Information on the Fall Elections    9/6/20  K.Agee

 

This fall marks the nation’s most important voting event, and of course you are encouraged to take advantage of our democratic form of government. 

The official day of voting will be Tuesday November 3rd, 2020.  It not only covers the Presidential, Congressional, and City General elections, it will include a local government proposition that should be of interest to our west Garland neighborhood (see below).

Due to the COVID19 virus, the Governor of Texas has extended the early voting period to begin Tuesday October 13th and run thru Friday October 30th.  It is also possible to request a ballot for use with the US Mail by following this link:

https://www.dallascountyvotes.org/wp-content/uploads/ABBM-5-15f-English-2.pdf

If voting early in person this year, the nearest locations will be:

1)    The Richland College (Garland Branch), at 675 Walnut St.

2)    The South Garland Branch Library, at 4845 S. Broadway

The Dallas County Election office has two useful phone numbers:  214-819-6300 for general questions, and 214-819-6389.


Local Proposition on the Ballot

The City of Garland will have some City Council Representatives on the ballot, but our District 6 Representative seat (held by Robert Vera) is not up for election during this cycle. 

The main issue for us will be Proposition A, which reads:

Shall the City Council be authorized, as otherwise limited by land and pursuant to State law, to approve the construction and use of a library facility within a portion of public property designated as parkland, commonly known as Hollabaugh Park.

This proposition is legally required to pass before construction can proceed with the $10.9 million bond project.  You may recall this bond was approved as part of a larger bond proposal passed in 2019.   Councilman Vera urges us to vote FOR Proposition A, since it’s the result of several studies and intense negotiations for the proposed site location at Hollabaugh Rec Center at 3925 W. Walnut St. 

This project replaces the older/smaller library currently located at 3319 Edgewood Dr with one twice its size (from 8,000 to 16,000 square feet) to be located on the same ground as the recreation center.  This should not only be a safer location, but will be more convenient for users, and should lower maintenance costs.  The new facility will have modern audio-video equipment, plus an extra 10,000 library items.  Additional information on this project can be found here:  http://www.garlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1928

Since this will be a city-wide vote on a project in our neighborhood, your vote is especially important!