Statesman Editorial Board endorsements in the November 2022 election

American-Statesman Editorial Board
·4 min read

With Election Day just a few weeks away and early voting starting Monday, Texas voters will have the opportunity to vote in key races, including contests for Texas governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. In Austin, voters will also elect a new mayor, choose candidates for five City Council and four Austin school board seats and consider three bond proposals.

Early voting begins Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 4. To find voting locations and sample ballots, visit votetravis.com (Travis County), wilco.org/elections (Williamson County), hayscountytx.com/departments/elections (Hays County) or bastropvotes.org (Bastrop County).

To arrive at its recommendations, the Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board interviewed more than 60 candidates in key races, beginning in September. Our coverage includes recommendations for 33 political races and three bond propositions.

Texas Governor

Recommendation: Beto O'Rourke

Texas Lt. Governor

Recommendation: Mike Collier

Texas Attorney General

Recommendation: Rochelle Garza

Congress

Here are the American Statesman’s recommendations in U.S. legislative races on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Recommendations:

  • Rep. Michael McCaul for U.S. House District 10

  • Claudia Zapata for U.S. House District 21

  • Greg Casar for U.S. House District 35

  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett for U.S. House District 37

Legislature

Here are the American Statesman’s recommendations in Austin-area legislative races on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Recommendations:

  • Sen. Sarah Eckhardt for Texas Senate 14

  • Sen. Judith Zaffirini for Texas Senate 21

  • Robert Walsh for Texas Senate 25

  • Pam Baggett for Texas House 19

  • Rep. Donna Howard for Texas House 48

  • Rep. James Talarico for Texas House 50

  • Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores for Texas House 51

  • Rep. Erin Zwiener for Texas House 45

  • Rep. Sheryl Cole for Texas House 46

  • Rep. Vikki Goodwin for Texas House 47

  • Rep. Gina Hinojosa for Texas House 49

  • Rep. John Bucy III for Texas House 136

State offices

Recommendation: Susan Hays for Agriculture Commissioner

The Texas Department of Agriculture commission is responsible for promoting agricultural production, administering a rural health care program, protecting consumers, managing the school lunch and breakfast programs, and more.

Recommendation: Janet T. Dudding for Comptroller

Thee Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is in charge of managing the state’s money.

Recommendation: Jay Kleberg for Land Commissioner

The Land Commissioner leadership will oversee public land management, the $48 billion Permanent School Fund, state disaster response, veterans nursing homes, the Alamo and more.

Recommendation: Luke Warford for Railroad Commissioner

The three-member Texas Railroad Commission wields immense power to ensure that fossil fuel operators are following state safety and environmental rules.

County Judge

Recommendation: County Judge Andy Brown

County Clerk

Recommendation: Dyana Limon-Mercado

Austin Mayor

Recommendation: Celia Israel

Austin City Council

Recommendations:

  • Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison for District 1

  • Jose Noe Elias for District 3

  • Ryan Alter for District 5

  • Council Member Paige Ellis for District 8

  • Ben Leffler for District 9

AISD school board

Recommendations:

  • Roxanne Evans for District 1

  • Kathryn Whitley Chu for District 4

  • Andrew Gonzales for District 6

  • Trustee Arati Singh for District 9

AISD bond proposal

Recommendation: FOR Proposition A

The largest piece of the package, Proposition A, is valued at more than $2.31 billion and would fund 25 partial and full campus modernizations, security improvements and facility renovations within the district.

Recommendation: FOR Proposition B

Proposition B — valued at about $75.5 million — would provide money for technology improvements, including student and staff laptops, learning displays and IT security.

Recommendation: FOR Proposition C

Proposition C, which is valued at $47.4 million, would fund upgrades to Nelson Field, Burger Athletic Complex, Delco Activity Center and Noack Sports Complex.

AISD bond proposal:Austin ISD has a $2.44 billion bond proposal on November ballot. Here's what's in it.

ACC bond proposal

Recommendation: FOR Proposition A

The $770 million bond would provide funding for new construction, campus upgrades and student support services, such as child care and student health services. The bond would also help the college expand training capacity for jobs in health care and advanced manufacturing and would fund new sites in southeastern and southwestern Travis County.

City of Austin bond proposal

Recommendation: FOR Proposition A

The $350 million bond would go to acquiring land and building new homes, as well as repairing existing homes that would likely be demolished but for the bond's assistance.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Statesman Editorial Board endorsements: Texas election 2022