Last Saturday evening, the Town of Flower Mound Republicans (TFMR), a recently formed group, held their first Judicial Candidate Forum to give residents of the area a chance to see and hear from those running for the Republican Party designation on the ballot at the Primary election on March 2. TFMR President Renee Stoltenberg introduced Dianne Edmondson, Chairwoman of the Denton County GOP, as the moderator for the forum. The event was held at the Police Community Room on Kirkpatrick Lane and Cross Timbers Road. About 100 people showed up to hear from candidates running for Justice of the Peace, Probate Court Judge, Juvenile Court Judge and District Court Judge. It was the type of event that allows voters to evaluate those who have been, and/or will be sitting on those benches for the next few years.

     Although we’ll all be inundated with mailed brochures, phone calls, radio and television commercials; there’s no substitute for meeting and greeting the candidates one on one. In addition to selecting the people to represent us, we’ll also be voting on five ballot propositions requiring a Yes or No. Number one is to enact legislation to require voters to show photo ID in order to vote. Two is requiring the Texas government to limit annual increases in its budget unless it gets voter approval. Three asks that American citizens be empowered to stimulate the economy by having Congress cut federal income taxes, rather than spending hundreds of billions of dollars on so-called “federal economic stimulus.” Four is to allow the use of the word “God, Prayers, and the Ten Commandments” at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as on government buildings and property. Fifth says that the Texas Legislature should enact laws requiring a sonogram to be performed and shown to each mother about to undergo a, medically unnecessary, elective abortion.