Hays Free Press • February 19, 2020
Page 13
POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
State rep candidate Wymore unafraid to take controversial stands BY BUD WYMORE
An usagainstThe Hays Free Press of- them fers candidates one opmentality portunity each election is pervato address its readers. sive. The Rather than publishing a world, press release, I made the however, decision to speak directly is much WYMORE to you about why I’m more nurunning. My name is Bud anced. In Wymore and I am a can- 2012, I opted to not run didate in the Republican for re-election so I could Primary to represent our focus on raising my kids community in the Texas and building my law House. It is my sincere practice. That is a decihope that after reading sion I will never regret. this letter, In Deyou will cember under2013, I “I was raised stand was hired to do what was my love to reprefor this sent landright, not to commuowners build a political nity and in Creeddesire to moor, resume. This do what (just is the same is right outside for our of Buda) mentality I home. when will take to When their my family properthe Capitol. If moved ty was elected as your to Hays barraged County 36 with bulrepresentative, years ago, lets from I will fight to this coma newly munity opened lower property looked outdoor taxes and put in gun range very different. I place an annual the day wish that after dollar cap on I could Christsay you mas. One property tax may rebullet increases.” member penetratme from ed a winmy “glory dow and days” on the Hays Rebel was found embedded in football and basketball a stack of files on a desk. teams, but it’s more likely Another pierced a metal that you know my moth- building and finally lander, Jodie, who was a beed in a file cabinet. My loved elementary school clients’ son threw himteacher and principal self on top of his young at Hays CISD for many nephew to protect him years, or my father, Kent, from oncoming bullets. who ran a local small My clients prevailed as business. I owe an unthe range was found to payable debt of gratitude be unsafe and operating to my parents and this in violation of a zoning community for forming ordinance. me into who I am today. In the years that folFrom 2009 to 2012, I lowed, I accepted two served as Chairman of more cases similar in the Hays County Repub- nature. In the second lican Party. In that time, case in Lampasas CounI met many wonderful ty, the gun range agreed people. I also learned to make modifications that politics can be, and and is still operating. The often is, very monolithic. sport shooting commu-
nity is better because of the changes. In the third case, we found in excess of 150 bullets on my client’s property, and a Republican Judge entered an order that found the range “presents a significant risk of harm to life and property.” In all three cases, I am proud of the work we did. Standing for life and private property rights is the right thing to do. When I launched my campaign, I did not think these cases would be used against me. In fact, as a conservative Republican, I assumed most folks would agree that my clients’ positions are basic common sense. Unfortunately, my primary opponent, Carrie Isaac, has seized upon these cases. On social media, she described these lawsuits as “frivolous.” This saddens me. I believe our district deserves a representative who will do what is right, and not be guided by what is perceived to be politically expedient. Now that I’m a candidate, people have asked me about these lawsuits. Would I represent these folks again? Absolutely. I was raised to do what was right, not to build a political resume. This is the same mentality I will take to the Capitol. If elected as your representative, I will fight to lower property taxes and put in place an annual dollar cap on property tax increases. People deserve certainty and should not live in fear of being taxed out of home ownership. With a budget surplus in the State of Texas, this is an achievable goal. I will also work to eliminate wasteful spending so we can increase teacher pay, direct more dollars to our classrooms, and fund unfunded mandates. I will also support constitutional carry, defend our border, and stand for life at all points. I would be honored to have your vote.
LWV Forum: Zwiener only TX45 candidate Continued from pg. 2
Zwiener, D-Driftwood, was the only candidate to attend the forum, with Posada, Talley and Isaac submitting prepared statements for the moderator to read. Zwiener opened the forum citing legislation she contributed to during the spring session in the house after winning the seat in 2018 and issues she hopes to push in a second term. “(The legislature) allocated another $6 billion for public education and another $5.5 billion dollars to buy down property taxes. Those are both areas where we still have more work to do, but it's a critical start that I'm eager to build on next session,” Zwiener said. “We still have more work to do, particularly on health care and I would love all your support for another term in the Texas House.” Zwiener touted her background as an environmental conservationist and her decision to spearhead the fight against Kinder Morgan Permian Highway Pipeline. “I also established myself as an environmental champion in the legislature as the only member with a professional conservation background,” Zwiener said. “I killed a bill that
Five candidates are running for TX45, including incumbent State Rep. Erin Zwiener, who is facing Liliana Posada in the Democratic primary, and Kent “Bud” Wymore, Carrie Isaac and Austin Talley, who are competing in the Republican primary. would have eliminated most of our local water quality protections and led the fight against the Kinder Morgan Permian highway pipeline.” Isaac, wife of former TX45 State. Rep. Jason Isaac, provided a statement listing several high-profile endorsements from elected officials and organizations. “(Isaac) a leader in the House District 45 community who will fight to cut property taxes, secure the border, support teachers and students defend and protect Second Amendment rights,” Issac’s statement reads. “(Issac) is endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Texas State Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, Texas Right to Life … (Texas) Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agricultural Commissioner Sid Mille, Commissioner
Wade Christian and, most importantly, over 200 local conservative leaders.” Talley, a U.S. Navy and army veteran, supplied a prepared statement expressing his willingness to support fellow veterans and their families. “(The people) want an entrepreneur who is a devoted advocate for veterans and their family. I plan to continue fighting for our community as a Texas legislator,” Talley’s statement reads. Wymore, former chairman of the Hays County Republican Party and owner of The Wymore Law Firm, did not provide a statement to LMV. Early voting is slated to began Tuesday, Feb. 18 and ends Friday, Feb. 28, and Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.
Carrie Isaac announces run for state representative SUBMITTED BY CARRIE ISAAC CAMPAIGN
endorse non-incumbents Carrie Isaac is a conser- in Republican primavative Republican runries. ning to be our next state Isaac representative, aiming is also to unseat Democrat Erin endorsed Zwiener for Texas House ISAAC District 45. Isaac said she by Texas is running to cut property Right to Life for her pro-life record taxes, support our local and committment to stop students and teachers, taxpayer protect money life, secure from the border, “It’s critical that funding protect we elect the Planned Second Amendmost principled Parenthood. ment rights conservative “After and reduce a radical, the burden with the best pro-aborof governchance of tion ment in Democrat Texans’ defeating the managed lives. Democrats to ride the “Hays ‘Beto wave’ and Blanco in November. into office counties’ I’m honored in 2018, voices arthe voters en’t being to be the clear of House heard in frontrunner in District 45 the Texas have been Capitol,” the race for looking for said Isaac. the Republican a dynamic, “Our current nomination and staunchly pro-life represenpromise no one Republican tative is an unabashed will outwork me to give the people of socialist in fighting for Hays and who consistently our freedom and Blanco counties votes for our values.” the type higher of repretaxes, sentation in Austin that bigger government, and less freedom. I’m the best they deserve,” said Luke Bowen, political director Republican candidate to of the Texas Right to Life. defeat Erin Zwiener in “We are thrilled that CarNovember so we have a rie Isaac has answered the representative who will fight for our conservative call to serve, as her values and experience prove that values.” Isaac is the only candi- she is not just the best date in the race endorsed candidate to make this district red again, but the by the National Rifle Association and the Texas best candidate to ensure that it stays red long into State Rifle Association, the future.” which does not generally
Isaac is also supported by more than 200 local conservative leaders, including over 50 current and former elected officials from House District 45, as well as Texas Values Action, Gun Owners of America, the Texas Home School Coalition, Pro-Life Texas, the Texas Association of Business, Central Texas Republican Assembly, Texas State College Republicans, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian. “It’s critical that we elect the most principled conservative with the best chance of defeating the Democrats in November,” Isaac said. “I’m honored to be the clear frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination and promise no one will outwork me in fighting for our freedom and our values.” Isaac continued, “It’s with the spirit of service my father instilled in me as an Air Force veteran that I submit my candidacy to the people of Texas. As the next state representative for House District 45, I’ll work every day to keep the government out of our way and preserve the freedom that makes Texas the greatest state in our nation.” Carrie Isaac is a fourth-generation Texan, nonprofit leader, wife, mother, IRONMAN triathlete running to give Hays and Blanco counties a powerful voice in the Texas House of Representatives. She lives in Hays County with her husband, former state representative Jason Isaac, and their two sons.
Postal Problems: Committed to changes Continued from pg. 1
something put in the mail may go through several plants depending on its final destination, and that theft, weather and other factors also influence delivery time. He invited anyone experiencing problems to take a photo of the bar code on the piece of mail and send it to the post office. The bar code he compared to a fingerprint. “We can go back 21 days and tell you where that piece of mail has been.” Garrett said he is “here for you and if you have an issue I invite you to stop by the Post Office, say hi and let me know what your issues are.” After Garrett spoke, Gonzales reiterated his message. “We’ll be working with the postmaster, please send stuff out if you have issues with your mail. He can track it.” When contacted by the Hays Free Press the next day, Garrett said he was not authorized to speak to the media and referred further questions to Strategic Communications Specialist Becky Hernandez in San Antonio. She requested written questions, which the Hays Free Press provided. However, her responses were more general than specific and actually contradictory at one point. In an introductory paragraph, Hernandez said, “In this case, local post officials are aware of past service issues,” yet in response to a question about how long the problems have been occurring, her response was, “Local postal officials are not aware of past service issues for any one customer for an extended period of time,” which conflicts with Gonzales’ experience with the year-old letters. Although there is no mechanism by which postal customer are
reimbursed for late fees or fines incurred as a result of delayed delivery, Hernandez said a letter that can be sent to creditors can be requested “if service issues can be confirmed via tracking information.” “Local postal officials are committed to making continuing improvements in service, and will work to promptly resolve individual customer issues brought to their attention,” Hernandez said. She said the “service standard” for First Class and Priority Mail is one to three days “within the 48 contiguous states.” “It’s frustrating,” Gonzales said days after Garrett’s
presentation. “I’ve been complaining about this for years now. It’s costing us money and I know it is costing other members and people in the community.” He said he decided to “take the lead” in trying to resolve the situation by inviting Garrett to speak. “It’s not acceptable for stuff to take 12, 14, 15 days to get across town. It’s ridiculous.” Gonzales said neither he nor anyone else has complained about the staff at the Buda Post Office. “They’re all nice people. That’s not the issue. It’s the god-danged system. What’s wrong with it that it’s taking so long?”
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