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February 09, 2012
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Every vote counted
Mr. Lawshe’s conclusion that the Kaufman mayor’s race evidences county election problems is just as flawed as the rest of his letter. The mayor’s race and two other races were subjected to manual recounts and all three tallied exactly the same as the original counts. The equipment worked.
Mr. Lawshe stated that he had always tried to compare voters casting ballots with the number of ballots cast in the precinct and it never matched. But that was before the new electronic equipment which he consistently berates.
Although consolidated elections allow the voter to go to only one location for state, school and city voting, they have created some new problems. There were 76 different ballot styles to deal with this time. Yes, some mistakes were made and lessons learned. In contrast to Mr. Lawshe’s conclusion, most of the uncorrectable mistakes involved the paper ballots rather than the electronic ballots.
The sad thing for me is so few voted. I wish we had a solution for voter apathy. This should be a wake up call that every vote really does count.
Donna Sprague
Kaufman
[Click here for full story]
Jun 13, 2007
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County elections a mess
The Kaufman County election system has many problems as we have just seen by the recent mayor’s election in Kaufman.
As one that has worked with election judges for years, I can not hold the judges at fault. The county made a major mistake in buying electronic machines that can not produce a paper ballot. But that is not the only problem. I think management of the election process by the county is horrible.
Kaufman County has problems with multiple elections being held in the same polling place. Ballots are mixed up and voters are given the wrong ballot. My wife, I and two other people were given the wrong ballots in Forney and had we chosen, we could have voted in the mayor’s race even though we did not live in Forney city limits.
By state law the county must account for every ballot in the election and I assume they do a good job at that. However, one check is never made by the county and that is to compare voters casting ballots (by using the sign in sheet) and the number of ballots cast in that precinct.
As County [Democratic] Chair I did this many time and it never matched. The main reason is that during early voting each of the four polling places has ballots for all the precincts and these ballots are different. The voter is given a ballot for the wrong precinct and now they are voting for candidates not in their precinct.
The county must find a way to prevent giving the wrong ballots to the voters. I guess one could say the voter has a certain amount of responsibility and that is true, but the county has a duty to give the voter the proper ballot.
Certainly, longer and better training and a more hands-on approach with better communications before, during and after the elections is required. Yes, after the elections, I have asked the county to conduct a paid de-briefing of election workers so they can find out the problems, I never received an answer.
It is sad to see an election such as the mayor’s election in Kaufman that has several people willing to sign an affidavit they were given the wrong ballot. [Mayor Paula Bacon lost by one vote.] This close election stands until someone spends several thousand dollars to get a fair election.
George Lawshe
Forney, Texas
May 30, 2007
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Texans should oppose vaccine mandate
Gov. Perry is brazenly bypassing the open process of discussion involved in our legislative process by issuing an executive order that all girls entering the sixth grade in public schools be injected with the HPV vaccine Gardasil, manufactured by drug mega-giant Merck.
The order will affect about 350,000 young girls each year. If we can safely help people avoid any kind of deadly cancer, we should undoubtedly do so. But this drug was only recently approved after a fast-track application to the FDA -- the same federal agency that approved Vioxx and thalidomide, which were later shown to cause heart attacks, strokes and birth defects. Liberal supporters of the measure say the new, unproven Gardasil is intended to reduce the incidence of HPV virus, a sexually transmitted disease which, once contracted, contributes to the risk of developing cervical cancer.
We’ll save the ethical question of why Mr. Perry bypassed legislative debate on the subject after accepting thousands of dollars from Merck for his political campaigns. But Texans should take a stand against the use of tax dollars to pay for injections of a potentially dangerous drug into our children, largely against the will of the voters.
According to Medical News Today, Mr. Perry’s mandate will cost taxpayers an estimated $60 million. Most of that money will go directly to Merck (not including the cost of the shots most parents will have to pay for each daughter). Conservative lawmakers from all over the state are lining up against the Governor‘s abuse of power and calling for open debate in the legislature. Bills are already in place to be debated and discussed regarding whether this injection is a good thing.
I encourage everyone to call our representatives in Austin and demand a fair debate about the benefits and dangers of this measure.
Wade Gent
Forney
Feb 13, 2007
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DA should have left process alone
To the Editor:
This past year, our former district attorney became convinced of wrongful actions believed taken by the county judge and the commissioners court.
One action was an unusually large grant of tax funds to a private company as an incentive to locate in Kaufman County; the other resulted in a tax increase for all citizens -- both subjects of great importance for all taxpayers. He developed legal arguments for his beliefs, and asked the opinion of the Attorney General of Texas as to the legality of the actions.
A little over a week after taking office, our new district attorney, the son-in-law of the county judge whose decisions were being questioned, requested the Attorney General’s office no longer consider the two issues raised in the interests of the taxpayers of the county.
What legal arguments did the new district attorney use in his letter to justify his request? None! His only statement was that “It is in the best interest of the citizens and taxpayers of Kaufman County for these two issues to be dropped.”
The Attorney General has done so for unstated reasons, but apparently without having been informed of the family relationship.
In the present situation, there is an obvious problem in the practice of good county government. Perhaps the former district attorney was correct in his judgments of the two actions in question; perhaps he was wrong. He merely asked a disinterested and authoritative party to review the facts and make a decision.
The present district attorney can hardly be described as a “disinterested” party. He clearly should have allowed the formal legal process to take its course so that no questions might be raised as to whether or not Kaufman County has an independent enforcer of the laws. His action on these issues raises very serious questions for the future conduct of our county government.
Horace P. Flatt
Terrell
Feb 6, 2007
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Horse slaughter nightmare
Is this horse slaughtering nightmare ever going to be over?
If they are breaking the law, why can't they be shut down?
We have been fighting them for years and they have been granted one reprieve after another.
This is an injustice to the horses we have called our companions.
Sally Pool
Jan 27, 2007
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Rep. Betty Brown pledges hard work
On Nov. 7th, the voters of Henderson and Kaufman counties voted to allow me the privilege of returning to the Texas Legislature to represent them for a fifth two-year term.
A quick study of the history of the legislature reveals that fewer than 10% of legislators are given the opportunity to serve more than four terms.
I am grateful for the confidence in my representation demonstrated by a large percentage of the voters of House District 4.
My staff and I are already preparing for the session, which begins Jan. 9th by pre-filing bills and studying issues certain to be addressed. As in the past, I pledge to work hard and do my best to represent you, the citizens of Henderson and Kaufman counties in a manner of which you will approve.
The votes I cast will be the result of careful consideration and study and consistent with the principles that I have shared with you.
Thank you for your support and a special thank you to all who gave of their time and resources to help make this election possible.
Betty Brown
State Representative, District 4
Nov 26, 2006
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Democratic ad untrue
I noticed that the Kaufman County Democratic Party is running an ad in your publication, asking the rhetorical question of “Why have Republicans refused to participate in bipartisan candidate forums?”
I have to respond to this misleading and, to be frank, untrue allegation.
There was only one forum, not “forums” planned for Kaufman County, and it was being planned by KaufmanCountyOnline.com.
None of our candidates “refused” to debate anyone.
Betty Brown, our excellent incumbent state representative has participated is several forums in Henderson County. However, this planned forum came late in the election campaign. Our Republican candidates are extremely busy campaigning down the home stretch in this election and several had prior engagements.
Since we only had a couple of candidates who could attend, the forum was cancelled.
I am particularly disappointed with this misrepresentation by the Kaufman County Democratic Party, especially after their chairperson, Lisa Coleman’s excellent letter to the editor this past weekend encouraging voters to get involved, study the issues and the candidates and make the best decision possible.
They know the facts in this case, yet they chose to distort them for, what they must think is political gain. It makes me sad that they resort to innuendo instead of substance in the critical marketplace of ideas.
The Republican Party continues to stand on its platform of limited government that serves its citizens effectively and efficiently, encouraging individual responsibility, creating economic opportunity for all and protecting the basic civil rights of all members of our society, including those citizens not yet born.
Those are our ideals and we are proud of them. Ideals result in actions, and actions have consequences.
One consequence of our Republican ideals is the great economic expansion that Texas and Kaufman County are experiencing. We are proud of that as well.
B. David Hinds
Chairman, Kaufman County Republican Party
Nov 1, 2006
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Vote!
I can't figure out people who refuse to vote claiming that they aren't interested in politics!
I like to substitute "politics" with "housekeeping" or "household management". With my family, I strive to create a home environment where every member of my family thrives. I make sure everyone has regular meals, clean living areas and health care if needed. If the roof needs mending, I dip into savings and call a repairman to replace the roof. I like to keep the yard mowed so the kids can have a safe, nice place to play.
City and county government works the same way! I can't personally handle all the details that keep a county going, so I choose a person who will manage the business of keeping my city or county clean, healthy, and running smoothly. I choose thrifty men and women who will use the money I pay in taxes wisely, not wastefully.
I don't mind paying some of my money in taxes because I understand that I am making an investment in my community, just as when I decide to repair the plumbing or rewire the electricity in my aging home. I want to prevent problems down the line and perhaps even create a level of comfort for everyone. Taking an interest in city, county, state or national government is a natural extension of careful household management.
So, how do regular citizens choose these important "household" managers? These days, we can investigate these men and women (candidates) on our own with the Internet. We can read the newspapers, follow whatever news outlet we prefer or read books. Luckily, there are at least two competing contractors (political parties) who hope we will hire their people to work for us. Our job is to investigate the general management styles of these "parties" and decide which one does business the way we do business. Then "hire" that person with our votes.
Beware of the slogans and labels each group places on the other! For example, one group claims to be the exclusive party of family values. In my experience, there are worthy members on both sides who care strongly about their families and wish to protect them from perceived evils. Both groups also have members who lie, steal, cheat and even kill.
My point is we must keep current on issues and think for ourselves. No one wants to hire a housekeeper with "family values" if they can't clean the toilet.
Speaking of chores, sometimes we all have to do things that may seem unexciting or tedious, like washing dishes, doing laundry or mowing the lawn. Nevertheless we do them because we want to keep our households in order. We value some level of orderliness in the place we live, so we set some priorities so everything will run smoothly.
We all need to be interested and somewhat involved in how our city, county, state and national government works as well, because our homes don't end at the property line.
The good news is no one has to do it all on their own. Howard Zinn said, "Even the smallest of unheroic of acts adds to the store of kindling that may be ignited by some surprising circumstance into tumultuous change."
Please vote. Election day is Nov. 7, but early voting continues until November 3 if you would rather avoid the rush.
Lisa Coleman
Kaufman County Democratic chair
Forney
Oct 24, 2006
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County budget out of control
Pct. 2 County Commissioner objects to county spending and the proposed budget.
[Click here for full story]
Sep 7, 2006
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Trans-Texas corridor bad deal
The Trans-Texas land grab must be stopped in its tracks. The $184 billion project is slated to cut a path through our region. In its way are nearly 600,000 acres of family farms, ranches and backyards owned by hardworking
Texans.
The Austin politicians want to take this land away from Texans and fork it over to a private, foreign-controlled company in the name of “progress” and “development.”
The private foreign company receiving the land at taxpayer expense then gets to charge us a toll (which goes into its private foreign pocket) every time we use the new road. Access on and off the road will be highly controlled, with
gas and retail to be placed inside the toll area.
Which private foreign company gets the sales revenue from those? You guessed it.
Who makes up for the lost property tax revenue from the stolen land? You guessed it again -- we do.
Wade Gent
Forney
Aug 20, 2006
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Last Updated: Jan 4th, 2009 - 18:57:55
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