BG Note | News - What We're Reading (October 24, 2017)
[Austin Metro]
After charges dropped, Rep. Dawnna Dukes says she will run for re-election (Austin American-Statesman) LINK TO STORY
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes said she will run for re-election in the wake of the news that Travis County prosecutors dropped all of the remaining charges against her.
Dukes responded to the news on Facebook, writing that she was glad she continued “to fight to prove my (innocence) from malicious rumors instead of accepting a plea for something baselessly and without merit for which I was charged.”
Despite dropped charges, four Democrats to challenge Rep. Dawnna Dukes (Austin American-Statesman) LINK TO STORY
Following Travis County prosecutors’ decision on Monday to drop all charges in the corruption case against her, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes is now out of legal trouble — but she’s not yet out of political trouble. Four Democrats who had previously said they plan to run for Dukes’ heavily Democratic House District 46 confirmed Monday that they will still run next year despite the 12-term incumbent’s legal victory.
“I am happy that she has completed the judicial process to this point, and that speaks for itself,” former Austin City Council member Sheryl Cole said. “I entered this race because I believed that I was the best candidate and I still feel that way. Today has been a very good day for her, and I look forward to a very good primary where we discuss the issues that are important to House District 46.”
Panel Of Hispanic Leaders To Explore How CodeNEXT Addresses Racial Inequities (KUT) LINK TO STORY
As Austin’s new land development code, CodeNEXT, is being crafted, some residents see the process as a chance to address longstanding issues of racial and economic inequity.
Neighborhood activist Susana Almanza says Austin needs to talk about its past before it plans the future. Almanza, a member of the Eastern Crescent Right to Stay Coalition, notes that Austin’s 1928 Master Plan relegated black and brown residents to the East Side. Now, rising land values and rapid redevelopment are displacing many of those people.
AISD board approves raise, contract extension for Superintendent Cruz (Austin American-Statesman) LINK TO STORY
The Austin school board Monday night approved a 1.5 percent raise and one-year contract extension for Superintendent Paul Cruz as part of the school leader’s annual evaluation.
The changes bring Cruz’s base salary to $310,958 and his contract through Dec. 31, 2020.
School board President Kendall Pace read a statement summarizing Cruz’s performance in the past year.
“Our Superintendent is an engaging people-oriented, fun-loving person who knows the value of investing time and effort in building positive internal and external relationships,” Pace said. “He works tirelessly to build positive relationships with community, business and educational leaders, and the favorable perception of the district continues to increase year after year.”
[TEXAS]
State Sen. Kel Seliger opts not to back Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in re-election (Amarillo Globe-News) LINK TO STORY
State Sen. Kel Seliger is the only Republican senator who did not formally endorse the re-election of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a fellow Republican and the Texas Senate’s powerful presiding officer.
The move hints at a deepening divide between Seliger and Patrick, who are both up for re-election in 2018 and have been at odds on key legislative issues involving local control and private school choice programs. Patrick on Thursday unveiled a list of endorsements for his re-election campaign that included 19 of 20 GOP senators, Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.