May 1st, 2012
San Marcos league hosting primary debates May 7

STAFF REPORT

The San Marcos Area League of Women Voters will hold its spring Democratic and Republican primary election candidates forum and debate at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7 at the San Marcos Activity Center.

The primary elections for both parties are scheduled May 29 with early voting set for May 14-25. The forum will be video recorded by the San Marcos Mercury and the candidates’ exchanges will be posted online starting the next day.

A forum format will be used for the highly contested primary races in Congressional Districts 21, 25 and 35 and State Senate District 25.

In District 35, which includes eastern San Marcos and most of Kyle, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, an Austin Democrat, faces two primary challengers in Sylvia Romo and Maria Luisa Alvarado. On the Republican side, former San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz and another San Marcos resident, Rob Roark, are seeking their party’s nomination for District 35 along with John Yoggerst.

A slice part of central Hays County, including western San Marcos and most of Buda, falls in Congressional District 21 where U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, a San Antonio Republican, faces Richard Morgan and Richard Mack in the party primary. On the Democratic side, Daniel Boone is running against Candace Duval.

Finally, a dozen Republicans are running to represent Congressional District 25, which covers western Hays County including the Wimberley and Dripping Springs areas and stretches northward to the edge of Tarrant County and Fort Worth. In that race, former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is the best known contender and but has drawn a crowded ballots consisting of Brian Matthews, Wes Riddle, Bill Burch, Dianne Costa, Roger Williams, Chad Wilbanks, Justin Hewlett, Charlie Holcomb, Ernie Beltz, Jr., James “Patriot” Dillon and Dave Garrison.

Voters this cycle will also be getting accustomed to new state senate districts whereas State. Sen. Jeff Wentworth has represented all of Hays County since the last redistricting. Representing State Senate District 25, which includes the bulk of Hays County including a chunk of San Marcos, Wentworth has two primary challengers: former Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones and emergency room doctor Donna Campbell.

The debate will also allot time for down-ballot races including State Board of Education District 5, 22nd Judicial District Judge, Hays County Sheriff, Hays County Commissioner Precinct 3 and Hays County Constable Precincts 1 and 2.

Candidates for regional and county offices include:

State Board of Education, Republican
Ken Mercer (i)
Steve Salyer

22nd State District Judge, Republican
Ronnie Dickens
Bruce Boyer
David Glickler
David Nigh

Hays County Sheriff, Republican
Tommy Ratliff
Gary Cutler (i)

County Commissioner Precinct 3, Republican
Sam Brannon
Will Conley (i)

Constable Precinct 1, Democratic
Rodrigo Amaya
David Peterson (i)

Constable Precinct 2, Democratic
Guy Irwin
James Kohler (i)

For more information about voter services issues, e-mail Grace Melcher Neal at LWVTXSM@gmail.com. For debate-related questions, call Jeannie Lewis at 512-353-2872.