Texas midterm elections 2018: Corpus Christi Caller-Times endorsements

Editorial Board | Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Show Caption Hide Caption What are the key dates for the Texas midterm elections? As Election Day nears, here are some key dates for the Texas midterm elections.

Editor's note: The Editorial Board reconsidered and changed its endorsement in the District 3 City Council race.

The Caller-Times makes the following voting recommendations in Tuesday's general election. We hope that they will be helpful to you as you make your independent decisions. We encourage you to exercise your right to vote.

The likable El Paso congressman has run a positive campaign about bipartisan solutions, affordable health care and commonsense immigration reform. Incumbent Republican Ted Cruz is the Senate's least-liked member. That can't be in Texas' best interest.

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Coastal residents hit by Hurricane Harvey should be first to testify that he has provided consistent, strong, confident leadership. He was first-responder quick to be at Texans' sides in crises such as Harvey. He's farther right than voters who straddle either side of the middle want. Democrat Lupe Valdez hasn't put up much of a fight.

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He's sensible, education-focused, an experienced success in private business and a conservative pragmatist who has chosen to call himself a Democrat. Incumbent Dan Patrick, champion of the mean-spirited bathroom bill, is an example of the worst that the Republican Party has to offer. Unlike Patrick, Collier would not let wedge issues get in the way of education funding reform and meaningful property tax relief.

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Attorney General: Justin Nelson (D)

Incumbent Ken Paxton's felony indictment for not disclosing his agent status in a shady investment scheme should be an automatic disqualification for any public office, but especially this one, the state's top legal authority. Our position on his lack of fitness doesn't deny Paxton his due process. The trial he keeps delaying is where he is entitled to a presumption of innocence — not in the office of Texas attorney general. Not in the voting booth.

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The former state senator's performance as the state's financial manager has put to rest our concern four years ago that comptroller was just a steppingstone to a higher office.

More: Editorial: Comptroller’s calm is what state needs now

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Agriculture Commissioner: Kim Olson (D)

Incumbent Sid Miller's ethically challenged incidents of state-funded travel and purchases for personal reasons should disqualify him for any elected office.

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Railroad Commissioner: Christi Craddick (R, incumbent)

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Texas Supreme Court Places 2, 4 and 6

We recommend turning out the three incumbents on this currently all-Republican court to send the message that government transparency matters to Texans. Two rulings since 2015 severely undermined the Texas Public Information Act, blocking the public from finding out basic information about government contracts and publicly funded economic development groups, including how much of the public's money is being spent.

Court of Criminal Appeals, Presiding Judge: Maria T. "Terri" Jackson (D)

Incumbent Sharon Keller has too many ethics violations in her past, the worst of which was her refusal to consider an emergency execution stay because it was filed a few minutes past 5 p.m.

Court of Criminal Appeals Places 7 and 8

Place 7: Barbara Parker Hervey

Place 8: Michelle Slaughter

No compelling reasons to replace incumbent Republicans Barbara Parker Hervey (Place 7) or Michelle Slaughter (Place 8).

Congressional District 27: Michael Cloud (R, incumbent)

Cloud is the candidate who best reflects the state's most severely Republican-gerrymandered district, a design that deliberately watered down Corpus Christi's voting strength and that we hope will be revised extensively in the next redistricting.

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State Board of Education District 2: Ruben Cortez Jr. (D, incumbent)

A reliable opponent against the attempts by far-right board members to inject inappropriate ideology into textbooks and education policy.

13th Court of Appeals, Place 2: Greg Perkes (R)

While there are ample jurisprudence reasons to like Perkes, he's the choice for the simple reason that Democratic incumbent Nora Longoria's behavior during a messy drunken-driving arrest disqualifies her in our book. She beat the rap on technicalities.

13th Court of Appeals, Place 4: Jaime Tijerina (R)

Another ethics choice. Democrat Rudy Delgado resigned as a district judge and faces felony trial on bribery charges.

13th Court of Appeals, Place 5: Gina Benavides (D, incumbent)

13th Court of Appeals, Chief Justice: Dori Contreras (D)

This is an open seat but Contreras can be considered an incumbent because she has been a 13th Court justice since 2003. That experience matters.

State Representative, District 34: Abel Herrero (D, incumbent)

State Representative, District 43: J.M. Lozano (R, incumbent)

105th District Judge: Jack Pulcher (R, incumbent)

148th District Judge: Carlos Valdez (D)

This is the race to replace Judge Guy Williams, who did not seek re-election. Valdez's resume as the longtime district attorney and county attorney is too strong for us to jutify picking Republican Bill Kelly.

Nueces County Judge: Barbara Canales (D)

The premier local political race with two strong candidates and no wrong choice. Republican Mike Pusley, who resigned as Precinct 1 commissioner to run, has leadership skills and temperament. But he outdoes Canales only in hands-on county government experience. We see in her a dynamic leader and agent for positive change, also a proven quick study at complex issues.

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Precinct 1 County Commissioner: Carolyn Vaughn (R, incumbent)

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Court-at-law No. 1: Robert Vargas (D, incumbent)

County Clerk: Kara Sands (R, incumbent)

This is an important position because the clerk is the elections manager in addition to steward of public records such as deeds and birth certificates. Democrat Diana Barrera, Sands' capable predecessor, was swept out by greater Republican turnout despite proven job performance. The disaster we feared because Sands was a novice didn't occur. She advocated and managed the transition to vote centers, a big improvement in voter access because they can vote at any precinct on Election Day. And she has not been partisan in what should be a non-partisan position anyway. The only reason to vote her out is the one that voted her in — partisanship. Not a good enough reason.

More: Nueces County clerk: Mail-in voter fraud remains a concern

District Clerk: Anne Lorentzen (R, incumbent)

This endorsement comes with the caveat that the people own the court records she manages, and that any action by her office to restrict access to them is not in the people's interest. We point this out because, early on, she tried to prevent the public from copying court records via photo or portable copier. It was resolved in favor of public access, but only after too much time and effort.

Corpus Christi Mayor: Aislynn Campbell

Highly experienced incumbent Joe McComb brought needed stability after Dan McQueen lasted only 37 days as mayor. Campbell, founder of GROW Local South Texas and the Downtown Farmers Market, has shown that she both can have a vision for a better quality of life and fulfill it.

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Corpus Christi City Council, At Large

John Garcia

Paulette Guajardo (incumbent)

Michael Hunter (incumbent)

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Corpus Christi City Council, District 1: Julian Firo

Corpus Christi City Council, District 2: Ben Molina (incumbent)

Corpus Christi City Council, District 3: Roland Barrera

We withdraw a previous endorsement of Eric Cantu after having learned more about the candidates. Barrera has a long resume of community involvement on boards and commissions. The patriots and runners among you might also appreciate the many times he has sung the national anthem at the 7 a.m. start of the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon.

Corpus Christi City Council, District 4: Greg Smith (incumbent)

Corpus Christi City Council, District 5: Eric Rodriguez

Corpus Christi City bond

Total $96 million, six separate proposals for continuing street work, public safety, public health department building, parks and libraries. Our recommendation: Yes to all six.

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Corpus Christi ISD bond

$210,770,000 for a new Carroll High School, gyms and other construction projects at other campuses, state-mandated security measures district-wide and technology upgrades at several campuses. Our recommendation: Yes.

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Corpus Christi ISD trustee

District 1, Lamont Taylor

District 3, Curtis Clark.

Taylor and Clark both are active, known volunteers in the community. Taylor is a former Regional Transportation Authority board member who has been a leader and advocate for the historic, embattled Hillcrest neighborhood. Clark is a banker, Navy veteran, chairman of Mary McLeod Bethune Early Child Development and a member of the city's airport board.

Del Mar College Board of Regents, At large: Sandra Messbarger (incumbent)

She has been a collaborative, competent regent and there's no need to make a change. Troublesome former regent Guy Watts is running. Don't let Messbarger lose out to Watts' name recognition. Former baseball coach and CCISD trustee Hector Salinas, another well-known name, is the third candidate. He's viable. But Messbarger's record as an incumbent should be rewarded.

Del Mar College Board of Regents, District 1: Gabe Rivas (incumbent)