| Campaign season is underway! Even though we don't know for sure when our primary will be or what races will make it on to the ballot, that hasn't stopped the wheels from turning in several contested Democratic races here in Travis County. There are 10 contested primary elections within Travis County, for four countywide positions (District Attorney, Sheriff, Tax Assessor Collector, 167th District Judge) and several Constable and County Commissioner seats.
Today, the Austin Central Labor Council held their endorsement meeting, deciding on contested races on the ballot here in Travis County. Rick Cofer, Austin CLC COPE Chair, forwarded BOR their endorsements from today's meeting. I have added an (i) to indicate incumbents.
2012 CLC ENDORSEMENTS
Greg Hamilton (i) for Sheriff
Bruce Elfant for Tax Assessor-Collector*
Ron Davis (i) for County Commissioner, Precinct 1
Karen Huber (i) for County Commissioner, Precinct 3*
Danny Thomas (i) for Constable, Precinct 1*
Adan Ballesteros (i) for Constable, Precinct 2*
Sally Hernandez for Constable, Precinct 3*
Maria Canchola (i) for Constable, Precinct 4*
*Unanimous Endorsement
The CLC voted to make a Dual Endorsement of David Wahlberg and Efrain De La Fuente in the race for 167th District Judge.
The CLC voted to make No Endorsement in the race for Travis County District Attorney.
The CLC voted unanimously to endorse ALL unopposed Travis County Democratic Primary candidates.
The CLC voted to recommend to the State AFL-CIO COPE that the State COPE endorse Lloyd Doggett, Ciro Rodriguez and Dan Grant in their respective congressional districts under the current interim map ordered by the San Antonio three judge panel.
Thank you to all of the labor union members, candidates and staff that participated in today's candidate screening.
And as we've seen through the early stages of the primary, the District Attorney race had some action in the endorsement forum. To earn the CLC endorsement, a candidate must have two thirds of the votes present in favor of endorsing. Cofer said that initially the Amalgamated Transportation workers moved for a dual endorsement. Cofer made a substitute motion to endorse Rosemary Lehmberg. There was a 18-12 vote in favor of Lehmberg, not enough to meet the 2/3rds threshold. A vote on the original motion of a dual endorsement also failed. As a result, Jack Kirfman made a substitute motion for no endorsement in the DA's race, which passed.
Congratulations to all of the endorsed candidates! |
