Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
And the 2016 Winners are . . .
Wow, what a night! If you enjoy the sport of politics, then this was an election to remember. It had all the cliffhanger moments, but in the end the desired tone of certainty. Fox News announced the Presidency in favor of Trump at 1:40 a.m., once Pennsylvania was in his column for certain. That gave Trump 276 electoral votes (270 required to win). Hillary conceded not long after. Other states remain leaning Republican, so Trump's electoral votes will likely pass 300 once the dust settles.
There were 12 governships up for election around the country. It appears Republicans have taken 7 (ND, VT, IN, NH, MO, UT and with MT leaning R) and Democrats have taken 5 (DE, OR, WA, WV and with NC leaning D). I'm unsure how many, if any, of those represent party flips. What is interesting to me is how many of those states split their Presidential and Gubernatorial votes. VT and NH, while voting Hillary, have elected Republican governors. And WV and NC, while voting Trump, have elected Democrat governors. Voters are curious animals.
The US Senate will likely remain in control of Republicans by a narrow margin. Called races give Republicans 51 seats and 47 to Democrats, with a New Hampshire seat leaning Republican, and a Lousianna seat proceeding to a runoff.
The US House of Representatives will remain firmly in Republican control. With 435 seats, called elections give Republicans 236, and Democrats 191, with 8 seats still in play.
That gives Republicans at least tacit control of Congress and the White House. May they spend the next 2 years wisely!
The statewide and Bastrop County election results for contested races are as follows:
In Texas, I see the following:
It appears Republicans might have lost about 4 seats in the Texas House, dropping our majority from 99 of 150 seats to around 95.
In the Texas Senate, there appears to have been no shift in seats, so Republicans are likely to continue to hold 20 of the 31 positions.
My assessments of the Texas Legislature was based on incomplete data, so don't be surprised if the shifts are larger than what I indicate, but that is the best I could tell while all media attention was on the White House.
In the Court of Criminal Appeals, incumbent Larry Meyers was defeated. He was elected to the court as a Republican, served for many years, then switched party to Democrat mid-term this last term. He stood election for his first time as a Democrat this election, and was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.
In County politics, Republicans did very well. We elected Maurice Cook as Sheriff, Mel Hamner as Commissioner, Pct 1, and Wayne Wood as Constable, Pct 1. Tim Sparkman was also elected Constable, Pct 3, which represents another local Republican gain. Congratulations to each of them! Our losses included Colton Stabeno for an open seat as Commissioner, Pct 3 and Travis Lucas for Constable, Pct 2 against a Democrat incumbent. Both ran very competitive races and have much to be proud of.
We also elected locally Sal Abreo as Constable, Precinct 4. He ran unopposed, but it is deserving of special recognition. Sal was appointed to the position when the elected Democrat Constable there resigned. He has done a great job, drew no opponent, and now has been elected to his first full term, cementing another D-to-R flip.
This election we had record high voter registration at 45,013, and record high voter participation with 28,857 ballots cast. Voter turnout in the county was at 64.11%. We had 6,891 straight-party Republican votes cast to the Democrats' 5,549. Comparing that to last Presidential election, we have seen the most growth in that area, with Republicans having received 5,722 straight-party votes to the Democrats' 5,006 in the 2012 Presidential election.
In city and school board issues, the following occurred:
Smithville ISD residents approved the proposed $35 million bond.
Bastrop ISD residents rejected the proposed $75 million bond and the proposed tax rate increase.
City of Bastrop rejected all propositions that would have lowered the number of signatures required for initiatives, referenda, or recall elections. However, they approved the propositions setting 180 days as the timeframe within which to collect signatures for inititives or refernda.
The voters of ESD1 and Mustang Ridge both voted to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD1, providing them with emergency services in that area. On the proposition asking whether residents of Mustang Ridge would share proportionately in the outstanding debt of ESD1, the residents of ESD1 approved that, but the residents of Mustang Ridge split evenly (all 12 of them who voted).
The analysis would be incomplete without special kudos to the Bastrop County election staff. They always strive for prompt and accurate returns, but this year they delivered in a big way. In a Presidential election year in which turnout was at a record high, and in which the number of non-partisan issues on the ballot was a record high (giving more complexity to the issues of the election) they posted early vote numbers at 7:05 pm, and final unofficial results by 9:39 pm. Never before has so much volume been processed in so little time. Congratulations to them on a job well done.
Thanks to all the candidates, volunteers, party officials, election workers, election staff and voters that make free elections possible.
With only two local disappointments for Republicans, it was otherwise a good night for us from the top to the bottom of the ballot. I'm grateful to God for the mercy He has shown us and the oppotunity He has given us.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
There were 12 governships up for election around the country. It appears Republicans have taken 7 (ND, VT, IN, NH, MO, UT and with MT leaning R) and Democrats have taken 5 (DE, OR, WA, WV and with NC leaning D). I'm unsure how many, if any, of those represent party flips. What is interesting to me is how many of those states split their Presidential and Gubernatorial votes. VT and NH, while voting Hillary, have elected Republican governors. And WV and NC, while voting Trump, have elected Democrat governors. Voters are curious animals.
The US Senate will likely remain in control of Republicans by a narrow margin. Called races give Republicans 51 seats and 47 to Democrats, with a New Hampshire seat leaning Republican, and a Lousianna seat proceeding to a runoff.
The US House of Representatives will remain firmly in Republican control. With 435 seats, called elections give Republicans 236, and Democrats 191, with 8 seats still in play.
That gives Republicans at least tacit control of Congress and the White House. May they spend the next 2 years wisely!
The statewide and Bastrop County election results for contested races are as follows:
| Race | Candidates | Bastrop | Texas | Reporting |
| President | Trump (R) | 56.97% | 51.86% | 94.55% |
| Clinton (D) | 36.86% | 43.87% | 94.55% | |
| Johnson (L) | 3.71% | 2.76% | 94.55% | |
| Stein (G) | 1.12% | 0.80% | 94.55% | |
| US Rep 10 | Michael McCaul (R) | 58.50% | 57.38% | 99.93% |
| Tawana Cadien (D) | 36.20% | 38.39% | 99.93% | |
| Bill Kelsey (L) | 5.30% | 4.22% | 99.93% | |
| US Rep 17 | Bill Flores (R) | 64.88% | 60.83% | 100.00% |
| William Matta (D) | 28.78% | 35.21% | 100.00% | |
| Clark Patterson (L) | 6.34% | 3.94% | 100.00% | |
| US Rep 27 | Blake Farenthold (R) | 61.70% | 61.71% | 99.72% |
| Raul (Roy) Barrera (D) | 38.30% | 38.28% | 99.72% | |
| Railroad Commission | Wayne Christian (R) | 53.33% | 52.72% | 94.54% |
| Grady Yarbrough (D) | 34.71% | 38.76% | 94.54% | |
| Mark Miller (L) | 7.71% | 5.27% | 94.54% | |
| Martina Salinas (G) | 4.25% | 3.23% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 3 | Debra Lehrmann (R) | 55.56% | 54.53% | 94.54% |
| Mike Westergren (D) | 34.59% | 38.86% | 94.54% | |
| Kathie Glass (L) | 6.84% | 3.98% | 94.54% | |
| Rodolfo Rivera Munoz (G) | 3.01% | 2.62% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 5 | Paul Green (R) | 55.92% | 53.94% | 94.54% |
| Dori Contreras Garza (D) | 37.24% | 41.52% | 94.54% | |
| Tom Oxford (L) | 5.11% | 3.29% | 94.54% | |
| Charles Waterbury (G) | 1.73% | 1.23% | 94.54% | |
| TX Supreme Crt, Plc 9 | Eva Guzman (R) | 55.62% | 55.40% | 94.54% |
| Savannah Robinson (D) | 36.48% | 39.76% | 94.54% | |
| Don Fulton (L) | 5.60% | 3.47% | 94.54% | |
| Jim Chisholm (G) | 2.30% | 1.35% | 94.54% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 2 | Mary Lou Keel (R) | 55.89% | 55.03% | 96.26% |
| Larry Meyers (D) | 36.11% | 39.90% | 96.26% | |
| Mark Ash (L) | 6.00% | 3.67% | 96.26% | |
| Adam Reposa (G) | 2.01% | 1.37% | 96.26% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 5 | Scott Walker (R) | 56.23% | 54.89% | 96.26% |
| Betsy Johnson (D) | 36.50% | 40.08% | 96.26% | |
| William Strange, III (L) | 4.32% | 2.85% | 96.26% | |
| Judith Sanders-Castro (G) | 2.95% | 2.16% | 96.26% | |
| Criminal Appeals, Plc 6 | Michael Keasler (R) | 56.06% | 55.12% | 96.26% |
| Robert Burns (D) | 37.19% | 40.75% | 96.26% | |
| Mark Bennett (L) | 6.75% | 4.11% | 96.26% | |
| Brd of Education, Dist 10 | Tom Maynard (R) | 58.02% | 56.34% | 100.00% |
| Judy Jennings (D) | 41.98% | 43.65% | 100.00% | |
| Sheriff | Maurice Cook (R) | 58.16% | ||
| Mike Renck (D) | 41.84% | |||
| Commissioner, Pct 1 | Mel Hamner (R) | 58.10% | ||
| Dock Jackson (D) | 41.90% | |||
| Commissioner, Pct 3 | Colton Stabeno (R) | 48.23% | ||
| Mark Meuth (D) | 51.77% | |||
| Constable, Pct 1 | Wayne Wood (R) | 73.03% | ||
| James Burke (I) | 26.97% | |||
| Constable, Pct 2 | Travis Lucas (R) | 47.89% | ||
| Gus Meduna | 52.11% | |||
| Constable, Pct 3 | Tim Sparkman (R) | 57.30% | ||
| Alex Pena (D) | 42.70% | |||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 1 | For | 44.24% | ||
| Against | 55.76% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a ballot initiative from 20% to 5%? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 2 | For | 64.68% | ||
| Against | 35.32% | |||
| Ballot initative signatures must be gathered in 180 days? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 3 | For | 42.21% | ||
| Against | 57.79% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a referendum from 20% to 5%? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 4 | For | 63.30% | ||
| Against | 36.70% | |||
| Referendum signatures must be gathered in 180 days? | ||||
| City of Bastrop, Prop 5 | For | 45.61% | ||
| Against | 54.39% | |||
| Change the required number of signatures for a recall election from 25% to 10%? | ||||
| Bastrop ISD Bond | For | 46.05% | ||
| Against | 53.95% | |||
| Bastrop ISD Tax | For | 36.39% | ||
| Against | 63.61% | |||
| Smithville ISD Bond | For | 57.19% | ||
| Against | 42.81% | |||
| ESD 1 Annex Prop 1 | ||||
| Mustang Ridge residents | For | 66.67% | ||
| Against | 33.33% | |||
| ESD 1 residents | For | 64.15% | ||
| Against | 35.85% | |||
| Whether to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD 1? | ||||
| ESD 1 Annex Prop 2 | ||||
| Mustang Ridge residents | For | 50.00% | ||
| Against | 50.00% | |||
| ESD 1 residents | For | 73.34% | ||
| Against | 26.66% | |||
| Whether Mustang Ridge shares a proportionate amount of ESD 1's outstanding debt? | ||||
In Texas, I see the following:
It appears Republicans might have lost about 4 seats in the Texas House, dropping our majority from 99 of 150 seats to around 95.
In the Texas Senate, there appears to have been no shift in seats, so Republicans are likely to continue to hold 20 of the 31 positions.
My assessments of the Texas Legislature was based on incomplete data, so don't be surprised if the shifts are larger than what I indicate, but that is the best I could tell while all media attention was on the White House.
In the Court of Criminal Appeals, incumbent Larry Meyers was defeated. He was elected to the court as a Republican, served for many years, then switched party to Democrat mid-term this last term. He stood election for his first time as a Democrat this election, and was defeated by Republican challenger Mary Lou Keel.
In County politics, Republicans did very well. We elected Maurice Cook as Sheriff, Mel Hamner as Commissioner, Pct 1, and Wayne Wood as Constable, Pct 1. Tim Sparkman was also elected Constable, Pct 3, which represents another local Republican gain. Congratulations to each of them! Our losses included Colton Stabeno for an open seat as Commissioner, Pct 3 and Travis Lucas for Constable, Pct 2 against a Democrat incumbent. Both ran very competitive races and have much to be proud of.
We also elected locally Sal Abreo as Constable, Precinct 4. He ran unopposed, but it is deserving of special recognition. Sal was appointed to the position when the elected Democrat Constable there resigned. He has done a great job, drew no opponent, and now has been elected to his first full term, cementing another D-to-R flip.
This election we had record high voter registration at 45,013, and record high voter participation with 28,857 ballots cast. Voter turnout in the county was at 64.11%. We had 6,891 straight-party Republican votes cast to the Democrats' 5,549. Comparing that to last Presidential election, we have seen the most growth in that area, with Republicans having received 5,722 straight-party votes to the Democrats' 5,006 in the 2012 Presidential election.
In city and school board issues, the following occurred:
Smithville ISD residents approved the proposed $35 million bond.
Bastrop ISD residents rejected the proposed $75 million bond and the proposed tax rate increase.
City of Bastrop rejected all propositions that would have lowered the number of signatures required for initiatives, referenda, or recall elections. However, they approved the propositions setting 180 days as the timeframe within which to collect signatures for inititives or refernda.
The voters of ESD1 and Mustang Ridge both voted to annex Mustang Ridge into ESD1, providing them with emergency services in that area. On the proposition asking whether residents of Mustang Ridge would share proportionately in the outstanding debt of ESD1, the residents of ESD1 approved that, but the residents of Mustang Ridge split evenly (all 12 of them who voted).
The analysis would be incomplete without special kudos to the Bastrop County election staff. They always strive for prompt and accurate returns, but this year they delivered in a big way. In a Presidential election year in which turnout was at a record high, and in which the number of non-partisan issues on the ballot was a record high (giving more complexity to the issues of the election) they posted early vote numbers at 7:05 pm, and final unofficial results by 9:39 pm. Never before has so much volume been processed in so little time. Congratulations to them on a job well done.
Thanks to all the candidates, volunteers, party officials, election workers, election staff and voters that make free elections possible.
With only two local disappointments for Republicans, it was otherwise a good night for us from the top to the bottom of the ballot. I'm grateful to God for the mercy He has shown us and the oppotunity He has given us.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Monday, November 7, 2016
Go VOTE!
Election day has finally arrived! Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday, November 8. If you have not voted early, then go vote! And when you vote, consider voting straight-party Republican for a strong showing of party support. But if you do, remember there are some non-partisan issues at the bottom of your ballot that still need attention.
Don't forget that on election day, you must vote at the location designated for the precinct you are registered in.
Click here for the election day polling locations for each precinct in Bastrop County.
Click here to find out what precinct you are in.
Review the other blog stories below for further information on the Republican candidates and study resources on the non-partisan issues on your ballot.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Don't forget that on election day, you must vote at the location designated for the precinct you are registered in.
Click here for the election day polling locations for each precinct in Bastrop County.
Click here to find out what precinct you are in.
Review the other blog stories below for further information on the Republican candidates and study resources on the non-partisan issues on your ballot.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Early Voting Ends Friday
|
Monday, October 31, 2016
Tribute to First-time Voters
Today, my oldest daughter voted for her first time. While voting, we learned a 99-year- old woman had also come out to vote this election for her first time.
Campaign season should be a time when you connect with your candidates and elected representatives. My wife and daughter are depicted here with Maurice Cook for Sheriff, Mel Hamner for County Commissioner, Pct 1, and Wayne Wood for Constable, Pct 1.
Voting should be a fun, family experience (those are "I Voted" stickers on our heads), and election- night returns should be a cause for rejoicing.
May we always seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness in how we make electoral decisions.
"When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan."
Proverbs 29:2
Proverbs 29:2
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Why this Christian supports Trump
If you were an enthusiastic Trump supporter from the get-go, this article is not for you.
If you love that Trump says it like it is and at times let's it all hang out, this article is not for you.
If you love Trump's brashness, unpredictability, and even sometimes his crudeness, this article is not for you.
If you are not a Christian who struggles in conscience with whether you morally can vote for Trump, then this article isn't for you.
But if you are a Christian,
who looks to God's Word for guidance in right living,
who expected a higher standard of decorum than you are seeing,
who desires a candidate of quality character even above quality philosophy,
who seeks to please God in who you support,
who wants to vote in favor of someone God Himself would approve of,
who is measuring Trump and finding him wanting morally, philosophically, or both, and
who is wondering if you even can vote in the Presidential race in good conscience,
This article is for you.
The above list describes me, and I will be voting for Trump in this election. This is to explain why, and maybe in the explaining, you too will find yourself helped along in your decision-making process.
First off, I trust my support of Trump is not based on delusion. I expect to be embarrassed by him from time to time. I expect he will sometimes oppose views and policies precious to me. I hope I am wrong, and will give him the opportunity to prove me wrong. Many Christian leaders I trust that have had personal contact with him speak of a different Trump than what I have seen. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps they aren't. We shall see. I have nevertheless chosen to support him even if the worst version of him proves true.
Secondly, I, too, am offended at Trump's crude remarks that have recently been aired. I am aware that those who air those remarks are unoffended. Our political opposition proves time and again that there is no moral standard they require of their own candidates. Those remarks then are played for my benefit, to peel away my support, on the theory that I am an easily offended holier-than-thou who can be duped into inactivity if they can shock my morality. It is a ploy to neutralize me by exploiting the weakness of a flawed man.
I listend with interest to Trump's video on his web site addressing the issue and apologizing for his remarks. He made no excuses. He called the remarks wrong. He claims he has changed since those remarks were made ten years ago, especially through the course of this campaign. Certain Christian leaders claim he has actually had a conversion experience. I don't know whether that is true. He pledged not to let us down, seemingly underscoring that he understands that repeating such conduct would do so. I hope he is sincere, but I support him prepared to find that it was just words.
So why do I support Trump?
1. The Supreme Court
The enemy is at the gate, and Christians have the numerical power to swing this election. Basic, fundamental rights of our citizenry and protected by our Constitution have come to be upheld in recent Supreme Court decision by a 5-4 margin. A change of one vote, and we start seeing basic rights go away, such as right to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. We have already seen the current administration target political dissent. And at the time this election is occuring, Justice Scalia's seat sits empty since his death - one of the 5 who has been faithfully upholding our rights.
Trump has pledged to consult with groups like the Heritage Foundation when making Supreme Court picks. He has already named a short-list of the kinds of people he would consider, and they are the type of people that we need. With Trump, it is possible to get it wrong, but we have a shot at getting it right. Under Clinton, we have no such shot. And the devastation that wreaks could last for generations.
2. Congress
Our Republican Congress has passed significant legislation repealing Obamacare, and approving job creation with the pipeline project. There is a longer list (click here to see such a list), but these are a mere quick sample. These are things that President Obama has vetoed. Trump will sign them. Clinton will seek to take us further in reverse.
3. Allies vs. Enemies
I consider Trump an ally. He may not always have my personal interests as his top priority, but we are generally going the same direction. He believes in the greatness of our country, and will put its interests first. He believes in capitalism. He wants to restore us to greatness, whether or not he understands its true source. The issues he wants to tackle benefit my life should he be successful.
I consider Clinton an enemy. She is intentionally targeting both my philosophy and way of life. Regulation, socialism, communism, and loss of fundamental rights are her agenda, and criminality is not beneath her methodology. The issues she wants to tackle assaults my way of life should she be successful.
4. Inaction affects outcome
Like in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30), we have been entrusted by God with self-government. We have an opportunity and a duty to choose our leader. I particiapted in the primary election so that I would have what I believed to be a better option in November. But I was outvoted.
Our Presidential ballots in Texas will be limited to four options. As I review the candidates, Trump is the closest person on the ballot to my philosophy who will work to achieve more of what I would support. And if elected, his mere presence in the White House dis-empowers an identifiable enemy. He may embarass me. We may differ from time to time. But he won't be out to get me. I can't say the same of Clinton.
In this Presidential election, inaction of the Christian community has the capacity to throw the election by default to Clinton, a known enemy of our faith, Constitution and way of life. That I cannot permit. If she rises to power, it will be despite my best efforts to prevent it.
We have been given the talent of self-govenment by the Master. He expects a return for the advancement of His kingdom. The best return I can get in this vote, meager though it may be, is to vote for Trump. Even if it doesn't advance righteousness much, I will take some consolation in holding evil at bay for awhile longer. But if I bury that talent of self-government in the back yard, and refuse to participate, then I expect such inaction will be met with the same displeasure when we are held to account. The result was, the talent was taken away. If we do not participate in self-government, we will lose it. So when held accountable, we will be asked "What did you do with the vote I gave you?" And when asked, we should not blame the Master's high standards for our inaction, as the unfaithful servant did - "You expect so much, I couldn't vote for anybody." Remember, the Master has raised up pagans like Cyrus the Great of Persia and called him "My servant" simply because Cyrus was willing to cooperate with God's plan for God's people. He didn't get that title because he was flawless.
So if you are struggling in your conscience, that is a good thing. The country needs more conscientious voters. My vote for Trump is not an act of affirmation of everything he says, does, and thinks. Nor does it condone or ignore his flaws. My vote is a determination that he is both the best of four defined options, and the best chance to avoid the worst of the four. It is a realistic hiring decision among four options, one of which is unavoidably going to lead us into the next four years. And if Trump proves to be the worst version of himself, and acts on his crude comments of years ago, I will happily encourage my Representative to pursue impeachment. Accountability should not die after election day. But if he uses this opportunity to be the better man that some Christian leaders already claim him to be, then such a vote could yield a much larger return for the kingdom than I expect. Here's hoping!
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
If you love that Trump says it like it is and at times let's it all hang out, this article is not for you.
If you love Trump's brashness, unpredictability, and even sometimes his crudeness, this article is not for you.
If you are not a Christian who struggles in conscience with whether you morally can vote for Trump, then this article isn't for you.
But if you are a Christian,
who looks to God's Word for guidance in right living,
who expected a higher standard of decorum than you are seeing,
who desires a candidate of quality character even above quality philosophy,
who seeks to please God in who you support,
who wants to vote in favor of someone God Himself would approve of,
who is measuring Trump and finding him wanting morally, philosophically, or both, and
who is wondering if you even can vote in the Presidential race in good conscience,
This article is for you.
The above list describes me, and I will be voting for Trump in this election. This is to explain why, and maybe in the explaining, you too will find yourself helped along in your decision-making process.
First off, I trust my support of Trump is not based on delusion. I expect to be embarrassed by him from time to time. I expect he will sometimes oppose views and policies precious to me. I hope I am wrong, and will give him the opportunity to prove me wrong. Many Christian leaders I trust that have had personal contact with him speak of a different Trump than what I have seen. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps they aren't. We shall see. I have nevertheless chosen to support him even if the worst version of him proves true.
Secondly, I, too, am offended at Trump's crude remarks that have recently been aired. I am aware that those who air those remarks are unoffended. Our political opposition proves time and again that there is no moral standard they require of their own candidates. Those remarks then are played for my benefit, to peel away my support, on the theory that I am an easily offended holier-than-thou who can be duped into inactivity if they can shock my morality. It is a ploy to neutralize me by exploiting the weakness of a flawed man.
I listend with interest to Trump's video on his web site addressing the issue and apologizing for his remarks. He made no excuses. He called the remarks wrong. He claims he has changed since those remarks were made ten years ago, especially through the course of this campaign. Certain Christian leaders claim he has actually had a conversion experience. I don't know whether that is true. He pledged not to let us down, seemingly underscoring that he understands that repeating such conduct would do so. I hope he is sincere, but I support him prepared to find that it was just words.
So why do I support Trump?
1. The Supreme Court
The enemy is at the gate, and Christians have the numerical power to swing this election. Basic, fundamental rights of our citizenry and protected by our Constitution have come to be upheld in recent Supreme Court decision by a 5-4 margin. A change of one vote, and we start seeing basic rights go away, such as right to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. We have already seen the current administration target political dissent. And at the time this election is occuring, Justice Scalia's seat sits empty since his death - one of the 5 who has been faithfully upholding our rights.
Trump has pledged to consult with groups like the Heritage Foundation when making Supreme Court picks. He has already named a short-list of the kinds of people he would consider, and they are the type of people that we need. With Trump, it is possible to get it wrong, but we have a shot at getting it right. Under Clinton, we have no such shot. And the devastation that wreaks could last for generations.
2. Congress
Our Republican Congress has passed significant legislation repealing Obamacare, and approving job creation with the pipeline project. There is a longer list (click here to see such a list), but these are a mere quick sample. These are things that President Obama has vetoed. Trump will sign them. Clinton will seek to take us further in reverse.
3. Allies vs. Enemies
I consider Trump an ally. He may not always have my personal interests as his top priority, but we are generally going the same direction. He believes in the greatness of our country, and will put its interests first. He believes in capitalism. He wants to restore us to greatness, whether or not he understands its true source. The issues he wants to tackle benefit my life should he be successful.
I consider Clinton an enemy. She is intentionally targeting both my philosophy and way of life. Regulation, socialism, communism, and loss of fundamental rights are her agenda, and criminality is not beneath her methodology. The issues she wants to tackle assaults my way of life should she be successful.
4. Inaction affects outcome
Like in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30), we have been entrusted by God with self-government. We have an opportunity and a duty to choose our leader. I particiapted in the primary election so that I would have what I believed to be a better option in November. But I was outvoted.
Our Presidential ballots in Texas will be limited to four options. As I review the candidates, Trump is the closest person on the ballot to my philosophy who will work to achieve more of what I would support. And if elected, his mere presence in the White House dis-empowers an identifiable enemy. He may embarass me. We may differ from time to time. But he won't be out to get me. I can't say the same of Clinton.
In this Presidential election, inaction of the Christian community has the capacity to throw the election by default to Clinton, a known enemy of our faith, Constitution and way of life. That I cannot permit. If she rises to power, it will be despite my best efforts to prevent it.
We have been given the talent of self-govenment by the Master. He expects a return for the advancement of His kingdom. The best return I can get in this vote, meager though it may be, is to vote for Trump. Even if it doesn't advance righteousness much, I will take some consolation in holding evil at bay for awhile longer. But if I bury that talent of self-government in the back yard, and refuse to participate, then I expect such inaction will be met with the same displeasure when we are held to account. The result was, the talent was taken away. If we do not participate in self-government, we will lose it. So when held accountable, we will be asked "What did you do with the vote I gave you?" And when asked, we should not blame the Master's high standards for our inaction, as the unfaithful servant did - "You expect so much, I couldn't vote for anybody." Remember, the Master has raised up pagans like Cyrus the Great of Persia and called him "My servant" simply because Cyrus was willing to cooperate with God's plan for God's people. He didn't get that title because he was flawless.
So if you are struggling in your conscience, that is a good thing. The country needs more conscientious voters. My vote for Trump is not an act of affirmation of everything he says, does, and thinks. Nor does it condone or ignore his flaws. My vote is a determination that he is both the best of four defined options, and the best chance to avoid the worst of the four. It is a realistic hiring decision among four options, one of which is unavoidably going to lead us into the next four years. And if Trump proves to be the worst version of himself, and acts on his crude comments of years ago, I will happily encourage my Representative to pursue impeachment. Accountability should not die after election day. But if he uses this opportunity to be the better man that some Christian leaders already claim him to be, then such a vote could yield a much larger return for the kingdom than I expect. Here's hoping!
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
FAQ - Marking an Optical Scan Ballot
What is the proper way to mark a scan ballot?
Using the writing utensil provided at your voting booth, completely fill in the bubble beside the option of your choice in each race on the ballot. Don't use check marks or write an X. Color in the bubble. Stray marks on your ballot will render it unable to be read by the machine counter. If that happens, the ballot board must inspect your ballot and count your votes as best they can determine your intent.
Why vote straight party?
It is a sign of party support and strength. It is also a time-saving device for the voter. By marking a straight-party choice at the top of the ballot, it registers as a vote for each candidate for that party across the entire ballot of partisan races.
Does it invalidate my ballot to vote straight party, then mark an individual candidate of another party?
No. Marking a straight-party choice indicates a default choice for any partisan race where you do not otherwise mark a choice. So if you mark straight party for the Republican party, then vote for an individual candidate of another party, that individual candidate will get your vote. Then your straight-party vote would apply as the default selection for any other race where you did not mark a specific choice.
Overvoting does invalidate your choice as to a specific race. Overvoting is where you mark more than one choice for the same office. It will not invalidate your entire ballot, but it will not be a valid vote on the specific race where more than one candidate is chosen. Marking straight-party, then choosing one candidate of an opposing party in a specific race does not cause an overvote. Straight-party is only a default only where you mark no other choice.
Is it safe to vote straight party?
Some are concerned that if you mark straight party, and indicate no other choices on your ballot, your ballot could be easily altered by someone else marking opposing candidates on your ballot. That presupposes someone is able to gain access to the sealed ballot boxes after you have deposited your ballot there and is able to freely tamper with the ballots.
If you have such concerns, you can mark straight party (for a showing of strong party support) then proceed to mark each individual candidate's name, too. That way, the straight-party vote is counted statistically, but never relied upon as a default answer.
But keep in mind, that will prevent your vote from being changed to an opposing party, but it will not prevent all tampering. The same wrongdoer could still mark candidates for opposing parties causing your ballot to be overvoted (and therefore uncountable), but it at least wouldn't register as a vote in favor of opposition. In my opinion, there is no absolute safeguard a voter can employ in how they mark their ballot to avoid tampering with their vote in the unlikely event that someone makes it through all the safeguards.
What if I want to skip a race?
Skip it. Doing so does not invalidate the choices you make in other races.
I messed up on my ballot. Now What?
Alert the election staff that you made a mistake and want a new ballot. They will retrieve your mis-marked ballot and replace it with a clean ballot. But you are limited to three attempts. Once you have been issued your third ballot, you will not be issued another. If on your third ballot you make another mistake, correct the mistake as best you can on the ballot, and make your intention abundantly clear. You may even write notes if necessary. That will render it unreadable by the machine counter, but so long as you have made yourself clear, the ballot board will be equipped to count your votes the way you intended.
Nothing on my ballot is what I expected to see. Or something I expected to be there isn't. Why?
Stop immediately, and bring it to the attention of the election staff. It is possible you were issued an incorrect ballot style. So long as you still have the ballot in your hand, the staff can address your questions. But if you mark your ballot and put it in the ballot box, it is irretrievable. No help can be offered at that point.
I've worked many elections in our county. Here is a list of questions that seem to come up frequently:
What is a "Provisional Ballot" and do they get counted?
Provisional ballots allow a voter to mark a ballot while at the polls even when there are circumstances that call their right to vote into question. Reasons could be lack of proper identification, voting in the wrong precinct, your name not appearing on the list of registered voters, and so forth.
In such cases, the ballot is marked by the voter as usual, then sealed inside an envelope so that the contents of the vote cannot be seen. The questions that need to be answered concerning the voter's status are then marked on the outside of the envelope so that the ballot board can research the issues further. After researching the issues, the ballot board will then make a determination as to whether the ballot can be lawfully counted. If that is decided in the voter's favor, only then is the envelope opened and the votes it contains counted. If it is decided against the voter, the envelope is not opened, and the voter is notified that their ballot did not count.
Do mail-in and overseas ballots get counted?
Yes, and usually first. All lawfully cast ballots get counted and included in the official final results.
I hardly know anything about the people/issues on my ballot. How do I learn more?
There are many ways to study for an election, and the internet is now a great tool to do so. Candidate web sites, voter guides put out by organizations sympathetic to your views, party meetings, candidate meet and greets and forums are all great ways to learn first-hand about your choices.
Is early voting safe?
Early voting is a great convenience to avoid long lines on election day. It also provides flexibility of where you can vote, which you don't have on election day.
Some have concerns that casting your ballot early before election day exposes it to greater opportunity for tampering. Although there is an element of truth to that, I believe our county employs reasonable safeguards to minimize the risk of tampering. Ballot boxes are sealed with numbered seals that are inventoried by the county election staff. So if the box is tampered with, it will be evident, either because the seal is broken, or the serial number is wrong. The sealed ballot boxes are then taken into custody by the Sheriff's office and stored in a secure location. Seals, guards, and locks all help lessen the likelihood that your ballot will be tampered with.
Is ballot-by-mail safe?
Ballot-by-mail is a great tool for those who need it: those who cannot readily come to the polls, even with assistance, and those who will be away during the entire voting period.
Although it is a good system, the safeguards of the system itself create more opportunities for your vote to be jeopardized. You must rely on the mails to bring your ballot to you and get it back again. You sign the application to receive your ballot. You are also required to sign your envelope in which you return your ballot. That is so that the ballot board can compare signatures between the envelope containing your ballot and the application. That helps ensure that the person returning the ballot is the same person who requested it. But if you forget to sign your ballot envelope or if your two signatures differ materially, your vote might not get counted out of concern that your ballot might have been hijacked by someone else.
In general, there are fewer opportunities for things to go wrong for you if you vote in person. But if you cannot do so, it is still a great system. Just take special care to follow all instructions.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
Using the writing utensil provided at your voting booth, completely fill in the bubble beside the option of your choice in each race on the ballot. Don't use check marks or write an X. Color in the bubble. Stray marks on your ballot will render it unable to be read by the machine counter. If that happens, the ballot board must inspect your ballot and count your votes as best they can determine your intent.
Why vote straight party?
It is a sign of party support and strength. It is also a time-saving device for the voter. By marking a straight-party choice at the top of the ballot, it registers as a vote for each candidate for that party across the entire ballot of partisan races.
Does it invalidate my ballot to vote straight party, then mark an individual candidate of another party?
No. Marking a straight-party choice indicates a default choice for any partisan race where you do not otherwise mark a choice. So if you mark straight party for the Republican party, then vote for an individual candidate of another party, that individual candidate will get your vote. Then your straight-party vote would apply as the default selection for any other race where you did not mark a specific choice.
Overvoting does invalidate your choice as to a specific race. Overvoting is where you mark more than one choice for the same office. It will not invalidate your entire ballot, but it will not be a valid vote on the specific race where more than one candidate is chosen. Marking straight-party, then choosing one candidate of an opposing party in a specific race does not cause an overvote. Straight-party is only a default only where you mark no other choice.
Is it safe to vote straight party?
Some are concerned that if you mark straight party, and indicate no other choices on your ballot, your ballot could be easily altered by someone else marking opposing candidates on your ballot. That presupposes someone is able to gain access to the sealed ballot boxes after you have deposited your ballot there and is able to freely tamper with the ballots.
If you have such concerns, you can mark straight party (for a showing of strong party support) then proceed to mark each individual candidate's name, too. That way, the straight-party vote is counted statistically, but never relied upon as a default answer.
But keep in mind, that will prevent your vote from being changed to an opposing party, but it will not prevent all tampering. The same wrongdoer could still mark candidates for opposing parties causing your ballot to be overvoted (and therefore uncountable), but it at least wouldn't register as a vote in favor of opposition. In my opinion, there is no absolute safeguard a voter can employ in how they mark their ballot to avoid tampering with their vote in the unlikely event that someone makes it through all the safeguards.
What if I want to skip a race?
Skip it. Doing so does not invalidate the choices you make in other races.
I messed up on my ballot. Now What?
Alert the election staff that you made a mistake and want a new ballot. They will retrieve your mis-marked ballot and replace it with a clean ballot. But you are limited to three attempts. Once you have been issued your third ballot, you will not be issued another. If on your third ballot you make another mistake, correct the mistake as best you can on the ballot, and make your intention abundantly clear. You may even write notes if necessary. That will render it unreadable by the machine counter, but so long as you have made yourself clear, the ballot board will be equipped to count your votes the way you intended.
Nothing on my ballot is what I expected to see. Or something I expected to be there isn't. Why?
Stop immediately, and bring it to the attention of the election staff. It is possible you were issued an incorrect ballot style. So long as you still have the ballot in your hand, the staff can address your questions. But if you mark your ballot and put it in the ballot box, it is irretrievable. No help can be offered at that point.
I've worked many elections in our county. Here is a list of questions that seem to come up frequently:
What is a "Provisional Ballot" and do they get counted?
Provisional ballots allow a voter to mark a ballot while at the polls even when there are circumstances that call their right to vote into question. Reasons could be lack of proper identification, voting in the wrong precinct, your name not appearing on the list of registered voters, and so forth.
In such cases, the ballot is marked by the voter as usual, then sealed inside an envelope so that the contents of the vote cannot be seen. The questions that need to be answered concerning the voter's status are then marked on the outside of the envelope so that the ballot board can research the issues further. After researching the issues, the ballot board will then make a determination as to whether the ballot can be lawfully counted. If that is decided in the voter's favor, only then is the envelope opened and the votes it contains counted. If it is decided against the voter, the envelope is not opened, and the voter is notified that their ballot did not count.
Do mail-in and overseas ballots get counted?
Yes, and usually first. All lawfully cast ballots get counted and included in the official final results.
I hardly know anything about the people/issues on my ballot. How do I learn more?
There are many ways to study for an election, and the internet is now a great tool to do so. Candidate web sites, voter guides put out by organizations sympathetic to your views, party meetings, candidate meet and greets and forums are all great ways to learn first-hand about your choices.
Is early voting safe?
Early voting is a great convenience to avoid long lines on election day. It also provides flexibility of where you can vote, which you don't have on election day.
Some have concerns that casting your ballot early before election day exposes it to greater opportunity for tampering. Although there is an element of truth to that, I believe our county employs reasonable safeguards to minimize the risk of tampering. Ballot boxes are sealed with numbered seals that are inventoried by the county election staff. So if the box is tampered with, it will be evident, either because the seal is broken, or the serial number is wrong. The sealed ballot boxes are then taken into custody by the Sheriff's office and stored in a secure location. Seals, guards, and locks all help lessen the likelihood that your ballot will be tampered with.
Is ballot-by-mail safe?
Ballot-by-mail is a great tool for those who need it: those who cannot readily come to the polls, even with assistance, and those who will be away during the entire voting period.
Although it is a good system, the safeguards of the system itself create more opportunities for your vote to be jeopardized. You must rely on the mails to bring your ballot to you and get it back again. You sign the application to receive your ballot. You are also required to sign your envelope in which you return your ballot. That is so that the ballot board can compare signatures between the envelope containing your ballot and the application. That helps ensure that the person returning the ballot is the same person who requested it. But if you forget to sign your ballot envelope or if your two signatures differ materially, your vote might not get counted out of concern that your ballot might have been hijacked by someone else.
In general, there are fewer opportunities for things to go wrong for you if you vote in person. But if you cannot do so, it is still a great system. Just take special care to follow all instructions.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
Study Resources
Here are some study resources to help you cast an informed vote this election:
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
- Candidate guides
- For candidate web sites, click here for the list of candidates, then click on a name.
- Relevant excerpts of the Primary Voter Guide of Bastrop County Republican Party
- Faith and Freedom Coalition Presidential Guide
- League of Women Voters Guide
- Statewide races starting at p. 2
- Check the Republicans on your ballot to verify which district races affect you
- Bastrop County races starting at p. 23
- Bastrop ISD Bond Election/Tax Ratification
- ISD's information page (proponent site)
- Statesman stories: 1 2 3
- Comptroller's ISD debt information
- Bastrop Democratic Party endorses proposals
- Opposition site
- Smithville ISD Bond Election
- ISD's information page (proponent site)
- Statesman stories: 1 2 3
- Comptroller's ISD debt information
- Bastrop Democratic Party endorses proposal
- City of Bastrop Charter Amendments
- ACC Trustee Elections
- For candidate web sites, click here for the list of candidates, then click on a name.
- Place 4 candidate responses
- Place 5 candidate responses
- Place 6 candidate responses
- Place 9 candidate responses
- Statesman canidate responses
- Candidate forum video
- League of Women Voters Guide (starting at p. 47)
- For what its worth: I've heard that Jeremy Story for Place 9 is a strong Christian and homeschooling Dad. He is endorsed by the Texas Homeschool Coalition per his web site. I have been told that he probably stands unique among the candidates for the various positions in faith and philosophy, but nevertheless have it on recommendation that Michael Lewis for Place 4, Nicole Eversmann for Place 5, and Douglas Gibbons for Place 6 are worth considering.
- ESD No. 1 Annexation of Mustang Ridge
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Nonpartisan Elections of 2016
Don't forget the bottom of the ballot!
If you vote straight-party Republican on your ballot, most of you will still have some nonpartisan issues at the bottom of your ballot that must still be addressed. Here is a list of those issues that will appear on ballots around the county, depending on where you live:
Bastrop ISD
How Do I Learn More to Cast Informed Votes on these Elections/Issues?
Click here for study resources.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
If you vote straight-party Republican on your ballot, most of you will still have some nonpartisan issues at the bottom of your ballot that must still be addressed. Here is a list of those issues that will appear on ballots around the county, depending on where you live:
Bastrop ISD
- Whether to approve a tax rate increase of $0.13 per $100 of property valuation?
- Whether to additionally approve borrowing $75 million (bond) for projects and raises taxes to pay for it?
- Whether to approve borrowing $35 million (bond) for projects and raise taxes to pay for it?
- Place 4 ACC Trustee - George Robinson, Sean Hassan, Michael J. Lewis
- Place 5 ACC Trustee - Thomas Miranda, Nicole Eversmann, Anthony Schoggins
- Place 6 ACC Trustee - Douglas Gibbons, Nora De Hoyos Comstock
- Place 9 ACC Trustee - Guadalupe "Lupe" Sosa, Mitch Fuller, Julie Ann Nitsch, Jeremy Story
- Whether to change the percentage of signatures required of registered voters for an initative from 20% to 5%?
- Whether signatures for an initiative must be gathered within 180 days?
- Whether to change the percentage of signatures required of registered voters for a referendum from 20% to 5%?
- Whether signatures for a referendum must be gathered within 180 days?
- Whether to change the percentage of signatures required of registered voters for a recall from 25% to 10%?
- Whether to annex Mustang Ridge into the territory serviced by ESD No 1?
- Whether Mustang Ridge residents will assume a proportionate share of the outstanding debts and obligations of ESD No. 1, if added to the ESD No. 1 territory?
How Do I Learn More to Cast Informed Votes on these Elections/Issues?
Click here for study resources.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
Who are the Republican candidates?
| Vote Republican! |
Vote straight-party Republican to put this full team to work for you. Click on any candidate name for further information.
Office |
Candidate |
Picture |
|---|---|---|
| President/Vice-President | Donald J. Trump/Mike Pence |  |
| President is the chief law enforcement officer of the nation, puts into effect laws passed by Congress, interacts with foreign nations, and is Commander-in-Chief of the military. | ||
| US Representative, District 10 Represents voting precincts 1001, 1002, 1004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 4017, 4019, 4020, and 4021 |
Michael T. McCaul |  |
| US Representative, District 17 Represents voting precinct 4018 |
Bill Flores |  |
| US Representative, District 27 Represents voting precincts 1003, 2007, 2008, 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015, and 3016 |
Blake Farenthold |  |
| US Representative is a Congress member that helps make the national laws. Budget bills and impeachments originate with the House of Representatives. | ||
| Railroad Commissioner | Wayne Christian |  |
| Railroad Commission oversees energy policy for the State of Texas. | ||
| Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3 | Debra Lehrmann |  |
| Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5 | Paul Green |  |
| Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9 | Eva Guzman |  |
| The Texas Supreme Court is the highest court of appeals in the State for civil cases. | ||
| Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2 | Mary Lou Keel |  |
| Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5 | Scott Walker |  |
| Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6 | Michael E. Keasler |  |
| The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court of appeals in Texas for criminal cases. | ||
| Member, State Board of Education, District 10 | Tom Maynard |  |
| State Board of Education sets curriculum standards for our public schools' textbooks. | ||
| State Representative, District 17 | John Cyrier |  |
| State Representative is a member of the Texas Legislature helping make state laws. | ||
| Justice, Third Court of Appeals District, Place 2 | Cindy Olson Bourland |  |
| Justice, Third Court of Appeals District, Place 4 | Melissa Goodwin |  |
| Third Court of Appeals hears appeals from trial-court judgments in both civil and criminal matters. | ||
| District Judge, 21st Judicial District | Carson Campbell |  |
| District Judge, 335th Judicial District | Reva L. Towslee Corbett |  |
| District Judges are the highest level of trial judge in our State Court system. | ||
| Sheriff | Maurice Cook |  |
| Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county and oversees the county jail. | ||
| County Commissioner, Precinct No. 1 Represents voting precincts 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004 |
Melvin (Mel) Hamner |  |
| County Commissioner, Precinct No. 3 Represents voting precincts 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015, and 3016 |
Colton Stabeno |  |
| County Commissioners set county policy, set the county tax rate, and maintain county roads. | ||
| Constable, Precinct No. 1 Represents voting precincts 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004 |
Wayne Wood |  |
| Constable, Precinct No. 2 Represents voting precincts 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 |
Travis Lucas |  |
| Constable, Precinct No. 3 Represents voting precincts 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015, and 3016 |
Tim Sparkman |  |
| Constable, Precinct No. 4 Represents voting precincts 4017, 4018, 4019, 4020, and 4021 |
Salvador Abreo |  |
| Constables serve notices of lawsuits, other court writs, conduct evictions, and serve as bailiffs for the Justices of the Peace. | ||
During the primary election, the Bastrop County Republican Party prepared a candidate guide with information on all its candidates. Click here to review excerpts of that guide that pertains to the above local candidates.
Albert L. Ellison, Founder
Bastrop County Republican News
bcrnews.blogspot.com
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