Our Election Day recommendations for Fort Worth schools, Texas props, Tarrant bonds
It’s Election Day. And while it can’t compete with last year’s presidential bonanza, or even the big municipal elections earlier this year, Tarrant County voters must make some important decisions.
On the ballot are eight proposed amendments to the state constitution, Tarrant County bond proposals and a record $1.5 billion bond package from the Fort Worth school district. Here are recommendations from our Editorial Board:
TEXAS CONSTITUTION
Proposition 1: It would allow professional rodeo events to have “50/50” raffles similar to those at Cowboys or Rangers games. There’s no good reason to exclude the rodeo from charitable raffles. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 2: Counties could designate blighted areas for transportation projects and sell bonds to be repaid by a portion of property tax collected in the district. It’s a good tool and won’t lead to tax increases or overly broad use. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 3: Under this amendment, houses of worship could not be closed by government order, no matter the emergency. It’s a response to the pandemic, but it’s too sweeping. The Legislature should define better what kind of emergencies allow closures and for how long. Recommendation: No
Proposition 4: This would create new requirements for judges, including longer tenure working in the law in Texas. The more experience judges have, the better. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 5: The State Commission on Judicial Conduct could investigate candidates, not just sitting jurists. This amendment would mean even-handed treatment and more accountability. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 6: Residents of long-term care facilities could designate one person to have access to them at all times. It’s another idea borne of the pandemic and would avoid isolation for those in nursing homes. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 7: The amendment would extend to surviving spouses of elderly disabled Texans a property-tax freeze and added homestead exemption. It’s a modest provision to help a small number of truly needy spouses. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition 8: Another targeted property-tax exemption, this amendment would extend breaks for the spouses of military members killed in combat to the spouses of those killed in the line of duty in other ways. It’s good to help such families keep their homes. Recommendation: Yes
FORT WORTH ISD
Proposition A: Middle schools are badly overdue for renovation. It’s expensive at $1.2 billion, and some opponents want to defeat each of the bond proposals to send a message about the district’s poor academic performance and questions about financial management.
We’re sympathetic, but tens of thousands of children need better middle schools, and the work shouldn’t wait any longer. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition B: This proposal asks for $98.3 million to build or renovate district fine arts facilities. These activities help keep kids engaged in school. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition C: The district wants $104.9 million to build three new sports stadiums. They’d be spread around to make attendance easier for families and help replace Farrington Field, which the district intends to sell. Some will find it’s excessive at a time of significant academic need. But FWISD lacks the needed capacity for sporting events, and the planned facilities are modest. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition D: This would provide $76.2 million for on-campus sports facilities, such as gyms and practice fields. Based on need, it’s a sensible proposition. Recommendation: Yes
TARRANT COUNTY
Proposition A: With $400 million in bonds for road projects, the county can pair with cities and other entities to make significant progress on traffic chokepoints around the area. It’s the county’s first such bond program in 15 years. Recommendation: Yes
Proposition B: This $116 million proposal would fund a new downtown facility for the district attorney’s office. It’s sensible to consolidate the operations and provide a modern, safe building. Recommendation: Yes
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tarrant County voters can cast ballots at any polling location. Take a photo ID with you.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.