraging early voting so voters can avoid lines like this outside Grant Middle School in 2010. MICHAEL ZAMORA/ CALLER-TIMES FILE

C A L L E R -T I M E S

FEDERAL

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

22 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

ELECTION

Sample ballot

24 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Nueces County Election Day polling locations Precinct 1 First Presbyterian Church (activities building), 430 S. Carancahua St. Precinct 2 Windsor Park Elementary School (music room), 4525 S. Alameda St. Precinct 3 The Lakes Masters Association, 7502 Venice Drive Precinct 4 Kostoryz Elementary School (music room), 3602 Panama Drive Precinct 5 Hamlin Middle School (cafeteria), 3900 Hamlin Drive Precinct 6 Ethel Eyerly Community Center, 654 Graham Road Precinct 7 Oak Park Recreation Center, 842 Erwin Ave. Precinct 8 Barnes Elementary School, 2829 Oso Parkway Precinct 9 Calallen Middle School (maintenance ofﬁce), 4602 Cornett Road Precinct 10 Nueces County ESD No. 4, 6271 Farm-to-Market Road 666, Banquete Precinct 11 Agua Dulce county building, 1514 2nd St., Agua Dulce Precinct 12 Banquete ISD, 4339 Fourth St., Banquete Precinct 13 Irma V. Romero Elementary School, 122 W. Ave. H, Robstown Precinct 14 Luehrs Junior High School, 717 E. 6th St., Bishop Precinct 15 The People’s Baptist Church, 1355 Farm-to-Market Road 665 Precinct 16 London Middle School, 1306 Farm-to-Market Road 43 Precinct 17 Smith Elementary School, 6902 Williams Drive Precinct 18 Ronnie H. Polston County Building, 10110 Compton Road Precinct 19 Port Aransas Civic Center Complex, (Council Chambers) 710 W. Ave. A, Port Aransas Precinct 20 Galvan Elementary School, 3126 Masterson Drive Precinct 21 Kiwanis Recreation Center,

3933 Timon Blvd. Precinct 22 Petronila Elementary School (cafeteria), 2391 County Road 67, Robstown Precinct 23 River Hills Baptist Church, 16318 Farm-to-Market Road 624, Robstown Precinct 24 West Oso Junior High School, 754 Flato Road Precinct 25 Leona Schroeder Community Building, 6923 Farm-toMarket Road 1833, Robstown Precinct 26 Grace Presbyterian Church, 6301 Yorktown Blvd. Precinct 27 Driscoll ISD (cafetorium), 410 W. Ave. D, Driscoll Precinct 28 St. Anthony Catholic ChurchViolet, 3918 County Road 61, Robstown Precinct 29 Jones Elementary School, 7533 Lipes Blvd. Precinct 30 Oveal Williams Senior Center, 1414 Martin Luther King Drive Precinct 31 Fire Station No. 3, 1401 Morgan Ave. Precinct 32 Blanche Moore Elementary School, 6121 Durant Drive Precinct 33 Evans Elementary School, 1315 Comanche St. Precinct 34 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Mission, 1080 S. Clarkwood Road Precinct 35 Lotspeich Elementary School, (cafeteria), 1000 Ruben Chavez Road, Robstown Precinct 36 Bishop Primary School, 705 W. Main St., Bishop Precinct 37 Johnny Calderon County Building, 710 E. Main St., Robstown Precinct 38 Brooks Chapel A.M.E. Church, 2101 N. Port Ave. Precinct 39 Fire Station No. 3, 1401 Morgan Ave. Precinct 40 Island Presbyterian Church, 14030 Fortuna Bay Drive Precinct 41 Bonilla Plaza, 2727 Morgan Ave. Precinct 42 Peerless Cleaners, 2758 Santa Fe St.

Precinct 43 Travis Elementary School (cafeteria), 3210 Churchill Drive Precinct 44 Zavala Senior Center, 510 Osage St. Precinct 45 George Wiggins Homes (recreation center), 2320 Buford St. Precinct 46 Antonio Garcia Arts & Education Center, 2021 Agnes St. Precinct 47 Ben Garza Gym, 1815 Howard St. Precinct 48 Korean Presbyterian Church, 4326 McArdle Road Precinct 49 Scott Vetters Scout Hut, 3221 McKinzie Road Precinct 50 Lindale Senior Center, 3133 Swantner Drive Precinct 51 Gibson Elementary School, 5723 Hampshire Road Precinct 52 Oak Park Elementary School, 3801 Leopard St. Precinct 53 Houston Elementary School, 363 Norton St. Precinct 54 Ortiz Intermediate School, 208 E. Ave. H, Robstown Precinct 55 Irma V. Romero Elementary School, 122 W. Ave. H, Robstown Precinct 56 La Armada (Boys & Girls Hall), 1455 Southgate Drive Precinct 57 Del Mar College (administration building), 101 Baldwin Blvd. Precinct 58 Menger Elementary School, 2401 S. Alameda St. Precinct 59 Incarnate Word Academy (lobby), 2910 S. Alameda St. Precinct 60 Lozano Instructional Education Center, 650 Osage St. Precinct 61 Shaw Elementary School, 2920 Soledad St. Precinct 62 Metro E (Wynn Seale Middle School main entrance), 1707 Ayers St. Precinct 63 Parkway Presbyterian Church, 3707 Santa Fe St. Precinct 64 Wilson Elementary School

(cafeteria), 3925 Fort Worth St. Precinct 65 Montclair Elementary School (music room), 5241 Kentner St. Precinct 66 Fire Station No. 7, 3722 S. Staples St. Precinct 67 Kafﬁe Middle School, 5922 Brockhampton St. Precinct 68 Lindale Senior Center, 3133 Swantner Drive Precinct 69 Baker Middle School, (room 45), 3445 Pecan St. Precinct 70 Legacy Home Health Center (conference room), 5633 S. Staples St. Precinct 71 South Park Middle School (cafeteria), 3001 McArdle Road Precinct 72 Hicks Elementary School, 3602 McArdle Road Precinct 73 Fannin Elementary School, 2730 Gollihar Road Precinct 74 Cunningham Middle School (cafeteria), 4321 Prescott St. Precinct 75 Crockett Elementary School (front foyer), 2625 Belton St. Precinct 76 Pete Roel Enterprize, 501 S. Port Ave. Precinct 77 Lozano Instructional Education Center, 650 Osage St. Precinct 78 West Oso Elementary School, 1526 Cliff Maus Drive Precinct 79 Driscoll Middle School, 3501 Kenwood Drive Precinct 80 John F. Kennedy Elementary School, 1102 Villarreal Road Precinct 81 Padre Isles Country Club, 14353 Commodores Drive Precinct 82 Fire Station No. 9, 501 Navigation Blvd. Precinct 83 H-E-B Tennis Center, 1520 Shely St. Precinct 84 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center, 5151 McArdle Road Precinct 85 Allen Elementary School (front lobby), 1414 18th. St. Precinct 86 Incarnate Word Academy

(lobby), 2910 S. Alameda St. Precinct 87 Berlanga Elementary School, 4120 Carroll Lane Precinct 88 Second Baptist Church, 6701 S. Staples St. Precinct 89 Corpus Christi Worship Center, 5732 Kimbrough Drive Precinct 90 Fire Station No. 11, 910 Airline Road Precinct 91 MG Building Materials, 7406 S. Padre Island Drive Precinct 92 Cullen Middle School (main hallway), 5224 Greely Drive Precinct 93 Water Utility Building (conference room), 2726 Holly Road Precinct 94 Calk Elementary School (cafeteria), 4621 Marie St. Precinct 95 Ss. Cyril & Methodius Church (Kasper Hall), 3210 S. Padre Island Drive Precinct 96 Norton Street Church of Christ, 3001 Norton St. Precinct 97 Rosas Garage, 4462 Dinn St. Precinct 98 Moody High School (foyer main entrance), 1818 Trojan Drive Precinct 99 Oak Park Elementary School, 3801 Leopard St. Precinct 100 Fire Station No. 12, 2120 Rand Morgan Road Precinct 101 Tuloso-Midway High School (choir room), 2653 McKinzie Road Precinct 102 Luehrs Junior High School, 717 E. 6th St., Bishop Precinct 103 Tuloso-Midway Middle School (main lobby), 9768 LaBranch St. Precinct 104 Lotspeich Elementary School (cafeteria), 1000 Ruben Chavez Road, Robstown Precinct 105 San Pedro Elementary School (cafeteria), 800 W. Ave. D, Robstown Precinct 106 Tom Browne Middle School (cafeteria), 4301 Schanen Blvd. Precinct 107 Magee Elementary School,

4201 Calallen Drive Precinct 108 Nueces County Airport, 3983 Wings Drive, Robstown Precinct 109 King High School (main hall), 5225 Gollihar Road Precinct 110 Hilltop Community Center, 11425 Leopard St. Precinct 111 LULAC West Apartments (community room), 10702 Interstate 37 Precinct 112 Schanen Estates Elementary School, 5717 Killarmet Drive Precinct 113 Garcia Elementary School (cafeteria), 4401 Greenwood Drive Precinct 114 St. John’s Baptist Church, 5445 Greenwood Drive Precinct 115 Club Estates Elementary School, 5222 Merganser Drive Precinct 116 Elliot Grant Middle School, 4350 Aaron Drive Precinct 117 Flour Bluff High School (auditorium), 2505 Waldron Road Precinct 118 Tabernacle of Praise Church, 5918 Kostoryz Road Precinct 119 Fire Station No. 14, 5901 S. Staples St. Precinct 120 Woodlawn Elementary School (cafeteria), 1110 Woodlawn Drive Precinct 121 Yeager Elementary School (cafeteria), 5414 Tripoli Drive Precinct 122 Flour Bluff ISD (maintenance department), 2510 Waldron Road Precinct 123 Annaville Elementary School (cafeteria), 3901 Cliff Crenshaw Drive Precinct 124 Cimarron Senior Apartments, 2802 Cimarron Blvd. Precinct 125 Mireles Elementary School, 7658 Cimarron Blvd. Precinct 126 Chapman Ranch Gin, 1726 County Road 6, Chapman Ranch Precinct 127 London Middle School, 1306 Farm-to-Market Road 43

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ÂŤ Sunday, October 21, 2012 ÂŤ 25

CONNIE SCOTT Our Voice...Our Representative In 2010 the voters of District 34 ushered in refreshing change, replacing a career politician ranked the second most liberal member of the House with a new representative who works across party lines to get things done for you and your family: Connie Scott.

Connie Scott is an independent voice for our area:

retirement benefits. predecessor, eliminating a $27 billion budget shortfall voting for a two-year moratorium on high-stakes testing so teacher can get back to teaching and children can learn.

ConnieScottforNuecesCounty

@VoteConnieScott

Connie

SCOTT

State Representative, District 34

I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run for this office because I need a job or want a title, but because we need common sense leadership willing to make the hard decisions for families trying to get by. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to keep spending money we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have on programs we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford. I ask for your vote on November 6 so we keep spending under control, and continue to create opportunity for small businesses.

(361) 884-8734

info@voteconniescott.com

www.voteconniescott.com Trusted. Tested. True. Connie Scott for State Representative Political Advertising Paid for by Connie Scott Campaign, Rose Cavada Garza, Treasurer CAL103985

26 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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HOUSE DISTRICT 34

State House District 34

Familiar faces square off again By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

Of all the races on the Nueces County ballot this election, few provide an element of revenge like the race for state House District 34. In 2010 the voters chose Re-

publican Connie Scott over three-term incumbent Democrat Abel Herrero. Now, Herrero is back as Scott’s challenger in a ﬁght to reclaim part of the Coastal Bend delegation for the Democratic Party, which took a beating in the 2010 midterms. Scott’s seat survived a conten-

Herrero: Health care will be key By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

House District 34 candidate Abel Herrero believes that while the voters got what they wanted in the 2010 election, they might not like what they got. Herrero, who held the seat for three terms before losing to Republican Connie Scott, said he is ready to reclaim it for those who most need him — the poor and elderly and public school students of western Nueces County. “This year is going to be different,” he said. “Unlike in 2010, now my opponent has a voting record. You can see for yourself and gauge in terms of what the district needs.” Herrero said his first priority will be to fix some of the problems Scott helped create, both in school funding and health care programs for children and the elderly. “Health care is critical to a large part of the population, but with seniors specifically, Scott voted against increasing the reimbursement rate for Medicaid, and now physicians are refusing those patients,” he said. To reverse it, he said he will work to increase reimbursement rates for doctors and find a way to expand benefits for working families. Herrero said he recently met a single mother with two jobs and two kids who cannot afford health insurance but who at least is hoping to get it for her kids. “I give her credit,” he said. “She’s a

tious redistricting process in the 2011 Legislature on its merits as a minority-opportunity seat, which means the seat is designed to give minority voters a fair opportunity at electing the candidate of their choice. But to do that, they must show

ABEL HERRERO AGE: 42 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State

representative District 34, 2005-11; Robstown City Council, 1999-2003; Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority board; Coastal Bend Council of Governments; Nueces County Parks board; Nueces County Civil Service board; Robstown Improvement Development Corp. I’ll work for everyone, not just a powerful few. I’ll reduce standardized testing and class sizes. I’ll restore reimbursements so more doctors can treat seniors on Medicaid. And I’ll ﬁght against windstorm insurance rate increases. If I’m elected, the people will know they have someone who’s on their side.”

strong person who is working hard and risking her own health to provide opportunities for her family, but she needs better access to health care.” But while he wants to reverse Republican efforts in Austin last session, he also looks forward to creating better opportunities by supporting small business job growth and educational opportunities. Critical to that is resisting the constant pressure to continue raising rates on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy premiums, he said. “We need to come up with solutions that don’t discriminate against coastal homeowners,” he said. “We share the risk, burden and expense of catastrophes statewide.” Herrero and his wife, Matilda, have ﬁve children.

181

77 SP

See DISTRICT 34, Page 30

Scott has unfinished business By Rick Spruill spruillr@caller.com 361-886-3667

Republican state Rep. Connie Scott wants to finish what she started in 2010, when she defeated Abel Herrero for the state House 34th District seat. Now on the back end of her first term in Austin, Scott said she still believes there is plenty of room for good government in Austin rather than politics, something she makes no bones about disliking. “I’d like to have another opportunity where I’m not just a terrified freshman and go back to Austin knowing what to expect,” she said. “A lawmaker’s first term is enlightening at times, terrifying at others, rewarding and disappointing.” She said she stayed grounded by focusing on the needs of her district. “If a lobbyist or a member of the district came to our office at the same time, we’d bump the lobbyist,” she said. Scott said she is less interested in popularity than she is with working to bring government spending under control, painful though it may be. “Government has gotten way out of hand, and given the $27 billion deficit (last session), we couldn’t pull anything out of thin air,” she said. “That’s serving with honesty, straightforwardness and integrity.” She said while Herrero has promised more funding for education and Medicaid, making good on those promises might be tougher than anyone realizes. “I think voters want honesty, not po-

CONNIE SCOTT AGE: 50 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: State representative

District 34

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State representative District 34, 2011 to present; vice chairwoman Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority board

I am an independent voice who puts principles ﬁrst. I am committed to improving public education, economic growth, job creation, ﬁxing windstorm insurance issues and living within our means. I will vote to end high-stakes testing and work for the Coastal Bend. I don’t care who gets credit.”

litical statements and grandstanding,” she said. “Not to mention the fact that Abel will be walking into a Republicancontrolled Legislature.” A former single mother of two who can remember coming up short month after month, Scott said in an era of deﬁcit spending, honesty is a valuable commodity. “We’re still looking at having to limit government spending — there are many ways we can cut back to provide the dollars we need for health care — but we will have to do more with less,” she said. Scott, former executive director of Bay Area Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, is married to Mike Scott, who owns H&S Constructors, a reﬁnery contracting business. They have four children.

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 27

Tax assessor-collector

Long lines draw focus By Julie Silva silvaj@caller.com 361-886-3627

The tax assessor-collector plays an administrative role in county government that often can be overlooked. But the office is responsible for the lines at the Nueces County Courthouse to register vehicles or pay property taxes, and some residents have had to wait an hour for service. Both candidates for tax assessor-collector this year say they have ideas on how to keep the lines moving. At the end of 2011, after more than 20 years in office, former tax assessorcollector Ronnie Canales took a job with the Nueces County Appraisal District. Two men with backgrounds in ﬁnance and banking are running for the seat: Democrat Alex Garcia and Republican Kevin Kieschnick. In January, the Nueces County Commissioners Court appointed Kieschnick to ﬁll in through the end of the year,

when Canales’ term ends, in a 3-2 vote with the Republican members of the court voting in favor of Kieschnick. Garcia, who has owned local supermarkets and worked for mortgage companies, said he’s big on customer service. He’d like to extend office hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day, or at least once a week. “We have to be there when our taxpayers get out of their jobs,” Garcia said. “When they’re standing there in line, they’re usually losing some kind of income, and that hurts us all.” Kieschnick, who has been in banking 12 years and sold cars to get himself through college, said his long-term goal is to create another office where it’s easy for residents to come and go. It would have extended hours such as from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. He also plans to replace some fulltime workers with part-timers who have more ﬂexible hours and can be scheduled to work during peak hours.

For 32 years, I served with integrity as your Friend in Blue on the police force.

ALEX GARCIA JR.

KEVIN KIESCHNICK

AGE: 57 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Commercial lender POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi city councilman, 1997-99; Nueces County Democratic Party chairman, 2006-08

AGE: 40 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Tax assessor-collector POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi city councilman, 2008-2012; Nueces County tax assessor-collector, January to present

My qualiﬁcations stem from having worked as a mortgage banker responsible for servicing mortgage loans, managing property taxes, escrows and quality control. Being a former owner of six businesses and manager of multimillion-dollar Wal-Mart /H-E-B plus! stores afforded me the experience of budgeting, training, accountability and value of customer service.”

Since taking office we have: created a dedicated dealer work process eliminating a 2.5 week backlog in transactions and a $792,000 backlog in revenue; currently implementing new training, policy and procedure for all departments; performed audits of and seeking prosecution of suspect activity. I want to complete what’s started.”

DAVID TORRES for Nueces County Commissioner

You can trust me to be on-call and on-the-job as your Commissioner. David Torres www.GoDavidGoPct1.com

Early Voting: Oct 22 – Nov 2 Election Day: November 6 Political ad paid for by the David Torres Campaign Fund, Hon. Betty Jean Longoria, Treasurer, P.O. Box 10384 CC TX 78460 CAL103973

28 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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State House District 43

Lozano: Switching parties was vital

HOUSE DISTRICT 43

By Rhiannon Meyers meyersr@caller.com 361-886-3694

Bee

Jim Wells Corpus Christi Gulf of Mexico

While incumbent J.M. Lozano’s party switch may be old news in political circles, the freshman lawmaker still is talking about it with voters months into the House District 43 campaign. Lozano, 32, has been going door-todoor in the newly created district, talking to some who have never voted Republican, about what he stands for and why those values led him to leave the Democratic Party in March. As a freshman Democrat, he supported the sonogram law requiring doctors to describe the fetus to women seeking abortions and allow them to hear the heartbeat. That support, among other decisions he made, alienated him from his party, he said. He wants voters to know that, as a native of small-town Premont, he shares their anti-abortion conservative social values. He argues that his opponent, former state Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Tou-

reilles, a Democrat, espouses a liberal agenda. “I don’t want to just win this election. I want to have an overwhelming victory so that South Texans can now have a choice,” he said. “I want to make sure they know there are people with conservative values, and they do exist, and they come in all shapes and sizes. And I love that I’ve been able to begin that dialogue.” While Gonzalez Toureilles, a threeterm lawmaker, has campaigned as being the more experienced candidate, Lozano pointed to his support from big name Republicans such as Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott as evidence of his clout. Lozano said as a Republican backed by party leaders, he would be more effective and able to get more things done for his district than a Democratic lawmaker. Lozano said it has been his goal, since he was a child, to represent the area in which he grew up. “This is a lifelong dream,” he said. Lozano lives in Kingsville with his wife, Abby, and their three children.

J.M. LOZANO

committee,” she said. “I brought home real money and real dollars.” The challenge is introducing herself to voters, particularly those in Kleberg and San Patricio counties, who may be unfamiliar with her voting record. Lozano, a former Democrat, seeks to paint her as a liberal who is part of a national Democratic Party that attacks Christians, the Catholic Church and anti-abortion agendas. Gonzalez Toureilles rejected the left-wing label, pointing out that, as a Texas Democrat, she is much more moderate than Washington Democrats. She said she is a Catholic mother and a champion for families and children. “I voted for children and public education and teachers, but I also voted against increasing taxes,” she said. “I voted against the business franchise tax; I voted to decrease your property taxes. I voted my district, and that’s the real difference between me and my opponent.” Toureilles lives in Alice with her husband, Marc, and her two children.

YVONNE GONZALEZ TOUREILLES

AGE: 32 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Small-business owner POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State representative, District 43, 2010-present; Kingsville Economic Development Council South Texans deserve a state representative who will stand up for our values in the Legislature. I’m a pro-life, pro-jobs smallbusiness owner with a conservative voting record. In Austin, I will continue to support great schools, strong families and our way of life.”

Competing visions offered Gonzalez Toureilles seeks return By Rhiannon Meyers meyersr@caller.com 361-886-3694

By Rhiannon Meyers meyersr@caller.com 361-886-3694

In the campaign for House District 43, Republican incumbent J.M. Lozano and Democratic challenger Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles must convince voters they have better plans for dealing with the region’s two most pressing issues: school finance and Eagle Ford Shale development. Lozano and Gonzalez Toureilles agree public school finance needs to be fixed after the $5.4 billion cut last legislative session, but the candidates have different solutions for restoring funding. Lozano, who said he voted against the 2011 budget because of the education cuts, said lawmakers should take a hard look at revenue from the Texas Lottery and from oil and gas exploration to ensure it goes to public schools, as intended, and not the general fund. He also suggested revising public school funding formulas that he said unfairly hurt poor rural schools, such as the embattled district in his hometown, Premont. The district is a case study in See DISTRICT 43, Page 29

Democrat Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, 41, spent six years in the state Legislature before she was ousted in 2010 during a national Republican takeover. She’s hoping her experience and former legislative accomplishments will sway voters in November as she campaigns against freshman lawmaker J.M. Lozano, a Republican, to represent the newly created District 43. Her campaign message: Remind voters of the successes she had as a three-term lawmaker in District 35 representing two of the counties, Jim Wells and Bee, now in District 43. Those include bringing $500,000 to Coastal Bend College for a mobile nursing lab, and expanding tax exemptions for the agricultural industry when she served as chairwoman of the House Agricultural and Livestock Committee. “I’ve had a lot of legislative accomplishments, and I know how to chair a

AGE: 41 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State representative, District 35, 2004-10; Permanent Judicial Commission for Children and Families, 2008-11 I am the most experienced candidate in the race for District 43. I previously served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives and served as chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee. I understand the issues important to the district. I have a reputation for working diligently to get things done.”

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State House

DISTRICT 43 from Page 28

the broken school finance system, he said. Gonzalez Toureilles, the daughter of a retired teacher, said lawmakers should consider alternative revenue streams, such as allowing casino gambling or slot machines, to fix school funding. She said she believes voters, especially those in South Texas, would support gambling in the state. “A lot of people go out of town and go out of state to gamble. … We need to have that business here locally,” she said. When it comes to the Eagle Ford Shale, both Lozano and Gonzalez Toureilles have served on the House Energy Resources Committee, which oversees matters related to the production and regulation of oil and gas. Gonzalez Toureilles said, if elected, she would work to ensure that counties where drilling is taking place are getting back their fair share in revenue to fix roads and infrastructure. In Bee County, some oil and gas companies voluntarily pay more to the road and bridge fund so the county’s roads are kept in good shape, she said. That’s the kind of innovative thinking she would like to consider for other counties, too. Lozano said he would work to make sure drilling and exploration continue in the state and fight any efforts to stop it, noting his opposition to federal proposals to list a lizard species in the shale area as endangered or threatened. “I’m fighting for thousands of jobs, not for lizards,” he said. District 43 is a largely rural district that includes Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg and San Patricio counties. State representatives serve two-year terms and earn $7,200 per year, plus a per diem during legislative sessions.

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 29

Nueces County Precinct 1 commissioner

FROM DOWNTOWN TO NORTH BEACH, WEST TO CALALLEN The Nueces County Precinct 1 commissioner represents a diverse area that stretches from downtown Corpus Christi to North Beach and west to Calallen. The commissioner is one of five members of

the Commissioners Court, which approves the budget and sets policies for governing the unincorporated areas of the county. County government in Texas also is responsible for the district court system and

Incumbent Pusley aims to keep edge By Julie Silva silvaj@caller.com 361-886-3627

Mike Pusley edged out Commissioner Peggy Bañales in 2008, taking 50.4 percent of the votes in Precinct 1. Serving his ﬁrst term, Pusley said he was surprised at how long it takes to complete projects and the amount of paperwork each commissioner sees. Pusley has focused on projects such as cleaning up Hazel Bazemore Park and improving technology at the county. He’s also working on a 48-acre sports complex near Tuloso-

Midway High School. “It takes a very long time to get anything done,” Pusley said. “Projects and working through interlocal agreements, those kinds of things are a challenge.” He said the county still has work to do on drainage. Also while in office, Pusley said he’s worked with the Commissioners Court to balance the budget without laying off employees or cutting employee beneﬁts. He took heat earlier this year during redistricting discussions that centered around four voting precincts. Democrats said the revised map was

Torres wants to fix county government By Julie Silva silvaj@caller.com 361-886-3627

In the decades David Torres spent with the Corpus Christi Police Department, he said he was the one asked to ﬁx problems no matter who was chief. That’s exactly the role he hopes to play on the Nueces County Commissioners Court. A retired police commander who now owns a small business providing security guards and investigation, Torres moved to Corpus Christi in 1977 to attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He then joined the police force

and served in the northwestern part of the city. “It led me to appreciate bipartisanship philosophy because a lot of people just want to be heard,” Torres said. “It seems like people are very tired of local government.” If elected, Torres said his company would not put in bids on county- or port-related contracts. Torres said there’s a lack of communication between the city and county, and the two entities should do more together to consolidate services. The county could use an operational audit, where each department’s mission and

the county jail. The salary for the position is about $70,000, and the commissioner serves a four-year term. Julie Silva

MIKE PUSLEY Age: 61 Party: Republican Occupation: Part-time division information technology manager Political experience: County commissioner Precinct 1, 2009-present; Corpus Christi Planning Commission, 2001-2007; Corpus Christi Storm Water Advisory Committee, 1997-2001; Tuloso-Midway ISD board of trustees, 1986-1994. I bring over 25 years of experience, in both elected and appointed positions, to our community. This, along with my over 35 years of business experience, provides me with a unique and valuable background for not only dealing with county issues, but also working with other entities to represent taxpayers.”

biased against Hispanics. Recently, Pusley said his district is almost exactly the same as it was when the court started the redistricting process. Pusley, an information

technology manager, graduated from Miller High School in 1969. He has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He and his wife, Norma, have two children.

DAVID TORRES Age: 56 Party: Democrat Occupation: Owner of security business, retired Corpus Christi police commander Political experience: None Being a full-time commissioner that is responsive to the entire precinct, regardless of where you live or what party you belong to, and has the courage to bring positive results through an open and fair government will be my No. 1 priority.”

number of staff are analyzed, Torres said. He’d also like to put together an employee incentive program to reward those who report waste, abuse and inefficiency. “When it comes to ﬁnancial issues, I am very conserva-

tive,” Torres said. “You have to be when dealing with public money.” Torres has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He is married with two children.

30 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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State House

Nueces County Precinct 3 commissioner

CENTRAL CORPUS CHRISTI AND WEST The Nueces County Precinct 3 commissioner represents much of central Corpus Christi west to include Robstown, Banquete, Agua Dulce and Driscoll. The commissioner is one of ﬁve members of

DISTRICT 34

county jail. The salary for the position is about $70,000, and the commissioner serves a four-year term. Julie Silva

Mitchell plans to slash county costs By Julie Silva silvaj@caller.com 361-886-3627

A retired property appraiser, Richard “Dick” Mitchell knows how local government is funded, and he wants to get it under control. “There’s got to be an adult on that court somewhere,” said Mitchell, a Republican. Mitchell questioned expenditures such as the $50,000 spent to inspect the old county courthouse and the $14,000 spent monthly to lease a building that houses records. The building leaks when it rains. This is his third attempt to unseat incumbent Democrat

RICHARD MITCHELL AGE: 63 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Retired from Nueces County Appraisal District POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None I understand that all county funds belong to the citizens. The power to tax should only be used to meet the necessary requirements of government. My background in ad valorem appraisal and my knowledge of county government prove me the best choice for county commissioner.”

Oscar Ortiz. “I just don’t like the way money is being spent at the

Nueces County Courthouse,” Mitchell said. “It’s not their money. They’re just stewards

of it.” He disagreed that the commissioners’ need discretionary funds, calling it a slush fund and saying that the taxpayers need that money more than the court does. While Mitchell agreed the county needed a new show barn, he thinks the county shouldn’t have spent so much money on the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. He suggested the county keep the show barn and give the baseball field to the Texas A&M System. Mitchell has a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Ortiz brings experience to court By Julie Silva silvaj@caller.com 361-886-3627

With almost 18 years of experience under his belt, Oscar Ortiz is running for another term. Ortiz, the Precinct 3 commissioner, is one of two Democrats on the ﬁve-member Commissioners Court, and he recently found himself in the minority in redistricting discussions Democrats said were unfair to Hispanics. Still, he said, members of the court usually are on the same page and work together. “I think we represent all of the county,” Ortiz said. “Nine-

OSCAR ORTIZ AGE: 61 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: County commissioner EXPERIENCE: County commissioner Precinct 3, 1994-present. I have represented Nueces County for the past 18 years. I have seen to it that all areas of Nueces County are fairly represented. I have represented diverse cross sections of Nueces County, geographically and demographically. I know the county, the cities in this county and the unincorporated areas.”

ty percent of the time we all vote the same.” To thrive, Nueces County

needs to attract a younger demographic, Ortiz said. County residents are getting older,

and more people are turning 65 and getting tax exemptions, which means fewer taxes are being paid. The answer, he said, is to develop tourism and business. Ortiz said his precinct has a lot of infrastructure needs, especially with Interstate 69 planned. Though the project is overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation, the county still has to pay for a portion of the construction costs. “County roads may not be as intensely traveled as others, but you still have to get your crops to market,” Ortiz said. Ortiz has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

from Page 26

up and vote. Herrero and Scott both were uncontested in this year’s primary, and Scott’s primary vote total of 4,210 was down by 300 compared with 2010. Mea nwhile, Herrero’s primary numbers surged from 4,038 in 2010 to 5,302 this year, suggesting he is primed for a comeback. But in a presidential election year with a solid support base and ample campaign cash, Scott will be no pushover. She reported $206,000 in donations between Jan. 1 and June 30 and had almost that much available to spend, while Herrero, who pulled in less than $39,000 in the same period, had about $25,000 available to spend. The largely rural District 34 covers all of western Nueces County including Agua Dulce, Banquete, Bishop, Robstown, Driscoll and Petronila and also encompasses precincts in central, north, northwest and Southside Corpus Christi. Whether it be Herrero or Scott, the district representative must be ready to fight for the education, employment and health care needs of some of the poorest communities in Texas. According to the latest census figures, median household income in Robstown was $30,500, almost $20,000 below the state average, while nine of every 100 residents older than 25 held a college degree. State representat ives serve two-year terms and earn $7,200 per year plus a per diem during legislative sessions.

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 31

Nueces County district attorney

DA hopefuls differ on management strategies By Michelle Villarreal villarrealm@caller.com 361-886-3716

The Nueces County district attorney candidates share plans for domestic violence programs and easing a case backlog, but they differ in management strategies. The district attorney leads an office of more than 60, including about 40 prosecutors and 20 support staff. The office handles the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases in Nueces County. Democratic incumbent Mark Skurka was elected to the top spot two years ago after beating Anna Ji-

menez in the 2010 special election. He took office Nov. 23, 2010, and started making changes. He said he streamlined the intake process to help with the case backlog and incorporated a driving while intoxicated program in the courts. Skurka plans to implement a domestic violence partnership to assist the women involved. He also plans to add a detective within the office and to give prosecutors raises. Republican James Sales, a longtime prosecutor, is challenging Skurka. Sales said the courts need more programs for cases, specifically

for family violence victims. He also said the district attorney’s office needs to maintain a better relationship with the Corpus Christi Police Department, which will help with the case backlog. Sales said he would prosecute eight to 10 trials a year and would leave the administrative duties to the first assistant. He also said he would give prosecutors more freedom to determine a defendant’s prison sentence in sentencing recommendations and plea deals. The four-year position pays about $125,000 a year plus a $12,000 county supplement.

JAMES SALES

MARK SKURKA

AGE: 45 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Assistant district attorney for Bee, Live Oak and McMullen counties POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 52 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Nueces County district attorney POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected district attorney in 2010 special election

Ten years as gang prosecutor despite multiple death threats proved my dedication to this community. I will repair the credibility of the district attorney’s office, which has taken an unprecedented hit with the judiciary, community and law enforcement. Corpus Christi Police Officers Association gave me their endorsement for a reason.”

I am experienced, dedicated and qualiﬁed. I have been a prosecutor for 25 years, am board certiﬁed in criminal law and have prosecuted numerous cases, including capital murder. As district attorney for the past two years, I have provided leadership, integrity and justice to the citizens of Nueces County.”

Nueces County sheriff

Race pits experienced foes By Steven Alford alfords@caller.com 361-886-3602

A two-term incumbent and a longtime police lieutenant with more than half a century of law enforcement experience between them will face off in November in the Nueces County sheriff’s race. Jim Kaelin, 70, is the Republican incumbent who has served as sheriff since 2007. His opponent is Isaac Valencia, 53, of the Corpus Christi Police Department. The sheriff’s office oversees about 330 full- and parttime employees. The office has a budget of about $18.6 million with about $12.5 million allocated

for the county jail. Duties include maintaining and running the jail, overseeing courthouse security and enforcing laws outside the city limits within Nueces County. The position’s annual salary is about $78,000. One of the biggest issues in the race is whether to consolidate the county jail. With a city detention center and a county jail, Corpus Christi residents essentially pay twice for the same service. Kaelin said he has a plan to expand the jail using existing infrastructure and the county annex, while Valencia pledges to take a hard look at jail consolidation and work to make it a reality.

Another issue is whether sheriff’s deputies are doing enough. Some have called for the ability to use radar on roadways to catch speeding motorists. That requires funds for calibrated speedometers, radar guns and associated training. Kaelin has said he would rather have deputies patrol rural neighborhoods looking for crime and leave traffic enforcement to other agencies. Valencia has said he’s open to re-evaluating the office’s distribution of manpower. Kaelin has received the endorsement of the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association, while Valencia received the endorsement of the Nueces County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

JIM KAELIN

ISAAC VALENCIA

AGE: 70 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Nueces County sheriff POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Sheriff, 2007 to present

AGE: 53 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Corpus Christi police lieutenant POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

I am the only candidate running for the office of sheriff who has a proven record of service: cleaned up the county jail, returned federal inmates, and have saved our county taxpayers over $15 million. I said I would make you a good sheriff and I have.”

Our jails are overcrowded and law enforcement is understaffed, yet we’re paying twice as much as we should to fund two jails — taxpayers need relief, not broken promises. My 29 years of experience at CCPD equip me to lead the sheriff’s office. It’s time for a change in command!”

32 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

A vote for

BILL CLARK

is a vote for FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. The annual operating budget of the Corpus Christi Independent School District is $321,668,278. That is a lot of money. We need Trustees on the School Board who are trained in finance and understand how to get the most efficient use of our tax dollars. Bill Clark is that man. Not only has he been a well-respected two term Trustee for 8 years, Bill is also a taxpayer advocate. Bill Clark understands how to use fiscal responsibility to improve educational opportunity.

HE CERTAINLY DESERVES YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6. ▸ President, Corpus Christi Independent School District ▸ Treasurer, Nueces County Dispute Resolution Services ▸ Past Chairman PTA Audit Committee, Meadowbrook Elementary School ▸ Past Chairman PTA Audit Committee, Cullen Middle School ▸ Past President, King High School Football Booster Club ▸ Past Chairman CCISD Athletic Advisory Group ▸ Co-Chairman, CCISD Master Facility Plan, Ancillary Sites Action Team ▸ Past President, Pharaoh Valley Neighborhood Association ▸ Past Director, Al Amin Shrine Temple

Re-Elect

BILL CLARK

FOR C.C.I.S.D. BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT LARGE - NOVEMBER 6 Political Advertisement paid for by Bill Clark.

CAL104001

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 33

13th Court of Appeals

Place 2

Three places in court up for election One chief justice and ﬁve other justices preside over the 13th Court of Appeals, which handles all civil and criminal cases appealed from the lower courts except death penalty cases. Justices serve six-year terms and earn about $137,500 annually.

The court serves 20 counties and has offices in Corpus Christi and Edinburg. The counties served are: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio,

San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton and Willacy. Three places are up for the November election. State District Judge Tom Greenwell, a Republican, and Democrat Nora Longoria, an attorney in McAllen, are vying for the open Place 2 seat. Republican

attorney Brad Condit is challenging Justice Nelda Rodriguez, a Democrat, for Place 4. Democratic incumbent Gina Benavides is being challenged by Republican prosecutor Doug Norman for Place 5.

AGE: 56 PARTY: Republican Occupation: State district judge POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: 319th State District Court, 2003-present

Michelle Villarreal

I want to restore the reputation that the 13th Court of Appeals once had. The court needs hardworking judges who will follow the law as written and administer justice equally, without regard to the judge’s personal or political beliefs. I will work hard to do achieve those goals.”

Place 4

BRADFORD M. CONDIT

NELDA VIDAURRI RODRIGUEZ

AGE: 59 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 58 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: 13th Court of Appeals Justice POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed municipal court judge, 199092, Title IV-D Court Master judge for Hidalgo County, 1992-95; elected 13th Court of Appeals justice, 1995-present

Currently 95 percent of court decisions are reviewed on an abuse of discretion standard, which is not law. This unpredictable, non-law standard gives too much power to judges to ignore the law and decide cases based on their personal opinions. I will strictly follow and apply the law as written.”

I have worked hard as your senior justice to consistently maintain one of the most efficient dockets in the court. My focus has always been to dispose of cases promptly and efficiently, while making sound decisions that withstand scrutiny by the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals.”

Place 5

GINA M. BENAVIDES

DOUG NORMAN

AGE: 49 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: 13th Court of Appeals justice POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: 13th Court of Appeals Justice, 2007-present; Texas Access for Justice Commission board member, 2010

AGE: 50 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Assistant district attorney POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

Since being elected in 2006, I have worked hard to make the 13th Court of Appeals more efficient, effective, and accessible. I ask for your vote because I am qualiﬁed, experienced, and give South Texas a voice on important legal issues at both the state and national levels.”

TOM GREENWELL

I have 25 years experience as an appellate attorney, more criminal law experience than any other candidate, and a deep desire to bring the court back to a position of scholarship and respect. I am an Army veteran who believes in accountability and discipline, judicial restraint, and fair treatment.”

NORA L. LONGORIA AGE: 47 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Attorney POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None After representing people from all walks of life in our courtrooms for over 20 years, I will bring the necessary combination of education, experience, wisdom, and integrity, which led my fellow lawyers and judges of the 20 county area to select me as most qualiﬁed in the State Bar poll.”

34 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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State District Court

347th

Judges will decide cases large and small Many of the high-proﬁle cases a community remembers play out in state district courts. When Selena Quintanilla Perez’s killer, Yolanda Saldivar, faced murder charges, it was in a district court. District court judges preside over felony criminal cases including capital murder, man-

slaughter, robbery and assault. But the court also hears day-today cases such as divorce and civil matters involving $200 or more. State District Judge Nanette Hasette, a Democrat, is being challenged for the 28th District Court by Republican Doug Mann, a gang prosecutor

in the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office. In the 214th District Court, Democratic Judge José Longoria is being challenged by Republican Assistant District Attorney Jack Pulcher. In the 347th District Court, Democrat René Flores is challenging Republican Judge Mis-

sy Medary, who has held the bench for about a year. She was appointed when Nelva Gonzales Ramos became a federal judge. District judges serve fouryear terms and earn about $140,000 annually. Michelle Villarreal

28th District Court

NANETTE HASETTE

DOUG MANN

AGE: 52 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: State district judge POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State district judge, 1997-current

AGE: 58 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Assistant district attorney POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

With 16 years of substantial judicial experience, I have disposed of well over 15,000 jury and nonjury cases providing me the legal ability to interpret and apply the law to every possible factual situation. Through honesty, experience and hard work, I will continue to handle each case competently and fairly.”

I have tried cases of all kinds in the district courts and have served twice as a felony prosecutor, including presently. I know how the criminal justice system works and will use that knowledge to both punish violent crime and reduce backlog and jail population.”

214th District Court

JOSÉ LONGORIA

JACK PULCHER

AGE: 69 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: State district judge POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected presiding administrative judge of the Nueces County Council of Judges; appointed divert court judge

AGE: 43 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Assistant district attorney POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

I have 11 years experience as presiding judge, handling over 15,000 cases. I am a hard worker, handling thousands of highproﬁle cases without a backlog. I treat all litigants equally, with respect and courtesy. I have been making the hard decisions in important cases, with an outstanding appellate record.”

I stand for respect, professionalism and expertise in the 214th. I will base decisions on facts and evidence as they are presented to the court and give both sides their chance to be heard and ruled. I will be hard on crime and give the 214th back to the taxpayer.”

RENÉ C. FLORES AGE: 48 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None I’m the best qualified candidate with the most experience (over 19 years), having handled all types of cases court handles (family, civil and criminal), a Princeton University and University of California at Berkeley Law School graduate, and a former chief of litigation for Nueces County and assistant federal public defender.”

MISSY MEDARY AGE: 48 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: State district judge POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed 347th state district judge in 2011; appointed municipal court judge, 2003-11; previously appointed director of Corpus Christi Commission on Children and Youth I am honest, fair and treat everyone who comes into my courtroom with courtesy, dignity and respect. I have been an attorney for the past 23 years with 10 years of judicial experience. I have tried and presided over thousands of criminal, civil and family law cases.”

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Jack Judge

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 35

E T O V

FOR

Jack W. Pulcher

For 214th District Court

Endorsed by Corpus Christi Police Officer’s Associa Association GPAC Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases for Nueces County and presented over 30,000 cases to the Grand Jury Graduate of Texas A&M College Station and South Texas College of Law Assistant District Attorney since 1999

Committed to bringing ethics, courtesy and professionalism back to the 214th District Court! Political Ad paid for by Jack Pulcher Campaign, Celina Ybarbo Pulcher, Treasurer, P.O. Box 271876, CC, Texas 78427-1876

CAL103975

36 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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State Board of Education

Slot opened by retirement By Elaine Marsilio marsilioe@caller.com 361-886-3794

A Gregory-Portland ISD educator and a Brownsville businessman will face off in the November election for the District 2 seat on the 15-member State Board of Education. Republican Laurie J. Turner, a teacher at Gregory-Portland Junior High School, and Democrat Ruben Cortez Jr. will vie for the seat, which is up for grabs as longtime state board member Mary Helen Berlanga plans to retire this year. Cortez won a runoff election in July against San Benito educator Celeste Zepeda Sanchez. Turner won the Republican race in the May primary against McAllen educator Veronica Anzaldua. Outgoing state board mem-

ber Berlanga, of Corpus Christi, has served on the board since 1982. She is known for arguing for the inclusion of key parts of Texas history in textbooks, including the contributions of blacks, Hispanics and Spanish explorers. The State Board of Education sets policies and curriculum standards for educational programs in the public school system and approves the creation of new charter schools. All 15 state board seats are up for election this year. That means once elected, each member will draw numbers to determine which seven will serve in two-year terms and which eight will serve in fouryear terms, Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said. Board members don’t receive compensation for serving in their elected positions, but

they receive reimbursement for travel expenses, she said. District 2 serves an area that includes most of Coastal Texas, from Wharton County to Cameron County and parts of Hidalgo County. In the past, the board has come under scrutiny for its discussions and actions regarding school curriculum and textbooks, particularly regarding Texas history. The education commissioner, who leads the Texas Education Agency, helps administer state board policies through the education agency. The Texas public school system is composed of 1,237 school districts and charter schools, more than 8,400 campuses, more than 659,000 educational employees and more than 4.8 million students, according to the Texas Education Agency.

RUBEN CORTEZ JR. AGE: 38 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Businessman POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Former Brownsville ISD school board member Cortez did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

LAURIE J. TURNER AGE: 42 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Educator POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None This campaign has been about our children and their futures. Our education system offers one path: collegebound; but many of our students do not continue on to college. I propose to bring back and build up career-vocational certiﬁed education programs that will enable students to become productive citizens.”

County Court-at-Law No. 3

Judges deal with criminal, probate, civil cases County courts-at-law handle criminal misdemeanor cases, probate matters, mental competency hearings and civil cases. Judges serve four-year terms and earn about $139,000 annually. Former County Court-atLaw No. 3 Judge John Martinez resigned Nov. 7. His term runs through 2014. In the November election, private practice attorney Deeanne Galvan, a Democrat, is running to unseat Judge David Stith, a Republican, who was appointed and took over the bench in January. Michelle Villarreal

DEEANNE GALVAN

DAVID STITH

AGE: 50 PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed Corpus Christi Municipal Court judge in 1999. Reappointed to second term.

AGE: 42 PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: County Court-at-Law judge POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected presiding judge County Courts-at-Law; appointed County Court-at-Law No. 3 judge; appointed Nueces Coastal Parks Board commissioner

I am experienced and fair. I hold a law degree from St. Mary’s University and have been licensed 23 years. I am a former municipal court judge. I have handled thousands of cases, including civil litigation, criminal cases, probate cases, juvenile, guardianships and appeals; including many jury trials.”

I know the law and apply it fairly to all parties. I don’t legislate from the bench. I try to improve the way that our justice system runs by using new and innovative ideas and I will always remember that I work for the people of Nueces County.”

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 37

School bonds

Gregory-Portland asks for $30.4M bond By Elaine Marsilio marsilioe@caller.com 361-886-3794

Gregory-Portland ISD will ask voters in November to approve a $30.4 million bond issue to replace a 55-year-old elementary school, expand Austin Elementary and build a new physical education and sports facility. A new elementary in Gregory-Portland Independent School District would serve 600-700 students and replace the existing East Cliff Elementary, which is close to its capacity of about 355 students and likely would be turned into administrative offices. A new East Cliff in Portland would add fifth-grade students, who currently go to intermediate school. An expansion of Austin Elementary School in Gregory also would add fifth grade. Superintendent Paul Clore said a new East Cliff would address safety and security concerns at the current East Cliff, where the campus has flooring with exposed rebar and rusting beams protruding from the ceilings.

RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

The restroom, including open stalls and urinals, of the junior varsity football team at Gregory-Portland High School is between the locker rooms of two other teams in the ﬁeldhouse. The teams would receive new space if a bond passes in November.

The school also has limited electrical power and outside hallways, he said. A similar bond for $30 million failed in 2008 for a new East Cliff, a replacement ﬁeld house and infrastructure improvements, Clore said. The November bond revisits the idea of a new East Cliff and a physical education and all sports facility, and the need for them still is there, Clore said.

“It’s simply gotten more extensive because we’re using more and more technology, and some of those safety issues are becoming more and more apparent,” he said. Clore said he wants the community to be informed about the November bond issue. The district website provides links to facility information outlining the district’s need for the bond. A Friends of GPISD group,

which is an independent political action committee, started a Facebook page in support of the bond and has spoken at parentteacher meetings about the issue. Friends of GPISD President Jerry Browning Jr., who has three children in the district, said the district is in dire need of a new East Cliff. “It is not salvageable from its current structure,” Browning said. “It was built without safety and security features in mind.” Gregory-Portland ISD parent Cherise Moreno, who started a Facebook page in opposition to the bond issue, said East Cliff needs to be replaced, but the campus should remain where it is so students aren’t uprooted and so the neighborhood can continue to have a nearby school. “We’re always going to need our school there,” she said. “That’s why we bought our house. ... We don’t want to lose (our school).” The district is looking at land near Meadowbrook Drive and Broadway Boulevard in Portland for the new East Cliff. Moreno said she has concerns with the proposed site

FACILITY NEEDS

Go to www.g-pisd.org, scroll to the bottom, and click on “Facility Meetings” to get information about the district’s facility study related to the November bond.

being near a Wal-Mart because of student safety. Browning said the proposed plan also has the new East Cliff near a church, a day care and a subdivision. A new physical education and sports facility would be built at Gregory-Portland High School and replace an existing ﬁeld house at the current junior high, where two athletes typically share a locker because of lack of space, Clore said. The new facility would be open to athletes from all Gregory-Portland sports, he said. The bond would not affect the district’s tax rate, Clore said. The overall district tax rate would remain at 1.35 cents per $100 valuation. Last year’s tax rate was 1.37 cents per $100 valuation.

Robstown to vote on new school By Rhiannon Meyers meyersr@caller.com 361-886-3694

Voters will decide whether to spend $12.5 million to build new classrooms, a cafeteria and a library at Robstown High School. Robstown Independent School District will hold a bond election to replace the oldest areas of the high school campus. Preliminary plans call for a multistory building that could house the classrooms, cafeteria and library, but the district has not decided what would happen to the existing buildings. The front offices, the newest section of the school, would be

left alone. If voters approved the bond, tax rates could increase by 6 cents, from $1.61 per $100 valuation to $1.67 per $100 valuation. That means a homeowner with a house appraised at $100,000 would pay $60 more per year. The 6-cent increase puts the district at its debt cap. Even if the bond election passes, the district needs additional funds to move forward with the renovation project, school board President Osvaldo Romero said. The district would like to seek funding from a state program that helps school districts pay down debt on construction

or renovation of instructional facilities, but that program has not been funded again by the state Legislature. The district also plans to seek funding from both state and federal programs aimed at helping school districts with construction costs and debt. Romero said he is conﬁdent the district, which has a large low-income population, will be able to access federal and state funding to help pay for the improvements. School officials have said the renovations are necessary because the high school’s academic classrooms, cafeteria and library are outdated, not as secure as newer schools and not energy efficient.

RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

Robstown High School students pass broken ﬂoor tiles as they change classes. Should voters approve the $12.5 million school bond in November, the district plans to build a multistory building that could house the classrooms, cafeteria and library, but the district has not decided what would happen to the existing buildings.

38 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

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CCISD Board of Trustees

3 at-large seats to be decided ■ Rubio faces

no opponent in District 2 race By Elaine Marsilio marsilioe@caller.com 361-886-3794

After November’s election, newly elected CCISD trustees will join the district at a time when it is building a new Southside high school, adjusting to state standardized testing changes and dealing with the Legislature’s adjustments to education funding. Voters will decide who will serve in three Corpus Christi Independent School District at-large seats as well as its District 2 seat, which represents much of the district’s Westside. District 2 incumbent Lucy Rubio, who has served on the board for more than a decade, doesn’t have an opponent. At-large incumbents Bill Clark, Tony Diaz and Guillermo “Willie” C. Perez are seeking re-election to their seats. They face challengers: community volunteer Jane

Bell; retired CCISD administrator Joe Cavazos Jr.; Plano educator Patty Harris; retired teacher Drusilla Knight-Villarreal, outgoing city councilman John Marez; teacher Hector “Coach” Salinas and physical therapist Marcus Sorenson. CCISD trustees oversee the district’s $274.1 million budget, manage district policies affecting the more than 38,000 students and approve new educational programs. The district has about 5,000 employees. About 2,400 of those are classroom teachers. The district has started new projects, such as the construction of a new Carroll High School and the Harold T. Branch Academy for Career and Technical Education. The new academy will be a magnet school for ninththrough 12th-graders, who will be selected for enrollment through a lottery system. The school will allow students to take career and technical classes, from court reporting to cosmetology, at See CCISD, Page 40

RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

Carroll High School students Sonal Ahuja, 16 (from left), Gabriel Garcia, 17, and mascots Stefani Soltero, 17, and Priscilla Chapa, 16, break ground on the new high school on Cimarron Boulevard on Monday. The new board of trustess will be in place while the district oversees the building of the ﬁrst high school in Corpus Christi Independent School District in 45 years.

Re-Elect GABE

RIVAS DEL MAR BOARD OF REGENTS DISTRICT ONE Vote For Dedicated Service Continued Commitment Experienced Leadership

Pol. Adv. Pd. For by Gabriel Rivas for Del Mar Board of Regents Comm. Joseph Rivas, Treas. P.O. Box 5065 Corpus Christi

CAL103138

Board of Trustees District 2

LUCY RUBIO AGE: 60 OCCUPATION: Retired/public servant POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Independent School District trustee in District 2, May 2000 to present; Nueces County Democratic Party chairwoman, 2008-2010 I possess the knowledge and experience to get the job done. I have the ability to attend meetings and make time for school functions. I do not have any special interests other than making sure proper resources are allocated so all students can feel safe and receive a quality education.”

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« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 39

CCISD trustees at-large

JANE BELL

JOSE CAVAZOS JR.

BILL CLARK

TONY DIAZ

AGE: 57 OCCUPATION: Community volunteer and former American Diabetes Association director POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 81 OCCUPATION: Retired CCISD administrator; current Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi student teacher supervisor POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 61 OCCUPATION: Accountant POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi ISD trustee, 2004 to present

AGE: 79 OCCUPATION: Retired CCISD school administrator POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Independent School District at-large trustee, 2008 to present; appointed to the board of MHMR of Nueces County; appointed to the Citizens’ Advisory Health Board

CCISD is making positive steps in strengthening curriculum, improving facilities and focusing on students. We are better but can be exceptional. A mother of four CCISD students and graduates, I am a voice and stakeholder to represent families. I aim to bolster the momentum of this progress for our community.”

The voters of CCISD should vote for me as I have 50 years experience as a teacher, vice principal and director of elementary and secondary principals. Currently, I supervise student teachers for the university. I understand the needs of students, teachers, parents and taxpayers. I am fair, equitable and open-minded.”

Our community can depend on my professional experience in budget planning and implementation to continue to bring ﬁscal responsibility and longrange planning to support programs and curriculum. My goal has always been to provide all students with a successful education that prepares them for their life choices.”

More CCISD trustees candidates are on Page 40

VOTEJohn

CCISD citizens should vote for me because I am the incumbent with a proven record as being totally committed to ensuring all students ultimately graduate from high school. Additionally, I have 50 years experience as an educator, with a doctoral degree, who served as a teacher, counselor, principal and assistant superintendent.”

Police & Firefighters Endorsed

Sendejar for

City Council At-Large #1 on the Ballot #1 Trusted Candidate How Can You Expect Change Without Change? Political ad paid for by John Sendejar

CAL104023

40 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

CCISD trustees at-large

PATTY HARRIS

JOHN MAREZ

DRUSILLA KNIGHTVILLARREAL

AGE: 56 OCCUPATION: Plano educator POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None Elect the most informed and objective candidates, who are passionate about CCISD, its teachers/staff, students and student academic achievement. Too many board members only ‘serve’ to further their business network and to beneﬁt from insider information. First runner-up to four current CCISD board members. Certiﬁed teacher and administrator.”

AGE: 61 OCCUPATION: Retired classroom teacher POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed to the Texas Teachers’ Professional Practices Commission by Gov. Bill Clements; Appointed to the Texas Special Education Continuing Advisory Committee and the Texas Early Childhood Committee by Gov. Rick Perry The school board is composed of seven members. Only two are professional educators with classroom instruction and campus management experience. More educators, knowledgeable of school ﬁnance and budgeting, are needed to represent classroom teachers, campus administrators managing the overall learning environment and the taxpayers footing the bill.”

AGE: 40 OCCUPATION: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services supervisor POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi city councilman, 2005 to present I am a CCISD parent, graduate. I have visited each CCISD campus and known their issues. City Councilman: the only candidate that has voted for balanced budgets. Reduced taxes, increased ethics rules. Currently active in CCISD: PTA, Watch DOGS, scouting and former mentor. Will bring stability to the school board.”

GUILLERMO ‘WILLIE’ C. PEREZ

HECTOR ‘COACH’ SALINAS JR.

AGE: 68 OCCUPATION: Retired CCISD assistant principal and English teacher POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Independent School District at-large trustee, 2008 to present

AGE: 67 OCCUPATION: Teacher at Richard Milburn Academy POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 34 OCCUPATION: Physical therapist, teacher and owner of Kingsville Home Rehab Services Inc. POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

I have over 40 years of experience working in the community and (in) different levels of education — middle, high school and collegiate. I work well with parents, students and the community. I strongly advocate for educators: I am a teacher, and I understand the interests, concerns and issues we face.”

I am a father, husband, son, physical therapist, local small-business owner, teacher, and I am very passionate about children and education. I am not a politician. I believe we need leaders with the highest integrity and ethical standards, especially regarding the future of our children.”

My community involvement would be my main reason why I think people should vote for me. I arrived here in 1972.”

CCISD

from Page 38 Del Mar College’s West Campus. The new Carroll highschool, projected to open in fall 2013, provides district

students with a program of choice, which is a key district goal outlined by current CCISD trustees. The new school will be the district’s ﬁrst new high school since 1967. The school will help alleviate added growth on the city’s

far Southside. Trustees plan to review attendance zone changes as part of preparations for the new Carroll, which is set to open in fall 2014. Trustees also will continue to deal with the state’s standardized testing system as

MARCUS SORENSON

students and districts shift from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. In addition, administrators have discussed with trustees a hope that the Texas Educa-

tion Agency receives a waiver for provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act so state districts can have standardized testing standards that better align with state performance measures. CCISD trustees serve in unpaid positions.

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Del Mar College regents

District 3

Candidates face off in 3 races The Del Mar College Board of Regents will face anticipated cuts in state funding and potential changes to how colleges are funded in Texas after the Legislature convenes in January. Newly elected Del Mar regents will be part of the discussion as to how the college will deal with projected funding

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 41

reductions or mandates. District 3 incumbent Elva Estrada, who was elected in 2006, doesn’t have an opponent. District 1 incumbent Gabe Rivas III, who was appointed to ﬁll a vacancy in District 1 in 2007 and elected in 2008, will face Abel E. Pérez Sr., a retired Navy distribution manager/

traffic manager. The at-large candidates are: surgical radiologist/technologist Ramiro Gambi Gamboa, retired school administrator Sandra Longoria-Messbarger, banker Herbert Schueneman, and retired process engineer Larry White. Elaine Marsilio

ELVA ESTRADA AGE: 65 OCCUPATION: Retired school administrator POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Del Mar College Board of Regents, 2006-present My educational background and my experience as a college regent have prepared me for another term. Six years ago, I set goals for myself, and these goals have been accomplished. I have represented District 3 in a professional manner, and I will continue doing my best for Del Mar College.”

At-large

RAMIRO GAMBI GAMBOA AGE: 63 OCCUPATION: Surgical radiologist/technologist POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Current appointment to the Corpus Christi Human Relations Commission and previous appointments to the city’s Board of Adjustment, the Airport Board and the Watershore and Beach Advisory Committee My experiences in serving in the community and the boards I served on have given me the vital skills needed to be on the Del Mar Board of Regents. I feel that equal education should be available to all who seek to further their education.”

HERBERT SCHUENEMAN AGE: 31 OCCUPATION: Banker POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Corpus Christi Community Improvement Corp./Loan Review Committee, September to present I should be elected because of my unique experience of having worked in both banking and politics. Del Mar College is an important institution to South Texas, and it needs leadership that understands both how to run efficiently and how to defend against decreasing funding from the state.”

SANDRA LONGORIAMESSBARGER

District 1

AGE: 68 OCCUPATION: Retired schoolteacher/administrator POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

ABEL E. PÉREZ SR.

GABE RIVAS III

I have 32 years in public education and school administration in South Texas, coupled with my deep affection for Del Mar College as my introduction to higher education. Education is a continuing process, and I feel Del Mar College plays a major role in providing that continuation.”

AGE: 62 OCCUPATION: Retired Navy distribution manager/traffic manager POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

AGE: 58 OCCUPATION: Photography business owner POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Del Mar College Board of Regents District 1 regent, 2000-2006; appointed to ﬁll District 1 vacancy, 2007-2008; Re-elected District 1 regent, 2008-present. Appointments to the City Sister Committee, the Landmark Commission and the Municipal Arts Commission.

LARRY WHITE AGE: 62 OCCUPATION: Retired process engineer POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed in 2011 to a three-year term on the Corpus Christi Ethics Commission I have a passion for quality education. I recently retired after 38 years as an engineer and have been a university professor. I’m active in diverse volunteer work. My whole family has attended Del Mar. I have the experience, time and knowledge to well serve the board of regents.”

‘Leadership for difference’ is the message I offer. I intend not just to lead, but to offer citizens of District 1 a more representative and more importantly responding to the Del Mar community. I pledge to be a standardbearer of morals and values holding myself to higher ethical standards.”

Del Mar College will face many challenges in the coming years. I have 12 years of experience dealing with issues that affect the college. I don’t have a hidden agenda. My priorities are dealing with the issues that will beneﬁt our students and being a good steward of taxpayers’ money.”

42 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Area ballots

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan (R) Barack Obama and Joe Biden (D) Gary Johnson and Jim Gray (L) Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala (G) U.S. SENATOR

Ted Cruz (R) Paul Sadler (D) John Jay Myers (L) David B. Collins (G) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 27

Blake Farenthold (R) Rose Meza Harrison (D) Corrie Byrd (L) Bret Baldwin (I) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 34

Jessica Puente Bradshaw (R) Filemon Vela (D) Steven (Ziggy) Shanklin (L) STATE AND JUDICIAL RAILROAD COMMISSIONER

Christi Craddick (R) Dale Henry (D) Chris Kennedy (G) Vivekananda (Vik) Wall (L)

JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 8

Elsa Alcala (R) William Bryan Strange III (L) JUSTICE, 4TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 2

Marialyn Barnard (R) Baldemar Garza (D) JUSTICE, 4TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 3

Rebecca Simmons (R) Patricia Alvarez (D) JUSTICE, 4TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 4

Steve Hilbig (R) Luz Elena Chapa (D) JUSTICE, 4TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 5

Karen Angelini (R) David D. Towler (D) JUSTICE, 4TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 7

Phyllis J. Speedlin (R) Rebecca C. Martinez (D)

MEMBER, STATE BOARD OF

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 43

J.M. Lozano (R) Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles (D)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 36TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Patrick L. Flanigan (R)

CHIEF JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Richard Bianchi (R)

Roy Valdez (D)

EDUCATION, DISTRICT 3

David M. Williams (R) Marisa B. Perez (D) STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 18

Glenn Hegar (R)

Raul Torres (R) Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D) STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 21

Grant Rostig (R) Judith Zafﬁrini (D) Joseph Morse (L) STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 32

Todd Hunter (R) STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 34

Connie Scott (R) Abel Herrero (D)

JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 2

Tom Greenwell (R) Nora Longoria (D)

SHERIFF

Bill Mills (R) Martin DeLeon (D) TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 4

Bradford M. Condit (R) Nelda Vidaurri Rodriguez (D)

Jeri D. Cox (D) COUNTY TREASURERUNEXPIRED TERM

Alma Tamburin Cartwright (R)

JUSTICE, 13TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 5

Doug Norman (R) Gina M. Benavides (D)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1

Jack Chaney (R) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

ARANSAS COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE 343RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Charles Smith (R)

Janna K. Whatley (R) Richard D. Zapata (D)

See BALLOTS, PAGE 43

Alex

Barry Smitherman (R) Jaime O. Perez (L) Josh Wendel (G) JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 2

Garcia

Don Willett (R) RS Roberto Koelsch (L) JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 4

John Devine (R) Tom Oxford (L) Charles E. Waterbury (G) JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 6

Nathan L. Hecht (R) Michele Petty (D) Mark Ash (L) Jim Chisolm (G)

For

PRESIDING JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

County Tax Assessor Collector

CAL103114

Sharon Keller (R) Keith Hampton (D) Lance Stott (L)

Barbara Parker Hervey (R) Mark W. Bennett (L)

Laurie J. Turner (R) Ruben Cortez, Jr. (D) Lenard Nelson (L)

STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 20

RAILROAD COMMISSIONER, UNEXPIRED TERM

JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 7

MEMBER, STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 2

CAL103962

FEDERAL PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

Early Voting Oct. 22-Nov. 2nd Election day Nov. 6 THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE! POL. AD. PD FOR BY DR. HAYSAM DAWOOD, 4602 DAMASCUS, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, 78413

C A L L E R -T I M E S

« Sunday, October 21, 2012 « 43

Area ballots

BALLOTS

SAN PATRICIO COUNTY

from Page 42

DISTRICT JUDGE 343RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Janna K. Whatley (R) Richard D. Zapata (D)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER NO. 4- UNEXPIRED TERM

Betty Stiles (R)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 36TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PRECINCT NO. 2- UNEXPIRED TERM

Patrick L. Flanigan (R)

Diana Rinche-McGinnis (R)

COUNTY ATTORNEY

David Aken (D)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 1

Doc Thomas (R)

SHERIFF

Leroy Moody (D)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 2

Charles Phillips (R) COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

Dalia Sanchez (R)

BEE COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE, 343RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Janna K. Whately (R) Richard D. Zapata (D) DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 156TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Jose Aliseda (R)

RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES FILE

Polling places across the Coastal Bend will come to life Nov. 6 on Election Day. JIM WELLS COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE, 79TH JUDICIAL

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 4

Frank Davila Jr. (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 5

Robert Vasquez Sr. (D) COUNTY ATTORNEY

Juan Eduardo Garcia (R) Mike Knight (D) SHERIFF

Bill Lazenby (R) Carlos Carrizalez Jr. (D) TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

Linda G. Bridge (R) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1

DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 79TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Christina Z. Flores (R) Carlos Omar Garcia (D) COUNTY ATTORNEY

Jesusa Sanchez-Vera (D)

Dennis D. Phipps (R) Eloy Rodrigues (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 1

Lance S. French (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 2

Clifford Bagwell (R)

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Delma Rios-Salazar (D)

SHERIFF

Oscar Lopez (D) TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

Bartolo V. Guajardo Jr. (D) BEN BOLT-PALITO BLANCO SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, PLACE 2-UNEXPIRED TERM BEN BOLT-PALITO BLANCO SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, PLACE 4

Ronaldo Ramirez Ricardo “Rick” Torres

Mary C. Lozano (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1

Margie H. Gonzalez (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

Richard “Dick” Miller (R) Oswaldo “Wally” Alanis (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 1

SHERIFF

Richard Kirkpatrick (R) Edward “Ed” M. Mata Sr. (D)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 6

Zelda Saenz

Carlos Salazar Jr. (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

Nina G. Trevino (D)

DISTRICT

Richard C. Terrell (D)

BEN BOLT-PALITO BLANCO SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, PLACE 5

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 4

Matthew “Mateo” Clark (R) Jim Long (D)

Randy Sikes (R) Alma Villareal Moreno (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 1

Joe Gaitan (D)

COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR

Krystal Seidel (R) Melissa T. De La Garza (D) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1

David Rosse (R) Mario A. Mendietta (D)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 2

Chris Nunez (R) Steve B. Garcia (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 4

Pamela Haynes (R) COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

Bill Allen (R) Roy Cantu (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 1

BEN BOLT-PALITO BLANCO SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, PLACE 6

Todd Burris (R) Albert Rene Cavazos (D)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 5

Juan C. Gonzales (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 6

D.R. “Don” Perkins (R) Ron Howe (D)

Daniel Bueno CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 2 BEN BOLT-PALITO BLANCO SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE, PLACE 7

Higinio Garcia

Omar Rosales (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 3

Cirildo “Cid” Zavala (D) DISTRICT ATTORNEY, KLEBERG AND KENEDY COUNTIES

John T. Hubert (R)

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 8

Terry Gonzalez (D) GREGORY-PORTLAND ISD

KLEBERG COUNTY

Esequiel “Zeke” Ortiz

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 3

Noe Cadena

Jesus “Chuy” Salinas Jr. (D) CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 3

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT NO. 1

CONSTABLE, PRECINCT NO. 4

Amando O. Vidal (D)

PROPOSITION NO. 1 $30.4 MILLION FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

For Against

44 » Sunday, October 21, 2012 »

C A L L E R -T I M E S

Isaac VALENCIA

FOR SHERIFF ENDORSED BY NUECES COUNTY SHERIFF ’S ASSOCIATION

CAL103959

NUECES COUNTY COMBINED LAW ENFORCEMENT GPAC

IT’S TIME FOR A

Dear Friends:

CHANGE IN COMMAND!

Our jails are overcrowded and law enforcement is understaffed, yet we’re paying twice the taxes we should to run two jails! Taxpayers need relief, not broken promises! The hard-working folks at the Sheriff’s office endorsed me because my 29 years as a decorated veteran of the CCPD equip me to set a new standard of leadership as your next Sheriff. It’s time for a Change in Command! Vote Valencia!

BACHELORS DEGREE IN CRIMINOLOGY & CORRECTIONS MASTERS DEGREE IN STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

GRADUATE OF THE LEADERSHIP COMMAND COLLEGE (LEMIT) www.vote4valencia.com

Pol. Ad Pd by Isaac Valencia Campaign Fund, Paul Shamoun CPA, Treas, P. O. Box 271411 Corpus Christi, Texas 78427