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Email: president@lwvcomal.org
LWV of the Comal Area
PO Box 311324
New Braunfels, TX 78131
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Date: 8/6/2025
Subject: The VOTER June/July 2025
From: LWV Comal Area


The Voter: Summer 2025 
Breaking News: Youth Mock Election 
Owl and Hawk in TX Bird Runoff
  
The results of the LWV Comal Area Mock Election results are in! The Hawk and the Owl will be in a runoff for Top Texas Bird.
 
LWV Mock Election Administrator Jerrie Champlin confirmed the results: "The final mock election totals are in and there's a fall runoff needed."
Champlin said that 207 votes were cast:
  • 86 for the Owl- 41.5% 
  • 67 for the Hawk-32.4%, 
  • 52 for the Roadrunner - 25.1%, and
  • 2 write-ins for Eagle - 1%. 
The runoff is needed because no candidate received over 50% of the vote. Youth from across Comal and Guadalupe Counties voted in the election at multiple polling locations. 
 
The top two vote getters, the Hawk and the Owl, are reminding their supporters to vote in the runoff election taking place in September and October at Area events.  The losing Roadrunner said that she was weighing her options. She may seek a recount or spend the fall rooting for UTSA football.
 
Thanks to all of our voters, including our library voters and most recent voters at the Juneteenth Celebration at Westside Community Center (see photo). If your school, group, or event is interested in hosting a polling location, please contact president@lwvcomal.org.
From the President
 
The Board is busy planning for the fall election and voter registration season, including gearing up for the local high school voter registration drives. We are also planning regular membership engagement activities.  Thanks to Anne Gulick for leading this effort.  I look forward to seeing everyone at the Fall membership meeting on September 6.  I hear that the delectable delights will include a fabulous cake.
 
In June, LULAC held it's state convention in New Braunfels.  Thanks to League and LULAC member, Maria Saenz-Rodriguez, for the heads up.  The state convention's seminars were open to the public.  I attended an interesting presentation on social media presence. My daughter Juliana and I joined Maria and others from across the state at the local LULAC chapter's scholarship fundraising dinner. The chapter awarded many scholarships to area youth this past year. We had a great time.
 
I'm a big nerd about things like redistricting maps, as you will see in this issue's redistricting story below.  I also love our Youth Mock Election! The Juneteenth Celebration at Westside Community Center was the perfect mock election polling place.  We met some awesome mock election voters and parents.
 
Jerrie Champlin left some big shoes to fill.  I appreciate everyone's patience while I learn the ropes. If you have any ideas for the League of Women Voters of the Comal Area, please contact me at president@lwvcomal.org.
 
Have a great August!
 
Sheila Pattison
TX HB-4 Proposes Mid-Decade
Congressional Map Reboot
 
The Texas Legislature's redistricting bill has dominated state and national news.  House Bill 4 proposes to change the current Texas congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. This article focuses on how the Comal and Guadalupe Counties' local districts will change under the new maps and provide resources for further research and action.  
 
Below are area excerpts from the current district map and the map proposed pursuant to HB-4.  You can click on the buttons/links below the map excerpts to see full interactive state maps showing the congressional districts across the state. 
,
Current Map--Comal/Guadalupe Co. Area
This excerpt shows the division of the congressional districts in and around Comal/Guadalupe Counties.
These district were put in place after the 2020 census. For the interactive
 current state map click this button:
 
Proposed Map--Comal/Guadalupe Co. Area
This excerpt shows the proposed division of the congressional districts in and around the Comal and Guadalupe County area. For an interactive
state map showing all of the proposed districting changes,
click this button:
 
 
 
HB 4 proposes to redraw Texas congressional maps only five years after the 2020 Census. The new maps would pack and crack minority communities for the purpose of creating 5 additional Republican leaning districts. The maps are the product of a rushed process, ignore public input, and engage in statistical tricks to avoid the clear implications under the Voting Rights Act.  The urban districts were especially hard hit.
 
A few local points of interest from the proposed state map:
  • The I-35 corridor District 35 is dismantled and shifted southeast. The I-35 corridor is one of the fastest growing areas of the state.  Current District 35 spans the corridor from Austin to San Antonio, including parts of Comal County, It is the light blue district in the first map to the east of District 21.  The northern part of the district is being combined with District 37 (light blue in the second map). The rest of the corridor was divvied up among districts on each side of I-35. The district was in effect moved southeast and traded urban and suburban areas for rural areas southeast of I-35.
  • District 35's current Congressman is drawn out of District 35. It is reported that he was drawn into the same district as a long-time Austin Congressman.
  • Guadalupe County is moved to Districts 35.  Under the current map, Guadalupe County is in Districts 15 and 28.  In the new District 35, it is joined by parts of southeast Bexar County and rural counties to the south/southeast.
  • The Comal County section of old District 35 is moved to District 21.  That now joins the rest of the county in the deep hill country district.
  • District 21 is losing its Travis County voters and a big chunk of its Hays County voters. That district's reach into Bexar County has also changed. A significant portion of Hays County is drawn to join rural counties in a district that stretches to Matagorda County on the Texas coast.
  • The San Antonio and South Texas districts are significantly redrawn.
If not affected by a lack of quorum, the Senate committee conducting that chamber's redistricting hearing are scheduled to hold hearings Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved in defending our democracy, see below for helpful League resources. 
 


Texans Deserve Fair Maps! Stop HB 4!
 
HB 4 would redraw Texas Congressional maps only five years after the 2020 Census. The new maps would pack and crack minority communities.
The maps are the product of a rushed process, ignore public input, and engage in statistical tricks to avoid the clear implications under the Voting Rights Act.  
 
Learn More and Take Action 
LWV Texas makes it easy to access resources on redistricting and to make your voices known. Click the button to learn more. 
 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT
Sheila Pattison 
 
VP-ORGANIZATION
Kristen Coppock
 
VP-PROGRAM
Vacant
 
VP-VOTERS SERVICE
Becky Waguespack
 
DIRECTOR, ELECTION INFORMATION
Claire Morrison
 
SECRETARY
Rhonda Chandler
 
TREASURER
Roxanna Deane
 
DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP
Anne Gulick
 
DIRECTOR, PUBLICITY
Helena MacCrossan
 
DIRECTOR, YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT
Vacant
 
CHAIR, NOMINATING 
COMITTEE
Ada Conlan
 
 

 
Calendar
 
WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m.
Members must log in for details
 
WHEN: Tuesday, September 16
Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities 
                 
Voter Information Booth and Youth Mock Election
WHEN: Friday, September 26
Volunteers Needed
Members must log in for details
 
 
Welcome New Member!
Renee Crow
New Braunfels
 
Most people join the League 
because they are asked.
Ask a friend!
Ready to Join? 
 
 
 
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