WIll the BISD BOND Pass? New Athletic Facilities?

[Guest Jags]

It's decision time, voters

Tom Neild, a vocal opponent of Beaumont's school bond proposal, will celebrate today even if voters approve the district's request to borrow $388.6 million.

But Neild and Mike Getz, a fellow leader of the bond opposition, will spend most of the day at the office.

"I'm going to take what time I can to go to the different polling sites and hopefully talk to people who walk up and maybe still haven't made their minds up or still have some questions," Neild said.

It's nothing compared to the phone drives, carpools and e-mail barrages that bond supporters have planned for today.

But that disparity is understandable to Neild, who has argued the school district's bond proposal is too large, too focused on athletics and poorly planned.

"We have intentionally kept this a grassroots operation," Neild said by phone Monday. "We have asked people to do their own research and take initiative themselves and come to their own conclusion, just not to take this thing at face value."

Election-day campaigning generally is less significant now than in the past, Lamar University Professor Glenn Utter said by phone.

"The reason is early voting," said Utter, who chairs the university's political science department. "So many people have already voted at this stage."

With an election race or proposition that's received heavy media attention, like Beaumont's bond, voters likely have decided by now, he said.

"Last-minute campaigning or advertising will not so much affect how people vote but whether or not they do," Utter said.

That's similar to the sentiment in Lumberton's local option liquor election by petitioners Dennis Williams and David Bellow.

Bellow and Williams, who worked like mad in June and July to get their respective anti- and pro-alcohol measures on today's ballot, have no plans for last-day campaigning.

"Nope," said Williams, who has been working out of town and probably will spend his evening at home in Lumberton.

Bellow, who echoes the right to choose, is finishing his senior year at Texas A&M and will spend today in College Station.

Bellow said his group won't do much other than put up anti-alcohol signs at polling places, and he believes most in Lumberton know how they're going to vote - if they haven't voted already.

"The signs can catch people's attention and remind them to vote," Bellow said.

Both Bellow and Williams already have voted.

Voters in Beaumont, Port Arthur, West Orange-Cove, Warren and East Chambers school districts also will decide today if millions of dollars in proposed improvements can move forward.

The Rev. Oveal Walker, who has worked with the Back That Bond UP committee in Beaumont to raise money for radio spots, signs and push cards to place on car windshields, said supporters will spread their resources today.

"We're working by precinct," Walker said. "We'll be calling, continuing to put up signs and making sure we have people at all the polling locations."

Some churches led by ministers who endorsed the bond have made buses available to voters without transportation, Walker said.

Walker acknowledged that he's not sure if it will help.

"Some people tell us elections like this are won or lost in early voting," Walker said. "And then some people tell us they are not won or lost until the last day. I don't really know, but we'll see."

[KFDM COOP]

I hope this one and the WOS one passes tonight!

[Guest FPHS 78]

if it doesnt pass, i think its cuz of the athletic complex.shoulda had em on different bonds....