Voters will decide today between Montserrat Garibay and Kathie Tovo to represent Texas House District 49, a seat long held by Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. <\/p>\n
Garibay maintains a strong lead over Tovo after early voting.<\/p>\n
Hinojosa gave up that seat to run for governor, kicking off a Democratic primary that drew eight candidates in March. Republicans didn’t field a candidate, so whoever wins will take the seat. The district stretches from<\/a> William Cannon Drive in South Austin through Central Austin and the University of Texas and ends just north of U.S. Highway 183. <\/p>\n Public education has been a top agenda item for both candidates. Both want the state to revisit its so-called recapture program, which siphons billions of dollars from property tax-rich districts to struggling districts across the state. They also both oppose the state’s push to give private schools public money through a voucher program. Those issues, along with lagging enrollment have led to school closures, a $181 million deficit and looming layoffs at Austin ISD.<\/p>\n As an educator at Austin ISD, Garibay said she’s deeply familiar with the district’s issues, and she believes she would do more in the Capitol to try and right the ship for public education.<\/p>\n Tovo, a longtime Austin City Council member, said her experience at City Hall would make her a more effective lawmaker in the overwhelmingly Republican Texas House.<\/p>\n Garibay was the top vote-getter in the March primary, with more than 13,000 constituents backing her, compared to Tovo’s 11,000.<\/p>\n Travis County saw a surge in primary voters in March, according to the county clerk<\/a>, with nearly 30% of registered voters casting a ballot. <\/p>\n