PRAZAN.KXAN NEWS. SYDNEY:
DAWNNA DUKES HAS SERVED IN THE
TEXAS HOUSE SINCE 1995.IN
20-PLUS YEARS - SHE'S FACED A
TOTAL OF TWO CHALLENGERS IN
THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.THIS
YEAR - DUKES HAS FIVE.DISTRICT
46 COVERS EAST AUSTIN AND
EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY.AND SO
FAR THINGS ARE NOT GOING
DUKES' WAY.SHE IS WAY BEHIND.
KYLIE MCGIVERN IS TRACKING THE
RACE. SYDNEY, WE'RE AT AT
CHITO VELA'S WATCH PARTY,
WHERE HE IS AHEAD
BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN -- A
LOT OF EXCITEMENT HERE -- 40
PERCENT OF THE VOTE, WITH
SHERYL COLE AT 39 PERCENT --
AND INCUBENT DONNA DUKES,
TRAILING IN THIRD PERCENT OF
THE EARLY VOTING VOTES. VOTERS
-- MAKING A STATEMENT THEY
WANT CHANGE IN THIS DISTRICT.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE --
VELA IS AN IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY AND WORKERS' RIGHTS
ADVOCATE WHO USED TO SERVE AS
A CITY OF AUSTIN PLANNING
COMMISSIONER. HIS MISSION --
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SCHOOL
FINANCE REFORM, IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS AND HEALTH INSURANCE,
TO NAME A FEW. SHERYL COLE, AN
ACCOUNTANT AND ATTORNEY, IS
AUSTIN'S FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM.
SHE ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC
SCHOOL FUNDING, AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE AND
HELPING FORMERLY INCARCERATED
PEOPLE REINTEGRATE BACK INTO
SOCIETY. SHE'S CONTINUED TO
SAY, "I SHOW UP." A JAB AT
DUKES, WHO'S BEEN CRITICIZED
FOR LOW ATTENTANCE, ALONG WITH
CONTROVERSIES THAT INCLUDE
MISSING FUNDS, FELONY CHARGES
AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION
INVESTIGATIONS.JOSE "CHITO"
VELA: "THE PEOPLE OF THE
DISTRICT, THEY WANT A FIGHTER
AND THEY WANT A DEMOCRAT THAT
WILL BE AN ADVOCATE, THAT WILL
NOT BE AFRAID, THAT WILL BE
BOLD, THAT'S WHO I WANT TO BE.
THAT'S WHO I AM." SHERYL COLE:
"WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE GAY COMMUNITY, THE YOUNG
COMMUNITY, THE EDUCATION
COMMUNITY, WE NEED SOMEONE
WITH EXPERIENCE IN THOSE AREAS
GOING TO BAT FOR THE CITY OF
AUSTIN AND FOR THIS DISTRICT."
KEEP IN MIND, IF A CANDIDATE
DOES NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN
50-PERCENT OF THE VOTE
TONIGHT, THE TOP TWO
CANDIDATES WILL GO TO A RUNOFF
ELECTION, MAY 22 --AND THEN
FACE EDUCATOR GABRIEL NILA,
THE SOLE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
