Race for House seat and Hays County posts offer clear choices

STATESMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

Published: 5:52 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

In elections for county judge of Hays County, Democrat Jeff Barton, 50, has the temperament, proven record of accomplishments and vision to lead. He is the best choice in that primary. He is challenging incumbent Elizabeth "Liz" Sumter, 50, of Wimberley. …

Barton, who has been a county commissioner since 2007 and also served as commissioner from 1992-1998, has shown a superior knowledge of the challenges regarding groundwater, conservation, transportation and law enforcement in Hays, one of Texas' fastest-growing counties. Those are important attributes as the county weathers growing pains in its shift from mostly rural to suburban.

Under Barton's leadership, the county nearly passed an initiative in 2008 to improve public safety for families living on smaller lots in unincorporated subdivisions. It was spurred by a 2007 shooting incident in which 7-year old Daniel Galicia was killed while jumping on a trampoline in his family's yard east of Kyle by a stray bullet fired by a neighbor shooting targets in his yard, which was less than half a mile from Daniel's home.

The ordinance would have banned the shooting of firearms on lots smaller than two acres in unincorporated areas and would have passed except that Sumter cast the vote that defeated it.

Her job was to make policy to protect all residents. Instead she made a raw political calculation. And Sumter's tenure has been divisive. In one case, she brought embarrassment to the court by passing along to the country district attorney invalid allegations of corruption regarding road projects in fellow commissioners' precincts. The allegations were swiftly dismissed, but the damage has lingered. …

There is a clear contrast between candidates seeking the District 45 House seat and the Hays County Commissioners Court's top leadership post. We urge voters to choose Rose, Barton and Cobb.

For full editorial go to statesman.com/opinion