Early voting set to begin Monday

Early voting for the Nov. 2 general election begins Monday at four locations throughout the county.

While there’s only one contested race at the county level, it’s a big one with Republican Steve Young and Democrat Jared Melde vying to replace incumbent Dave Barkemeyer.

Barkemeyer, a Republican, is not seeking a new term.

Young defeated former County Judge Frank Summers to win the GOP primary in March. Melde was unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

SHERIFF, PROPOSITION—Two occurrences, both in July, have added items to the general election ballot which were not on the horizon at the conclusion of the March primaries.

Sheriff David Greene died of a heart attack and county commissioners named Chief Deputy Chris White as interim sheriff.

That left a spot on the November ballot to elect a sheriff to serve the remainder of the term to which Greene was elected in 2016.

White was selected as the candidate of the Republic Party.

The Milam County Democratic Party did not submit a candidate. That left White unopposed on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Also that month, county commissioners added a proposition to the ballot seeking voter approval of a flood control/farm-to-market lateral tax which could add 30 cents to the county tax rate.

County Judge Dave Barkemeyer, who voted against placing the measure on the ballot said even if the tax is approved the county tax rate could not go above 80 cents without triggering a tax rollback election.

This fall commissioners okayed a 5-cent tax increase to 75 cents.

There are a number of precinct-level positions on the ballot but all are unopposed.

STATEWIDE—The highest profile state-level race on the ballot is for U. S. Senate where incumbent Republican Ted Cruz is challenged by Democrat Beto O’Rourke and Libertarian Neal Dikeman.

In the governor’s race, Republican incumbent Greg Abbott is opposed by Democrat Lupe Valdez and Libertarian Mark Jay Tippetts.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Bill Flores has opponents in Democrat Rick Kennedy and Libertarian Peter Churchman.

State Senator, District 5 candidates are incumbent Charles Schwertner (R), Meg Walsh (D) and Amy Lyons (L).

Incumbent Republican Terry Wilson and challenger Stephen Wyman are vying for the District 20 House of Representatives position which includes Milam County.

See sample ballot page 6C.

PHOTO ID—Texans still need to show a photo ID or fill out a declaration at the polls if unable to “reasonably obtain” one of the seven permissible forms.

For full information on allowed photo IDs, go to https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id.html.