VOTING OPENS FOR STATE REP. RACES IN HD-17, HD-85
Voters can now head to the ballot box to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries, and two races of note in the area are the state representative seats in House District 17 and House District 85.
After redistricting, the new House District 17 includes Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Lee and Milam counties. House District 85 consists of Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Waller and Wharton counties, along with parts of Fort Bend County.
Five candidates are running on the Republican ballot in House District 17, formerly held by John Cyrier, who is not seeking re-election for a fifth term. They are Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape, southern Bastrop County resident and small business owner Jennifer Bezner, Lee County resident and retired ExxonMobil executive Tom Glass, Smithville City Councilmember and former Trump Administration advisor Stan Gerdes, and Lee County resident and former Marine Trey Rutledge.
The Republican nominee will go on to face Democrat and nonprofit founder Madeline Eden in November’s general election.
House District 85 voters will have four Republican candidates to choose from. Five-term incumbent Phil Stephenson of Wharton, former Waller County Commissioner and current Brookshire-Katy Drainage District General Manager Stan Kitzman, insurance agent and rancher Fred Roberts of Colorado County, and Waller County resident and career educator Artemio “Art” Hernandez are all vying for the Republican nomination.
The winner of the March primary will run against Democrat and U.S. Navy veteran Larry Baggett of Hockley in November.
Early voting has begun and continues through Friday, February 25th. Election Day is March 1st.
Please get out and vote Besides the House and Representatives positions there are also very important issues on the ballet such as Border control, child Transgender issues and the elimination of all property taxes within the next 10 years .
Important note mail in ballots are no longer.being mailed out unless you request. Previously they were mailed but the law changed now you have to request them. They must be in the county clerk’s office by the 18th. Missed out this year but I will be on it next year.