HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-12-18-0530PM-PublicHearingCOMMISSIONERS' COURT
PUBLIC HEARING
DECEMBER 18, 1989
The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas held a
Public Hearing to hear commentary for and against the establish-
ment of temporary branch absentee polling places within the
cities of Bryan and College Station. The meeting was held in
the Commissioners' Courtroom in the Courthouse in Bryan, Brazos
County, Texas, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 18,
1989, with the following members of the Court present:
R. J. Holmgreen, County Judge, Presiding;
Gary Norton, Commissioner of Precinct 1;
Walter Wilcox, Commissioner of Precinct 2;
Randy Sims, Commissioner of Precinct 3;
Milton Turner, Commissioner of Precinct 4;
Frank Boriskie, County Clerk.
The following citizens
and officials were in attendance:
Ruth McLeod
Administrative Assistant
Carol Palmer
Admin. Asst, to County Judge
Bea Green
Secretary to Commissioners
A. H. Winder
County Engineer
Travis E. Nelson
District Clerk
Sandie Walker
Treasurer
Ron Miller
Sheriff
Elizabeth Sharp
Bryan/College Station Eagle
Alice Brown
KBTX-TV
Ashley Braken
KBTX-TV
Steve Long
TAMU Student
Cynthia Vasquez
TAMU Student
Ben Morris
TAMU Employee
Michael Allmann
TAMU Student
John Schmid
TAMU Student
Carey Cauley, Jr.
N.A.A.C.P.
Ann Roney-Walker
N.A.A.C.P.
Dick Britten
Candidate Pct. 4 Commissioner
Henry L. Allen
Brazos County Resident
Sharin A. Shafer
Young Conservatives of Texas
Charles Robertson
Brazos County Resident
Ann Anderson
Brazos County Resident
Rob Giesecke
TAMU Student
Florace Kling
Brazos County Resident
Ples Turner
Brazos County Resident
Reginald Branch
College Republicans
Ron Gay
B.C. Democratic Party
Rodger Lewis
B.C. Republican Party
Stephen E. Ogden
Candidate for State Representative
Jim Allison
Allison & Associates
Lisa Roberts
Allison & Associates
The purpose of the Public Hearing was to hear commentary for
and against the proposed establishment of temporary branch
absentee polling places in Brazos County. The County Judge asked
that the speakers identify themselves and who or what
organization they represented.
I
vo LL
A' L
f
Iv
L
Commissioners' Court Public Hearing 12-18-89
Carey Cauley - Representing the N.A.A.C.P. asked where the
•
temporary branch polling places would be located. He was
informed they would be at Santa Teresa Church on Lucky Street,
the Memorial Student Center on the Texas ASM campus and the A&M
Consolidated School Offices on Welch Street in College Station.
Henry E. Allen - was against the establishment of additional
locations citing the cost and low voter turn out.
John Schmit - TAMU student was in favor of establishing a
location on campus stating it would facilitate voting prior to
spring break.
Steve Long - TAMU student was in favor stating it was ,
inconvenient to travel to the Courthouse to vote.
Cynthia Vasquez - TAMU Student was in favor citing convenience of
box on campus.
Commissioner Norton - read letters from the TAMU student body
•
president and other students favoring the establishment of a
branch polling place on campus.
Ples Turner - was opposed stating it favored the students over
the rural residents and would dilute the minority vote.
Cynthia Vasquez - TAMU student disagreed.
Ron Gay - County Chairman of the Democratic Party was opposed to
box on campus citing cost factor and inconvenience to other
voters. "
Rob Gieskie - TAMU student was in favor of the box on campus
citing the convenience of the location.
Ann Boney Walker - Secretary of the N.A.A.C.P. was opposed to a
i
box on campus stating it would not meet the needs of all voters.
Steve Ogden - Candidate for State Representative was in favor of
all the temporary branch polling places.
•
Ben Morris - Employee of TAMU was in favor of a box on campus and
Y
encouraged the establishment of more temporary branch locations.
Sharin Shaffer - TAMU student was in favor of box on campus
stating students use roads, shop and pay taxes in Brazos County.
VO 3 -
G
M
L,
Commissioners' Court Public Hearing 12-18-89
Commissioner Turner - asked why was the Court proposing to put a
branch absentee box only 7/10 of a mile from the Courthouse, why
not another location.
Henry Allen - took issue with student remark that one mile was
too far to walk to vote.
Rodger Lewis - County Chairman of the Republican Party was in
favor of all four absentee locations because it would encourage
voter participation.
Carey Cauley - President of N.A.A.C.P. stated if Court wanted to
make voting fair then make it convenient for all voters by
establishing more locations closer to all voters not a select
group.
Reginald Branch - TAMU student was in favor of box on campus
because it would give those minority students on campus an
opportunity to vote.
The County Judge thanked those in attendance for their
comments then closed the Public Hearing and announced that a
Commissioners' Court meeting would be held immediately following
the Public Hearing in the Commissioners' Courtroom to vote on
whether to establish the temporary branch absentee polling
places.
There being no further business to come before the Court,
the meeting was adjourned.
•r
r~
i
i
9
1
l~
u
y
•
1
1
ff.
M
The foregoing minutes have been examined and approved in
open Court this the AM,.- day of in
Bryan, Brazos County, Texas.
43S&~~
R. J. fto mgreen
County Judge
~a ter Wilcox
Commissioner, Precinct 2
Upon Turner
Commissioner, Precinct 4
Mandy Siipd
Commiss oner, Precinct 3
n
n l7✓Ll~✓.' A'l~~ 1 C2
Fdank Boriskie
county clerk
Gary No on
Commis ner, Precinct. 1