How do you go about selecting a candidate? For me, a resident of Western Hays County, there are several different qualifications I review when deciding who to vote for. One of the main items I evaluate is experience. I’ve found that elected official experience is extremely helpful in working through the governmental process. It’s difficult for a freshman elected official to accomplish much their first year as they are often busy learning the players, the system, the law and how it all works.
I also look at leadership, candidate’s endorsements, integrity, and lack of controversy. When I compare Republican candidates for the Texas House District 73 May 24 runoff election race there is one clear winner. Baron Casteel.
Mr. Casteel has the experience of a two-term seasoned Mayor who served the City of New Braunfels for six consecutive years. Barron displayed his leadership as Mayor of New Braunfels by adding new police and increasing their salaries.
I also studied the endorsements that Carrie Isaac has compared to Casteel. Baron has endorsements from Governor Greg Abbott along with people that Barron has worked with from Law Enforcement Officers, current and former elected officials in New Braunfels, Comal County, Hays County Commissioners, and other Hays elected officials. These people know Barron, they interacted with him and understand he can get the job done in Austin.
While none of us are without controversy, the comparison of the two challengers’ controversies is dramatic. Barron opponent criticized him for raising tax rates. However, Comal County Tax Records indicates the city tax rate was constant in 2015 and 2016, fell slightly in 2017 and stayed the same rate until 2020.
Carrie is plagued with the three prominent allegations against her. First, that she does not really live in her district. Second, the veteran’s organization, she heads up indicates that she has financially benefited more than the veterans. Lastly, Carrie’s problem of being fined by the Texas Ethics Commission for failure to report associated contributions or expenditures related to campaign television advertisements. She claims she was unaware of the payments. These controversies loom large with me.
This runoff election is too important to elect a novice in hopes that they do a good job. Barron Casteel’s major endorsements leads me to vote for Baron Casteel for HD 73 on May 24.
Respectfully,
Gary Barchfeld
Editor’s Note: The deadline has now passed for Letters to the Editor for the May 24 runoff election. Any letters submitted would be treated as political advertisement.
