The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 104, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 1, 2014 Page: 4 of 8
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A4 The Bastrop Advertiser
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014
OPINION
LETTERS
In support of...
Allen a true public servant
I was granted the privi-
lege and honor of working
under the tutelage of Cin-
dy Allen in the Bastrop Coun-
ty Teen Court during my last
years at Bastrop High School,
and it was doubtlessly an en-
lightening experience for me.
Though the cases we handled
in Teen Court were much less
likely to make the evening
headline news, they were
surely no less relevant. The
preservation of harmony and
order within our community
is something we must seek at
all levels of society; amongst
the repeated felons and the
rambunctious teenagers act-
ing on impulse. And that is
what I most greatly admire
about Ms. Allen: her dedica-
tion to the law and its uphold-
ing to the utmost extent, on
all levels.
As director of Teen Court,
Ms. Allen taught me and my
fellow attorneys to always
recognize that our fight was
not against the opposing
party, but against the injustice
that robs us of safer, more
orderly communities. She
encouraged us all to make the
pursuit of justice a personal
goal before attempting to
make it a career, and to
continue pursuing it even
if we chose different career
paths.
Ms. Allen is a true public
servant who has worked
toward the betterment of
the Bastrop community
avidly - in and out of season
- as a hired hand and as a
volunteer. From observing
her work in Teen Court and
other positions she has held,
I learned that we must be
selfless and dedicated to our
cause if we hope to advance
it.
Ms. Allen has made the
safety of our community her
personal cause. I thus have
full faith that Ms. Allen is
the best qualified candidate
for justice of the peace, and
I would offer my vote to no
other.
MUCH OBLIGED,
Andrew Peterson
Raemsch for district clerk
I am writing to support
Leigh Raemsch’s candida-
cy for district clerk of Bas-
trop County. I know Leigh to
be honest, reliable and willing
to work the long hours need-
ed for the position. Leigh has
over five years of experience
working in the district clerk’s
office. During this time, her
experience has not just been
limited to the courtroom pro-
cedures, but to the daily re-
sponsibilities of the district
clerk’s office.
Leigh will serve as a
positive role model by
her daily attendance,
her communication and
managerial skills, which will
provide the much-needed
leadership for the job. Leigh’s
leadership skill will serve
her department, but also
provide communication and
cooperation to the other
county departments. I believe
Leigh Raemsch is the best
qualified person to be our
next district clerk to serve the
citizens of Bastrop County.
CYNTHIA DICKSON
Bastrop
Van Gilder has necessary skills
I have known Donna Van
Gilder since she came to Bas-
trop. I know she will contin-
ue her dedication to Bastrop
County in her job as justice of
the peace for Pet. 1.
She cares for the people of
the Bastrop Community, as ev-
idenced during the wildfires of
2011. She spent hours seeing
that the workers had food.
To be better informed in
her job as judge, she is active-
ly working toward a BS de-
gree. She was among only 21
justice court judges through-
out the state to receive the
Distinguished Member des-
ignation by the Texas Justice
Court Judges Association and
in 2013 they honored her as a
Scholar Judge.
During her time as judge
for Pet. 1, she has updated
the office website and now
payments can be made on-
line and she provides classes
to the public about the court
and the court system.
I know she will bring dedi-
cation and gusto to Pet. 1 and
I encourage everyone to re-
elect Donna Van Gilder as jus-
tice of the peace for Pet. 1.
DOLORES HESTDALEN
Bastrop
Two incumbents deserve votes
“Politicians are like un-
derwear - they should be
changed often.” An old line
we’ve all heard before. I am
not a regular supporter of in-
cumbents and oppose the
idea of career politicians.
These ideas, however, are not
in conflict with two incum-
bents in local elections: Sar-
ah Louclcs, our district clerk;
and Donna Van Gilder, JP Pet
1. These are both one-term in-
cumbents.
Here’s why I support them
for another term.
Both have shown continued
involvement in the communi-
ty and have been active in the
county since long before their
initial election. They are both
regularly involved with the
Republican Party activities
and have shown their consis-
tency in that area.
Before some of you get your
knickers in a wad about men-
tioning a political party, re-
member this: This upcom-
ing election is a primary, it is
for each party to select who
it wants to represent them
in the November election.
Our county is now majori-
ty Republican. As many “old
school, conservative, Texas
Democrats” that have joined
the Bastrop County Repub-
lican Party know, it retains
the values Texans have long
held dear. As former Demo-
crat Ronald Regan once said,
“I didn’t leave the Democrat
Party, the Democrat Party left
me.” This is certainly true to-
day. But enough of partisan is-
sues.
Both incumbents have
demonstrated prudent fiscal
management and made sig-
nificant improvements in the
operations of their respec-
tive areas. Both are dedicated
to providing good service and
are enthusiastic and tireless in
their execution of their jobs.
One of the best things I’ve
seen from both is that they
have stayed engaged with the
community. More than most
office holders, they provide
updates on what they do,
what their plans for the office
are, and the activities therein.
Too often, once someone gets
elected, we don’t see much
of them. Sarah and Donna al-
ways make the personal time
to keep us up to date.
They should be given the
chance to continue with the
improvements and projects
they have started and to con-
tinue providing effective ser-
vice to the county. They de-
serve at least one more term.
DOUG KELSAY
Smithville
Raemsch gives back to community
I have known Leigh
Raemsch since 1989. She is a
dedicated mother who gives
back to the community by be-
ing involved in various com-
munity organizations, in-
cluding, but not limited to,
Bastrop/Cedar Creek PTA,
Roclcne 4-H Club, Go Texan
Committee and her church.
Leigh has been involved
on a daily basis for over
five years in the district
clerk’s office. Her goals
are to provide efficient
communications with all
county departments and the
citizens of Bastrop County.
I find Leigh to be an honest,
hardworking individual who
will be an asset to the citizens
of Bastrop County.
Join me in supporting Leigh
Raemsch as our district clerk.
J.D. MICAN
Bastrop
Raemsch would be
very good as clerk
As the former Bastrop
County district clerk, I would
like to take this opportunity
to endorse Leigh Raemsch for
district clerk in the upcoming
March 4 Republican Primary.
I hired Leigh five-and-one-
half years ago as one of my
deputy clerks and I can hon-
estly say that she is a hard
worker and quickly learned
several important aspects of
the office.
She mainly waited on the
front counter, filling in civ-
il and divorce cases and pro-
cessing passports. She al-
so processed paperwork that
came out of court and provid-
ed certified copies to the par-
ties in a timely manner.
While working for me, she
was punctual and rarely took
time off, which shows her
dedication to her job and Bas-
trop County. She was always
willing to assist other employ-
ees when she finished her as-
signed tasks.
Please join me in sup-
porting and voting for Leigh
Raemsch to be our next dis-
trict clerk. Your tax dollars
would be well spent with her
at the helm.
CATHY SMITH
Former District Clerk
Smithville
Re-elect Van Gilder
as justice of peace
I am writing to voice my
support for Donna Van Gilder
for re-election as justice of the
peace, precinct one, in Bas-
trop County.
I have been fortunate to
know Donna and Derick for
many years and they are some
of the finest people I have ev-
er known. Their community
involvement is without equal;
their hospitality and giving
are abundant, but always do-
ne low key, never seeking ac-
colades or praise. Their mo-
tivation and participation are
pure of heart.
I was ecstatic when Don-
na won her last election. Not
only would she bring fair-
ness and right to her office,
but she would abide by and
rule according to the laws of
the state and legislate without
prejudice.
Still, the most impressive
thing I could ever say about
Donna took place on and af-
ter Sept. 4, 2011. As the coun-
ty and community were par-
alyzed with fear watching
in horror as the Bastrop fire
raged, our local emergency
responders and elected offi-
cials had to go into action. I
wandered into the command
center that Sunday night to
find Donna in the middle of
chaos. She had the task of
feeding the firemen, EMT’s,
law enforcement, elected
officials and volunteers. I
watched over the next 18 days
as she recruited volunteers
and delegated responsibilities
- even while continuing her
duties asJP.
What started out as
thousands of peanut butter
and jelly sack lunches turned
into three healthy meals a day
for over 1,500 people. She
recruited local and Austin
businesses who generously
donated time, food and
product and employees
to feed the people as they
battled for the future of
Bastrop County.
Donna’s dedication and
leadership reached far be-
yond her duties as JP as she
set an example for all to fol-
low. I proudly call Donna Van
Gilder a friend and I believe
she is the right candidate to
serve Bastrop for the next
four years.
RICK THOMAS
Bastrop
Loucks is dedicated
and trustworthy
I have known Sarah Loucks
for many years. She was a cli-
ent who quickly became a
friend. When she became a
candidate for district clerk,
I gladly joined her campaign
and supported her. She is a
dedicated, hardworking, trust-
worthy woman who has do-
ne an excellent job as district
clerk.
Sarah has already turned
around the office of district
clerk, conducting business
smoothly and without delay
while decreasing her budget
for three years in a row. Sar-
ah is preserving our 1800s his-
torical records, which have be-
come brittle over years of in-
adequate storage and they will
be referenced and cross refer-
enced, indexed and eventual-
ly put online. She has already
streamlined jury selection and
is currently working on getting
jury information on a secure
website so attorneys can ac-
cess their information before
the time of trial, saving signifi-
cant time at jury selection.
She is already working on
creating an online juror portal
allowing 24 hour, seven day a
week communication with the
district clerk’s office to ensure
Bastrop County has a thor-
ough and fair juror selection,
which will also make is easi-
er on the potential juror and
their employer with as little in-
convenience as possible. Sar-
ah has already put in motion
implementation of e-filing for
cases which is required by law
by the year 2015.
Sarah is a very dedicat-
ed public servant and spends
countless hours in the evening
working to ensure that the of-
fice operates smoothly. It takes
time to implement all these
things and to interrupt it now
would set the office back. As
Republican chair for Precinct
2007,1 support and ask you to
support Sarah Loucks for dis-
trict clerk.
DAWN THOMPSON
Bastrop
IDie Bastrop SWocrtiscr
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Devoted to the welfare of the people
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Bastrop, TX 78602
Phone 321-2557; Fax: 321-1680
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Wright, Cyndi. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 104, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 1, 2014, newspaper, February 1, 2014; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth649386/m1/4/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.