TUESDAY October 22, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 11 www.UniversityStar.com
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION SARAH MANNING AND SOPHIE PICKERRELL
Claims of past actions, campaign violations affect sheriff candidates By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter The two candidates competing for the position of Hays County Sheriff are facing allegations about their pasts and criticism of their campaigns. The allegations vary from campaign violations to being unemployable as a law enforcement officer. The Star investigated the claims made against each candidate and interviewed both of them. Alex Villalobos (DEM) Villalobos has a variety of accusations leveled against him. The accusations include misusing department resources in past law enforcement positions, abusing power, incorrectly filling out paperwork and being ineligible to be hired as a law enforcement officer. A report by the Texas Tribune in 2019 stated former Texas State University Police
Department Officer Jason Moreno mentioned Villalobos in a lawsuit. In the suit, Villalobos and former University Police Department (UPD) Chief Jose Bañales were accused of wrongfully terminating Moreno. The suit also accused Villalobos of using UPD resources to look into an investigation into his brother,Armando Villalobos, a former Cameron County District Attorney, who was convicted on racketeering charges. According to the report by the Texas Tribune, Villalobos was investigated by UPD on the allegations in 2013. The Star requested documents for any investigation into Villalobos’ alleged misuse of UPD resources. The FBI would neither confirm nor deny the existence of records on Villalobos, while requests to the Texas Ranger’s Division and UPD returned no records. Villalobos continued to be employed by UPD after the alleged incident, and was promoted afterwards.
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First-time voters and non-voters discuss elections By Lucciana Choueiry News Editor As the general election draws near, Texas State students are preparing to make their voices heard at the polls, with some eager to cast their first votes and others choosing to sit this one out. Carly Fisher, music education freshman, grew up with her parents’ voices echoing the same message: voting isn’t just a right, it’s a responsibility. That belief is what pushed her to register to vote in Denton County as soon as she turned 18 and what’s taking her to the polls next week. “I think there’s a lot of division right now,” Fisher said. “I feel like there’s a war between both sides, just because there’s been a lot happening, not only regarding policies that have been put in place or taken away but also morally, there’s a lot of more personal reasons why people are coming out and standing up for what they believe in.” Abortion rights, the economy and the cost of life are only some of the things pushing Fisher to cast her ballot.
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Main Point: Students have a voice in SMTX elections By Editorial Board Although the upcoming presidential election is occupying people’s minds everywhere, it is important to remember the importance of local elections. Texas State students must educate themselves on local politics, as these elections have an impact on their immediate community. Early voting for the San Marcos general election began Monday, Oct. 21, and national election day is Nov. 5. This year, impactful San Marcos elections include the city of
San Marcos Mayor and City Council Places 5 and 6. Each position has multiple candidates up for election. Gathering necessary information about each candidate running for a position in San Marcos takes time, but it is vital. Understanding their values and goals is crucial because decisions made in office directly affect Texas State students and the greater San Marcos community. The San Marcos Area Chamber of
Commerce website offers valuable information on candidates. Students can find questionnaire responses as well as videos where each candidate outlines their vision for the San Marcos community if elected. It is a common belief that Texas State students are not a vital part of the community because they are usually only here for a short time. However, San Marcos issues affect students more than some
MAIN POINT
might think, and their voices must be heard. In the questionnaires, each candidate was asked about maintaining the relationship between the city of San Marcos and Texas State. This topic is something all students should pay attention to, as being aware of how candidates plan to maintain a relationship with the university is extremely important. San Marcos officials have the power to support the needs of students and that power must be properly utilized.
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