2014 Texas State Voter Guide 2014 Texas Voter Guide Table of Contents • Importance in getting civically engaged • Important dates • Who is your representative The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) has compiled some resources to help inform community members when they vote in the November 2014 elections. Enclosed are Texas School of Education, State Representatives, State Senators, Lt. Governor race, Governor’s race, and Congressional representatives. Policy information gathered on candidates is strictly from the respective candidates official websites. Where such a website was not available, information was taken from interviews directly with candidates, or the candidates’ respective political party official websites (i.e. Democrat, Republican and Libertarian). The amount of information listed on candidates’ profiles is based strictly on the information provided on their official websites, or (where necessary), interviews/party websites. No opinion pieces, news articles, opinion polls or opponent sited facts/opinions were used on the candidates’ profiles. No candidate profiles were made for unopposed positions. CAIR’s aim is to provide unbiased, bipartisan information on key candidates running in the November 2014 election cycle. While CAIR’s aim is to assist the voter with non-bias information, we encourage everyone to do his or her own research and to not rely solely on this brochure. If any information in our Election Voter Guide is found to be false or inaccurate, please contact us at (713) 838-2247 and we will make it our priority to correct any mistakes. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is the largest American Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. CAIR-Texas has offices in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Our Vision: “To be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding.” Our Mission: To enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CAIR-TX Offices Greater Houston Area 5445 Almeda Ste., 301 Houston TX, 7004 (713) 838-CAIR (2247) Dallas/Fort Worth Area 2904 Floyd St. Ste., b Dallas, TX 75204 (469) 554-0786 San Antonio Area 3358 Tavern Oaks San Antonio TX, 78247 (210) 378-9528 Ahmad Alaswad, MPA, CAIR –TX Outreach Coordinator, complied this guide. CAIR-TX would like to thank Sana Ali, CAIR-TX Government Relations intern, who provided invaluable support on this project. 12 “We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution” Abraham Lincoln 2014 Dates to Remember 2015 Dates to Remember • Monday, October 6, 2014 • Thursday, January 29, 2015 o Last Day to register to vote o Texas Muslim Capitol Day • Tuesday, October 7, 2014 • Tuesday, March 13, 2015 o Last Day for volunteers deputy registration o Deadline for filing bills and applications received as of joint resolution other than local bills, emergency October 6, 2014 Deadline appropriation, and bills that • Monday, October 20, 2014 have been declared an emergency by the governor o First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance • Monday, June 1, 2015 • Friday, October 24, 2014 o Last day of 84th Regular Session o Last Day to Apply for ballot by Mail (Received, not • Sunday, June 21, 2015 Postmarked) o Last day governor can sign • Friday, October 31, 2014 or veto bills passed during the regular legislative o Last day of Early Voting by session Personal Appearance • Monday, August 31, 2015 • Tuesday, November 4, 2014 o Date that bills without o Election Day specific effective dates • Monday, November 10, 2014 become law o Profiling of legislation for • Tuesday, November 3, 2015 th the 84 Legislature begins o General Elections Who Represents Me? Texas School Board of Education • The Texas School Board of Education is responsible for middle and high public schools in the state of Texas. • Election by the people of Texas District 1 P.O. Box 960543 El Paso, TX 79996 (915) 373-3563 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Martha M. Dominguez, Democrat represents citizens in the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Brewster, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Glasscock, Hudspeth, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Loving, McCulloch, Maverick, Medina, Menard, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Webb, Winkler, Zapata, and Zavala. District 2 735 Habana St. Brownsville, TX 78526 (956) 639-9171 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Ruben Cortez, Democrat, represent citizens in the counties of: Aransas, Calhoun, Cameron, Colorado, Dewitt, Goliad, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton, Willacy and parts of Hidalgo. District 3 P.O. Box 276406 San Antonio, TX 78227 (210) 317-4651 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Marisa B. Perez, Democrat, represents the citizens in the following counties: Bee, Brooks, Duval, Gonzales, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Lavaca, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Wilson and parts of BeXar and Hidalgo counties. District 4 2130 Vermillion Oak St. Fresno, Texas 77545 (713) 203-1355 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Lawrence A. Allen Jr., Democrat, represents the citizens of Eastern Harris County. District 5 P.O. Box 781301 San Antonio, TX 78278-1301 (512) 463-9007 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Ken Mercer, Republican, represents the following counties: Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, Mason, San Saba and parts of BeXar and Travis counties. District 6 P.O. Box 79842 Houston, TX 77279 (832) 303-9091 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Donna Bahorich, Republican, represents Western part of Harris Country. District 7 2165 North Street Beaumont, TX 77701 (409) 835-3808 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 David Bradley, Republican, represents Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler counties, as well as parts of Fort Bend County. District 8, Chair The Woodlands, TX (512) 463-9007 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Barbara Cargill, Republican, represents Brazos, Grimes, Houston, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties. District 9, Vice Chair P.O. Box 232 Mount Pleasant, TX 75456 (903) 717-1190 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Thomas Ratliff, Republican, represents citizens in the following counties: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood District 10 P.O. Box 2885 Georgetown, TX 78627 (512) 532-9517 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Tom Maynard, Republican, represents counties of Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Burleson, Burnet, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Waller, Washington, Williamson and part of Travis. District 11 900 North Elm Weatherford, TX 76086 (817) 598-2968 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Patricia Hardy, Republican, represents Parker County and parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties. District 12 1100 Providence Tower West 5001 Spring Valley Road Dallas, TX 75244-3910 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Geraldine "Tincy" Miller, Republican, represents the citizens of Collin County and part of Dallas County. District 13, Secretary 6108 Red Bird Court Dallas, TX 75232 (214) 333-9575 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2015 Mavis Knight, Democrat, represents parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties. District 14 101 Brewster Waco, TX 76706 (254) 749-0415 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Sue Melton-Malone, Republican, represents citizens in the following counties: Bosque, Brown, Comanche, Coryell, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Lampasas, McLennan, Mills, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Somervell, Stephens, and Wise.. District 15 701 South Taylor, Suite 500 Amarillo, TX 79101 (806) 373-4600 [email protected] Board Term: Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2017 Marty Rowley represents, Republican, Andrews, Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Baylor, Borden, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Castro, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collingsworth, Cooke, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hockley, Howard, Hutchinson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Montague, Moore, Motley, Nolan, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Sherman, Sterling, Stonewall, Swisher, Taylor, Terry, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Yoakum and Young. Texas Legislators • The duties: consideration of proposed bills, consideration of proposed amendments for submission to the voters, and appropriation of funds. • There are 150 members of the House of Representatives