SAN MARCOS BANDS UNITE
PHILLIPS THE FORWARD
Three local bands to play final benefit concert for the San Marcos Compilation
Senior soccer star makes move from offense to defense after overcoming injuries
SEE TRENDS PAGE 7
SEE SPORTS PAGE 16
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM
OCTOBER 12, 2006
THURSDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 22
Fallout from Heggie resignation shifts to county, national organizations By Nick Georgiou The University Star Texas State College Democrats have criticized Hays County Democratic Party Chair Gloria Whitehead for the actions she took leading up to the resignation of College Democrat President Eric Heggie. Officers for the organization asked Joann Smith, vice president of student affairs, and Vincent Morton, associate dean of students, to intervene after Whitehead sent a letter Sept. 22 to Heggie and other Democrats demanding his resignation and repeatedly interrupted the organization’s meetings. In one incident, members said
Whitehead, Sally Caldwell, assistant sociology professor and Daniel Segura, pre-mass communication junior, verbally attacked members of College Democrats during the group’s weekly meeting. “Their instigation at every meeting caused so much stress to the officers and I that it got to the point where I got so angry I started to cry,” said Eileen Galvez, political science sophomore and public relations director for College Democrats. Heggie resigned Oct. 4 under fire for his support of Republican County Judge Jim Powers’ re-election campaign. Heggie defended his actions, saying
local politics should be non-partisan. “I believe that in this country we’re not some one-party state where you have to have blind allegiance even when it’s driving that area off a cliff,” Heggie said. College Democrats and their faculty adviser, Terence McCabe, support Heggie and said Whitehead handled the situation poorly. McCabe’s son, Sam, is one of the founders of McCabe, Anderson and Prather, the political consulting firm that employs Heggie. “She wasn’t very diplomatic in her criticism and shouldn’t have publicly chastised him,” McCabe said. Carol Wilder, San Marcos Area
Democrats party chair, said she would have handled the situation differently. She said Heggie made the wrong decision, but it is important to look at the bigger picture and ask how the College Democrats debacle got as far as it did. “There are many community leaders who also had a point where they could of affected the decision making process and my example of that is Powers,” she said. Wilder had serious concerns about the decision Powers made to hire Heggie for his campaign. “He should have advised Eric that ‘if you’re going to work for me that’s wonderful, but you’re going to need to step down as president,’” Wilder said.
Congressmen announce more money for Texas State
Monty Marion/Star photo RAPID RESPONSE FUNDS: Don Montegue, ALERRT executive director, (center) fields questions from the press about the ALERRT program with U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar (left) and Lloyd Doggett (right) at his side.
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By Chris Boehm The University Star U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo and Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, announced Wednesday more than $1.7 million in federal funding for two university programs. The congressmen presented Texas State with two checks at J. C. Kellam. A $1 million check went to the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program, which specializes in quick police responses to terrorist attacks and other emergency situations, such as school shootings. “Traditionally, the money of this sort has gone to teaching, and it still will with multi-faceted programs such as these,” said Cuellar, who represents District 28, which now encompasses all of Webb County. A check for $714, 762 was awarded to the university’s Post Secondary Education Program from the U. S. Department of Education. The funds are intended to increase the effectiveness of science and math teachers in middle schools. “Lloyd and I are happy when we look at what the university has done with education,” Cuellar said. “I call it ‘work product’ — the students you have coming out. It’s important for the lives of others that you leave this world a better place than when you found it.” Sandra West, associate professor of biology, was grateful for
To hear Doggett and Cuellar talk about the House race, log onto www. UniversityStar.com
the federal funding her program received. “Student performance in middle school is very important today,” West said. “We are proud to be a part of it.” The ALERRT program incorporates rapid-response training and military tactics into the Texas National Guard. ALERRT trains the Texas National Guard for civil-order missions and situations in urban environments. “This is a program that is not about the state, or Central Texas,” said Doggett, who represents District 25, which encompasses all of Hays County. “This is one that can go nationwide.” Don Montague, ALERRT’s executive director, arrived at See CONGRESSMEN, page 4
“It’s very important that we, as leaders, set the moral and ethical parameters.” Heggie also drew attention from the College Democrats of America. Katie Naranjo, national program’s director for the College Democrats of America, made Heggie sign a party affiliation agreement to keep the organization chartered. Heggie said Naranjo told him to deny association with the Powers campaign. Naranjo told The University Star Oct. 3 everything was fine. One day later, Heggie resigned. “Naranjo wants to go higher in the See DEMOCRATS, page 4
Close competitors vie for office of district attorney By A.N. Hernández The University Star Two prosecutors, each with more than 10 years of experience, are going head-to-head in the race for the Hays County District Attorney. One bases his platform on felony and misdemeanor experience in Hays County. The other bases her platform on felony and misdemeanor experience in Travis County. Both are urging structural change in a district attorney’s office that has, for the past two years, lost nearly half the felony cases it took on. “What needs to happen is, the person trying the case needs to be the same person reviewing and negotiating the plea at the beginning,” said Wesley Mau. “Essentially, the problem we have is the initial plea bargainer knows they are not trying the case and doesn’t have the incentive to make sure negotiations are in line. A lot of times, they are just trying to resolve the case and trying to get it off their desk.” Mau, the Republican candidate, said this would alleviate the backlog in cases. He is Hays County chief assistant district attorney and has worked as a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office for 12 years. His challenger is Democratic candidate Sherri Tibbe. Tibbe is the chief of Travis County Court No. 4 and has 11 years of experience as a prosecutor working for Travis County and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. As chief assistant, Mau’s main responsibility is prosecuting the felony jury trial cases in District Attorney Mike Wenk’s office. He currently has about 60 cases pending trial. Mau garnered local support from the San Marcos Police Officers’ Association and from sitting District Attorney Wenk who said he “unequivocally supported” Mau. “The mission of this office is to protect the community, and one of the ways to do this is to deal with the worst of the worst that have demonstrated they are a clear and present danger to the community,” Wenk said. “You
Wesley Mau
Sherri Tibbe
need someone who can successfully prosecute those kinds of people and of the two candidates, only one has the track record. Wes’s dealt with capital murder trials, rape trials, DWI fatality trials and the like.” However, Tibbe thinks her track record is just fine. Her campaign platform rests on the compassion and skill she’s gained while dealing with family violence in the county court and with felony sexual assault cases she worked on in the district attorney’s office. Her supporters contend that the array of cases she’s seen working with the county and district attorneys in Travis County make her a more appealing candidate. “The Hays County district attorney’s office is losing more cases than winning, so the experience they are touting so highly clearly isn’t serving the citizens of Hays County,” Tibbe said. “It’s time for new leadership. My opponent’s been the chief assistant for more than seven years and he’s had his chance to make the changes that need to happen in the district attorney’s office.” She believes her experience as chief of a family violence court where she manages five attorneys and a staff of witness counselors and social work interns shows she is able to take on the position of Hays County District Attorney. As of now, the Travis Court No. 4 where Tibbe works has 2,800 cases pending, and she said she’s no stranger “to running a big docket and busy court.” She also worked as a caseworker with Child Protective Services in Travis County. Tibbe stressed “pre-trial diversion and deferred prosecution” to free up more time for prosecutors to “fully prepare” for tough See ATTORNEY, page 4
SMCISD superintendent to resign, move to larger district By Zandria Avila The University Star During the past four years, Superintendent Sylvester J. Perez has led the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, and although he will resign Nov. 30, Perez is confident a standard has been set. “I am proud to say the district is in a whole better place — better in construc-
tion and financially,” Perez said. Perez said the environment in the school district shows through in the community. “Ultimately, a community is defined by the way it treats its children,” Perez said. “Fortunately, San Marcos Independent School District treats its children in a caring and nurturing, educational environment.” Perez credits the unified partnership
Today’s Weather
T-Storms 88˚/56˚
Precipitation: 40% Humidity: 60% UV: 7 High Wind: W 12 mph
Two-day Forecast Friday P.M. Showers Temp: 76°/ 62° Precip: 30%
Saturday Scattered T-Storms Temp: 75°/ 67° Precip: 60%
of the trustee board for the school district’s recent success. “We have a cohesive board of trustees to thank for SMCISD’s new developments,” he said. Perez defines his position as superintendent to be that of a leader. “In the role of superintendent, I provide vision, guidance and resources to improve students’ lives,” he said. “I am also a visionary. I lead others to achieve
the set goals and missions of SMICSD.” Rosina Valle, San Marcos Education Foundation executive director, said she is sad to see Perez resign. “I have cried several times,” Valle said. “We will lose a great leader in our community.” Despite Valle’s heavy heart, she supports Perez in his decision to resign. “Perez is doing what he always encourages us to do, which is being a life-
time learner,” Valle said. Perez said his resignation is a career move. “I am leaving to take a new position to a larger district. There I will have the chance to impact more children,” Perez said. “I believe this is a natural, professional move.” During his tenure, Valle said Perez has
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