Lewisville: Early voting begins Monday in runoff election



(Created: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:03 PM CDT)


Gilmore, Gorena differ on how to deal with illegal immigrants

By DAN EAKIN

Early voting begins Monday in the June 13 runoff election to decide whether TJ Gilmore or John Gorena will replace Dean Ueckert, who was elected mayor, in the Place 4 position on the Lewisville City Council.

Early voting will be at Lewisville City Hall and the Municipal Annex located at Main Street and Civic Circle, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 1-5, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 8-9. Election Day voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 13 at city hall, municipal annex, and at Memorial Park.

In the May 9 city election, Gorena got 875 votes, including 468 in early voting, or 44.26 percent. Gilmore received 577 votes, including 348 in early voting, or 29.19 percent. Margie Rochelle received 525 votes, including 304 in early voting, or 26.56 percent.

Although Gorena got the most votes of the three candidates May 9, Rochelle is campaigning hard for Gilmore and is asking all of her supporters to vote for him in the runoff.

Gorena and his supporters are fighting hard to the finish. Gorena is asking all who voted for him in the May 9 election to be sure to remember to vote for him again in the runoff election.

Gorena and Gilmore differ on several issues, but the most prominent difference is their views on how to combat what many view as an illegal immigration problem in Lewisville.

People driving up and down Interstate 35 or Mill Street just south of Old Town see large numbers of men standing or sitting, hoping someone will come by and get them to perform day labor for them.

Some Lewisville residents see this as only a small problem, or maybe no problem at all. Several have been heard to say, “They will do work for us that no one else wants to do. They will mow lawns, do housework and other chores that no one else will do.â€