VOTE MAY 29 EARLY VOTE VOTERS GUIDE may 14-25 BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TEXAS AND LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA This Voters Guide is funded and VOTinG in TEXAS PRIMARies published by the League of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund and When you vote in a political party’s primary or runoff or participated in a party nominated and selected in their precinct, the League of Women Voters of the primary, you become affiliated with that convention. All candidates from all parties county, and state conventions. Austin Area Education Fund. For more party for the next two years. At the time are on the same ballot.) Party precinct conventions are the than 90 years, helping voters cast an you vote, your voting certificate will be Only party members can participate in first step in the process that adopts the informed vote when they go to the polls stamped with the name of the party in the precinct, county, or senatorial district, state party platform; certifies the party’s has been the primary goal of the League whose primary you vote. and state conventions of a particular party. nominees for state office in general of Women Voters. As a nonpartisan You may vote in only one party’s primary. Proof of party affiliation (your stamped elections; selects delegates to the party’s organization that encourages informed If there is a runoff, you may vote only in the voting certificate) is needed for admission county or senatorial district, and the state and active participation in government, same party’s runoff election. (Note that in to a party’s convention. Parties other and national conventions; nominates the League believes that all of us are the General Election in November, voters than those whose candidates are listed in presidential electors; elects national party stakeholders in making democracy may vote for any candidate they wish, this Voters Guide are not holding primary committee members; and writes the work. Neither the League nor the regardless of whether they voted in a party elections; instead, their candidates are national party platform. Education Fund supports or opposes any political party or candidate. WHAT TO TAKE TO THE POLLS ���������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� VOTER REGISTRATION CARD ����������������������������� INSIDE THis GUide ������������������� ������������������������� ������������������������ ������������������� President of the United States 2 ���������� State Board of ������������������� �������������������������� Education Districts U.S. Senator 2 ��������������������� U.S. House of Representatives 3 DISTRICT 5 Texas State Representative 9 Includes Hays County, Texas State Senator 10 Caldwell County, and southern portion of Railroad Commissioner 11 Travis County Railroad Commission 12 Texas Supreme Court 13 DISTRICT 10 Includes northern Court of Criminal Appeals 13 portion of Travis County, County District Court Judges 14 Williamson County, and State Board of Education 16 Bastrop County ���������� ����������������� Bastrop County races 18-20 �������� ������������ Caldwell County races 20-21 ������������������������ ���������������� Hays County races 21-22 ��������������������������� ��������������� Travis County races 22-26 ������������������ Williamson County races 26-27 When you go to vote, take your election: ■ Official mail addressed to you from a registration certificate with you. If you do ■ Drivers license governmental entity The Austin American-Statesman not provide a voter registration certificate, ■ Personal identification card issued by ■ Pay check that shows your name and has partnered with the League of you may vote by providing some other form the Dept. of Public Safety address Women Voters on this guide to the of identification and signing an affidavit at ■ Another form of identification ■ Current utility bill May primary elections. Using content the polls. You will be allowed to vote if your containing your photograph ■ Bank statement gathered from candidates by the name appears on the rolls in your county ■ Birth certificate ■ Government check, or other League, the Statesman designed and of residence. The following are acceptable ■ United States citizenship papers government document that shows your published the guide. forms of identification for the May 29, 2012, ■ United States passport name and address. In addition to being carried in the Sunday, May 13, Statesman, several thousand copies will be distributed by the League at various locations, and both the League and the Funding of Voters Guides is furnished by acknowledges major contributions from: Boyt, Joan Hilgers, Melissa Jones, Joann Statesman will provide the content the League of Women Voters of the Austin Lovelace, Janice May, Frances McIntyre, on their websites, statesman.com Area Education Fund, which is supported Barbara Hankins Margit and Arnold Orange, Judy and Ed and lwvaustin.com. by contributions from individuals and Carolyn Baker, Maxine Barkan, Nancy Parken, Susan and William Reid, Kathy corporations. The Education Fund gratefully Bene, Dr. Mathis and Mary Blackstock, Jeb Rider, Dabney Roe PRESIDENT, U.S. SENATOR 2 ABOUT THIS VOTERS GUIDE PResidenT OF THE support deporting anyone, from the Americas, who have UniTed STATes lived, and worked for five years, without arrest, from the U S. This printed Voters Guide lists candidates in contested Jobs: I would stimulate job growth by encouraging races who are on the May 29, 2012, Primary Election ballot The following candidates qualified for the Texas ballot manufacturing to return to the United States, by permitting and provides their answers to questions posed by The according to the Secretary of State. They will appear on the a reduction in the Minimum Wage paid by manufacturing League of Women Voters of Texas and The League of Republican or Democratic ballot for President. companies. Under my plan, one half of the minimum wage Women Voters-Austin Area. would be paid by the employer, the remainder would be paid Additional information can be accessed online at DEMOCRATIC PARTY by a department of the Government (Labor department) www.VOTE411.org including an online Voters Guide with BOB ELY, http://workmorekeepless.com/ to complete the total amount paid. This would drastically candidate videos, races not included in this Voters Guide, BARACK OBAMA, http://www.barackobama.com/ reduce the labor cost for employers. This plan can be and an “On Your Ballot” feature allowing voters to enter an DARCY G. RICHARDSON, http://www.darcy2012.com/ adjusted as (///) address and review races and ballot initiatives specific to JOHN WOLFE, http://www.johnwolfeforamerica.com/ Energy: We should move rapidly toward the use of that address. solar, and wind energy, thereby reducing our dependence This Voters Guide lists candidates for President of the REPUBLICAN PARTY on imported fuels. Our air and water quality would be United States, as well as statewide, regional, and local races MICHELE BACHMANN, drastically improved with these measures. in Texas, including U.S. Senator, Railroad Commissioner, http://www.michelebachmann.com/ Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts of JOHN DAVIS, http://www.johndavisforpresident.org/ Glenn Addison (R) Appeals, and the State Board of Education. Only candidates NEWT GINGRICH, http://www.newt.org/ Background: Business owner since age in political parties that select their candidates in the JON HUNTSMAN, http://www.jon2012.com/ 26, school board member, community Primary Election are included, currently Democratic and RON PAUL, http://www.ronpaul2012.com/ leader, church missions committee Republican parties. CHARLES “BUDDY” ROEMER, leader and member, budget balancer Candidates in other parties are selected by convention. http://www.buddyroemer.com/ with Magnolia ISD, effective communicator as evidenced Questionnaires were sent to candidates in races that MITT ROMNEY, http://www.mittromney.com/ by grassroots straw polls at Tea Party Forums, devotee to are contested within the same party. Candidate replies RICK SANTORUM, http://www.ricksantorum.com/ our constitution, profound respecter of founding fathers, are printed without editing or verification. Due to space follower of Christ, devoted husband, father and Papa restrictions, candidates were given strict word limits. UniTed STATes senATOR Trust: The only Republican candidate to pledge, in the Replies exceeding the word limit are indicated by slashes spirit of the founding fathers to serve one 6 year term (///). Candidates were also asked to avoid references to Six-year term. Must be at least 30 years old, a and come home to my day job. No one has their hooks in their opponents. Candidates appearing with no photo resident of the United States for at least nine years, Glenn Addison. To demonstrate my sincerity I will close failed to submit one. and a resident of Texas. One of 100 members of the U.S. my campaign fund the day I take office. Will reject lavish This Voters Guide is organized by office. Ballot order Senate which has specific powers to advise and consent pension and health care benefits and work for We The may vary from county to county. The names of unopposed to presidential appointments and treaties and to try People and then come home. I go to serve and not be candidates are also listed. impeachments. Powers the Senate shares with U.S. House served. of Representatives include the power to levy taxes, borrow Immigration: Bring troops back from Europe to guard money, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war. our border. Modify