By james art 
Could Leach run for AG?
Re: “AG hits new low in death penalty case — Paxton’s rebuttal of Roberson’s innocence claims not based on truth,” Thursday editorial.
Assuming Attorney General Ken Paxton runs again in two years, I hope both parties can nominate strong candidates to oppose him. Paxton sued the federal government at every turn. He escaped impeachment charges thanks to partisan Republican senators. Now he is trying to get Robert Roberson to die when he is probably innocent as shown so powerfully in this editorial.
Paxton also wants to file criminal charges against Jeff Leach for an error of judgment on Leach’s part. Leach helped lead the impeachment effort in the state House of Representatives, and he was instrumental in trying to get a new trial against Roberson.
Leach may not have ambitions for the position of attorney general, but he would be an outstanding candidate on the Republican side.
Susan Rentz, Plano
Paxton is a disgrace
In short, Ken Paxton is a disgrace to the true rule of law, period!
Calvin Ballard, Rockwall
Blame the electoral process
Re: “Meet the voters who feel left out,” October 13 editorial.
This editorial introduces us to a few of our many local, middle-of-the-road moderate voters. Your chart shows them as the majority, 35% Independent/Other, 33% Democrat, 32% Republican. The title reads “dropped”. They are omitted because they are poorly represented.
They are underrepresented due to a flawed electoral process demanding reform. In the March 2024 Texas primary, registered voter turnout was 18.4% (12.9% R, 5.5% D). This primary turnout, which determines who is on the ballot in November, is primarily the extreme flank of each party. Independents have no moderate choice in November.
Lower turnout in primaries is due to lack of interest, but also to a weird Texas quirk, if you vote in a primary you are “affiliated” with that party for the rest of that calendar year. Although a primary voter can vote for the candidate of their choice in November, the primary vote imposes certain restrictions on their political activity for the remainder of their membership commitment—signing petitions, serving as a campaign worker for a candidate other than a candidate from their already affiliated party.
Small tweaks won’t fix our broken election process, it will take a major overhaul, including but not limited to open primaries, independent redistricting commissions, ranked-choice voting, and campaign finance reform.
John Keller, Arlington
Submit voting questions
Having lived in Texas for a long time, I continue to be shocked that voters stand by and allow a few people in Austin to deny our right to be heard. The three most contentious issues right now seem to be a woman’s right to make choices about her own body, access to guns, and the issue of school vouchers. Put these items on the ballot and let the people decide what our law will be.
Thomas Kelly, Lantana
Vote for the woman
We are the product of 3.8 billion years of evolutionary success. Let’s keep it that way. Let’s vote for the woman with decency, integrity, intelligence, and years of experience looking after the needs of ordinary Americans, not billionaires.
Let’s vote for the woman who can reassure our NATO allies that we will not abandon them. Let’s vote for the woman who assures the world that the US government recognizes the threat of climate change and will do its part to mitigate it.
Let’s vote for the woman who will lead us into the future, working to lift people out of poverty and provide the best education and healthcare to children. Let’s happily vote Kamala Harris for President and Tim Waltz for Vice President.
Alice Ann Ebinger, Allen
Dobbs gave the power to the people
Re: “Women Trump Voters Speak Out on Abortion Rights – On the Battlefields, 45% of Base Believes Legality of Procedure,” Thursday News.
This story reads: “Emily Jones couldn’t wait to vote to enshrine abortion rights in Arizona’s state constitution — and fight the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.”
Why would Jones want to fight the Supreme Court decision (Dobbs v. Jackson)? Dobbs says the power to regulate abortion “returns to the people and their elected representatives.” Without Dobbs having overturned Roe v. Wade, Jones would not have been able to vote to add abortion rights to the Arizona constitution.
Dobbs returned the power to regulate abortion to the people and took that power out of the hands of legislators and judges. Why is this so misunderstood?
Mike Mullen, North Dallas
A horrible death
My heart goes out to the family of Joceli Barnica regarding her needless, horrific and gruesome death from an untreated miscarriage. Barnica was 17 weeks pregnant with the child she and her family wanted so badly. Because of Texas law, she couldn’t get the treatment she desperately needed.
The suffering this woman and her family went through is tragic. Dying of sepsis is a horrible and painful death. Her older daughter will now grow up without her mother.
Every man and woman should be horrified by this cruel death that should not have happened. I hope Governor Greg Abbott thinks about the suffering our state has put so many women through because of his stance on women’s health care. Since when has he or any of our Republican legislators been licensed to practice medicine?
Sally Richardson, Plano
Ribbons for every voter!
Re: “Election excitement spreading,” Thursday’s front page photo.
I wish we could all march to our polling places with a marching band and more to celebrate our precious freedom to vote and make our voices heard!
Perry Brackett, Louisville
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