A “VOTE” sign is posted near a polling center on March 3, 2026 in Austin, Texas. A reader says he wishes more people would vote in all elections.
Brandon Bell/TNS
About low voter turnout
On Saturday, after preliminary results were published for the mayoral runoff race between incumbent Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne and challenger Jaime Rojas, only 25 votes separated the two candidates, with Lynne retaining his position.
Surprisingly, there were nine days of early voting provided for this mayoral runoff election while only five days of early voting were made available for the state-wide primary runoff election that was held on May 26.
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For those who claim they are too busy to exercise our sacred franchise, the right to vote, and for those who have embraced cynicism and assume that the system is rigged and therefore their vote is irrelevant, please take the results from this mayoral election in Farmers Branch as a prime example of how each vote does matter.
The two competing candidates provided starkly different visions of what kind of city Framers Branch could be and yet only 4,207 voters out of approximately 40,000 residents even took the time to vote. Sadly, low voter turnout is not a Farmers-Branch-centric issue.
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this country we all love, please commit to participating in our democratic republic by voting.
David Alan Jones, Farmers Branch
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Not a jury of his peers
Re: “Reactions to the Karmelo Anthony trial,” Sunday Letters and “Raising sons,” by Jo Ann Houston, Thursday Letters.
I was truly surprised that none of the letters published questioned the guilty-of-first-degree-murder verdict finding of Karmelo Anthony. As Jo Ann Houston pointed out in her letter, it is not illegal in Texas to brandish a legal weapon if you feel threatened and that acting threateningly towards a person, including using words is an illegal act. All are up in arms about the knife in a community that fully accepts the right to carry unregistered concealed firearms.
The intent of murder simply was not there. It was horrible luck that the knife went straight into Austin Metcalf’s heart. It was not purposefully aimed and could just as easily glanced off a rib or missed his chest completely.
All accused are guaranteed to be tried by a jury of their peers. Were any of the jurors in their late teens? Younger than 30? 40? Three blacks, all educators, were struck from the jury pool because educators tend to be sympathetic to young defendants.
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Argue the race card if you will, but this trial was a Black-on-white crime tried in an affluent, white, Paxton Republican community by a mostly white jury. Those certainly were not Anthony’s peers.
An optimistic view
Re: “I want to speak out for institutions and the rule of law – Lessons from public service motivate my work as a contributing columnist,” by Matthew J. DeSarno, Sunday Opinion.
Thanks, Mr. DeSarno, for your heartfelt defense of the rule of law and trust in our Constitution. I will read your contributions with a cheerful expectancy.
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In support of Gavi
Re: “Contagious diseases, not vaccines, are the threat – Ebola outbreak in Africa shows toll of not having effective shot against virus,” by Jennifer Nagorka, Sunday Opinion.
Nagorka is on point about vaccines. However, she did not mention that the U.S. is sitting on $600 million that Congress has already appropriated for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is not a minor delay — it is a reckless decision with life‑and‑death consequences.
By pooling donor resources and negotiating lower vaccine prices, Gavi makes vaccines more affordable for countries with limited resources. At a time when infectious diseases are spreading, and children continue to die from preventable illnesses, this delay is indefensible. Gavi has already helped vaccinate 1.2 billion children and is preparing to help countries reach another 500 million.
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For less than half of what taxpayers are being asked to spend on a single ballroom, millions of lives could be saved. Congress, you did the hard work of appropriating these funds in the last two years. You must now insist that the administration released the money you appropriated.
Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, will you stand up for children here at home and around the world? And all U.S. representatives from Texas, will you work together to ensure all the world’s children can be protected from deadly contagious diseases?
Eloise Sutherland, Austin
Foreign aid funding is needed
Re: “Man killed at protest against U.S. facility,” June 10 news story.
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While Ebola-asymptomatic Americans are quarantined abroad, Kenyan citizens are protesting to protect their families, with some tragically losing their lives in the process. The rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain emerged as an international public health concern as cases spread throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Unlike other Ebola strains, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola, leaving affected communities vulnerable and fearful.
Kenyans are alarmed by plans to establish a quarantine facility in Nanyuki for Americans exposed to the virus. Simultaneously, symptomatic American patients are being transported to countries outside the United States for treatment. These developments have sparked protests and legal challenges centered on public safety, transparency and whether local Kenyan communities are being asked to assume disproportionate risks.
Furthermore, U.S. foreign aid funding that supports disease surveillance, outbreak response and public health infrastructure is being cut, blocked or rescinded. These programs help contain infectious diseases before they spread globally. Weakening them during an active outbreak puts lives at risk and undermines global health security.
Congress must act to restore and strengthen foreign aid funding. Protecting Americans, communities abroad and global health are inseparable goals, and delaying action risks unnecessary loss of life.
Daniela Barbosa, Dallas