Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Sumter, Tibbe paving new political paths in Texas
By A.N. Hernandez
The University Star (Texas State U.-San Marcos)
11/16/2006

(U-WIRE) SAN MARCOS, Texas — Liz Sumter and Sherri Tibbe are paving new paths for women in Hays County politics.

After last week's election, Sumter became the first woman to get elected as Hays County Judge. Tibbe became the first female Hays County District Attorney.

They were also both Democratic candidates.

"The county has definitely seen a shift toward females elected into office. There are more females running for office," said Joyce Cowan, Hays County election administrator. "A few years ago we didn't have a lot of female candidates and now a lot more are running successfully."

Sumter said she had no idea she was the first female to run for and win the Hays County Judge seat. She found out on election night as the numbers were rolling in.

"It wasn't something we thought about or confirmed during my campaign," she said.

Sumter edged out incumbent Jim Powers last week with 52.2 percent of the vote.

Sumter hammered Powers' lack of bringing quality jobs to the area for students during her Oct. 23 Associated Student Government address.

"I think what's different between me and my opponent, who's an eight-year incumbent, is that I have a true plan and vision for where this county will go," Sumter said. "We want to be inclusive, not exclusive. We want to talk to everyone in the county."

Democrats also won three contested Hays County Commissioner's Court's spots, signaling a shift from the previously Republican-majority court. Aside from Sumter's win, Susie Carter Precinct 2 commissioner lost to Democrat Jeff Barton and Russ Molenaar Precinct 4 commissioner lost to Democrat Karen Ford.

The remaining commissioners are Debbie Ingalsbe Precinct 1 commissioner and Will Conley Precinct 3 commissioner, whose terms expire in 2008.

Conley, the court's only remaining Republican, looks forward to bringing his newly elected colleagues up to speed. He said there were a lot of things in play during the recent elections for Republican candidates nation and countywide.

"I still don't think the county has gone completely blue," he said. "This county is purple, that's what I always say. It's not a blue or red county; it's purple because it's made of individual voters who vote for candidates, not just political parties."

This election cycle also saw women becoming the majority on the commissioner's court, three to two.

"I don't think there's going to be any significant difference because it's a female or male-headed court," Sumter said. "I think the significant difference comes with the people who are elected. I think the people are saying they are looking for significant changes in leadership and this court is going to work very well together."

In another county election, Tibbe won the race for Hays County district attorney by a 23-vote margin, prompting Wesley Mau, chief deputy district attorney, to file a petition for a recount.

The election administrators' office recounted ballots Wednesday and determined that the recount did not change the vote total.

Tibbe still had 14,906 votes to Mau's 14,883 votes. Cowan said Tibbe's election returns will be canvassed at 10 a.m. Thursday.

"She is our newly elected DA," Cowan said. "There are no discrepancies that I am aware of, so there's no reason to contest the recount. I watched Mr. Mau shake her hand and congratulate her."

Tibbe said she was on pins and needles watching the election returns from her table at Bordeaux's Restaurant in Kyle. That night, Tibbe said she could barely eat.

"In my mind I was trying to tell myself that win or lose, we know we ran a good campaign and that regardless of the outcome, we were proud of our campaign," Tibbe said. "But, underneath all that, you just really want to win."

Tibbe is currently the chief of Travis County Court No. 4 and has 11 years of experience as a prosecutor working for the Texas Attorney General's Office and Travis County.

She said the first step she will take upon entering her post is assessing open cases and staff members to assure justice in every case.

"I don't plan on cleaning house but there will be a process where everyone is talked to," she said. "I ran on a platform that I was going to make changes in Hays County, and I want to make sure that happens."

The race between her and Mau was one that was tense and often left the candidates going word-to-word about issues on television or in newspapers. One of Mau's recent press releases questions Tibbe's campaign material, including a television ad that flashes a photo of Mau, while a voiceover says that half the cases brought to the district attorney's office were lost.

Mau said Tibbe's campaign must have skewed the numbers.

"I don't know where Sherri Tibbe got her numbers from," Mau said.

Tibbe refutes Mau's complaint. "The elections are over," she said. "He is the first assistant to the DA. We are not saying he is solely responsible, the ad just says 'district attorney's office' and Mau was part of that administration and bore part of the responsibility of the office."

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