Can Someone Explain This?

In Lubbock and in many areas of Texas this past weekend, voters elected representatives to several elected governing boards, including city councils and independent school districts.

In my fair city, with the exception of one Lubbock City Council race, the outcome was pretty much determined when the filing deadline passed a few weeks ago. The incumbent mayor was expected to win handily, and he did with almost 70 percent of the votes cast, and a long-time resident of District 5, although a newcomer to politics, won as expected, with more than 70 percent of the votes cast, over a perennial candidate who runs only to bring attention to his business.

But the one race in which it was a real contest, District 1, between a former long-time Council member and a well-heeled experienced businessman who had held elected office previously in other communities, was the one that many political observers couldn’t predict.

District 1, which comprises much of North and Northeast Lubbock and has a heavy minority (mainly Hispanic) population, has been represented on the City Council by an Hispanic man or woman since the district was established three decades or more ago.

Just looking at the demographic makeup and the history of the district, an outsider to the Lubbock community would confidently predict that an Anglo candidate would have two chances of winning—slim and none.

So why is the Anglo businessman in a runoff with the veteran Hispanic former Council member?

District 1 probably has about 30,000 or so residents with Hispanics making up probably 60 percent or more of the residents. On the surface, it’s a lay down for Hispanic candidates…but it wasn’t this time.

Sure, there was a third Hispanic in the race who drew from the favored former Council member, but that guy only got 90 votes!

Victor Hernandez led all contenders with 617 votes (47.5 percent) with Glen Robertson coming in second with 591 votes (45.5 percent) to set up the June runoff.

Of the thousands of eligible voters in District 1, only 1,298 felt it was worth their while to cast a ballot?

What is the matter with the people of that district? If they care so little about their district and city, why should they expect the City Council or the city staff to care?

Here’s my prediction for the runoff:

    Fewer than 900 people will vote (editor’s note: he really thinks the number will be less than 600 but he’s afraid to say it out loud) and the winner will top his opponent by fewer than 75 votes.

And when the people of the district moan about their representative or the lack of interest paid to them by the Council they can look into the mirror to see who is to blame.