| Valinda Bolton did well today when it comes to endorsements.
First, the Austin American Statesman.
Bolton, 47, a professional in the field of assistance for victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence, wants to improve the public school system. Bolton wants Texas teachers to get another pay raise, and she would push for a cap on college tuitions. She has the endorsement of the Texas State Teacher Association.
Bolton, who has lived in Oak Hill for two years, is smart, plain-spoken and sincere. It is the sincerity of her Republican opponent, Bill Welch, on the issue of campaign contributions, that we question...
At an Oct. 11 voters forum, however, Welch could not recall the name of his top campaign donors. We are concerned that Welch, who told voters he would not be beholden to special interests, forgot the $35,000 given to him by Bob Perry, the power broker who finances much of the state's Republican leadership.
The Austin Chronicle...
We picked Bolton in the Democratic primary, endorsed her again in the run-off, and we're sticking with her now for the same reasons, plus one more: Her grasp of the critical issues facing the Legislature is top-notch. Bolton's a natural for this line of work. She understands, for example, that when it comes to public education, "real reform" – a favorite buzzword of the pro-voucher crowd – requires real dollars and realistic goals.
Opponent Bill Welch supports state-funded vouchers for private schools, a risky stance for even a Republican to take in a swing district like southwest Travis Co. Has Welch talked to outgoing Rep. Terry Keel about this? Keel, a Republican, could be wildly unpredictable on the House floor, but you could count on him to break ranks to help kill a voucher bill. And like a bad penny, as already threatened by Gov. Perry, the voucher bill will find its way back to the floor next session. Our hope is that Bolton will be there to vote with her district.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
The HD 47 race is a top priority for the PPAFT. "It’s time for the tenor at the Texas Capitol to change," said Heather Paffe, PPAFT Political Director. "We need elected officials who will do more than feign an interest in finding common ground, we need elected officials who will actually do it."
Texas has the highest teen birth rate and percentage of uninsured women in the nation, yet women’s access to health care has been dealt some devastating blows by the Texas Legislature in the last few years. Valinda understands the need to reverse this trend. |
