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The Sunday Sun, September 13, 2020 3 FirstTexasBank.bank Friendly Service “First Texas Bank is known for their friendly service and commitment to their customers.” - Stephanie Sayre, Executive Director Georgetown • Round Rock • Cedar Park • Pflugerville • Liberty Hill Stephanie Sayre, Mario Colorado, Carl Illig, and Rachel Chamberlain with their First Texas Bank Partner, Kelley Crutchfield The Sunday Sun Postmaster — Send address changes to: The Sunday Sun, P.O. Box 39, Georgetown, Texas 78627. The Sunday Sun (USPS 018-790) published weekly by Sun Systems, Inc., 707 Main Street, George- town, Texas 78627. Periodicals Postage Paid at Georgetown, Texas. Phone: 512-930-4824 News: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] Web: www.wilcosun.com Mail: P.O. Box 39, Georgetown, TX 78627 Location: 707 Main Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 BY KATE THURMOND Georgetown seventh grader Tricia CarsonWalk- er is one of 19 young partic- ipants chosen for a national virtual talent competition. Tricia, a student at Beno- ld, will perform on Septem- ber 13 in the Celebration of Music, a virtual talent competition in which win- ners are chosen by voters during the live streaming show. Winners will sing in a made-for-PBS concert in Los Angeles in 2021 and compete for a chance to get musical representation and record their own music. “I am excited!” Tricia said. “I am honored to get to participate in something that's called Celebration of Music. It would be awesome to get to perform in LA! I love it out there!" Growing up, Tricia stepped onto many stages across the county, including plays at the Palace Theatre, youth performances of You Can't Do That Dan Moody, and even singing the Na- tional Anthem at Round Rock Express games. In 2019, she opened for Pat Green at the Red Poppy Festival. Two years ago, Tricia moved to Los Angeles with her mother, Julie Carson- Walker, to pursue a singing career, but the disruption of COVID-19 brought her back to Georgetown. It was during this time that she entered the competition, although COVID-19 slowed down the process. Tricia will compete in the virtual event on Sep- tember 13, which will be livestreamed on YouTube at 6 p.m. Wilco residents can watch by visiting the Cele- bration of Music YouTube channel and subscribing. By KATHERINE ANTHONY The League of Women Voters-Wilco will hold two “curbside” voter registra- tion events that allow peo- ple to register while staying in their cars. The events are scheduled for: • Friday, Sept.18, 5-7 p.m. at Igo Elementary, 1601 C.R. 314, Jarrell • Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at San Gabri- el Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1322 E. Univer- sity Ave., Georgetown “Empowering voters is a tenet of the LWV at all lev- els — national, state and lo- cal,” Chris Spano, LWV-Wil- co president said. “In a democracy, our vote is our voice, and the first step in voting is to get registered.” Ms. Spano said the cur- rent pandemic has driven people inside, and they may pass this year on getting registered to vote. The curbside events, she said, are designed for safety. “We will be socially-dis- tanced and workers will be masked. Just drive up and we’ll give you a registration card that you can fill out in your car and hand back.” Ms. Spano said trained and certified Volunteer Deputy Registrars will con- duct the registrations. To be eligible to register to vote, you must be: • A United States citizen • A resident of the coun- ty where the application is submitted • At least 17 years and 10 months of age • Not be a convicted felon (unless you have completed your sentence including any incarceration, proba- tion, or parole) • You must not have been declared by a court exercis- ing probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partial- ly mentally incapacitated without the right to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 5. By BRAD STUTZMAN Williamson County GOP candidates are in the un- familiar position of being challengers in some Nov. 3 general election races. On Sept. 10, two challeng- ers, one incumbent and the candidate for an open seat made campaign pitches to a friendly audience, encour- aging fellow Republicans to drum up votes. Mike Guevara, candidate for District 136 State Rep.; Nikki Gonzales, candidate for Pct. 1 Commissioner; incumbent Pct. 1 Constable Vinnie Cherrone and Pct. 4 Constable candidate Paul Leal addressed an audience of about 45 people gathered in Round Rock at Sirloin Stockade for the William- son County Republican Women’s luncheon. Constable Cherrone — the lone incumbent in the crowd — emphasized his 28- year career in law enforce- ment, including 21 years with the Round Rock Police Department. Mr. Cherrone was first elected four year ago. He faces Democratic challenger Paul Leal. Ear- ly Voting is Oct. 13-30 and Election Day is Nov. 3. Mr. Cherrone stressed fiscal prudence, noting that when the Commissioners Court asked elected leaders and department heads to not increase their budgets this year, he did them one better — cutting his own budget requests about 13 percent. Mr. Cherrone and the other three candidates on Thursday’s program talked about pushing back against the “blue wave” that saw several Democrats elected to Wilco government posi- tions in 2016 and 2018. “We’ve got five more weeks,” Mr. Cherrone said, looking ahead to Nov 3. “It’s going to be a huge push.” The Pct. 1 area Mr. Cher- rone represents takes in most of Round Rock and parts of Austin. On the eastern side of the county, in Pct. 4, Paul Leal seeks to succeed Constable Marty Ruble, a Republi- can who is retiring after 24 years in office. Mr. Leal, a Taylor resi- dent, said he has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years. He served as a Hutto police officer and in recent years has worked for Constable Ruble. Mr. Leal said if elected, he’ll dedicate more re- sources to catching those who dump trash and tires in rural areas. “On the east side of Wil- liamson County we have a big problem with illegal dumping,” he said. “We have a lot of farmland. You get east of Taylor, you see more cows than people. We like that — but people like to throw their trash out there. I’m going to aggressively go after illegal dumping.” Mr. Leal said he also wants to offer anti-bullying programs in schools. He will encourage residents in unincorporated areas to call his office, when they are out of town, so his offi- cers can patrol their streets. Perry Travis — the win- ner of a two-man Democrat- ic primary — is Mr. Leal’s November opponent. Round Rock ISD trustee Nikki Gonzales — in her second term on the school board — is taking on Dem- ocratic incumbent Terry Cook in the Pct. 1 Commis- sioners Court race. “I am a proud Hispanic Republican who identifies with the values of my par- ty,” Ms. Gonzales said. Taking a look at western Williamson County, Mike Guevara is challenging Democratic incumbent John Bucy III in the Dis- trict 136 State Rep. race. Mr. Bucy was first elected two years ago in an upset win over veteran GOP incum- bent Tony Dale. Echoing Ms. Gonzales’ comments about Republi- can values, Mr. Guevara touted his own credentials as being pro-life and favor- ing Second Amendment gun-rights protections as well as First Amendment religious-liberty protec- tions. Mr. Guevara, who serves on the Cedar Park City Council, joined the other candidates in saying that Republican turnout is cru- cial. “As we see Williamson County go, we will see the state of Texas go,” he said. “We are a barometer for the entire state of Texas.” During the coming elec- tion, Faith in Action plans to help older adults with mail-in voting and rides to the ballot drop-off. Even though the pan- demic is waning, many older adults remain cau- tious about voting in public places. Faith in Action will offer mail-in application as- sistance, ballot completion assistance, transportation to polls and to the ballot drop-off locations for those who do not want to leave home. “We understand how dif- ficult it is right now for our senior population to get out, especially if they already have transportation limita- tions,” said Vickie Orcutt, Executive Director of Faith in Action. “Our goal is al- ways to serve our seniors in a way that supports their quality of life and indepen- dence. And this is one very important way we can do that.” Faith in Action has teamed up with the William- son County Elections office to make sure they comply with state regulations for application and ballot assis- tance. Those interested in getting help filling out the applications or ballots will receive non-partisan help from either Faith in Action staff or volunteers. “It’s not our job to tell anyone how to vote,” Ms. Orcutt said. “We are here simply to help in complet- ing what can be for some a very difficult and compli- cated process.” The organization will also offer transportation to the drop-off location at the Williams County Elections office. Faith in Action is a local nonprofit that started as a transportation service for those who could no longer drive. Since the start of COVID-19, they have piv- oted to offering help with online grocery ordering, medically necessary rides, plus a Buddy Program that supports older adults who are not able to visit with family. Now they are returning to offering rides in conjunction with these newer services. Mail-in voting assistance is available to current Faith in Action clients. To learn more about Faith in Action or to participate in any of their services, visit their website at www.FaithInAc- tionGT.org or call( 512) 868- 9544. Curbside service for voter registration Local nonprofit assists older adults with mail-in voting Benold student chosen for PBS competition Republicans gear up for election BRAD STUTZMAN The Williamson County Republican Women hosted a candidate forum Thursday at Sirloin Stockade in Round Rock. Pictured are Mike Guevara, candidate for District 136 State Rep.; Ashley McCombs, Republican Women’s vice president for programs; Nikki Gonzales, candidate for Pct. 1 County Commissioner; Paul Leal, candidate for Pct. 4 Constable; Vinnie Cherrone, incumbent Pct. 1 Constable; and Carole Callahan, Republican Women’s president. TRICIA CARSONWALKER Mail-in ballot clarification By BRAD STUTZMAN When it comes to request- ing a mail-in ballot, because of disability, let your con- science be your guide. Texas Supreme Court Justice System Nathan Hecht describes it as ba- sically an honors system, writing in a May ruling from the court: “ …a voter can take into consideration aspects of his health and his health history that are physical conditions in de- ciding whether, under the circumstances, to apply to vote by mail because of dis- ability.” Although Election De- partment officials have no authority to verify an applicant’s eligibility, Wil- liamson County Elections Administrator Chris Davis emphasizes honesty is the best policy. “We do not encourage anyone to lie on their appli- cation for ballot-by-mail,” Mr. Davis said. “In fact, dong so is a punishable crime in Texas.” Qualifications for receiv- ing an absentee ballot are as follows. • The voter is age 65 or older. • The voter is ill or dis- abled. • The voter anticipates be- ing absent from the county, during the entire Early Vot- ing period and on Election Day. The voter must provide an out-of-county address and the dates on which they will be receiving mail at that address. • The voter is confined in jail, but otherwise eligible to vote.”
