Greg Abbott – My Voting Preference

Young people coming out to vote can be make a huge difference in the November 2018 election. Although not always consistent, the younger community is more diverse. Many people feel like their voice doesn’t matter but that simply isn’t true. In fact, by not registering to vote and participating then the voices of thousands are nonexistent. Winning elections aren’t always about the votes. I would say that it’s more about the policies that each elected official chooses to represent. Younger people care about what’s going to directly affect them such as student debt. Many people, including myself, don’t vote because they can’t relate to any of the candidates. However, taking time to educate myself on the elected officials has changed my perspective. Gregg Abbott, the 48th governor of Texas and Lupe Valdez, former Sheriff of Dallas County have caught my attention because of how different they both are. Governor Gregg Abbott was born is a Texas native. He graduated from the University of Texas with a B. B. A. in Finance.

After, he received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He became partially paralyzed by a falling tree while jogging. He previously served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court and as a State District Judge in Harris County. Abbott established a Cyber Crimes Unit to arrest criminals who use the Internet to prey upon children, a Fugitive Unit to arrest convicted sex offenders who violate their parole, and an expanded Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to crack down on elder abuse and waste of taxpayer dollars. He strongly believes in tax cuts. He has collected billions in child support for Texas children and was recognized as the nation’s best child support program by the National Child Support Enforcement Association. Lupe Valdez was elected for four terms as Sheriff of Dallas County and served for 12 years. She was the only Latina Sheriff in the U. S and one of the few LGBTQ Americans serving in public office. Before becoming a Sheriff, she worked as a captain in the U. S. National Guard and as a federal agent. With hard work put forth, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University. Later, she completed her Master’s in Criminology from UT-Arlington. As a federal agent, she investigated fraud and abuse in the U. S. and money laundering from criminal organizations in South America. She has succeeded in overcoming many challenges such as improving quality care for mentally ill inmates and protecting the lives and properties of Americans at home and abroad.

Both candidates are qualified because they have the education which is needed to form ideas and make decisions to better develop this country. Their extensive education demonstrates their qualifications. Both candidates have solid knowledge about issues affecting the state of Texas. Abbott’s prior role as a Justice and a State District Judge has given him the opportunity to perform his job as state Governor with expertise. Lupe Valdez’s experience as a Sheriff and federal agent has shaped her into an experienced activist. Both candidates have gained enough public recognition to solidify their aspirations to obtain this position. An issue that Governor Abbott is interested in addressing is human sex trafficking. He wants to require jail time for criminals who promote or compel prostitution, require sex offender registration, and establish that the involuntary consumption of intoxicants may be a form of violence or duress. He wants to improve enforcement of online sex trafficking by hiring five new investigators at the Criminal Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General as well.

Another issue he wants to address is gang violence, making neighborhoods safer by funding two additional Texas Anti-Gang Centers in Waco and Tyler. His plans are clearly understood because the website offers access to blueprints that outline his recommendations. To develop a firmer stance on gang violence and human trafficking, I would simply watch the news and do more research about how each impacts the community. Lupe Valdez wants to address LGBTQ+ and the expansion of voting rights. She is a part of the LGBTQ community herself and wants to fight for their equality. She offers to amend unconstitutional provisions from Texas Statute. She doesn’t agree with Abbott’s view on tightening voting rights for Texans. She vows to expand voting rights to ensure that every Texan is heard. I’m not for certain how Lupe Valdez plans to conquer the challenges that may come. Her official website doesn’t offer any insight on how she will execute her plans. It was easy for me to understand her opinion on the issues, but voters want to know how.

To further develop a view on voting rights and the LGBTQ community I would research about it. I would vote for Greg Abbott because he is addressing more issues that I care about. Human sex trafficking is an ongoing battle in this nation. The effects are devastating and there should be more done about it. I can appreciate how much Governor Abbott is willing to do in an effort to combat human sex trafficking. He is also my preferred choice because he is fighting for the safety of children and victims of sex crimes. He wants them to get the justice they deserve. Something else that sticks out to me is that he is cracking down on student-teacher relationships which has become more prevalent in Texas lately.