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The Texas Tribune To Host A Half-Day Conversation On October 5, Discussing The Nov. 7 Election And What’s At Stake For Texans

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Join the Tribune in person in Lufkin or online at texastribune.org next Thursday for a half-day event dedicated to the Nov. 7 election and what’s at stake for Texas and Texans.

 

AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 26, 2023) –– The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide media organization, will host a half-day event, “Why the November Ballot Matters for Texas Communities,” on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m in Lufkin and online at texastribune.org. Through three hour-long conversations, the program will review the 14 ballot questions all Texas communities will vote on, explore the significance of constitutional amendment elections and why they need to go to voters for approval and provide an update on changes to election laws across the state.

 

RSVP to attend this free event. Members of the media may email press@texastribune.org for inquiries.

 

The event will be held in Lecture Hall CSS 104 in the Community Services building at Angelina College, 3500 S. First St., Lufkin, TX 75901. A complimentary lunch will be provided.

 

The “Why the November Ballot Matters for Texas Communities” event includes three conversations:

 

9:15 a.m.: What’s on the November Ballot? — An overview of the 14 amendments on the ballot and why this year’s election is important for Texas communities with…

  • Ken Wink, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and professor of public administration at the University of Texas at Tyler.

  • State Representative Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin

  • Kaitlin Bain, editor of the Beaumont Enterprise

  • Moderated by Nic Garcia, regions editor at The Texas Tribune

 

10:30 a.m.: Property Taxes — A discussion on one of the most dominant issues of the 2023 Legislature: property taxes. With $12.7 billion in tax cuts on the ballot, what exactly are we voting for, what are the implications for schools around the state, and why are some pushing to eliminate property taxes completely?

  • This conversation will be moderated by Sewell Chan, editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune

  • Other speakers to be announced.

 

11:30 a.m.: Complimentary Lunch

 

12 p.m.: Infrastructure: Broadband, Energy and Water — A conversation on what the November ballot means for broadband, energy and water in Texas, as well as other key infrastructure investments, the timeline for those investments and how communities can secure the funds if ballot measures are approved. Speakers on this panel include:

  • Kelty Garbee, executive director of Texas Rural Funders

  • Charlie Cano, general manager and CEO of Etex Telephone Cooperative

  • Pooja Salhotra, East Texas reporter at The Texas Tribune, will moderate this conversation.

 

Each discussion will be followed by a Q&A. The event will also be livestreamed online and available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.

 

Thank you to our sponsors who help make our events possible.

 

Major sponsors for this event are Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Texas 2036, Texas Association of Midsized Schools and Texas Agriculture Council. This event is also supported by Texas Forestry Association, Texas Corn Producers, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association, Texas Electric Cooperatives and Texas Rural Water Association.

 

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public media organization whose mission is to promote civic engagement and discourse on public policy, politics, government and other matters of statewide interest.

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