Race for House seat and Hays County posts offer clear choices

Read the entire editorial published by the Statesman on Sunday at this link: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/race-for-house-seat-and-hays-county-posts-256987.html

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

EDITORIAL BOARD

State Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, continues to be a forceful advocate for District 45, with a leadership style that focuses on building consensus at the Legislature. As a result, Rose has an impressive list of accomplishments that has helped improve the quality of life for district residents and all Texans. He is the best choice for the March 2 Democratic primary.

The District 45 seat represents a swing district split between Democrats and Republicans.

[snip]

There is a clear contrast between candidates seeking the District 45 House seat and the Hays County Commissioners Court's top leadership post. We urge voters to choose Rose, Barton and Cobb.

___________________

Here's a sampling of comments the Stateman's endorsements has stirred. (None of the commenters, so far, are happy with the paper's far-fetched picks):

–– If Representative Pat Rose spent less time in the Warehouse District of Austin and more time really representing his constituents - in the way we need representation - Hays, Blanco, and Caldwell counties will remain livable.

If he's re-elected, hello urban sprawl. – Nell 786

–– Sorry after years of supporting Rose I can't do it any longer. He had his chance to be A Democrat and instead has become another pathetic Republican lite. I am active with the Hays Dems and I am working hard to make sure Rose loses this primary. – Texan by Marriage

–– Dear AAs editorial board, Disclaimer to your endorsement should state that you are in the business of selling houses, cars and cheap trinkets from China.

If you were to read your letters to your editor, John Sharp briefly and thoroughly made your case for you. You don’t read your own paper. You’ve been ‘rosed’ to. District 45 has been ‘rosed’ to and now you want us to believe your big fat ’rose’ – your endorsement.

Since you currently have readers out in Hays county, you should not ‘rose’ to them and should stick to mercantile. Your endorsements are the kiss of death to those that receive them, it’s history – read it. Thanks for the endorsements, say goodnight to young prince Pinocchio Ro$e and developer wanna-be baby Barton. Hays county will thank you for helping to elect Andrew Backus and re-elect county judge Sumter. You endorsed Jim Powers over Sumter the last go around. Thanks for that too.

By the way FYI Pinocchio Ro$e is claiming credit for the cure of breast cancer – now that’s real news! – Les

PEC ready to cement new rules

Perhaps the clearest signal of that new culture is the proposed bill of rights for Pedernales members, outlining their rights to fair elections, access to co-op meetings and open records

Send your comments and news tip to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Read the complete story at this link: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/pec-board-ready-to-cement-new-rules-265498.html

Published Sunday, February 21, 2010/Austin American-Statesman

By Patrick George/American-Statesman Staff

Over the past few years, Pedernales Electric Cooperative has become associated less with its historical role of supplying power to the Texas Hill Country and more with lavish spending, secretive management and legal woes.

Bennie Fuelberg , who was its general manager for more than 30 years, was indicted last summer in the felony theft of money from the co-op. Fuelberg and the co-op's former general counsel, Walter Demond , are accused of arranging for thousands of dollars of co-op money to be paid to relatives of Pedernales executives between the mid-1990s and 2007.

The charges followed disclosures that stemmed from a member-led lawsuit and detailed questionable dealings by Pedernales officials, lack of oversight by its board and closed-door practices that kept the co-op's 200,000-plus members largely in the dark about its operations.

That was then. After beginning a series of reforms in 2008, the Pedernales board is poised today to enact new bylaws and proposed amendments to the organization's articles of incorporation that will make the changes permanent.

The board hopes the policies will also make Pedernales — already the largest member-owned cooperative in the country — a national model for open management.

Texas Supreme Court case has big implications for groundwater management

The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week for a case that some knowledgeable people are saying could have significant implications for landowners and groundwater water regulators

NPR's Morning Edition aired an informative report on the case Tuesday of this week. Here's the audio link: http://kut.org/items/show/19856

Here's a statement we received from the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District:

"Principles in this action feel this is the most important water rights ruling to ever appear before the court and could significantly impact a Groundwater District’s ability to effectively manage this precious resource and change the way state water planning is performed. Lawyers representing landowners argue the property owner’s full rights are at stake."

Doug Wierman, president of the board of the HTGCD said this: "There are huge implications whether or not groundwater under your property is your vested right and you can withdraw as much as you want and basically throws out management of the aquifers. Locally it would pretty much dash any opportunity to manage the Trinity Aquifer (if the court rules in a sweeping decision for the petitioners Day/McDaniel). This is clearly something worth watching."

The case is titled "The Edwards Aquifer Authority and The State of Texas v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel." Docket No. 08-0964

You can read the Day/McDaniel petition for review in down-loadable pdf format here: http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/ebriefs/08/08096406.pdf

Early voting is under way . . . make sure to vote!

RoundUp Photo

Clark Regan has taken the early lead in the nomination for Best Costume during early voting. Regan spent some time electioneering outside the Wimberley Community Center today. It was the first day of early voting in Wimberley, where more than 260 voters had cast their ballots by 4 p.m. in the Republican and Democratic primaries. Mr. Regan and Kent "Bud" Wymore are vying for the position of County Chair of the Hays County Republican Party. Regan promises that if elected he will call for a joint session of county Dem and Republican leaders to discuss issues and areas of common interest.

For the schedule of early voting, go to this link at the county elections office web site : http://www.elections.co.hays.tx.us/March22010brElectionInformation/tabid/110/Default.aspx

Buda area community leader endorses Sumter for County Judge

Note: Mr. Patterson resides near Buda in County Precinct 2, Commissioner Jeff Barton's home turf. One could argue that Mr. Patterson's support for Liz Sumter in the Democratic Primary for County Judge is a case of sour grapes for Barton having turned a deaf ear to the wishes of 800 Buda-area constituents. One could argue, too, that's reason enough – but there's more to it than that, as Patterson explains.

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Patterson at budadav@yahoo.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

By David Patterson
Guest Commentary

The most important Hays County Primary in recent history is upon us. It is important because we’re being shut out of the process and we have public officials who will not listen to us.

Let me explain.

I was involved in the BudaFirst fight to stop the land use amendment that will allow an industrial park to be built in an area that was designated for commercial and retail by Buda’s Comprehensive Development Plan. Nearly 800 Buda voters signed a petition in July to put this land use amendment to the vote of the citizenry. By comparison, only 528 Buda citizens voted in last May’s election.

Patterson, on left, with former Buda mayor Jim Hollis
Clearly the majority will of Buda’s voters was to stop this industrial park. Despite the clear showing of the will of the people, some public officials were working behind the scenes to stop any citizen who might get in the way. Chief among those was County Commissioner Jeff Barton.

Barton’s actions deserve close scrutiny.

Jeff Barton tried to straddle the fence on this issue. While giving lip service to the idea of allowing the citizens to settle the issue, he received campaign contributions from Howard Faulkenberg. It is Faulkenberg’s public relations firm that represents US Foods, the first tenant in the industrial park that BudaFirst was fighting.

At the request of US Foods, Barton also placed $1.75 million in road improvements on the County Commissioner’s agenda. These road improvements were required by US Foods as a condition to relocate in Buda. Later Barton voted to spend $1.75 million of our tax dollars for these road improvements.

Apart from his involvement with the US Food scandal, there are some other things you should know about Barton. For example, he is still actively involved in his family’s paper the Free Press, and maintains a part time position with Doucette and Associates, an engineering firm that does business in Hays County.

An elected official should eliminate conflicts of interest and even the appearance of any conflicts of interest. Barton has done neither. If elected County Judge, Barton will favor developers, big business, and his family business, and he will do so at the expense of our quality of life.

Judge Liz Sumter has stood up against Barton. She voted against spending our tax money on special interest road improvements. She supported the voice and desires of Buda’s citizens, even after Barton criticized her for doing so. Liz has and will continue to represent the voters of Hays County. She has been and will continue to be provident with our tax dollars. Judge Liz Sumter has earned a reputation of listening to the citizens of Hays County and representing their will. Without Judge Sumter at the helm, our quality of life is in jeopardy.

If we don’t have responsible growth in our county, it is not a matter of if, but when there will be a collision between irresponsible growth and limited water resources. We cannot count on people like Commissioner Jeff Barton to serve our interests. And that’s why each and every one of us should support the re-election of Judge Liz Sumter.

Please talk to your friends and neighbors and get out to vote early.
Friday, February 19th, Buda City Hall, 11am to 7pm
Saturday, February 20th, Buda City Hall, 10am to 4pm
Friday, February 26th, Buda City Hall, 11am to 7pm

Plane crashes into Northwest Austin office building

Read the updates in the Austin American-Statesman. Video reports are also available at the KVUE web site: http://www.kvue.com/

Claudia Grisales/Statesman

Austin police say a plane has crashed into a building in the 9400 block of Research Boulevard.

Austin-Travis County EMS Assistant Director James Shamard said smoke is visible for at least a mile and that paramedics have set up a triage center at the scene. “We have no idea right now if there are any patients, or how many.”

EMS officials said it was a seven-story building and that two people were unaccounted for. A witness said it was the Echelon I building.

According to an FBI agent who asked not to be identified because he isn’t authorized to release information, the incident is being investigated as an accident, although eyewitnesses said the plane seemed to come in at full throttle. He said the plane was out of Waco and that Federal Aviation Administration officials are en route to the scene.

Former Democratic Party Chair Whitehead endorses Sumter for re-election

It was a proud moment for us all when Judge Sumter took office and I encourage each of you to support her in this contested Democrat Primary election

As a former President and a Founding Member of WimDems, a former Chair of the Hays County Democratic Party and immediate past Mayor of the City of Woodcreek, it has been my pleasure to have worked with Judge Sumter on many projects benefiting all citizens of Hays County. We, along with so many of you have shared the goal of bringing good government to Hays County. Judge Sumter has worked tirelessly in that effort her entire professional career and most recently as our County Judge. Liz Sumter made history in Hays County as the first woman elected County Judge in our county. It was a proud moment for us all when Judge Sumter took office and I encourage each of you to support her in this contested Democrat Primary election.

It is without hesitation that I wholeheartedly endorse the re-election of Judge Sumter. However, FIRST she needs your support and VOTE in the Democrat Primary election. If ever it was necessary for you to get out and vote and vote early now is the time. We need the opportunity to Re-Elect Judge Sumter. She is the person who does the job now and does it full time with proven results.

In Statesman letter, Sharp calls Rose essentially a liar

When people around the Capitol use the phrase "I've been Rosed" to mean they've been lied to, there's a problem

Note: In case you hadn't seen this letter to the editor in today's Statesman, here's the link to the letter and the story referred to in the editor's note below: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/the-three-r-s-vying-for-governor-244772.html . . . scroll down to the fourth letter. And here's the link to the story that prompted Sharp's letter: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/state-rep-patrick-rose-faces-first-democratic-primary-214839.html

Mr. Sharp, a Democrat, is running for the U. S. Senate seat now held by Kay Bailey Hutchison. As always, Mr. Rose is welcome to send us his comments.

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Sharp retort

Re: Feb. 5 article "Rose faces first test in Democratic primary."

State Rep. Patrick Rose's suggestion that I got mad at him for not doing what two friends wanted on water legislation is false, and he knows it.

Rose asked me to get the developers together with him, and I did. He then agreed to everything they wanted — even signing off on the legislation. Then, without telling anyone, he did the opposite.

I had no interest in — and could care less about — this legislation. My problem with Rose is he can't seem to tell the truth.

When people around the Capitol use the phrase "I've been Rosed" to mean they've been lied to, there's a problem. I wish Rose the best in all the does, but having a reputation for constantly misrepresenting the facts and not telling the truth is not the way to treat anyone, much less friends trying to help you.

John Sharp

Former Texas comptroller

Austin

Editor's note: Obviously, there's some history here, and we urge readers to read an American-Statesman article published in October 2007 about the bill that triggered Sharp's letter. The article can be found below, after the letters.

County announces subcontractor bidding opportunities for government center construction

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – Hays County has announced that its design-builder, Balfour Beatty Construction Company, will begin the solicitation for subcontractor bids for work on the Hays County Government Center. Documents will be available for interested bidders on Feb. 19 on http://www.Smartbidnet.com

“This is another exciting step in bringing a unified, one-stop government center to the people of Hays County and an opportunity during these challenging economic times to bring jobs to our county,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, whose precinct will be home to the center.

Interested subcontractors, even if they are already registered with Smartbidnet.com, should email Jason Cagle at jcagle@balfourbeattyus.com to be added to the subcontractor listing on Smartbidnet.com. Include the following information in the email: company name and contact, trade the company is performing, address, phone and fax.

There will be a pre-bid meeting at 3 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos. For more information on the pre-bid meeting, call Dan O’Shea at 214-451-1098.

Media Contact: 512-393-2296
Laureen.Chernow@co.hays.tx.us

What was Kirk Watson thinking!?

I have finally decided that I have seen his true colors – nothing blindingly good or different is going to emerge from him

Note: Seems like Ms. Hopson, of Wimberley, is on a roll and we couldn't help but share her letter to State Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, the former Mayor of Austin and darling of Central Texas liberals and environmentalists. So, we ask, "What is Kirk thinking endorsing Patrick Rose?" seeing as how so many liberals and environmentalists inside District 45 are backing Rose's primary opponent, Andrew Backus. This is sure to plant another quill into the already well splintered local Dem Party. Anyone who thinks they can bring this picture into focus, or put on a good defense of Rose's actual record of accomplishments inside his own district, is welcome to give it a shot. Maybe it's a testament to how diverse Democrats' interests are and how they tend to lose focus on what it is they are trying to achieve. Or, in Sen. Watson's case, maybe he sees gold in them thar hills.

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Sen. Watson at kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Monday, February 15, 2010

Dear Kirk,

Sen. Watson
I received your email newsletter and almost always agree with what you say. However, today at home I had a robo-call from you to endorse Patrick Rose for re-election as State Rep for House District 45 (in which I reside). I was surprised that you endorsed Patrick, and I can only think that you are not aware of what he stands for and whom he truly represents.

Patrick Rose is an ambitious young man who told at least some of his teachers as far back as elementary school that he wanted to be president some day. I've no doubt that that is still his ultimate goal. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but Patrick seems very single-minded, and he seems also to be one who believes it's okay to use questionable means to achieve what he considers a good end result.

I have voted for Patrick every time he has run for the HD 45 seat. Disappointments upon disappointments in him have piled up, and, like many others, I have finally decided that I have seen his true colors – nothing blindingly good or different is going to emerge from him.

Patrick does not represent his constituents, but instead is the water boy for powerful interests who contribute grandly to his campaigns. (By the way, Patrick said at the beginning of his first re-election campaign in 2004 that he was going to raise over a million dollars for that campaign, and he did. He raised over $900,000 for the 2006 campaign and over $1,000,000 for the 2008 campaign. As I say, he is a determined and single-minded young man. Don't get in his way.)

Hays County (which Patrick represents and where I live) was the most drought-stricken county in the entire state of Texas this past summer. The U.S. Weather Service had to invent a new description for the severity of our plight – "exceptional drought." But in the midst of that condition, Patrick did all he could to prevent Hays County from having the Chapter 36 authority (of the Texas Water Code) which almost all other water conservation districts in the state have. Patrick is in the pockets of land developers who helped him raise those millions of campaign dollars. I can tell you more about Patrick and his efforts to block rational water conservation, but I need to wind up this letter.

Suffice it to say that merely looking at a list of Patrick Rose's most generous campaign donors is very telling in itself. Some of them are:

Texas Land Developers Assn.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform (anti-consumer business group)
Texas Association of Realtors
Texas Assn. of Mortgage Bankers
Real Estate Council of Austin
Texas Land Title Association
Randall Morris (real estate offices in several Central Texas cities)
Wimberley Quicksand Partners (Wimberley Springs)
Richard Weekley (real estate)
Scott Roberts (Salt Lick Barbecue in Driftwood)
Rex Baker (owns title co. and water interests in Dripping Springs)
Bob J. (Bobby Jack) Perry (Houston land developer who also has interests in Colorado, Louisiana, and elsewhere).
-Source: www.followthemoney.org.

And, of course, both Patrick and his father, Mike Rose, are licensed real estate brokers. They likely will haul in fat commissions when they are agents for Scott Roberts as he develops the Salt Lick area.

Rose has also pushed through several MUD districts for developers in Hays and other Texas counties. Most mind-boggling of all is that he got the Legislature to pass a bill in 2009 which created a single-member taxing district of land owned solely by Scott Roberts, the owner of Salt Lick Barbecue. Roberts gets to collect and keep part of the sales tax he takes in at the Salt Lick. People who eat there are helping Roberts pay for the big development plans he has for his many acres.

If you aren't dubious about just whom it is that Patrick Rose works for, I don't know what to say. I hope you will cease supporting Patrick Rose in his bid again for the HD 45 seat. His Democrat opponent in the primary, Andrew Backus, has my vote and the vote of all who are concerned about water issues in Hays County and the rest of Texas.

Sincerely,
Barbara Hopson,
Wimberley
hopsonbarbara@yahoo.com

How Christian were the Founders?

The injection of partisan politics into education went so far that at one point another Republican board member burst out in seemingly embarrassed exasperation, “Guys, you’re rewriting history now!”

Note: This is a lengthy article published in today's New York Times, well worth the read. For the complete article, click on this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/magazine/14texbooks-t.html?ref=magazine

Update, Monday, Feb. 15 – The link to the county elections office was down temporarily today . . . we are now informed it's back up.

Several seats on the Texas State Board of Education are up for election, including the District 5 seat that represents Hays County on the Board. Two Republican candidates and four Democrats are squaring off in their respective primaries March 2. You can see the sample ballots at the Hays County Elections Office web site here. The Texas League of Women Voters has a down-loadable pdf voters guide on their web site http://www.lwvtexas.org/ with short bios of the candidates and their positions. Look for it near the top of the page: 2010 Primary Election Voters Guide. You have to scroll down to get to the District 5 State Board of Education candidates.

By Russell Shorto
Published February 11, 2010

LAST MONTH, A WEEK before the Senate seat of the liberal icon Edward M. Kennedy fell into Republican hands, his legacy suffered another blow that was perhaps just as damaging, if less noticed. It happened during what has become an annual spectacle in the culture wars.

Over two days, more than a hundred people — Christians, Jews, housewives, naval officers, professors; people outfitted in everything from business suits to military fatigues to turbans to baseball caps — streamed through the halls of the William B. Travis Building in Austin, Tex., waiting for a chance to stand before the semicircle of 15 high-backed chairs whose occupants made up the Texas State Board of Education. Each petitioner had three minutes to say his or her piece.

A rally outside of the Texas State Board of Education
hearings on textbooks in Austin, Tex., on Jan. 13, 2010.

Larry Kolvoord/Austin American-Statesman

“Please keep César Chávez” was the message of an elderly Hispanic man with a floppy gray mustache.

“Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world and should be included in the curriculum,” a woman declared.

Following the appeals from the public, the members of what is the most influential state board of education in the country, and one of the most politically conservative, submitted their own proposed changes to the new social-studies curriculum guidelines, whose adoption was the subject of all the attention — guidelines that will affect students around the country, from kindergarten to 12th grade, for the next 10 years. Gail Lowe — who publishes a twice-a-week newspaper when she is not grappling with divisive education issues — is the official chairwoman, but the meeting was dominated by another member. Don McLeroy, a small, vigorous man with a shiny pate and bristling mustache, proposed amendment after amendment on social issues to the document that teams of professional educators had drawn up over 12 months, in what would have to be described as a single-handed display of arch-conservative political strong-arming.

McLeroy moved that Margaret Sanger, the birth-control pioneer, be included because she “and her followers promoted eugenics,” that language be inserted about Ronald Reagan’s “leadership in restoring national confidence” following Jimmy Carter’s presidency and that students be instructed to “describe the causes and key organizations and individuals of the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s, including Phyllis Schlafly, the Contract With America, the Heritage Foundation, the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association.” The injection of partisan politics into education went so far that at one point another Republican board member burst out in seemingly embarrassed exasperation, “Guys, you’re rewriting history now!” Nevertheless, most of McLeroy’s proposed amendments passed by a show of hands.

Finally, the board considered an amendment to require students to evaluate the contributions of significant Americans. The names proposed included Thurgood Marshall, Billy Graham, Newt Gingrich, William F. Buckley Jr., Hillary Rodham Clinton and Edward Kennedy. All passed muster except Kennedy, who was voted down. This is how history is made — or rather, how the hue and cry of the present and near past gets lodged into the long-term cultural memory or else is allowed to quietly fade into an inaudible whisper.

TCEQ meeting tonight to discuss concerns regarding Aqua Texas

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Note: Concerned citizen Jim McMeans forwarded the notice below. And we have this note from another concerned citizen: "Today, 2/11 Aqua Texas issued another "Notice" that E-coli was found yesterday in the untreated water from one of their wells supplying Woodcreek North. Yuck!" We're checking with the WNPOA. Folks attending tonight's meeting may want to ask TCEQ if anyone is checking for leaks in Aqua's wastewater system and possible infiltration into the surrounding groundwater table.

Hello, Friends. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has called a public Informational Meeting for this coming Friday, February 12th at 7:00 pm at Woodcreek City Hall, 41 Champions Circle, to "answer questions and discuss concerns regarding Aqua Texas' water and wastewater service provided within its certificated service area." You may want to notify others who have concerns about ATI to attend the meeting.

Additionally, you may know that Aqua Texas had applied for a CCN to serve the 50+ acre Westridge property (proposed River Rock development) on Mt. Sharp Road. This application has been withdrawn by ATI since they can legally serve that area under their existing CCN # 11157. The TCEQ rule (TAC 291.103) states that if their CCN is within 1/4 mile of the area to be served, a formal CCN amendment is not required to provide service to that area. The current ATI CCN ends at Persimmon Drive which is within 1/4 mile of the property in question.

Hope to see you Friday evening at Woodcreek City Hall. Parking is limited so you may want to carpool.

Jim McMeans

Candidates' forum in Wimberley offers a lesson in learning

Commissioner Ingalsbe, we are informed, is fuming over Barton's repeated fibbing and has a mind to wash his mouth out with soap

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Early voting starts Tuesday, Feb. 16. Click here for the voting schedule and sample ballots in both the GOP and Democratic primaries. Click here for a look at all the local candidates' latest campaign finance reports.

By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor

Last night's candidates forum hosted by the Wimberley Chapter-League of Women Voters was fun and informative.

The well attended event at the community center coincided with the national League's 90th birthday. Happy B'Day League! Thanks for all you do to educate voters on the issues and candidates.

The forum featured candidates in three March 2nd primary races: Bert Cobb and Peggy Jones in the GOP primary for county judge (Cobb is in the center . . . Jones was absent); Jeff Barton and Judge Liz Sumter (on left and right) in the Democratic primary for county judge; and Tommy Ratliff and Bill Huddleston in the Democratic primary for sheriff.

Time permitting, we'll get to the reporting of "what they said" later. First, here are some of the things we learned about the candidates themselves.

– We learned that Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton appears to be one of the few people remaining who believe everything he says. For example, Barton repeated a concocted story line that he has been using on the stump, accusing County Judge Sumter of trying to get the DA, Sherri Tibbe, to indict Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe. The story stems from an old complaint related to county repairs on an alleged private road in Pct. 1. No indictment was ever pursued, not even close. Tibbe issued a finding that the road was not private. Reportedly, Commissioner Ingalsbe is fuming over Barton's repeated fibbing and has a mind to wash his mouth out with soap. This is not helping Barton in his quest for votes in the San Marcos area where Ingalsbe has a loyal following.

Barton also is a good shadow boxer. He did not answer a question from the audience about who his largest campaign contributors are. Instead, he waxed on evasively about the large number of small donors to his campaign and that he has significantly out-raised Sumter. (Sumter said she is restricted in the number and amounts of contributions she can receive because of her dual role as a probate judge.) Here's what we know of Barton's top contributors, according to his latest campaign finance report: There are numerous out-of-towners, for example, from Elsa, Tx ($2,500), McAllen ($2,500), Austin ($2,000), Waco ($2,000). Barton has taken nearly $30,000 from non-Hays County sources, more than half of his total fund raising.

– We learned that Dr. Cobb, who has an allergy practice and clinic in San Marcos, can get a little testy when you ask too many questions about his practice, like "How on earth do you make $100,000 a year working 13 hours a week!?" He's likely to poke his finger in your chest. Other than that he likes to tell jokes, and promises that he'll sell his practice if he is elected county judge.

– We learned that Judge Sumter doesn't seem to want to waste her time rebutting the yarns that Barton spins. She was on point with her answers and left the solid impression that she knew a lot more about the county's operations than anybody in the room.

Sheriff Ratliff
– We learned that Bill Huddleston has tons of managerial and law enforcement experience and really wants to be sheriff. Says he'll be a leader in his own right and won't have to learn on the job like his non-elected primary opponent Tommy Ratliff.

– We learned that Tommy Ratliff just has that look of a friendly and honest sheriff. A former Highway Patrol Trooper and Texas Ranger (retired), Ratliff was appointed sheriff by commissioners court last year after the sudden death of everybody's friend and sheriff, Allen Bridges. Ratliff says he's on top of things and has the Sheriff's Department moving on the offense against crime and not on the defense.

In the audience, we learned that County Court at Law No. 1 Judge Anna Martinez Boling (appointed to the position following the death of Judge Howard Warner) is as upbeat as ever about her full time judge job and campaign – only she wishes she had as much time to campaign as her primary opponent David Mendoza. We are told that Mr. Mendoza is on a "campaign leave of absence" (hopefully unpaid) from his job as a Hays County Assistant DA. If Assistant DA Mendoza can take an extended leave of absence, what does that say about the work load in the DA's office? Maybe it's the slow season.

We also learned that Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley has a genuinely nice smile not often seen at commissioners court meetings (he gave a thumbs up after the photo was snapped), and that State Rep. Patrick Rose likes wearing high heel boots. He seemed a little irritated that his photo was being taken. Rose (looking awfully detached) and his entourage were at the forum presumably as a show of support for his friend Jeff Barton.

We learned many things at last night's forum, mostly after the candidates spoke. That's the thing about stump speeches and candidate forums, you can't tell fact from fiction. You almost have to get up close and personal to get a feel for a candidate's true character.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley

State Rep. Patrick Rose

PEC committee sends recommendations on bylaws, bill of rights to board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 9, 2010
TO: All PEC-area newspapers
MEDIA CONTACT: Anne Harvey, (830) 868-4933; Austin line, (512) 219-2602

Go to this link to read the complete press release and to review the proposed revisions to PEC's bylaws: https://www.pec.coop/CorpProfile/Bylaws.aspx

Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Governance, Bylaws and Legal Committee met on Wednesday, Feb. 3 and voted to send key governing documents to the Cooperative’s full Board of Directors for consideration.

When the Board meets on Feb. 22, it will consider approving revisions to PEC’s bylaws, and whether or not to put a revised articles of incorporation, which would include the Co-op’s first member bill of rights, up for a member vote.

Texas GOP wants more control over our lives

REVIEW: 2010 GOP PRIMARY

The problem with all 5 propositions is that once again the GOP is looking to control the public in ways that currently are illegal according the Constitution of the United States of America and the Texas Constitution

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Stern at pstern@austin.rr.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary

The whole point of a Democracy is to permit people to control and determine their own lives, to limit and prevent government from becoming a Dictatorship, in which the people would have no rights and freedom to live as they choose.

A mainstay of the Republican Party from its inception to this present day is to ensure less government in our daily lives. It is one of the main reasons why I became a member of the GOP back in the 1950's during the Eisenhower administration. President Eisenhower managed our nation with intelligence and promoted actions for the well-being of the entire community.

Back then, when businesses prospered, so did the majority of Americans. These days, greed overshadows the actions and inactions of our leaders and a significant number of hard-working citizens have become hardly-working Americans, suffering in this leader-imposed economic depression.

So, whatever happened to the GOP platform of less government interference into our lives? Instead, every few years the Republican party tries to invade our lives with more government control in the form of what often appears to be oppressive and/or racist ballot proposals to change the Constitution.

As with previous Republican Primary propositions or ballot initiatives, the five propositions below are non-binding; they are designed to determine how the electorate feels on certain issues. Overwhelming support for a proposition may lead to legislation being introduced in the future. This year the GOP is trying to push 5 propositions that further dissolve or impede our inalienable rights. In brief, they are:

Proposition 1. Each registered voter must present a photo ID to vote
Proposition 2. GOP says we need to control government growth via additional budget restrictions
Proposition 3. Stop government stimulus and instead cut Federal Income Taxes
Proposition 4. The GOP wants to force all of us to acknowledge God at public events
Proposition 5. The party wants to demand sonograms be shown to every woman who elects to have an abortion.

The propositions are NOT on the ballot of the Democrat Primary.

To read the propositions in entirety you may review them on the site of any county election office. The link below is to the Hays County Election Office. The propositions are cited at the end of the sample ballot: http://www.elections.co.hays.tx.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DkVp2PWYHj4%3d&tabid=110&mid=438

The problem with all 5 propositions is that once again the GOP is looking to control the public in ways that currently are illegal according the Constitution of the United States of America and the Texas Constitution.

If they were not illegal, there would be no need for the GOP to push for these propositions.

In the U.S. each citizen has the right to determine his/her own lifestyle, religious worship (or not) and medical determinations.

Whether or not members of the GOP believe it, the government has no right to demand people to follow directives that do NOT concern government and which actually would impede the rights of all American citizens.

Consequently, even though the propositions are not binding, voters should mark a big "No" on the GOP primary ballot for each one of the five propositions. We need less government intervention, NOT more.

Peter Stern, a former director of information services, university professor and public school administrator, is a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Driftwood, Texas.

Take a Ride On The Perry Go Round!

Rick Perry Claims To Have Lowered Taxes But Under His Watch, Taxes Have Gone Up Nearly $1.6 Billion

Note: A web site paid for by Texans for Kay Bailey Hutchison pokes some animated fun at Gov. Cowpoke Perry: http://www.slickrickperry.com/ Interestingly enough, we found the advertisement posted momentarily on the lefty blog, Daily Kos.

. . . . Rick Perry has turned the Governor’s Office into a Revolving Door of Money and Influence for his friends.

When you take a closer look at some of the worst decisions to come out of Perry’s office, they all seem to have one thing in common: A former or future Perry staffer was lobbying for them and giving big bucks to Perry’s campaigns.

Letter writer expresses concerns over unplanned growth, and Barton

To the editor:

I am writing to express my support for County Judge Liz Sumter in her campaign for re-election. Her opponent in the Democratic Primary, Jeff Barton, is not someone that I, or anyone in Hays County, can depend on to help us conserve the natural resources that are so becoming more and more scarce as the population grows.

Barton’s record reflects his unqualified support for the rapid and unplanned growth in the western part of Hays County and his reluctance to support the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District charged with protecting the use of groundwater.

I attended the Commissioner’s Court meeting where the court was considering granting a sum of $200,000 to the HTGCD for operating expenses in the coming year (a mere pittance in comparison the budget for most GCDs).

Barton’s comments and questions reflected an under the table acceptance of Rep. Patrick Rose’s political deal that left the GCD high and dry in a time of drought. His thinly veiled gloating over the fact that his precinct in Eastern Hays County had water restrictions in place months ago and were not facing the lack of water that was apparent in Western Hays County was misleading and downright fallacious. His comments did not address the fact that the Edwards Aquifer is the source of groundwater for his precinct while the Hays Trinity Aquifer (a smaller and less rechargeable aquifer) is the source of groundwater for Western Hays County. How can he represent the whole county with this kind of ignorance and arrogance?

Please consider carefully the future of all of Hays County when voting in the primary and vote for someone who listens to and considers the needs of all residents.

Sincerely,
Dorothy Knight

For Texans and TxDOT, the 'cake and eat it too' isn't working

If TxDOT is as broke as they claim, and demand is flat, then why would they worry so much about anything beyond maintaining the Texas roads we already have?

Note: We received this timely commentary via an alert Driftwood area resident. Much appreciated. It certainly brings the question home to Hays County, i.e., the need for more road construction from the 2008 road bond and beyond, and the mounting cost of maintenance. Makes one wonder what kind of baloney we're all being fed.

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Everyone knows that TxDOT loves to build roads. And so do the contractors that TxDOT hires. And not only do these contractors love to build the roads, but they are generously willing to help elect the politicians who decide to build these roads.

But at some point, somebody really needs to ask if we need more roads in Texas than we already have. The answer is that we probably don't. How do we know that? The most recent Federal Highway Administration data shows that from Nov. 2008 to Nov. 2009, the actual use of roads in Texas only increased by .1%, as we see here:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/09novtvt/page6.cfm

In other words, taking the best data for travel on all the roads in Texas combined over the last year, we see that it would take about 100 years for the level of traffic to go up by even 10%.

Consider the implications. The legislature is not willing to raise the gas tax, so this necessarily causes the gas tax revenue, both the state and federal portions, to be about flat. Which situation then makes it really really hard for TxDOT to borrow against this revenue stream, which is falling short of even keeping up with inflation. Even though the travel demand on their current roads is flat, they still want to build more roads, which would obviously cause TxDOT's maintenance funding shortfall to get even bigger.

If TxDOT is as broke as they claim, and demand is flat, then why would they worry so much about anything beyond maintaining the Texas roads we already have? At least not until someday when the economy recovers and/or we discover a new supply of cheap oil, causing people to start driving more and needing lots of new road capacity, right?

TxDOT likes to complain that they can barely afford to maintain their current Texas roads. But the way they chose to deal with the problem is in a way that may be nice for their contractors, but is practically guaranteed to make TxDOT's maintenance problem worse.

Like they say, when things can't go on any longer, they won't. - Roger

Barton should get a grip and withdraw

Barton's vainglorious campaign has managed to upset some of his erstwhile east side supporters for leaving the Pct. 2 county commissioner seat exposed to a possible Republican takeover

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Kathi Thomas at the State
Democratic Convention in Ft. Worth

Note: In a long shot challenge against Republican State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, District 25, in 2006, Thomas received a respectable 37 percent of the vote. She served a short stint as Hays County Democratic Party treasurer, serves on the Dripping Springs Democratic Action leadership team and is a candidate for precinct chair in her own Precinct 443.

By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor

Kathi Thomas of Dripping Springs knows her way around politics and politicians as good as anyone.

Yet she can't quite figure out why Pct. 2 County Commissioner Jeff Barton decided to challenge a fellow Democrat – incumbent County Judge Liz Sumter – in the upcoming March 2 Democratic primary. The challenge has exacerbated an uneasy split in the party, along east-west lines.

"I wrote to him about this (Barton)," said Thomas. "You only get a primary opponent if the person has done a really terrible job or is really corrupt. I think it was wrong and he should not have done it . . . I can't see any reason other than ego. She (Sumter) has been a good judge; she's protected the people who live here and has protected the environment."

Close observers have noticed Barton on the stump feigning sincerity and saying he wants to heal the rift. Some suggest a good place for Barton to start the healing would be to withdraw from the race – not a likely event. An e-mail flier sent around by his campaign says, "we need everyone's help as we work hard to cross the finish line." The same flier announces a Feb. 17 fund raiser in Barton's honor at the Headliner's Club in Austin, the ultimate venue for schmoozing with political big wigs and powerful interests. Not a good harbinger for the average citizen in Hays County.

Jeff Barton
Barton's vainglorious campaign has managed to upset some of his erstwhile east side supporters for leaving the Pct. 2 county commissioner seat exposed to a possible Republican takeover. Win or lose the primary contest against Sumter, Barton must vacate his commissioners court seat at the end of the year. The thinking is that the Republican commissioner candidate, Kyle Mayor Mike Gonzalez, has a good shot at winning the seat.

So far, the Barton campaign seems not to be receiving red carpet treatment from west side Democrats. Audience members at a candidates' forum held Sunday at the Canyon Grill in Dripping Springs questioned Barton's veracity after he made a statement that Judge Sumter had sought to indict Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe.

"That was sheer nonsense," said one attendee. Another later suggested that Barton himself tried to oust Ingalsbe by backing her opponent in the Democratic primary of 2008.

"Hard core Democrats over here are not going to vote for him," said Thomas.

Barton is receiving a cool reception as well from many long time activists around Wimberley and Woodcreek.

Steve Klepfer, a prominent local businessman, former Wimberley mayor and a candidate for Pct. 3 county commissioner in 2008, said this: "I have worked with Commissioner Barton, and very clearly for the interests most important to me – meaning groundwater, surface water and reasonable growth management in western Hays County – I will be supporting Judge Sumter strongly."

Barton and his political strategists may have believed the March 2 primary against Sumter would be a cake walk, and that he would be the candidate most able to defeat the Republican opponent in November.

But Barton's base of support in Pct. 2 is crumbling. Political miscalls by Barton and his gang has led to a drop in support among San Marcos Hispanics. His "win big on the east side and grab a few votes from the west side" strategy was not an inclusive strategy from the beginning. It could all very well backfire and leave a lot of Democrats picking up the pieces for a long time to come, no matter the outcome of the primary. Barton should get a grip and withdraw from the race before more damage is done.

TCEQ finds E. coli in raw water sample from Aqua's Woodcreek North system

Note: We received this note from an alert area resident. WPOA's office has confirmed the information, and noted that the raw water sample (taken Jan. 27/tested Jan. 28) containing E. coli came from a well not treated with disinfection. It is not considered an immediate risk to residents.

Link: E. coli bacteria 10,000x

Last week (1/29) the WPOA received an e-mail from Larry E. Mitchell of Aqua Texas asking the organization to help get the word out about E-coli bacteria found in one of their wells serving Woodcreek phase II, commonly referred to as Woodcreek North. This is the second such notice from ATI since the first of the year. These notices are required by the TCEQ when this type of contamination is detected. The threat to the people in Woodcreek North appears minimal but it is concerning.

The e-mail from Aqua's Larry Mitchell:

From: Mitchell, Larry E. LEMitchell@aquaamerica.com
Date: Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Subject: public notice required
To: WPOA OFFICE woodcreekpoa@gmail.com

Dear Sir:

The TCEQ is requiring us to do another public notice regarding a raw water sample (untreated water) from a well serving Woodcreek Phase 2. We were wondering if you might help us again in getting the notice out. If you could mail this notice to your member list we would greatly appreciate it. Any questions let me know.

Thanks.

Larry E. Mitchell

Former WimDem chair endorses Sumter for County Judge

Sumter’s leadership . . . resulted in the commissioners’ decision to set minimum lot sizes of six acres for future developments using well water

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Note: Perry and Susan Raybuck are Wimberley residents. Mrs. Raybuck formerly served as chair of the local WimDems. See Sumter's campaign web site here: http://judgesumter.com/


To the editor:

County Judge Liz Sumter has had a remarkably effective first term.

She pushed to improve the county government’s transparency and accessibility. The Commissioners Court now posts agendas, the budget, and even the bills the county owes online. She initiated regular public forums in each community to allow the court to get input on a variety of county issues.

In our 24 years in Hays County, we cannot recall another county judge who has shown a similar commitment to listening and responding to local concerns.

After more than 30 homeowners in northern Hays County had their wells dry up in the drought of 2006, near dense new developments using water wells, many area residents became active in efforts to ensure our natural resources were managed sustainably. Sumter’s leadership and those community forums resulted in the commissioners’ decision to set minimum lot sizes of six acres for future developments using well water.

Given political realities at the state and local level, that could not have been an easy decision to secure.

Since county governments have little authority to manage growth, Judge Sumter initiated an effort with elected officials in 14 other Texas Hill Country counties to propose legislation to give them the authority they needed. The counties secured legislative sponsors for a bill to grant them the authority to recoup their costs for building infrastructure to new developments, set lot sizes for future developments that consider water availability, and require setbacks so land users with incompatible usages would have a buffer to minimize conflict with other neighbors. Though that bill did not pass, the fifteen counties continue to work together on the issue.

Then there is Seton Hospital and two health clinics she and the court were able to bring to the county.

We enthusiastically support Judge Liz Sumter for re-election.

Perry and Susan Raybuck

County gears up for 2010 Census

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to the county's public information officer Laureen.Chernow@co.hays.tx.us, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – Hays County is gearing up for the 2010 U.S. Census – a critical undertaking that will help determine its share of some $400 billion per year in federal funding for education, hospitals and social programs, as well as the number of seats Texas will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and how redistricting lines will be redrawn.

The census, required by the U.S. Constitution, counts every person in every household every 10 years to reach a population figure that will be used officially for the next 10 years.

Census questionnaires will be delivered in mid March, and should be returned by April 1. Failure to do so will cause an added government expense and inconvenience by requiring a Census worker to call and/or visit to ensure the household is properly counted.

This year’s census form has only 10 questions. To take a look at the form in advance, go to: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php and choose English or Spanish.

“The information that the census collects is not shared with any other government agency or private business,” said Sophia Azoubel, one of the Census Bureau’s representatives for Hays County. “Population Information is needed for programs that ultimately benefit the people of Hays County. An accurate count would help ensure that federal funds are allocated equitably to Hays County.”

The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary part-time and full-time workers to assist with the Census. Hays County residents can call 1-866-861-2010 for information about available jobs, qualifications and how to apply.

Rose and the Texans for Lawsuit Reform connection

Note: Wimberley voter Barbara Hopson sent the note below. Mr. Rose of course is welcome to chime in to correct information that may be misleading. We recall a time when Rose was a leader in the push for lawsuit reform in the Legislature. It was supposed to result in dramatic reductions in insurance premiums for everyone. So far, the much anticipated results – premium reductions and making our lives less expensive – seem to have escaped us all.

For more on Rose's TLR connection, see this illuminating Jan. '07 dispatch from Austin-based Burnt Orange Report: http://www.answerbag.com/article/Patrick+Rose+for+Texas%3F/65c0a61d-4fbe-b5b9-f2ef-052a6736035c/rose-pruning

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Rose at info@patrickrose.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

___________________

On January 30, 2010, voters in Patrick Rose's Texas House district received in the mail a glossy flyer which attempts to make much of the little that Rose has accomplished for senior citizens. What the flyer did not mention, of course, is that in 2004-2008 Rose received contributions totaling $130,500 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform (source: www.followthemoney.org).

On December 1, 2009 the group presented Rose with their annual award – meaning that Rose did more for them than any other politician that year. The bland name of that organization belies that it is a consortium of business groups which want to severely limit the damages which seniors (or any other citizens) can be awarded for damages done to them by businesses. Does that sound "helpful" to seniors?

Barbara Hopson
P.O. Box 1753
Wimberley, TX 78676-1753
512-842-2882
hopsonbarbara@yahoo.com

Aqua legal notice winds up in the Daily Record

Note: We spoke with Aqua Texas' Glen Lewis a short while ago and asked where Aqua had published its legal notice announcing its application to the state for a service expansion around Woodcreek. Lewis is Aqua's Corporate Development Coordinator in Austin. He said the legal notice appeared in the San Marcos Daily Record, Jan. 18th and 25th editions.

We then asked Mr. Lewis why Aqua decided not to publish the legal notice in a newspaper with a larger circulation in & around Woodcreek and Wimberley, or at least inside the 78767 zip code . . . you know, maybe to inform more people in the affected area. Lewis told the RoundUp: "Number one, it's none of your business. Number two, it was a corporate decision where to place the ad. We weren't hiding from anyone. The rule says publication of county wide (circulation) and that's what we chose to do."

Mr. Lewis says he's not happy with the RoundUp, apparently for our earlier attempt to assist in spreading the word of the corporation's local plan to expand. We have a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that Mr. Lewis and his bosses might want to think about when reviewing their corporate communications policy: "Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee, and do not try to make the universe a blind alley."

Go to this link to read the complete legal notice printed in the Daily Record: http://classifieds.cnhi.com/categoryadlist?test=1&publishername=sanmarcosrecord&adnumkey=040&categoryname=Public%20Notices&datehunt=2010-01-28

Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net, to Mr. Lewis at gelewis@aquaamerica.com, or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story

________________

2010-01-28

Public Notices

17240979 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY (CCN) TO PROVIDE WATER UTILITY SERVICE IN HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS Aqua Utilities, Inc. dba Aqua Texas, Inc. has filed an application to amend CCN No. 11157 with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide water utility service in Hays County. The proposed utility service area is located approximately 0.2 miles northwest of downtown Woodcreek, Texas, and is generally bounded on the north by Colemans Canyon Road; on the east by Mount Sharp Road; on the south by Warblers Lane; and on the west by Elm Street. The total area being requested includes approximately 50 acres and 0 current customers. The proposed amendment affects customers and/or areas located in the following zip code: 78676. A copy of the proposed service area map is available at Aqua Texas, Inc., 1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 400W, Austin, Texas 78723 or by calling 512/990-4400.