THE SPECTATOR: MAKE THE TIME TO VOTE
Many times, the municipal and school board elections in May draw little interest and even fewer voters. But the election coming up this Saturday has huge implications for both the City of Brenham and the Brenham School Board. Mayor Milton Tate will be stepping down after leading the City for twenty years. And while Brenham’s city manager actually directs the day-to-day activities of the City, the mayor is the one who steers the City Council. With all of the problems the City is facing, and will face in the future, whomever wins Saturday’s election is going to play a big role in how those problems are handled. Brenham ISD also has its hands full with problems…like discipline in the classrooms and hallways, and the loss of good teachers to neighboring school districts. Now the school board has added to its plate bringing the bus service back “in house”, and forming its own police force. All four of the board seats up for election are being contested, so voters have choices. Down Highway 290 in Burton they will be electing a new mayor, and choosing four school board members from five candidates. And while the Burton community is not facing the problems that Brenham is, those races are also important for the future. There is also a contested race for the Blinn College Board of Trustees.
If you are a registered voter in Washington County, I strongly encourage you to make the time to vote in whichever elections you are eligible. There are two days remaining for early voting at the Washington County Courthouse Annex downtown. Please take advantage of early voting and free up your Saturday to enjoy Maifest. If you don’t make the time to vote, I don’t want to hear you complaining about the outcome and the choices made by the winners. And one other thing. Candidates, please stop parking your vehicles around the courthouse with big “vote for me” signs on them. Downtown parking is hard enough to find without you leaving a car or truck on the square all day long as a campaign billboard.
And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.
Unfortunately here in Brenham people seem to vote on “Local Name Recognition” and not on who is the best candidate for the job, I have seen it more times than I care to say.
Thank you for reminding registered voters of how voting effects us all. And that voting for the same people who created important issues and problems will not get any of the problems fixed. Creating more expenses for the district when the state is focused on taking taxpayer money away from public schools is foolish. Just as foolish as voting for the same type or incumbent candidates and expecting different results. Remember, we all just want the best education for our young people and intelligent spending of resources.
The city councils decisions on literally giving away hundreds of thousand of taxpayer dollars just to please a particular segment of citizens is a very bad decision for the majority of everyday residents. An actuary would study the tax abatements, give aways to privately owned enterprise, and the purchasing of items that create more expense as extremely foolish.
One again The Spectator is spot on.